Overcoming a short-notice opponent change, former Invicta FC champion Jennifer Maia earned one of the biggest victories of her MMA career tonight at UFC Fight Night 173: “Brunson vs Shahbazyan.” Maia submitted top flyweight contender Joanne “JoJo” Calderwood late in the first round.
Maia, who was originally slated to face Viviane Araujo on tonight’s card, showcased her strong submission skills in tonight’s fight with Calderwood. Working from the bottom, Maia trapped Calderwood in an armbar for the submission victory, and she now enters a short list of title contenders.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC Fight Night 173: “Brunson vs Shahbazyan.” The event was headlined by a middleweight bout between veteran contender Derek Brunson and highly-touted unbeaten prospect Edmen Shahbazyan.
Returning from a lengthy injury hiatus, Mexico’s Montserrat “Conejo” Ruiz put herself back in strawweight title contention with a quick and dominant victory tonight at Invicta Fighting Championships 41 in Kansas City, Kansas. Ruiz submitted Janaisa “Evil Princess” Morandin in the brief main event.
Invicta Fighting Championships showcased its latest all-female card tonight at Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kansas. Invicta FC 41 featured a strawweight bout between Janaisa “Evil Princess” Morandin, who missed weight once again, and Mexican standout Montserrat “Conjeo” Ruiz.
Former Rizin FF titleholder Ayaka Hamasaki and Deep Jewels champion Tomo Maesawa will meet in a strawweight matchup on August 9th at Rizin Fighting Federation 22. The event, which is part of a two-day doubleheader, will take place at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
Standout wrestler Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza earned her fourth straight victory tonight at UFC on ESPN 14: “Whittaker vs Till” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion edged out Marina Rodriguez in a closely-contested bout on tonight’s main card.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship concluded its series of events on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates tonight with UFC on ESPN 14: “Whittaker vs Till.” The card was headlined by a middleweight bout between former champ Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker and Darren “The Gorilla” Till.
Rising star Miki Motono earned the biggest victory of her young MMA career tonight in the main event of Deep Jewels 29 in Tokyo, Japan. The AACC representative finished Asami “Akaringo” Nakai with first-round ground and pound to capture the vacant Deep Jewels Strawweight Championship.