— On the UFC 158 prelims on FX, Dana White announced that the next coaches for the Ultimate Fighter would be UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey and the winner of the upcoming Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano fight. This will be the fall season of the show, which means that Ronda Rousey’s next title defense will not be until December.
For the first time ever, men and women will both be in the house as 135-pound men and 135-pound women will be featured on the show.
— The UFC issued an official press release today announcing that tryouts for season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter reality series are set for April 15. This season male and for the first time ever female bantamweights are invited to try out for season 18. UFC women’s champion Ronda Rousey will be one of the coaches of the show, and the other coach will be the winner of the upcoming fight between Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano set for The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale on April 13.
The season 18 tryouts will take place on Monday, April 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada. All TUF 18 candidates have to be 21 years old, have the legal ability to live and work in the US, and have a minimum of three professional MMA fights and holding a winning record (verifiable records). Additional details will be released on Monday, March 18. The new season of TUF will debut in the fall of 2013.
