Noted striker Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig picked up one of the biggest wins of her mixed martial arts career tonight at Xtreme Fighting Organization 39 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The popular Illinois native earned a Unanimous Decision victory over Nicdali “The Night Queen” Rivera-Calanoc.
In a second women’s bout on the card, Amanda “Red Fox” LaVoy shocked Michele “Diablita” Gutierrez with a second-round doctor stoppage victory after opening a deep gash above Gutierrez’s left eye. LaVoy, a significant underdog coming into the fight, was overjoyed with the victory.
Herrig (5-3-0) and Rivera-Calanoc (7-5-0) clinched early on in their fight and battled for position against the cage. Rivera-Calanoc landed knees to the body, but Herrig took her down. Rivera-Calanoc got back to her feet and ate a knee. She pushed Herrig up against the cage and another exchange of knees ensued. Both fighters landed punches and Rivera-Calanoc countered a right cross with a one-two. Herrig broke free of the clinch and landed a left hook. The fighters traded punches and Rivera-Calanoc backed Herrig up to the cage again. She tried for a takedown before the bell ended the close round.
The second round began with knees to the body and two counter hooks from Herrig. The fighters traded punches and Herrig backed Rivera-Calanoc up to the cage. A lengthy battle for position ensued until Herrig finally tripped Rivera-Calanoc to the mat. She took Rivera-Calanoc’s back and used short punches to try to set up a rear-naked choke. Herrig maintained back control all the way until the bell to easily take the second stanza.
Herrig staggered Rivera-Calanoc briefly in round three with a trio of hard punches and a front kick, but Rivera-Calanoc recovered and rushed forward with strikes. The fighters clinched and Herrig dragged Rivera-Calanoc to the mat. Rivera-Calanoc spun and pulled half-guard with a guillotine choke, but Herrig escaped. Herrig moved to mount and punched, then took Rivera-Calanoc’s back again. Rivera-Calanoc continued to try to roll to escape, but Herrig retained back control. Herrig secured a rear-naked choke and Rivera-Calanoc turned her head to the side to escape danger. Herrig stayed on the back until the final bell.
All three cageside judges sided with Herrig, who has now won two straight fights.
Winner: Felice Herrig by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 5-3-0.
Things started out well for Gutierrez (3-2-0) against LaVoy (2-4-0), as she used crisp counterpunches to pick apart LaVoy early in the first round. LaVoy pushed forward with wild and often sloppy kicks and punches, but Gutierrez remained calm and circled away while scoring with jabs and counter hooks. She dropped LaVoy with a pair of big right hooks, but LaVoy battled back to her feet and continued to throw flashy kicks that had little effect. She managed to open a cut above Gutierrez’s left eye with a one-two, however, and Gutierrez’s eye began to swell shut as the round came to a close.
LaVoy again rushed in aggressively with punches in round two, and she landed a knee that opened a deep cut on Gutierrez’s forehead above her eye. Time was called and the cageside doctor waved off the fight, giving LaVoy a huge upset victory while a dejected Gutierrez was helped from the cage.
Winner: Amanda LaVoy by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 0:24 of round two. She improves to 2-4-0.
In other featured bouts at XFO 39, WEC veterans Jeff “The Big Frog” Curran (33-13-1) and Jamie “C-4” Varner (17-5-1, 2 NC) were both victorious. Curran earned a Unanimous Decision over Billy Vaughan, while Varner defeated Tyler “The Tyrant” Combs by Technical Submission (North-South Choke) at 1:30 of round one.