Women's MMA - Superfight Announced plus Erin Toughill Back in the Mix?

Welcome to the Fightergirls Blog here on Women Talks Sports. The news is brought to you by your source for women’s mma gear and clothing Fightergirls.com. Here is the news for this week.

(Roxanne Modafferi [top] vs. Tara LaRosa [bottom]) 

A huge announcement was made from the Korean MMA promotion Moosin, who are preparing to hold the first mma event in Massachusetts. Top pound for pound fighter Tara LaRosa will be facing #2 ranked 135 pounder Roxanne Modafferi in a catch weight bout at 130. LaRosa has posted on the Underground forums that it was her idea to bring Modafferi in as an opponent. Modafferi lost to LaRosa four years ago via decision, and this battle comes as both are on the top of their game.

The card is still seeking approval by the Massachusetts state athletic commission and if approved, would happen on May 21 in the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

(Strikeforce Champion Cyborg Santos courtesy Tom Hill)

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has announced that Cyborg Santos will be defending her 145 pound title on the promotion’s upcoming June 16 card at the Nokia Theater in L.A.

(#5 ranked Hiroko Yamanaka)

The short list of possible opponents include:

Romy Ruyssen, who just won the Upcoming Glory 145 tournament

#6 ranked 145 pounder Cindy Dandois who is 3-0 and defeated Cyborg’s last opponent #3 ranked 145 pounder Marloes Coenen

#5 ranked 145 pounder Hiroko Yamanaka, who has an upset victory over #5 ranked 135er Hitomi Akano

#7 ranked 145 pounder Amanda Nunes, who has wins over #7 ranked 135 pounder Vanessa Porto and Ediane “India” Gomes

and...

the winner of Shana Olsen vs. #8 ranked 145 pounder Yoko Takahashi, slated to take place on Apr. 24.

(#2 ranked 145 pounder Erin Toughill)

#2 ranked 145 pounder Erin Toughill made a statement this week on her Facebook page that she is back with Strikeforce, after saying she was leaving the promotion last month. Toughill said it was miscommunications between her management and Strikeforce that cause a lot of the problems, and that Strikeforce representative and fighter liaison Shannon Knapp helped resolved a lot of issues. Toughill is taking a break to get emotionally and physically rested before taking another fight; hopefully sometime this fall.

Results from Valkyrie 5 in Japan this past weekend:

(Kyoko Takabayashi Courtesy Sherdog.com)

#8 ranked 115 pounder Kyoko Takabayashi def. Emi Fujino via 3rd round decision

Kayo Nagayasu def. Fukuko Hamada 3nd round decision

Naoko def. HARUMI 3rd round decision

Yasuko Tamada def. Yukiko Seki 3rd round decision

Megumi Yabushita def. Mutsumi Kasai via 2rd round arm bar

Akiko Naito defeated Yasuko Mogi 3rd round decision 

A few updates to stories we broke last week.

Elana Reid and her management have officially signed with Bellator, and is expected to compete in the 115 pound women’s tournament slated for the promotion’s second season this coming August.

Rumored also to be the tournament is #1 ranked 115 pounder Megumi Fujii, and #1 ranked 125 pounder Rosi Sexton, which both have no comment at this time. Sexton, however, did say she is still signed to fight with Bellator. #6 ranked 115 pounder Jessica Pene is also signed with the promotion.

Reid will be defending her Sovereign Nations title against Alyx Hess this coming Saturday.

Strikeforce made an official announcement this week that the fight between Kerry Vera and Julianna Peña is on for the Strikeforce Challengers May 21in Portland, OR.

(Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Kyra Gracie)

Kyra Gracie is taking steps to make her debut in MMA in 2011.

In a statement to Fightergirls.com, she stated that her management is in negations with several organizations for a debut, not stating which ones as of yet. She says there is no one in particular she is gunning for at the moment.

When it comes to a division she is perusing, Gracie states she is looking under 140 – which could mean a run in the 135 pound division. The division is chalked full of talent, including Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman and talented world class grapplers such as #2 ranked Roxanne Modafferi, #3 ranked Shayna Baszler and #9 ranked Miesha Tate.

In matches coming up this week:

Felice Herrig vs Jessica Rakoczy, Bellator 14 in Chicago (Available on Fox Sports Net Thursday night)

Valérie Létourneau vs Anna Barone Wreck MMA in Canada

Elena Reid vs Alyx "Miss Luck" Hess, Playboy Fight Night in North Dakota

Karina Hallinan vs Carla Esparza, Long Beach Fight Night in California

Kim Connor-Hamby vs Jessica "Babybull" Hilger, AXC 7: Chaos in Cabot Arkansas

Brighton Hutton vs Megan Jacobson, C3 Fights in Clinton, OK

Fightergirls will be doing a few live events coming up in the next two months. I will be covering the Tuff-n-uff weigh-ins Thursday April 22 at the Orleans Casino in Vegas. The April 23 Tuff-n-uff card will feature amateur fighters Christy Tada vs. Jessica Sorrenson and Ashley Cummins vs. Cathy Snell.

Fightergirls will also have a booth at the UFC Expo at the Mandalay Event center in Las Veags Memorial Day weekend, with live coverage of the event at Fightergirls.com.

That is all for now. Please check out Fightergirls for all your women’s mma news and interviews. Plus follow us on twitter @Fightergirls with the most up to the minute breaking news stories in women’s mma.

Also check out the Fightergirls store of all your mma gear and clothing, now featuring a great selection of shorts for men as well. We also carry RevGear, Everlast, and Cleto Reyes boxing and mma gear.

Until next week.

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• FeMMA