UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 14 Invites Featherweights and Bantamweights at Last

People have wanted it since before the coaches for TUF 13 were announced, and next season, it looks like they're going to get it.

MMA Junkie reported today that indeed, the featherweights and bantamweights could be on their way to the spotlight of The Ultimate Fighter's 14th season, and former-WEC-turned-current-UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby announced via his Twitter feed the following in regards to the open tryouts:

"Next TUF tryouts will be 135 lbs and 145 lbs. in NJ. Marriott Newark Liberty International March 21. :)"

The Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott Hotel in Newark, New Jersey is located at 1 Hotel Road and is open to any featherweight and/or bantamweight looking to try their hand at becoming the next Ultimate Fighter and the first lighter-weight winner of The Ultimate Fighter.

Let the records of MMA's history archives show that the Ultimate Fighting Championship will have featured 13 seasons of The Ultimate Fighter once the 13th season finale comes and goes on June 4th, and they have produced five middleweight winners, four welterweight winners, four lightweight winners, three light heavyweight winners and two heavyweight winners, and of the original eight season winners (the winners from the first four seasons), only Michael Bisping and Kendall Grove have yet to challenge for a UFC world championship.

Not since "The Comeback" season of TUF has there been an instance where the winner of TUF has gone on to win a title.

There hasn't been a winner in the past nine TUF seasons that has gone on to challenge a champion in a title bout, and there's also one precedent that has yet to be set: There has never been a featherweight or bantamweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter...until now.

Look for all that to change when Season 14 rolls around, boys and girls.