2004 Olympic silver medallist Sara McMann kicked off her UFC career with an impressive first-round stoppage victory tonight at UFC 159: “Jones vs Sonnen” in Newark, New Jersey. McMann finished hard-hitting opponent Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff with punches from a top-side crucifix.

McMann wasted no time in taking the fight to the ground and she kept Gaff pinned against the cage. Gaff held on for a standup and landed some nice knees on the feet, but she could not stay up for long. McMann took her back down and landed unanswered punches until the bout was stopped.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey tonight for UFC 159: “Jones vs Sonnen.” The event featured a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between reigning 205-pound champion Jon “Bones” Jones and veteran challenger Chael Sonnen.

Also on the card, Michael “The Count” Bisping took on fellow middleweight contender Alan “The Talent” Belcher, and Roy “Big Country” Nelson battled Cheick Kongo. Sara McMann faced Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff on the preliminary card. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for UFC 159.

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Two female atomweight fights have been announced for the Sparta Combat League: “Thunderdome 2” event on June 8th in Denver, Colorado. In one, prospect Darla “Train Wreck” Harris looks to get back on the winning track when she battles Invicta FC competitor Amy “Lil’ Dynamite” Davis.

Another Invicta FC veteran, Lacey “The Ladie” Schuckman, will also be in action on the June 8th card. Schuckman faces off against New Jersey native Jody Lynn Reicher, who makes her pro debut. The event is also expected to feature three amateur women’s bouts, including a flyweight title fight.

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Lena “Hunter” Ovchynnikova picked up her seventh submission win tonight at Super Fight League 16 in Mumbai, India. The Ukrainian standout used a first-round guillotine choke from mount to defeat Egyptian kickboxing champ and SFL newcomer Fathia Mostafa in the night’s co-main event.

The flyweight bout began with an exchange of kicks and punches on the feet and Mostafa landed some hard right hooks. Ovchynnikova pulled guard with a guillotine choke and used it to sweep into mount. She maintained her grip on the choke until an overmatched Mostafa was finally forced to submit.

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A second women’s bout has been added to the upcoming UFC on FOX 8 event on July 27th in Seattle, Washington. Former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate will make her return to action to face recent UFC title challenger Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche.

UFC officials announced the main card matchup this evening. Both fighters are coming off of defeats in their UFC debuts. Tate was stopped by “Alpha” Cat Zingano at the TUF 17 Finale earlier this month, while Carmouche was submitted by “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey in February’s UFC 157 main event.

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South Korean striker Seo Hee Ham successfully retained her CMA/KPW women’s championship on Sunday night at Gladiator: “Dream, Power and Hope” in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Ham submitted pro wrestling convert Ryo Mizunami with an armbar early in round one of their title bout.

In other MMA action on the card, standout wrestler Jade Marie Anderson posted another victory over MMA pioneer Megumi Yabushita in a rematch from Jewels: “22nd Ring” in December. Anderson dominated Yabushita on the mat and finished the fight with an armbar midway through round one.

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Jewels title contender Kikuyo Ishikawa avenged a past defeat in quick and impressive fashion on Sunday at Pancrase: “Sakaguchi Dojo vs Pancrase” in Okinawa, Japan. Ishikawa stopped Miyoko Kusaka with a right cross in the first round of their atomweight bout. The fighters first faced off in 2010.

On Saturday night in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, Vanessa Guimarães picked up her first professional victory in violent fashion at Striker’s House Cup 25. Guimarães fought off a takedown attempt and knocked out opponent Bruna Paiffer with a devastating knee in the early stages of the opening round.

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Amber “The Apex Predator” Stautzenberger kept her winning streak alive with a close decision victory tonight at Dakota Fighting Championships 15: “Spring Brawl” in Fargo, North Dakota. The strawweight prospect edged out Glena “Heartless” Avila, who stepped into the fight on short notice.

Both women threatened with numerous submission attempts throughout the back-and-forth bout. Avila came on strong at the end of rounds one and two, but her late rallies were not quite enough to sway the cageside judges and Stautzenberger’s dominant final round solidified her win on the scorecards.

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