Two of Australia’s leading women’s MMA fighters in Alex Chambers (pictured) and Bec Hyatt have been announced as the inaugural signees of the UFC’s strawweight division. All 11 fighters were signed from women’s MMA promotion Invicta FC.
The full list includes Claudia Gadelha, Felice Herrig, Joanne Calderwood, Tecia Torres, Rose Namajunas, Bec Hyatt, Emily Kagan, Julianna Lima, Page Van Zant and Invicta FC strawweight champion Carla Esparza.
The 11 fighters will have to wait until May when they will be joined by five more fighters to participate in the first-ever all-women’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter which will be season 20. All will be on the line with the winner becoming the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion.
“The women’s 135-pound division in the UFC has been amazing and we know there are a ton of talented women’s mixed martial artists out there,” UFC president Dana White said via the press release.
“Now, you’ll see even more great women’s bouts in the UFC with the addition of the 115-pound division. We’re excited to crown the first-ever UFC women’s strawweight champion in 2014 after a historic season of The Ultimate Fighter.”
Coaches for the reality show have not yet been determined.
