In what was easily her most impressive performance to date, Stephanie “Macaquinha” Frausto captured her first MMA title belt on Saturday night at Women’s Fighting Championship 1 in Casper, Wyoming. Frausto submitted Diana “Dynamite” Rael to become WFC Atomweight Champion.

In the co-main event of the all-female WFC card, Darla “Train Wreck” Harris kept her unbeaten pro record intact with a Unanimous Decision victory over Stephanie “The Scrapper” Skinner. Other weekend winners included Sarah “Too Sweet” Alpar at KOTC: “Nightmare” and Marta Chojnoska at KSW 19.

Frausto (3-4-0) took advantage of an early slip from Rael (3-3-0) and landed punches as her opponent got back to her feet. Rael clinched and Frausto countered with knees. Rael reversed the clinch and landed knees of her own. The fighters broke free after exchanging punches. Rael scored with a nice flurry and Frausto answered with another knee. More knees followed from Frausto and Rael clinched again. Rael tried for a takedown and walked forward with punches, but ate a counter combination.

Frausto sprawled out of a takedown and took Rael’s back just past the midway point of the opening round. Frausto tried for a rear-naked choke and then moved to mount. She landed punches and elbows from the top as Rael tried to defend. Frausto switched to a high mount and landed more punches and elbows, then spun into a fight-ending armbar. Rael quickly tapped out.

The victory was Frausto’s first since a pair of TKO triumphs in 2010, but the 21-year-old appears to be an entirely different fighter since returning from a lengthy hiatus earlier this year. Now training alongside sister Zoila and brother-in-law Jorge Gurgel in Ohio, Frausto looks to be one of MMA’s most improved fighters and also one of its brighter prospects.

Winner: Stephanie Frausto by Submission (Armbar) at 3:25 of round one. She improves to 3-4-0 and becomes the first WFC Atomweight Champion.

In a competitive back-and-forth ground battle, Harris (3-0-0) outlasted Skinner (1-4-0) to take a close but well-earned Unanimous Decision victory. Harris took the bout on extremely short notice after Skinner’s original opponents backed out, but still controlled prolonged stretches of the fight from top position in half-guard and side control.

Harris clinched early in round one and slammed Skinner down to the mat. From the top in side control, she landed punches to the head and body. Skinner attempted a triangle choke and Harris fought free. She tried to move to mount, but Skinner kept her in half-guard. Harris got to mount on her second try and landed punches. Skinner gave up her back and Harris worked for a rear-naked choke. Harris landed punches from back control, but was warned for strikes to the back of the head shortly before the bell.

Harris landed punches in round two and Skinner countered with body kicks. Harris slammed Skinner down and fought out of a guillotine choke. Skinner briefly stood and was slammed down once again. She tried for a triangle choke from the bottom and switched to an armbar. Harris managed to free herself and wound up on top. She tried for a toe hold and Skinner countered with an inverted triangle. Harris got out and landed punches and short elbows from side control. Skinner reversed into top position and scored with punches in the final seconds.

Harris caught a kick and clinched in the final round. She eventually got Skinner down to the mat and struck from the top in side control. Skinner tried for another inverted triangle choke from the bottom, but Harris escaped and resumed striking with short punches and elbows. She mixed in knees to the body and tried to pass to mount, but Skinner got back to half-guard. Harris postured up with punches as Skinner fought to regain full guard. Skinner attempted a triangle choke in the final 30 seconds, but Harris got out and took her back. She closed out the round with punches.

While Skinner was very active from her back throughout the fight, it was not enough to sway the cageside judges. All three scored the bout for Harris, another 21-year-old fighter who continues to improve with each fight.

Winner: Darla Harris by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 3-0-0.

The WFC 1 undercard featured five amateur bouts, including three title tilts.

– Katie Moerke defeated Cassandra Robb by TKO (Retirement) at 3:00 of round two.*
– Margaret “Brutal” Bloom defeated Staci Vega by TKO (Punches) at 0:31 of round four.**
– Liliana Orozco defeated Ali Kistler by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
– Haelle Smith defeated Brittney Elkin by Technical Submission (Armbar) at 2:59 of round one.***
– Rosa Acevedo defeated Denice Miller by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:02 of round one.

* WFC Amateur Strawweight Championship bout
** WFC Amateur Flyweight Championship bout
*** WFC Amateur Welterweight Championship bout

In the first women’s bout in KSW history, Marta Chojnoska (1-0-0) needed just 42 seconds to submit Paulina “Pika” Suska (1-4-1) at KSW 19 on Saturday night in Łódź, Poland. Chojnoska scored an early takedown and immediately moved to the scarf hold position. She landed punches with her right hand and trapped Suska’s left arm. Chojnoska used her legs to twist Suska’s arm backwards until Suska let out a scream in pain and the bout was stopped. Suska’s arm appeared to be damaged and potentially broken from the scarf hold armlock and Chojnoska looked impressive in her pro debut.

Winner: Marta Chojnoska by Submission (Scarf Hold Armlock) at 0:42 of round one. She improves to 1-0-0.

Rounding out the action on Saturday, Rumble on the River champion Sarah “Too Sweet” Alpar (3-1-0) picked up the biggest win of her career and added another title belt to her mantle at King of the Cage: “Nightmare” in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Alpar earned a Split Decision victory over the returning Monica Lovato (5-3-0) in a KOTC Women’s Flyweight Championship bout. Alpar and Lovato battled back and forth through five rounds, but Alpar ultimately emerged victorious on the scorecards. Lovato, competing for the first time in over a year and a half, put on a solid showing in defeat and has already begun campaigning for a rematch.

Winner: Sarah Alpar by Split Decision after five rounds. She improves to 3-1-0 and becomes the new KOTC Women’s Flyweight Champion.