News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Ultimate Fighter enters its twentieth season with a new weight class and a world championship on the line.

Under the guidance of star coaches Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez, sixteen of the top 115lbs female fighters on the planet will live together, train together and compete for the right to be crowned the first ever UFC Women's Strawweight Champion.

Every week, Scotland's Joanne Calderwood gives her behind-the-scenes take on The Ultimate Fighter experience.

"I was the only fighter on Team Pettis who worked with the whole coaching staff before my quarter final but it didn't really help. Even though I was going to both training sessions, you were lucky if you were getting an hour per session.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

To be honest, my training back home picks up before a fight and it's all hands on deck. The training in TUF just wasn't as serious as how I would usually train so it wasn't the ideal fight camp.

My fight against Rose Namajunas was hard. I felt like I was alone in there. Usually I fight with a gameplan which I've worked on with my coaches and my team are constantly giving me instructions. For this fight, I felt like Anthony Pettis and his team were just telling me to be aggressive and to be first.

In the first round, I tried to go forward and it didn't work so when I came back between rounds, they told me to maybe just counter more in the second round. By that point it was a bit late.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Rose definitely won the first round but luckily I started the second round pretty well and, who knows, if I hadn't got caught when we went to the ground, maybe I could have won that round and we'd have gone to a third.

It was a good fight and Rose is a really talented mixed martial artist so it was great to be in there against her and if I had to lose to someone, I'm glad it was her because I know she's always improving and she's always mixing things up and picking up new techniques.

Rose was aggressive in the fight but that didn't surprise me. I was ready for it, I knew I was in for a fight. It was just weird circumstances. I was in the changing rooms while Carla Esparza and Tecia Torres were fighting, just sat around thinking, 'Wow, I'm going out there to fight the biggest fight of my life and nobody's here. I'm not warmed up, I don't know if I'm ready to go.'

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

That was hard but when you're in the cage, your body just adjusts; you're on autopilot. I tried to react in the moment but, at the end of the day, usually on fight night I've got my corner team that I've got some confidence in, who tell me what needs to be done and who encourage me.

These coaches, they didn't know you as a fighter and they're not truly invested in whether you win or lose. Normally you've got your team behind you, who know what kind of fighter you are and what you best react to.

Of course, everyone was in that boat, so I'm not making excuses. Sometimes people rise to the occasion and clearly it just wasn't my night.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

I was upset to lose and I felt like I'd kind of let everyone down. I just didn't expect it. That was not part of my plan at all. I went in there to win, as everyone did. It's tough to lose, especially with the way I lost because I tapped out.

I had so much support and my training up until I went into the house was going great and then that loss just brought it all back that my team wasn't there with me.

I couldn't watch the fight again until I saw the episode this week so I couldn't tell my coaches what actually happened. I thought I judo threw Rose and got caught but it turns out I got caught in the switch.

I can never really remember my fights so it was tough not having my coaches there to tell me exactly what I'd done wrong. It's pretty hard having to wait a few months before you can properly talk it over with your team.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The UK fans have been amazing to give me that extra support, especially when I'm not really putting myself out there or begging for attention. The amount of support I get in response to me just being myself and from my performances in the cage, is great.

Despite the loss, fighting really is the best job in the world. I love training and I love to be challenged. Then, when I get a fight, I feel like I can put all of my hard work into practice. I love this sport - I love Muay Thai and now I'm in love with MMA - and I get to do it every day. It's an awesome job.

I actually think Gilbert Melendez will beat Anthony Pettis by decision this weekend. I can see Melendez trying to grind out a win and I don't know how good Pettis' knee is going to be after a year out. Coming back from injury and maybe having to go the distance in a five round fight won't be easy.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

I think if the fight finishes early it'll be Pettis but if it goes to the judges it'll be Melendez. I like the two of them a lot but I'm not going to favour Pettis just because I was on Team Pettis!"

The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned airs every Wednesday night at 3am on BT Sport 1 and repeated at 10pm on Thursdays on BT Sport 2

Coaches Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez fight at UFC 181 on Saturday night for the UFC lightweight championship

UFC 181 coverage starts at 12am on BT Sport 1