Meet 'The Ultimate Fighter 26' cast: Emily Whitmire, who used a fake ID to make her unplanned MMA debut

LAS VEGAS – “The Ultimate Fighter” returned last week for its 26th season, which will culminate with the crowning of the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight champion.

MMAjunkie recently sat down with all 16 cast members. Watch the video above to get to know Emily Whitmire (2-1), who discussed how she got her start in MMA on a random Wednesday night in the Pacific Northwest with the help of a fake ID and a little liquid courage, why she’s technically homeless, how she’s ready to take her day job and shove it, and more.

“The Ultimate Fighter 26,” featuring former UFC and Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez and former WSOF champ Justin Gaethje as coaches, airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FS1.

Also see:

• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Roxanne Modafferi, back for more
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Shana Dobson, the school teacher
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Armenia native Karine Gevorgyan
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: DeAnna Bennett, who used water polo to get to MMA
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Ex-Invicta FC champ Barb Honchak, who’s been M.I.A. since 2014
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Gillian Robertson, Chili’s hostess and unexpected MMA fighter
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Lauren Murphy, UFC veteran who made ‘no-brainer’ decision
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Nicco Montano, the daughter of a boxer trying to make it
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Maia Stevenson, who got into boxing thanks to sheriff mom
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Sijara Eubanks, who wasn’t about to let 10 pounds deter her
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Ariel Beck, happy to fight people her own size after a life in rodeo
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Montana Stewart, the high-school wrestler from Texas
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Melinda Fabian, a student of martial arts from Hungary
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Rachael Ostovich, who draws inspiration from Gina Carano
• Meet ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26’ cast: Christina Marks, a mom whose 1st fight was at a Tijuana strip club

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.