The first coed season of The Ultimate Fighter got a major shakeup Tuesday among its coaching ranks.
Miesha Tate replaced an injured Cat Zingano, FOXSports.com confirmed. Zingano injured her right knee earlier this month and was unable to fulfill her coaching duties on the show, which began taping on Tuesday.
Zingano sent out a Twitter message with a post-surgery picture Tuesday afternoon.
Well... Just got off surgery. Thx @ danawhite and @ ufc for all ur support thru all of this. twitter.com/CatZingano/sta…
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) May 29, 2013
"Basically she was training and getting ready for The Ultimate Fighter and she blew (out) her ACL and damaged the meniscus," UFC president Dana White told FOX Sports.
"She was devastated, obviously, and completely bummed out. This was the biggest opportunity of her career."
Tate will oppose UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey on the reality program set to debut on FOX Sports 1 on Sept. 4.
"It's unfortunate for Cat," Tate told FOX Sports. "The UFC is all about opportunities. I was so stoked when I heard I'd get (Zingano's) spot to coach. Our rivalry makes for better TV and I get to fight (Rousey) again."
Tate lost to Zingano via a TKO (strikes) on the undercard of last month’s TUF Finale. The winner was guaranteed a shot not only to oppose Rousey on the next season of TUF, but also in the Octagon in a title match later this year.
There’s certainly little goodwill between Rousey and Tate. Tate lost and had her arm broken by Rousey in a Strikeforce title fight in March 2012.
"For those of you who don't know, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate don't like each other at all," White said. "They have been battling, verbally and physically, for years. Now, they are going to be living here for six weeks."
Added Rousey: "I always respected Miesha as a fighter and as an athlete. How I feel about her personally has nothing to do with that. I think she's entirely legit, but I don't feel bad for hitting her."
