MMA - 145ers Impress at Tuff-n-uff, Contenders Battle this Week, Plus Other News

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.

Here is the news for this week.

Taylor Stratford Stays Perfect - Courtesy Tuff-n-uff/Ultra Vista 

Tuff-n-uff started its amateur 145 pound tournament this past Friday and two rising stars emerged.

One of the top ranked amateur fighters Taylor Stratford improved her amateur record to 6-0 with a submission of debuting Team Quest prospect Shauna Duggar. Stratford, who only turned pro last year, and is only 19 years of age, showed a dominate performance on the feet, before taking down Duggar, taking the mount, continuing her barrage of punches. Duggar retreated to her stomach, as Stratford took the back and sinched in a rear naked choke at 1:45 of round one to advance to the semi-finals.

Olympian Ronda Rousey impressive in her match - Tuff-n-uff/Ultra Vista

In the other semi-final, Olympic bronze medalist in judo Ronda Rousey made quick work of Tuff-n-uff vet Autumn Richardson. Rousey was able to use her judo early, taking down Richardson, applying a headlock, and transition to mount. Rousey was able to secure an armbar, and get the submission in only 57 seconds. Rousey is now 2-0 and punches her ticket in the semi-finals.

Post fight, Rousey stated that her goal is to get a shot at the Strikeforce 145 pound title champion in one year’s time.

Jessamyn Duke from"Absolute Action MMA" in October

Rousey and Stratford will face the winners of the other two semi-final matches, which will happen at the Jan. 7, 2011 Tuff-n-uff card. Fightergirls has confirmed Kentucky prospect Jessamyn Duke and Jackson’s MMA’s Megan Jacobson are two of the four competiting in the semi-finals. The other two participants will be announced this week, so check out Fightergirls for the updates.

Mia Hayes Takes the Win - Courtesy Tuff-n-uff/Ultra Vista

In a non-tournament match, breast cancer survivor Mia Hayes looked healthy and energetic in her win verses Brittany Griffin. Coming out to a very supportive crowd, Hayes threw some wild, but effective punches on Griffin, and was able to secure a standing guillotine to end the fight at 59 seconds.

In the pro results this weekend -

Casey Noland def. Amy Riehle via tko (ground and pound) at 2:34 in the first at the King of the Cage in Las Vegas.

Katie Klimansky def. Brittany Howard via tap to guillotine choke in round 1

and

Reina Cordova defeats Molly Helsel via Unanimous Decision at FiteNite 14 in Costa Rica

Jan Finney (left) and Liz Carmouche (right) battle at Strikeforce

This is a big week as several top notch fights are scheduled, several with ranking implications. Strikeforce Challengers will be in Jackson, MS this Friday live on Showtime, with Jan Finney facing Liz Carmouche. Finney is making her way back to the 135 pound division after a tough tko loss in June to Strikeforce 145 pound champion Cyborg Santos.

Carmouche, a seven year Marine vet who is currently 4-0, is coming off a decision win over Colleen Schneider as an alternate in the Strikeforce women’s grand prix August, plus a tko victory over Valentina Shevchenko at the C3 fights in Oklahoma this past September.

The match will be broadcast live on Showtime at 7 p.m. pacific Friday.

Shayna Baszler & Elaina Maxwell clash on Friday

Also on Friday, three ranked fighters go at it in North Dakota. Cage Inc.’s Battle at the Border at the Dakota Magic Casino in Hankinson, ND will feature two women’s fights, including #4 ranked 135 pounder Shayna Baszler facing Elaina Maxwell for the company’s first ever feather title. Plus in a 105 pound battle, #8 straw weight Amy Davis faces Bellator fighter and #8 flyweight Jessica Pene.

Baszler has recently resigned with Strikeforce, and is the Freestyle Cage Fighting’s Grand Prix tournament winner. Maxwell is coming off a non-title unanimous decision win over #10 ranked 135 pounder and Raging Wolf champion Alexis Davis.

Amy Davis and Jessica Pene fighting at 105.

Amy Davis is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jennifer Berg this past July, and Pene is coming off a decision loss to Zoila Frausto in the Bellator 115 tournament quarter finals this past August.

Tickets are still available at the Dakota Magic Casino.

#6 ranked 115 pounder Jessica Aguilar will be in action on Thursday, as she faces Elsie Henri at G-Force: Bad Blood 4 in Coral Gables, FL. Aguilar is coming off a controversial loss to #1 ranked 115 pounder Zoila Frausto this past September. Henri is coming down from the 125 pound division, and is on a three fight win streak.

WIBA Chamo Eileen Olszewki Courtesy Rachel Gonzalez

And if she wasn’t busy enough, Aguilar will be making her pro-boxing debut on Dec. 17 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL. She will face current WIBA Flyweight World Champion Eileen Olszewski in a six round bout. Olszewski (6-2-2) is ranked third in the world in the latest WBAN Flyweight rankings.

Fighter Roxanne Modafferi

After two hard losses, Roxanne Modafferi was released by Strikeforce this week. Modafferi, who has lost the the #1 ranked 135 pounder Marloes Coenen last year, and lost to #2 ranked Sarah Kaufman this past July, is still a top contender in the rankings and has fought several times outside the organization this year, going 2-0 in those fights. Modafferi stated in her blog she was a little disheartened by the decision, but  has been given an outreach of support by fans. 

#5 ranked 145er Amanda Nunes Courtesy Marcio Valle

MMA Rising is reporting that Amanda Buckner is out of her match with #5 ranked Amanda Nunes in February due to a lingering injury and a follow-up surgery on Nov. 17. Nunes is currently training in the U.S. and was scheduled to compete on the Global Fight League card in Maine on Feb. 4. She is not off the card, and is currently looking for another opponent.

Nunes also maybe on track to debut in Strikeforce. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is considering bringing in Nunes as a possible contender for the 145 pound title.

Top ten ranked Cat Albert (left) faces #2 ranked Carina Damm (right) in December 

It was announced this week that Strikeforce Grand Prix participant and #2 ranked 125 pounder Carina Damm will face #7 ranked Cat Albert (Zingano) at the Crowbar MMA event in Grand Forks, ND on Dec. 10. Also on the card will be Nina Ansaroff facing Patti Lee.

In matches this week –

Celine Haga faces Simona Soukupova, ECFF: Night of Champions in Norwich, England

and

Yana Kunitskaya faces Kamila Balanda at Bushido FC: Heros in Lithuania

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.

With Christmas coming, go to the Fightergirls Store for all your gifts for your favorite fighter or fight fan. We mma gear, clothing, and various merchandise perfect for those mma lovers of all ages, male or female. We also carry RevGear, Everlast, and Cleto Reyes boxing and mma gear.

Until next week

View MarQFPR's Profile

• Filed Under:  
• Martial Arts, MMA