MONTREAL -- UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has agreed to coach the next season of the promotion's reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter."
The UFC has announced women will coach and compete for the first time in the series' history. The FX Network show is entering its 18th season. It debuted on Spike TV in 2005.
The winner of a fight between Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano, scheduled for April 13 in Las Vegas, will coach opposite Rousey.
The season will consist of two separate tournaments, featuring male and female 135-pound fighters.
"There aren't enough women to do an entire (series)," White said. "To do the entire Ultimate Fighter, you'd have to start with 30-something women. That's a lot of women."
White said the UFC has been in contact with potential female contestants. The promotion will also hold an open tryout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
The news comes less than one month after Rousey (7-0) defended her UFC title over Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 in the first-ever female fight in the Octagon.