UFC acquires 11 fighters from Invicta FC, launches women's strawweight division with 'TUF 20'

One month after signaling an interest to open a new UFC women’s division, the promotion has gone all in on strawweights.

UFC President Dana White today announced the promotion has acquired the contracts of 11 Invicta FC fighters, who will compete on the first all-women season of “The Ultimate Fighter” for the inaugural UFC strawweight title.

Filming for the show kicks off May 18 and features Carla Esparza (9-2), Alex Chambers (4-1), Claudia Gadelha (11-0), Felice Herrig (9-5), Bec Hyatt (5-3), Emily Kagan (3-1), Juliana Lima (6-1), Rose Namajunas (2-1), Tecia Torres (4-0), Paige VanZant (3-1) and Joanne Calderwood (8-0). A debut date for the first episode wasn’t immediately announced.

White told MMAjunkie that the participants likely will be coached by men, but isn’t ruling out female coaches. He added that a date and location for the show’s finale and title fight has yet to be determined.

“The fans like it, I’m thrilled with it, and we’re going to dive into the 115-pound division,” White said. “We’re invested, we’re in, as far as the women go.”

White said the UFC will continue to work with Invicta, which he said would rebuild its strawweight division.

“We’ll continue to work with them and other promoters,” he said.

Approximately one year ago, White signed Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey to a contract when a broadcast deal with the promotion’s television partner, Showtime, failed to materialize. Rousey became the UFC bantamweight’s champion as the promotion built out a 135-pound division.

Women made their debut in the octagon when Rousey headlined UFC 157 opposite Liz Carmouche.

In March, the UFC recruited male and female bantamweights as contestants on “The Ultimate Fighter 18,” which featured Rousey and ex-Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate as coaches.

White said the success of the co-ed season opened the door for the first all-women season of the show.

(Pictured: Felice Herrig)