5 Things You Didn’t Know About Shayna Baszler’s MMA Career
1. She Was Ronda Rousey’s First Pick On The Ultimate Fighter Reality Series
Baszler's friendship with Ronda Rousey is often mentioned on NXT television. Their relationship began back in 2013, when Rousey coached opposite her longtime rival, Miesha Tate, on the eighteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter reality series.
Baszler had already been fighting for roughly a decade when she became a cast member on the show and was favored to win the entire tournament. Given her experience, it was no surprise when Rousey selected 'The Queen of Spades' first overall.
Despite coming in with a good deal of hype behind her, Baszler did not win the Ultimate Fighter contract. She won her first exhibition bout to get into the TUF house but was eliminated in the first round of the tournament by the show's eventual winner, Julianna Pena.
However, she did end up bonding with her coach Ronda Rousey, whom she began training with following her time on the show.
It was also during Baszler's reality series stint that she forged a friendship with another future NXT signee, Jessamyn Duke. Duke also competed on the show and was eliminated in the first round of action.
As fans now know, Rousey, Baszler, Duke, and Marina Shafir make up a faction known as The Four Horsewomen. Had Baszler ended up on Team Tate, it's quite possible that this version of the Horsewomen wouldn't exist.