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Coenen (left) Battles Carmouche (right) Courtesy Ester Lin/Strikeforce

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.

Coenen triangle chokes on Carmouche Courtesy Ester Lin/Strikeforce

In breaking news, in what was one of the biggest comebacks in Women’s MMA history, Strikeforce 135 pound champion Marloes Coenen defeated Liz Carmouche via triangle choke at 1:29 in round 4 at Strikeforce this past weekend in Columbus, OH.

Liz Carmouche dominates the 2nd round Courtesy Ester Lin/Strikeforce

Coenen and Carmouche were pretty even in the first round, but Carmouche was able to takedown Coenen throughout the second and third rounds, gaining mount and hit Coenen with vicious ground and pound. Coenen was trapped, but did not relent as the rounds ended. Coenen was able to get a takedown of her own in the fourth, controlling Carmouche from her side, and creep up to secure the match winning triangle choke.

Carmouche was the stronger individual and has a dominate performance during the match, solidifying her position in the 135 pound rankings. Coenen will face Strikeforce Grand Prix Champion Miesha Tate next.

Bellator champion Zoila Frausto-Gurgel

Across the country in California, Zoila Gurgel (formerly Frausto) was able to defeat Karina Hallinan for a second time, this time via unanimous decision, at Bellator 35 in Lemore, CA. All three judges scored it 30-27.

After the fight, Gurgel went to the hospital and was treated for a broken hand. It is expeted she will be out for 6 weeks. Bjorn Rebney, CEO of Bellator, stated in the post fight press conferance that Gurgel would be getting a televised match in May, but didn't name an opponent. Gurgel stated that she wants to face Jessica Aguilar in a rematch for her next fight.

It was revealed by Gurgel and Rebney in a video by Women's MMA Round-up that she would no longer be fighting at 115 pounds. Rebney said that they are still deciding what they would do with the 115 pound title, but a 125 pound tournament this fall was in the works. Gurgel would be in the tournament if it did happen. Top 125 pounders Rosi Sexton, Carla Esparza, and Aisling Daly are all signed with Bellator, but there is public outcry that #1 ranked Tara LaRosa should also be involved.

We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

Holly Holm wins MMA debut courtesy Chris Cozzone/New Mexico Boxing

World boxing champ Holly Holm made an impressive MMA debut, defeating Christina Domke via tko 3:58 in the second round at the Mean1 MMA card in Albuquerque, NM. Holm used her kickboxing to out strike Domke and was able to get the KO in her MMA debut.

Bird tops Byrne in pro MMA debut Courtesy TopMMANews.com

Shortly after Holm’s victory, grappling world champion Sheila Bird defeats Tanya Byrne by TKO at 3:51 of the 1st round at the Unified MMA in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Bird was able to take down and mount Byrne, releasing some vicious ground and pound to end the contest.

In the only other pro match this week

Felice Herrig def. Andrea Miller by tko At 3:30 in the first round at the Chicago Cagefighting Championships in Illinois.

Carina Damm (left) & Tara LaRosa (right) Square off Friday

Two of the top 125 pounders will finally square off as #1 ranked Tara LaRosa will face #6 ranked Carina Damm at Shark Fights 14 in Lubbock, TX, which will be broadcast on HDNet this Friday. Negotiations between LaRosa & Damm’s management have been off and on for the past two years, with different venues and promotions considered. Damm’s change of management is what seemed to finally make the match happen.

While not yet official, Shark Fights and HDNet are reportedly interested in featuring another women's 125-pound bout in April, with the winners of each fight facing each other in May or June for a newly-created title.

Japan's Hamasaki (left) faces fan favorite Jessica Aguilar (right)

Also on Friday, Two more top ranked fighters will square off in Japan. #6 ranked 115 pounder Jessica Aguilar will face #8 ranked Ayaka Hamasaki at JEWELS 12^th ring in Tokyo. Aguilar is replacing # 5 ranked Lisa Ward, who is out due to an injured calf muscle. This won’t be for Hamasaki’s JEWELS title.

Also on the card, #7 ranked 105 pounder Miyoko Kusaka takes on Yuka Okumura and England’s Danielle West will take on Esui in a 145 pound battle.

Strikeforce Superstar Gina Carano

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated this week that he is offering Gina Carano a match on June 18 in her original hometown of Dallas, TX. Carano has yet to respond, but rumnors started to fly about an opponent. Strikeforce denies that #4 ranked 145 pound Amanda Nunes will be the opponent, which was reported by Brazil’s Tatame Magazine this week. However, Strikeforce did state that they had an opponent in mind.

URC amateur champ Taylor Stratford with her father

Congratulations to new Ultimate Reno Combat MMA champ Taylor Stratford who defeated Amanda Bell via tko at 8 secvonds of the fourth round this past weekend. Stratford is hoping to make it a two-fer as she faces Ashlee Evans-Smith for the Tuff-n-uff 145 pound title this Saturday at the Orleans Casino in Vegas, streaming live on GoFightLive.tv.

Seasoned vets Katilin Young (left) & Julie Kedzie (right)

A bunch of matches have been announced for the weekend of Apr. 9.

Former top contender Kaitlin Young will face #10 ranked 135 pounder and Jackson’s MMA champ Julie Kedzie at Jackson's MMA Series 4 Apr. 9.

Beth Revell (left) & Sarah Maloy (right) to battle in Oklahoma

Also on the 9^th, Freestyle Cage Fighting will feature three women’s matches in Shawnee, OK. Erin Toughill is set to face a yet to be named opponent, while Sarah Maloy will face Beth Revell and Amanda Lucus will face Heather Martin.

#9 125er Barb Honchak

In matches this week:

#9 ranked 125 pounder Barb Honchak faces AJ McAvoy at Wright Fight 2 in St. Charles, MO

Nikohl Johnson faces Raquel Pa'aluhi at X1: Champions 3 in Hawaii

Maiju Kujala faces Tiina Lähdemäki at Fight Festival 30 in Finland

Kyane Hampton faces Carrie Cambell at Extreme Beatdown in North Dakota

#8 135er Hitomi Akano

And at Pancrase: Impressive Tour 2 in Osaka, Japan

#8 135 pounder Hitomi Akano faces Chisa Yonezawa &

Fujuko Hamada faces Mamiko Mizoguchi

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. We also carry Everlast and Cleto Reyes boxing and mma gear.

Until next week

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Filed Under:  

• MMA
• Sports

This post is related to events on our Calendar:

• Strikeforce Columbus: Coenen vs Carmouche
• Bellator 35 - Lemoore, CA
• Jewels "Twelfth Ring" in Tokyo (MMA)
• Unified MMA 7 - Edmonton, AB
• Shark Fights 14
• Mean1 MMA: Double Threat - Boxing Champ Holly Holm debuts in MMA

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