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UFC announces women's straw-weight division

Roar Guru
12th December, 2013
6

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced they will be launching a women’s strawweight (115lbs) division. Invicta Fighting Championship, an American organisation which focuses on female fighters, has assigned 11 competitors over to the UFC.

The list of fighters includes two Aussies – Brisbane’s Bec ‘Rowdy’ Hyatt and Sydney-based Alex ‘Astro Girl’ Chambers.

The other fighters are Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadelha, Felice Herrig, Joanne Calderwood, Tecia Torres, Rose Namajunas, Emily Kagan, Julianna Lima, and Paige Van Zant.

Hyatt holds a 5-3 MMA record and is currently ranked ninth in her division by the Unified Women’s MMA Rankings.

Chambers holds a 4-1 record. Her last fight was against Jodie Esquibel at Invicta FC 5, which Chambers won via submission.

In May, the women’s strawweight fighters will report to Las Vegas where they will participate in season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter in what will be the show’s first-ever all-women’s season.

Another first for the show will be the crowning of the season 20 winner as the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion.

An additional five fighters will be selected for the show via a tryout set to be held in 2014. The coaches for the season have yet to be determined.

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“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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