Updated

Following an 18-month absence from the sport, Alexis Davis will return to action at "The Ultimate Fighter" 24 Finale where she faces Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann.

The new fight was confirmed by UFC officials on Wednesday following an initial report from ESPN.

Ranked in the top five when she took an extended break to have her first child, Davis returns with a mission to get back into the title race when she fights on Dec. 3.

A perennial contender at 135 pounds, Davis has gone 4-1 in the UFC with her only loss coming to Ronda Rousey in 2014.

Davis holds several notable wins in the division including a second round TKO victory over current champion Amanda Nunes from their meeting in Strikeforce in 2011.

McMann has posted a 3-3 record overall in the UFC with her only losses coming to champions or former champions in Rousey, Nunes and Miesha Tate.

Davis and McMann are the latest addition to the card headlined by flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson facing the winner of the current season of "The Ultimate Fighter", which will be determined in a few weeks time.