This time it's true: UFC will crown inaugural women's flyweight champ with 'TUF 26'

The UFC means it this time: An inaugural women’s flyweight champion will be on “The Ultimate Fighter 26.”

After a press release was prematurely issued to media last week, the UFC officially announced the news on its web site Tuesday.

The women’s 125-pound division will be the UFC’s 12th weight class and fourth among women. All women currently on the roster are eligible to enter the tournament, as are newcomers between the ages of 21-34 with a winning record and at least three professional fights. Tryouts are slated for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, at Palace Station Hotel in Las Vegas. Information to apply can be found here.

In Nov. 2015, UFC President Dana White said the next division to be added would be women’s flyweight. That turned out to be false as the UFC created a women’s featherweight division this past January, when Germaine de Randamie defeated Holly Holm for the inaugural 145-pound title at UFC 208.

Flyweight joins strawwweight (115), bantamweight (135) and featherweight (145) among UFC women’s weight classes. Though the division will be new, the UFC has held a women’s 125-pound bout before, with Joanne Calderwood defeating Valerie Letourneau via third-round TKO last June at UFC Fight Night 89.

‘TUF 26’ will begin filming in July and premiere on FS1 later this year.

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