Former Bellator champion Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto returned to the bantamweight division for the first time since 2010 and earned a close decision victory tonight at Tachi Palace Fights 26: “Brawl In The Hall” in Lemoore, California. Frausto outpointed Corina Herrera in a thrilling bout.

In spite of a significant size and experience disadvantage, Herrera made a big statement with her impressive performance tonight against Frausto, who threatened with numerous submission attempts. Frausto could not secure a finish, but she halted her four-fight losing skid with the decision victory.

Frausto (13-5-0) exchanged hard punches with Herrera (2-2-0) in the opening seconds and she scored a takedown into half-guard. Herrera swept into top position, but Frausto attacked with a tight armbar and Herrera had to act quickly to escape. Frausto secured a takedown into mount, but she lost the position while working for an armbar. Both women flurried with punches and Herrera reversed a takedown into Frausto’s guard. She used hammerfists to escape from an armbar attempt and took Frausto’s back on the way up to a standing position. Frausto finished strong with punches and elbows.

Frausto opened round two with a pair of right hands and Herrera countered by rushing forward with punches. A lunging flurry landed for Herrera, but Frausto took her back down and moved to mount. She locked on a tight armbar, but Herrera slammed her way free and stood up. She rocked Frausto with punches, but Frausto circled away and fired back with right hands and a head kick. More hard kicks landed to the body for Frausto and Herrera retreated, but she blasted Frausto with a big combination before the bell and the fight looked to be even after ten minutes.

The final round began with another exchange of power punches and both women landed. Frausto attempted a standing arm-triangle choke and Herrera escaped. Frausto took her down and moved to mount, but she was immediately swept once again. Herrera landed short elbows and punches, then followed with more elbow strikes as Frausto battled back to her feet. Frausto tried for a standing rear-naked choke and Herrera spun free. The fighters exchanged punches and Frausto landed kicks to the liver. She followed with a head kick late in the round and Herrera rushed forward with punches.

In spite of Herrera’s strong showing against the heavily-favoured Frausto, it was not enough to steal a victory. Scores were 29-28 twice and 30-27 for Frausto, who emerged victorious for the first time since Bellator 78 in October 2012. She previously dropped a decision to Jocelyn “Lights Out” Jones-Lybarger in an RFA strawweight title fight in October, but has had much greater success in kickboxing bouts.

Winner: Zoila Frausto by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 13-5-0.

(Photo Credit: Esther Lin, AllElbows.com / InvictaFC.com)