Women's MMA - Amateurs in Full Form

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

Hook'n'Shoot champ Ashley Cummins Courtesy Don Michiel Coffman

In breaking news Congrats to Tuff-n-uff champ Ashley Cummins, who won the Hook'n'Shoot 115 pound tournament final defeating Jessica Laubacker by decision

Cummins defeated Kalilah Bakar by armbar in round 1 in the semi-finals, while Jessica Laubacker defeated Lylna Tao by decision in the other semi-final in Evansville, IN.

Jessica Zomcik (left) & Amanda Wilcoxen (right)

The NAAFS all female card brought exciting fights to Akron this past weekend, as Jessica Eye defeated Marissa Caldwell via unanimous decision in the night’s only pro fight.

In the 155 amateur division Jessica Zomcik defeated Amanda Wilcoxen by unanimous decision in a rematch, evening the two at a match a piece.

Several other amateurs in the 145-155 pound divisions were also in action as:

In the 155 pound division

Lalani Malley def. Lindsey Smith via rear naked choke in :28 seconds

Andria Caplan def. Janelle Bloom by tko 1:30

In the 150 pound division

Tamikka Brents def. Tera Carper by tko 2:34 of round 1

In the 145 pound division

Ashley Hawkins def. Trisha Gerus via split decision

Diane Hooper def. Kathryn Gardiner via decision

More results from the card can be found in the Fightergirls forums.

In other action from this past week –

Tannaya Hantelman defeated Vicky Nadeau via TKO at 2:17 of round 1, Elite1: High Stakes

and

Karina Hallinan defeats Yang Xiao Nan via rear naked choke at 3:34 of round 1, Martial Combat 10

Strikeforce had a conference call this week, as 135 pound champion Sarah Kaufman and her challenger #2 ranked 145 pounder Marloes Coenen talked About their upcoming match in San Jose Oct. 9. Kaufman stated that she was happy to finally make her way to the main card and felt that Marloes Coenen will be a challenge.

Sarah Kaufman Courstesy Ester Lin/Strikeforce

 “I am here to fight, and I think having a tough opponent in front of you is the most important thing.  It doesn’t matter who they fought before, and where they just came from and I thought Marloes looked really good in the fight with Cyborg. Who knows how the different weight classes are going to affect how she fights.  Maybe she is more aggressive. Maybe she is less aggressive. We will just need to see what happens.  My training hasn’t been any different even though she is coming down from a heavier weight where she hasn’t fought before. My training has been just as intense and I am expecting just as tough of a fight as I’ve ever had.”

Coenen said that the weight cut was going well, and that being a ten year veteran in the sport gave her credentials to challenge for a title again.

Marloes Coenen Courtesy MMAJunkie.com

"I am really blessed that I get two title shots in a row, and I am really grateful to Scott for that. I think dropping weight is something a professional MMA athlete has to do. So it’s just a part of the job."

 

145 Champ Cyborg Santos Courtesy Ester Lin/Strikeforce

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker also answered a few questions to Fightergirls.com about the 145 pound division.

“We think Cyborg (Santos) will probably fight in the beginning of 2011. There are new girls that we are talking to every day. There is a girl who actually fights for M1, who is in the mix. There are also a couple girls from Romania, one from Hungary. It is no easy task to fight Cyborg but we will have a good match for her. We will have an announcement in a few weeks regarding Cyborg.”

MMA Fighter Cindy Dandois

The M-1 fighter Coker is referring to is #4 ranked Cindy Dandois, who was supposed to face #5 ranked 135 pounder Miesha Tate this summer, but due to a visa issue, Dandois wasn't able to get into the country. 

Speaking of Tate, Coker stated that she maybe fighting before the end of the year before her scheduled title match with the winner of Kaufman vs. Coenen.

An all female event to help support breast cancer awareness is happening in Florence, KY Oct. 2. Several popular female fighters including Elaina Maxwell and Kim Couture will be fighting on the event with Strikeforce champion Cyborg Santos making an appearance. The event will also be streaming online. We will have a complete line-up in the coming weeks. 

Ashley Weakley in the Tuff'n'uff Semis 

Tuff-n-uff MMA will crown two new champions this coming weekend as Jenny Yum faces Stephanie Eggink for the 125 pound title, and Ashley Weakley faces T.J. Cunanan for the 135 pound title. The full card will be streamed on GoFightLive.tv this Friday for just $5.

Tuff-n-uff also announced this week that they are looking for a national tv deal, and will start airing cards in the Las Vegas area starting Sept. 25 on Vegas TV.

Congratulations to Michelle Waterson - she's expecting her first child. She plans to return to mma next year.

Gina Carano training at 87 Eleven Stunt Team Studio

It was announced this week that Gina Carano's movie "Haywire" is set to debut late March/early April 2011 according to the Playlist blog. Pics from her training with the 87 Eleven fight crew can be seen in the Fightergirls forums.

In matches this week –

Tandi Schaeffer faces Melissa Moore at Showdown Fights: Respect in Orem, UT

Tannaya Hantelman faces Shannon Ludlow at ECC: Redemption in Halifax, Noca Scotia

Marion Reneau faces a yet to be named opponent at PureCombat: Champions for Children in Clovis, CA

Kate Aroa faces Deney Hayward ICNZ 12 in New Zealand

and

Top Ranked Rin Nakai

At Valkyrie 7 in Japan

#6 125 pounder Rin Nakai faces Mayumi "Super Benkei" Aoki 

Mizuho Sato faces Michiko Takeda

and

Ayame "Iris" Miura faces Mika "Hari" Harigai

That's all for now. Check out Fightergirls - for all your women’s mma news and interviews. You can 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 for all your mma gear and clothing, now featuring a line of women's and men's shorts. We also carry RevGear, Everlast, and Cleto Reyes boxing and mma gear.

Until next week

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• Filed Under:  
• Martial Arts, MMA