Inaugural female TUF winner Julianna Pena (5-2) will face her first test outside the realm of reality television when she takes on No. 9 ranked bantamweight contender Jessica Andrade (10-3) at UFC 171.
FOX Sports first reported the news Monday, which was subsequently confirmed by UFC officials.
Pena, 24, catapulted herself into the spotlight with a scorching run through The Ultimate Fighter 18, finishing Team Rousey’s No. 1 pick Shayna Baszler, along with Sarah Moras and Jessica Rakoczy in succession.
Her first-round TKO victory over Rakoczy, stopped with just one second left in the opening frame, awarded Pena the distinction of becoming the first female to win The Ultimate Fighter since the show’s induction in 2005.
Meanwhile, Andrade, 22, looks to capitalize on momentum gained from her dominant UFC Fight Night 30 victory over Rosi Sexton. Andrade is 1-1 thus far in her UFC career, having lost to Liz Carmouche via second-round TKO in her debut.
UFC 171 takes place March 15, 2014 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Welterweight contenders Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler collide for the vacant UFC welterweight title in the night’s main event.