Champ Jedrzejczyk, Gadelha announced as 'TUF 23' coaches, rematch on July 8

Claudia Gadelha and Joanna Jedrzejczyk

For just the second time in the history of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series female coaches will take the helm for two teams of up-and-coming fighters.

UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk and rival Claudia Gadelha will coach “The Ultimate Fighter 23,” which will feature women’s strawweight and men’s light-heavyweight competitors.

“TUF 23” was announced during tonight’s UFC Fight Night 81 broadcast and will air on FOX Sports 1. The premier date has yet to be announced.

Jedrzejczyk (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Gadelha (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will serve as just the second set of female coaches on the shows long history after ex-UFC women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate faced off in the competition on Season 18 in 2013.

Although there have been plenty of international seasons of the show, “TUF 23” will mark the first time two non-American fighters coach the U.S.-based version of the series. Jedrzejczyk hails from Poland while Gadelha was born in Brazil.

The stint as coaches will set up a championship rematch between Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha for The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale on July 8 in Las Vegas. The fight has been in the making for some time after they first met at UFC on FOX 13 in December 2014, where Jedrzejczyk won a narrow split decision to jumpstart her run toward the UFC belt.

Gadelha has been pining for a rematch ever since the lone defeat of her career. She dominated former WSOF champ Jessica Aguilar at UFC 190 in August and had hoped to fight Jedrzejczyk soon after, but a finger injury derailed her plans.

Jedrzejczyk instead fought Valerie Letourneau at UFC 193 in November, who she beat by unanimous decision for her second successful 115-pound title defense. Unfortunately, Jedrzejczyk suffered a hand injury of her own that required surgery and put her on the sidelines until later this year.

With the champion forced to recover from injury it opened the door to step in as coaches for “TUF 23.” More information regarding the cast of fighters set to compete on the show is expected in the coming weeks.

For more on the UFC’s schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.