EA Sports UFC to be first UFC game with female fighters

EA Sports UFC will feature playable female fighters, making it the first UFC game to do so, publisher Electronic Arts announced today.

The company also revealed the first two women on the game's roster: Ronda Rousey (above left), the current UFC Women's Bantamweight champion, and Miesha Tate (right). Rousey and Tate also hold the distinction of being the first female coaches on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, the reality television series in which fighters live in a house together and compete for a UFC contract.

"Since we added the Women's Bantamweight division earlier this year, the women have impressed everyone," said Dana White, president of the UFC, in a press release. "The female division has become a huge part of the UFC and fans will now be able to experience fighting with them in the game."

"In our commitment to delivering the most realistic fighting experience ever achieved, we wanted to represent the full spectrum of talent and diversity of all the fighters in the sport, including women who have become an undeniable force to be reckoned with," added Dean Richards, general manager of the EA Sports UFC franchise at EA.

There's no word yet on how many female fighters will appear on the EA Sports UFC roster. The game will be released next spring on Xbox One and PlayStation 4; check out our interview with its creative director for more details.