The rematch is set. Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha will happen, but everyone will have to wait a little bit before watching it go down.
BREAKING! @UltimateFighter coaches will be @joannamma & @ClaudiaGadelha_! Set your DVR, season premiere April 20th! pic.twitter.com/4YeeR7n5iZ
— UFC (@ufc) January 18, 2016
The two elite strawweights will coach the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter. The UFC made the announcement during the UFC Fight Night 81 broadcast. The season will feature light heavyweights and strawweights.
The coaches will not meet in a pay-per-view contest but instead will headline The Ultimate Fighter Finale during International Fight Week on July 8. The five-round title tilt will be the prelude to UFC 200.
Jedrzejczyk defeated Gadelha by split decision in their first encounter. It was a result that propelled the Polish striker to her title bid. The narrow decision was slightly controversial when it occurred, as the majority of media scored it for Gadelha, but it was a very close fight.
Joanna Champion has been active since the bout. She defeated Carla Esparza to win the strawweight championship and subsequently defended it twice against Jessica Penne and Valerie Letourneau.
Gadelha has suffered a couple of injuries since that time. She was knocked off a card in Poland against Aisling Daly, defeated Jessica Aguilar at UFC 190 to earn her title bid and then missed her title shot against Jedrzejczyk at UFC 195.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha will be the first pair of non-American fighters coach a U.S. version of "The Ultimate Fighter".
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) January 18, 2016
After Jedrzejczyk's dominant 2015, the wait for her next defense may prove the best move for the strawweight division. It will give the UFC time to sort out who the next contender will be for whoever walks out of the TUF Finale fight as champion. The series should also help familiarize the U.S. audience with the strawweights, as it will be the first time two foreign fighters coach a U.S. TUF.
The Ultimate Fighter premieres on April 20, with its finale on July 8 in Las Vegas, but no venue has been announced. Bleacher Report will keep you up to date on this fight, The Ultimate Fighter and all fight announcements as they are made available.
