LAS VEGAS – The newest season of “The Ultimate Fighter” is poised to help the UFC finally build a women’s featherweight roster, and current champion Cris Cyborg was on hand for the open tryouts to personally welcome the crop of hopefuls.

A total of 28 women’s featherweights were on hand at Tuesday’s “The Ultimate Fighter 28” open tryouts at Las Vegas’ Palace Station Hotel & Casino, with each fighter hoping to land a spot on the show and, ultimately, a UFC contract.

Additionally, 53 male heavyweight hopefuls were on hand for that division’s proceedings, as well.

While the long-running reality TV competition series has been adding fighters to the roster for more than a decade, this season could prove particularly valuable, with Cyborg (20-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in need of challengers for her title. The Brazilian slugger was happy with the turnout and believes the show will go a long way toward building out the division, and for ensuring the weight class survives past her reign as champion.

“I think my division is going to be the strongest division because the girls can be bigger, powerful – they can be faster,” Cyborg told MMAjunkie. “We have girls, and it’s going to continue. I’m really happy about this.”

The female featherweight hopefuls included notables Marciea Allen (7-2), Carina Damm (23-14), Cindy Dandois (12-3), Ediane Gomes (11-4), Pannie Kianzad (9-3), Larissa Pacheco (11-2), Elizabeth Phillips (6-6) and Pam Sorenson (7-2), among others. UFC matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard were in charge of evaluating the talent over brief grappling matches and pad work before “The Ultimate Fighter” producers ultimately decide who makes the cut.

Cyborg was friendly with everyone attending the tryouts, taking photos with several, and says she wasn’t interested in trying to intimidate anyone with her presence but instead was simply there to support the evolution of her weight class.

“It’s a sport,” Cyborg said. “I come here to compete. Here, I’m a normal person. In the cage, we’re going to fight if something happens, but we train for it. It’s not because they’re my enemies. It’s nothing like this. The time, the day of the fight, if you lose or win, it doesn’t matter. It’s a competition.”

Filming for “The Ultimate Fighter 28” is expected to start in July, with the show debuting on FS1 in August. Coaches for the series have yet to be determined.

To hear more from Cyborg and to check out some highlights from the day’s action, check out the video above.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.