Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate to coach TUF 18, will fight afterwards

UFC women’s bantamweight contender Cat Zingano has been forced to withdraw from her TUF 18 coaching duties and title shot against UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey later this year due to a knee injury according to UFC officials:

As taping of The Ultimate Fighter 18 began on Tuesday, UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey got a big surprise in the form of her opposing coach: former opponent and long-time rival Miesha Tate.

Rousey had been expected to coach the season against Cat Zingano, who earned the honor by defeating Tate at the TUF 17 Finale on April 13.

But Zingano was injured during training, forcing TUF 18 to call up a new coach, which was revealed to cast members and Rousey alike earlier today.

“Everyone said an Ultimate Fighter between me and Miesha would be the best,” said Rousey to reporter Kevin Iole. “For some reason, I think me and Miesha are intertwined in fate like Ali and Frazier.”

Rousey will now face Tate at the end of the season instead of Zingano in a bantamweight title match. The two first fought in March of 2012, with Rousey nabbing Tate’s Strikeforce title via first-round submission.

TUF 18 premieres on Wednesday, September 4 on FOX Sports 1.

The Tate/Rousey fight is the fight that most fans and pundits really wanted to see due to the history between the two fighters. It’s not a good look that Tate is getting the title shot coming off the loss to Zingano, but it’s not like the UFC had many options to choose from when the division is still relatively thin. Tate will be the fourth UFC fighter to receive a title shot coming off a loss in the last year or so.

Stay tuned to ProMMAnow.com for more TUF 18 news and coverage.