Invicta FC Signs Over Fighters to UFC for TUF Show and Straw Weight Division

Dana White: Invicta FC has signed 11 women straw weights to the UFC for TUF series in 2014



Carla "Cookie Monster" Esparza. First and current Invicta FC Strawweight Champion. (C)Esther Lin


Dana White: Invicta FC has signed 11 women straw weights to the UFC.

"I'm thrilled with it and we have dived into this," said Dana White.

"On May 18, 16 women will come to Las Vegas and compete in The Ultimate Fighter, and the winner of TUF will be assigned as the first UFC women's straw weight champion.

The Invicta FC women’s mixed martial arts organization has assigned the contracts of 11 women’s strawweight (115 pounds) competitors to the UFC. Terms of the assignment were not disclosed.

The 11 fighters are: Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadelha, Felice Herrig, Joanne Calderwood, Tecia Torres, Rose Namajunas, Bec Hyatt, Emily Kagan, Alex Chambers, Julianna Lima, and Paige Van Zant.

In May, these 11 competitors will report to Las Vegas and participate on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter® in the first-ever all-women’s edition of the show. And for the first time ever, The Ultimate Fighter® will crown a UFC champion, as the winner of season 20 will become the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion.

Coaches for the show have not yet been determined. An additional five fighters will be selected for The Ultimate Fighter via a tryout set to be held in 2014.

“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. “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.”

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