A featured women’s bout has been added to the upcoming Jackson’s MMA Series 2 card on September 4th. Julie “Fireball” Kedzie, one of the true pioneers of women’s MMA in North America, will square off with unbeaten prospect Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio at 135 pounds.
Kedzie, a former HOOKnSHOOT Grand Prix Champion and EliteXC veteran, returned to competition in June on the debut Jackson’s MMA Series card. In her first fight in nearly a year, Kedzie defeated Malissa Sherwood. D’Alelio, meanwhile, stopped Melissa Steele with punches on July 24th.
Kedzie (14-8-0) has faced a who’s who of the 135-pound division throughout her career, which spans well over six years. She became HOOKnSHOOT Women’s Grand Prix Champion in 2005 and holds big wins over Molly “The Maulinator” Helsel (twice), Strikeforce competitor Jan “Cuddles” Finney (thrice) and BodogFIGHT and EliteXC veteran Kelly “Blood Red” Kobold. She is perhaps best known for her Fight of the Night battle with Gina “Conviction” Carano for EliteXC on February 10, 2007. Kedzie has won two fights in a row, and six of her last eight.
D’Alelio (3-0-0), who also sports a 6-1 record as an amateur, made her professional debut in February and submitted Sarah Oriza with a standing guillotine choke in just 29 seconds. She followed that up with a second-round submission of highly-touted recent Strikeforce signee Colleen Schneider one month later in Alaska. Already one of the top prospects out of the Olympia, Washington area, D’Alelio could take a big step forward in the division if she is able to upset Kedzie. She will give up a significant experience advantage in the fight, but is very skilled in submissions.
Jackson’s MMA Series 2 takes place on September 4th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The event is headlined by a bantamweight bout between WEC veteran Coty “Ox” Wheeler and former Rage In The Cage Champion Ray Robinson.
