UFC News & Events: New Strawweight Division Debuts in July; Fight Card Here

In July 2014, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will feature the new women's strawweight division. It is the second weight class in the female division that has been added in the past two years.

According to Fox Sports, Claudia Gadelha and Tina Lahdemaki are set to battle each other on July 16 in Atlantic City at UFC Fight Night. Gadelha is 25 years old, Brazilian and has an 11-0 record. She ranks as one of the best female fighters in the world in her weight class. She is a world champion in jiu-jitsu and represents Team Nova Uniao in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is the youngest jiujitsu black belter in the history of the team.

Lahdemaki, 26 years old, came from Finland and has a record of 5-0. She is known to be an expert in submission, winning her last bout against Karla Benitez in November 2013 via a triangle choke.

Gadelha was supposed to face Carla Esparza in the women's strawweight division of the Invicta FC. However, Esparza got sick on the night of the weigh-in, spurring her to withdraw from the fight. Lahdemaki replaced Esparza and will go down from 125 to 115 pounds to qualify.

MMA Fighting said that although Lahdemaki's background and fighting style is not fully known, Gadelha will be ready to face her. She said, "I'm well trained for every situation, ready for a perfect debut in the UFC. Since she's a grappler, the fight will probably go to the ground but, like I said, I'm ready for everything." Gadelha expressed that she was willing to take any fight that the UFC offered in Carla Esparza's stead. She added, "My goal in the UFC is to become the champion, but I'm an employee and I will fight whoever they want, for the title or not."

Gadelha was supposed to join "The Ultimate Fighter 20". She came from Invicta with 10 other female fighters to be on the show. She chose to opt out of the show due to a huge weight cut requirement which she was unable to accomplish in a six-week period.

In a report by MMA Weekly, UFC Fight Night on July 16 will feature Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Jim Miller in the main event. It will be a lightweight fight between the two fighters weighing 155 pounds. Another female fight card also features Jessamyn Duke against Leslie Smith.