Herrig (phot via Invicta FC)

By FCF Staff

The twentieth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” will feature an interesting twist, as the UFC has announced that the show will crown its first, women’s strawweight champion.

The 115 pound fighters who will compete for the title include 11 Invicta FC vets as Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadelha, Felice Herrig, Joanne Calderwood, Tecia Torres,Rose Namajunas, Bec Hyatt, Emily Kagan, Alex Chambers, Julianna Lima, and Paige Van Zant have all signed with the promotion.

“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 was quoted saying in the official announcement. “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.”

TUF 20 will begin filming next May in Las Vegas, Nevada. Terms of the deal between the UFC and Invicta FC were not disclosed.