Eighteen-year-old Paige VanZant made a successful pro debut tonight at Ultimate Warrior Fighting: “Tournament of Warriors Finale” in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Reno Academy of Combat prospect upset hometown favourite Jordan Nicole “Ninja Princess” Gaza via razor-thin Split Decision.

VanZant took an early lead in the fight with effective clinchwork, but Gaza was able to take her opponent to the mat and threatened with submissions that included a tight guillotine and a rear-naked choke very late in the fight. It was not enough, however, and VanZant walked away with a big victory.

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Top Jewels star Shizuka Sugiyama will return to the promotion for her first bout since 2010 when she faces Japanese veteran Megumi Yabushita at Jewels: “20th Ring” on July 21st in Tokyo, Japan. The featured 62-kilogram matchup was one of five fights announced for the card earlier today.

Final Valkyrie Featherweight Champion “V.V” Mei Yamaguchi looks to get back on the winning track when she faces grappling ace Emi Tomimatsu in a rematch from Smackgirl in 2007. Elsewhere, former Valkyrie Flyweight Champion Yasuko “Ikuko” Tamada battles Naoko Omuro for a third time.

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A shoulder injury has forced veteran Kelly “Blood Red” Kobold out of her bantamweight bout with Brazilian standout Vanessa Porto at Invicta Fighting Championships 2 on July 28th in Kansas City, Kansas. Jiu-jitsu ace Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio will now face Porto on the event’s main card.

Invicta FC officials announced the change this morning. D’Alelio scored an impressive second-round submission win over the previously unbeaten Vanessa Mariscal at Invicta FC 1 in April. Porto has won seven of her past eight fights and captured the Pink Fight 132-pound title on March 10th.

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The use of performance-enhancing drugs has become a hot-button topic in MMA. Leading U.K. promotion Cage Warriors Fighting Championship will stage its inaugural 125-pound women’s tournament final this Fall and the bout may be overseen by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

The CWFC final pits veteran British standout Rosi “The Surgeon” Sexton against rising star Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff. Sexton recently spoke at length with MMARising.com about the use of VADA testing, which comes with a hefty price tag, and her possible retirement at the end of 2012.

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Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres solidified her spot as one of MMA’s premier amateur fighters with a dominant victory tonight at U.S. Freedom Fighters Championship 5: “Battle Forged” in Marion, North Carolina. Torres defeated the previously unbeaten Ashley Greenway after five lopsided rounds.

The Unanimous Decision win earned Torres her second 115-pound title of 2012 and improved her amateur record to 6-0. The 22-year-old has been competing for just nine months and plans to turn pro later this year following a July 16th title bout with Texas-based prospect Amber Stautzenberger.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship travelled to Jornalista Felipe Drumond Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil tonight for UFC 147: “Silva vs Franklin 2.” The event was headlined by a catchweight rematch between veterans Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva and Rich “Ace” Franklin.

Also on the card, the TUF Brazil middleweight winner was determined when Sergio “Serginho” Moraes faced Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira, while Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra battled Godofredo “Pepe” Castro in the TUF Brazil featherweight final. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for UFC 147.

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Heather “Hurricane” Clark needed less than two minutes to earn a dominant submission victory over late replacement opponent Avery “Psycho” Vilche tonight at XFC 18: “Music City Mayhem” in Nashville, Tennessee. Clark secured a rear-naked choke that forced an overmatched Vilche to submit.

It was Vilche who opted to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard in the early goings, but the decision proved to be her undoing. Clark easily avoided an armbar attempt and passed to mount, where she flurried with punches until Vilche gave up her back and succumbed to the choke.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its way to Revel Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey tonight for UFC on FX 4: “Maynard vs Guida.” The event was headlined by a lightweight battle between former title challenger Gray “The Bully” Maynard and veteran Clay “The Carpenter” Guida.

Also on tonight’s card, Sam “Hands of Stone” Stout and Spencer “The King” Fisher faced off in a lightweight trilogy bout, while Brian “Bad Boy” Ebersole took on submission ace T.J. Waldburger in featured welterweight action. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC on FX 4 main card.

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