The 26th season of The Ultimate Fighter has reached its apex and the first UFC women's flyweight champion will be crowned on Friday night at the Park Theater in Paradise, Nevada.

The event has undergone quite a few changes and there weren't a lot of household names on the card originally. If you're planning on watching this event, here are the 10 things you should know about the TUF 26 finale.
How To Watch

  • UFC Fight Pass Early Prelims - 7:30 pm ET
  • FS1 Prelims - 8 pm ET
  • FS1 Main Card - 10 pm ET
We Have A Change At The Top
After defeating Roxanne Modafferi in the final episode of the network broadcast, Sijara Eubanks was supposed to face Nicco Montano for the women's 125-pound title.
Eubanks fell ill on Wednesday night and couldn't weigh-in on Thursday. She was then removed from the card and replaced by Modafferi.
With 42 professional fights, Modaferri was by far the most experienced fighter in the TUF house. So she is more than capable of putting on a respectable showing–if not positioned to spring the upset.
Originally, she was set to battle Barb Honchak, but the shuffle left the latter without an opponent. Lauren Murphy was previously on the card and scheduled to fight Priscila Cachoeira, but the Brazilian native had VISA issues.
Now Murphy will step up to face Honchak. It's quite a bit of reshuffling, but the show will go on.
  • Sijara Eubanks ()* vs. Nicco Montano (124.5) – for inaugural women’s flyweight title
  • Sean O’Malley (135.5) vs. Terrion Ware (136)
  • Barb Honchak (125.5)** vs. Roxanne Modafferi (124)
  • Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Eric Spicely (185.5)
  • DeAnna Bennett (126) vs. Melinda Fabian (126)
  • Brett Johns (135.5) vs. Joe Soto (135)
  • Montana De La Rosa (125.5) vs. Christina Marks (125.5)
  • Ryan Janes (185) vs. Andrew Sanchez (185.5)
  • Karine Gevorgyan (130)*** vs. Rachael Ostovich (125)
  • Ariel Beck (125.5) vs. Shana Dobson (125.5)
  • Gillian Robertson (125.5) vs. Emily Whitmire (125)
* Eubanks was ruled medically ineligible.
** Honchak is now expected to meet Lauren Murphy.
***Gevorgyan fined 30 percent of her show money. That amount will be paid to Ostovich.
Card, Predictions, Odds, DraftKings Advice
TUF History
This is the fourth season of TUF to feature females. It is the second time the show has been used to launch a weight class. In Season 20, Carla Esparza won the show to become the inaugural women's strawweight champion.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the UFC feature another season of the show in the near future to help flesh out the women's featherweight division.
Tons of Female Flyweight Fights
If you're a fan of female flyweight MMA, this is a card you'll want to see. Seven of the 11 scheduled fights are from that weight class. The weight class should begin with good depth.
The-Non Flyweight Bouts
In other weight classes, the promising and undefeated Sean O'Malley will make his official UFC debut. O'Malley competed on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series and shined with a highlight-reel first-round KO finish of Alfred Khashakyan to earn the UFC contract.
On Friday, he'll take on Terrion Wade in a men's featherweight clash. Eric Spicely and Gerald Meerschaert will get up close and personal in an interesting middleweight scrap. Both men excel on the ground so this could be a stand-up affair.
Another undefeated fighter on the card is Brett Johns. The 25-year-old is headed toward his third UFC bout, but he'll be facing his stiffest competition in veteran Joe Soto.
PPV Appetizer
The TUF finale always serves as a warm-up for one of the promotion's final pay-per-view cards of the year. This year is no different as the UFC will travel to Detroit for UFC 218 on Saturday night. Be on the lookout for preview content on that event as well.
Rachael Ostovich has already made a mark as an internet personality, but she'll finally be getting a chance to show what she can do in the Octagon. Unfortunately, her opponent Karine Gevorgyan missed weight, but the fight will still take place.
Ostovich has star potential, but she's got to win to add some momentum to her brand.
Modaferri is experienced and tough, but she's much too easy to hit and to take down. Her defense is lacking overall and she doesn't possess the striking power to strongly discourage Montano from closing distance and using her speed advantage to land strikes.
Expect to see Montano close, strike and secure takedowns en route to a unanimous-decision victory.