‘TUF 26’ to Crown Inaugural UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion

“The Ultimate Fighter 26” will introduce the women’s flyweight division and crown a champion at the conclusion of its season.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced the news in a release on Wednesday. The UFC will hold a casting call on May 23 in Las Vegas open to female flyweights between ages of 21 to 34 with a winning professional record. “TUF 26” will also be open to women currently on the roster who are capable of making 125 pounds over the course of the season.

A previously announced tryout for “TUF 26” was to include women’s strawweights and bantamweights as well as men’s middleweights. That tryout, which was also announced for May 23, has been canceled, according to the release.

“TUF 26” will begin filming in July and will premiere on Fox Sports 1 later this year. “TUF 25” is currently airing on FS1 and will conclude at the “TUF 25” finale in Las Vegas on July 7.

The UFC currently has three women’s weight classes: bantamweight, strawweight and the recently created featherweight division. The promotion held its first-ever women’s flyweight bout at UFC Fight Night 89 in June 2016 between Valerie Letourneau and Joanne Calderwood. Calderwood won via third-round TKO, and the UFC has not held a women’s 125-pound bout since.