The UFC held a press conference today in Japan and UFC President Dana White announced that the UFC has signed a development deal with Vale Tudo Japan to promote and operate a tournament series projected to premiere later this year.
“Much like The Ultimate Fighter, this series will continue to cultivate and popularize top talent for us in new markets. The round-robin tournament concept is going to make for amazing fights, with a lot at stake,” White said in a press release. “Every fight will matter, every performance will count. I am so excited to be back in Japan.”
The Vale Tudo Japan series began in 1994 and was run by SHOOTO. The tournament series will feature fighters in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. The winner of the tournament series will earn a UFC contract and will air on Japanese terrestrial TV.
More details on this upcoming tournament and television show will be released by the UFC soon.