We now know when the latest season of the Ultimate Fighter will air on network television.

Although TUF has not been as popular as it once was back in the day, the reality show is coming back for its 26th season on FOX Sports 1. The show has been crucial in the promotion's history.

Let me take a moment and go back in history. The UFC has been around for over 20 years, but TUF was the main reason that the UFC and MMA for that matter have been able to go mainstream.

UFC officials were searching for a TV deal, but no one would pick them up due to their history despite all of the changes that Zuffa had made since taking over 2001. UFC President Dana White went to Spike TV and pitched a reality TV show with the finals being an event that would air live.

Thanks to Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar, the sport took off due in large part to them having a great fight that exposed the casual fan to the product.

It was reported last week that the upcoming season would feature two former big-show champion's as opposing coaches. Former WSOF lightweight champion and recent UFC debutant Justin Gaethje (18-0) and ex-UFC titleholder Eddie Alvarez (28-5) have tapped as coaches for the show, which is set to premiere on August 30th at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on FS1.

Filming for the reality show is already underway in Las Vegas, Nevada at the TUF gym. It’s expected that the show will air for six weeks. This season, the show will feature debut of women’s flyweights, with the show’s tournament final crowning a new “TUF” champion and the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight champ.

46 fighters showed up at the TUF 26 tryouts and featured some top names such as former Invicta FC flyweight champion Barb Honchak (10-2), “TUF 18” cast member Roxanne Modafferi (21-13) and UFC vet Lauren Murphy (9-3). The official cast, as well as the head coaches’ team of assistant coaches, will be announced in the coming weeks.

UFC President Dana White recently told MMAjunkie the addition of a new division will prompt fighters from the smaller strawweight class and bigger bantamweight class to migrate. This marks the 12th overall division that the promotion has added.

“We’re pretty confident that we’re going to have a packed division.” he said. “… I think there are enough talented women to make three good divisions.”