Strikeforce Fighters Meet with Zuffa Brass, Rousey Heads North of the Border, plus More MMA News

Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

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

Amanda Nunes on set at her Zuffa photoshoot

Women’s MMA has a big opportunity this week.

The annual Zuffa Fighters' Summit brings signed talent from all organizations under their banner to Vegas, and this year, Strikeforce fall under that heading. This will be the first time several of the female fighters of Strikeforce will get to meet the Zuffa execs, including Dana White and the Fertitta brothers.

Strikeforce champions Cris Cyborg and Marloes Coenen have made the trip out; as well as top contender Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes, Liz Carmouche, Sarah Kaufman, and Julia Budd. Elaina Maxwell also stated she was heading out to the summit.

Several of these ladies have made some positive impressions to the Zuffa management teams and they hope to continue that with the owners of the company.

The great news is that all the fighters are doing brand new photo shoots and video promos which will be used to during telecasts and marketing.

On a related note, the long awaited announcement about Gina Carano’s opponent in June, and a possible women’s match added to the upcoming Strikeforce Challengers card in Washington is expected to be announced this week.  

Angela Magana at Weigh-ins

We haven’t seen Angela Magana in a cage since 2009, but she didn't show any ring rust this weekend. It only took 1:55 to secure a win via arm bar on Elsie Henri at the MFA 5: New Generation card in Homestead, FL. 

Magana (9-4 officially) was apart of the Ultimate Women’s Challenge reality show, but results from any of those matches are still to be released.

This past week, #3 ranked 115 pounder and Valkyrie champ Mei Yamaguchi (8-2-1) continued her winning ways, getting an arm bar submission on Akiko Naito at 3:52 of round 1 at the Pancrase card in Japan.


In other matches

Lori "The Dominator" Dunnavant makes an impressive debut defeating Ma'Eisha Lowe via forearm choke in round 3 at Wright Fights 3 in St. Louis.

In Europe, one of their top 145 pound prospects was upset, as Elina Nilsson (1-2) defeated Danielle West (3-2) via TKO at 3:45 of round 2 at Zone FC “Unbreakable” in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Also on the card, Hanna Sillén (4-1) hands Katharine Jackson (2-1) her first loss by via Unanimous Decision.

In amateur action, Jessamyn Duke successfully defend her Absolute Action MMA title by defeating Crystal Bentley via rear naked choke submission in round 2. 

Rousey at King of the Cage in March

The #10 ranked 145 pounder Ronda Rousey continues her campaign in the pro ranks by facing Charmaine Tweet in Calgary June 17 on the Hard Knocks Fighting Championship card. Rousey, an Olympic bronze medalist in judo, has yet to see a second minute in her MMA matches, submitting all of her opponents with armbars.

Tweet, however, is the most accomplished striker she has faced to date, having held several world championships in kickboxing. Tweet is making her amateur MMA debut May 28 against Tia Wishart in Regina, Canada just weeks before her fight with Rousey. The Rousey verses Tweet fight is set at a catch weight of 150 pounds.

After her opponent didn’t make weight several weeks ago at the Freestyle Cage Fighting event in Oklahoma, Amanda Lucas will be fighting Jenn Martin in Ashville, NC on the Black Eye Entertainment card June 17th.

Zinagno (left) & Hashi (right) Squyare off in Denver

After several opponent changes these past few weeks, #4 ranked Cat Zingano will face formerly ranked Takayo Hashi this weekend at Fight 2 Win: Outlaws in Denver, CO. Zingano has yet to taste defeat, having finished four of her five opponents. Hashi is coming off a two back to back decision losses to top ranked Sarah Kaufman and Tara LaRosa.

Fightergirls' Own Michele Gutierrez

Fightergirls team member and one of the stars of “Supremacy MMA” the video game, Michele Gutierrez will be taking on Amanda LaVoy in Chicago at the XFO 39 card this weekend. Gutierrez is on a three fight win streak, having defeated Tammie Schneider via doctor’s stoppage this past September. Her co-star in “Supremacy MMA’ and hometown fighter Felice Herrig will be taking on Nicdali Calanoc in the co-main event of the evening.  

Jewels MMA in Japan has two huge back to back cards planned for this coming for this Saturday to help benefit the victims of the earthquake and tsunami of March. Jewels 13 will feature 4 MMA bouts and 3 kickboxing matches; while Jewels 14 will feature 3 MMA, 3 grappling, and one shoot boxing fight.

In a match with ranking implications, #1 strawweight fighter Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama will face the #3 ranked Misaki Takimoto. Also, #7 strawweight Miyoko Kusaka will face Sachiko Yamamoto.

In other pro matches this week:

Kyane Hampton will face Brenda "Boom Boom" Gonzales at KOTC: Fight 2 Live in Sanat Fe, NM

Michelle Tyler faces Celine Haga at UCMMA 20: Fists of Fire in London, England.  

And in amateur action, Nikita Njetles faces Jessica Eve Richer at the NAAFS card in Akron, OH.

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.

Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

• MMA

This post is related to an ongoing story:

• Zuffa buys Strikeforce - what it means for Women's MMA

This article was written by a WomenTalkSports.com contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own women's sports content.

View MarQFPR's Full Profile