Two-time All-American wrestler Carla Esparza needed just 53 seconds to submit Yadira “Little Ya Ya” Anzaldua on Friday in Clovis, New Mexico. The brief fight was part of an all-female pro card promoted by Evolution Combat Sports, and was Esparza’s first since suffering a broken nose last year.

Esparza has now won back-to-back fights since falling to Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii in the opening round of last year’s Bellator 115-pound women’s tournament. Also on the Evolution card, Heather “Hurricane” Clark stopped Jennifer “Superstar” Clark, while Margarita Chavez edged Cassie Rodish.

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Three additional bouts have now been announced for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Brazil at UFC 134: Rio on August 27th. Among the additions to the card is a 205-pound rematch between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Forrest Griffin.

In other action on the card, former top prospect Thiago Tavares will look to get back on the winning track when he faces veteran lightweight Spencer “The King” Fisher in a crucial fight for both, while unbeaten Bulgarian light heavyweight Stanislav Nedkov takes on Brazil’s Luiz “Banha” Cane.

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These days, Elena Reid is a busy woman. The 29-year-old former champion in both boxing and mixed martial arts is not preparing for a fight, however. Reid is currently planning her October wedding and just closed on her first house. Fighting is the last thing on her mind, and she couldn’t be happier.

One year ago, Reid was fighting through a serious knee injury and dwindling fight purses in order to continue to compete in boxing and MMA; two sports that she loves. Foregoing surgery on her knee, Reid reflected back on her life and contemplated her future in combat sports. A change was in order.

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UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva will receive a chance to avenge his last loss when he faces Yushin “Thunder” Okami at UFC: Rio on August 27th. The long-rumoured matchup was confirmed by UFC President Dana White in an interview with USA Today this evening.

Silva and Okami first squared off at Rumble On The Rock 8 on January 20, 2006. Okami was awarded a disqualification victory after he was struck by an illegal upkick. Since that time, Silva has won 14 straight fights and he is seen by many as the top pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts.

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Four fights are now official for the upcoming all-female Jewels 13th and 14th Ring doubleheader on May 14th in Tokyo, Japan. The promotion announced a pair of kickboxing matches for 13th Ring and two mixed martial arts bouts, dubbed “Jewels vs Valkyrie,” for the 14th Ring card earlier today.

Kickboxers Yukimi and Rio Kamikaze will face Kozue “Azuma” Nagashima and Miku Hayashi, respectively, as part of the afternoon’s 13th Ring card. Later at 14th Ring, Misaki Takimoto will face Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama, while Miyoko Kusaka battles Sachiko “Sachi” Yamamoto in MMA action.

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Decorated jiu-jitsu specialist Roger Gracie will put his undefeated mixed martial arts record on the line against former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal in a bout targeted for July 9th. A location and venue for the July event have not yet been announced.

MMARising.com confirmed today with a source close to the negotiations that verbal agreements are in place. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker hinted at the matchup earlier this morning. Gracie had previously been in talks to face another ex-Strikeforce champion, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, in June.

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Strikeforce 145-pound competitor Julia “The Jewel” Budd will be part of the first professional women’s mixed martial arts bout in the province of Ontario. The Muay Thai standout faces Ottawa’s Anna Barone in a featured matchup at JEG: “MMA Live 1” on May 19th in London, Ontario, Canada.

The event will be the first card promoted by the Jones Entertainment Group, which has plans to return to Ontario in July. Budd last competed on January 7th, but suffered a quick knockout loss at the hands of Amanda “Lioness of the Ring” Nunes. The B.C. native will look to rebound against Barone.

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Former pro boxer and veteran mixed martial artist Erin “Steel” Toughill made her long-awaited return to MMA on Saturday night in Oklahoma, but things did not go according to plan. Toughill was upset by one-time bantamweight Ashley “Loca” Sanchez in the main event of Freestyle Cage Fighting 46.

Competing at a catchweight of 160 pounds, Toughill required two attempts to make the contracted weight limit and was outworked by Sanchez through three rounds. Toughill, a former top contender at 145 pounds, suffered a Unanimous Decision loss to Sanchez in her first fight since May 2009.

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