Dana White: UFC 'working on' introduction of women's 115-pound division

In 2012, the UFC launched its flyweight division. In 2013 it was the women's bantamweights. Now, according to UFC President Dana White, promotion officials are "working on" the introduction of a 115-pound women's strawweight division.

White revealed the plans while speaking to FoxSports.com's The Fighter & The Kid podcast.

"People care (about the women). I didn't see it (coming)," White said.

"The thing that's really cool about it is, just like you said, there's a lot of other women's sports that a lot of people don't care about, and a lot of people don't support, and a lot of people don't follow. On The Ultimate Fighter right now that's airing, the women are out-rating the men. When the women fight, ratings are up 44-percent.

"It's pretty cool," White continued. "I never in a million years thought that it would take off the way it has. I'll even give you guys something that nobody knows yet. We're actually working on bringing in another division right now for women, which I said wouldn't happen for a long time."

When asked whether he was referring to a 125-pound or 145-pound addition, White clarified that the UFC has instead settled on the 115-pound strawweight division.

White did not reveal a timetable for the launch of the new weight class, which would be the tenth in the UFC and second for the women.

Former Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche launched the women's bantamweight division on February 23, 2013 at UFC 157 to great success, drawing an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 pay-per-view buys.

Several of the top women strawweights fighters in the world currently compete for Invicta FC, including champ Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadel, and Felice Herrig. Additionally, top-ranked strawweight Jessica Aguilar recently signed with World Series of Fighting.