Strong Style Fight Team prospect Jessica “Evil” Eye kept her unblemished record intact tonight when she stopped Ashley “No Limit” Nee in round one at Ring of Combat 34. The win earned Eye the vacant ROC 130-Pound Women’s Championship; the first title of her professional MMA career.
A native of Parma, Ohio, Eye competed outside her home state for the first time tonight as she travelled to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the title bout. Overwhelming Nee with a variety of big strikes, Eye put on an impressive performance in victory to capture the vacant title belt in her third pro fight.
Making use of a unique variation of a Brabo Choke, rising amateur prospect Jessica Philippus submitted rival Sarah “Piranha” Goodlaxson in a featured 105-pound women’s title bout tonight at Ultimate Blue Corner Battles in Kansas City, Missouri. The end came at the 1:20 mark of round two.
An April 9th Strikeforce event featuring two quarterfinals in the promotion’s eight-man heavyweight grand prix is no longer targeted for Japan. A source close to the promotion confirmed to MMARising.com today that plans to hold the event in Japan have been scrapped, and a U.S. location is likely.
Bellator 115-pound women’s champ Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto will indeed return to action at Bellator Fighting Championships 35 on March 5th in Lemoore, California. The kickboxer, who captured Bellator gold last year, is expected to rematch rival Karina Hallinan in a non-title bout on the card.
As a result of a leg injury suffered in training, middleweight prospect Luke Rockhold has been forced to withdraw from his bout with decorated military veteran Tim Kennedy on March 5th at Strikeforce: Columbus. Kennedy is now rumoured to be facing knockout artist Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef.
Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz had a tougher fight than some expected on January 29th, but the brash California native picked up his 13th victory in his last 15 fights when he submitted Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos. Diaz edges up the welterweight rankings after the successful title defence.