Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza makes her first title defence at Invicta Fighting Championships 7 on December 7th in Kansas City, Missouri. Esparza is expected to face unbeaten BJJ black belt Claudia “Claudinha” Gadelha in a bout that may headline the card.
MMARising.com confirmed event date and location details with Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp today, and plans for the Esparza-Gadelha title tilt with multiple sources close to the negotiations. The fighters were first set to face off at Invicta FC 4, but Gadelha was forced out due to a broken nose.
Japanese star Erika Kamimura added another prestigious championship to her impressive collection on Friday night at Rise 95 in Tokyo. Kamimura defeated J-Girls champ Momi by Unanimous Decision to claim the vacant Rise Queen kickboxing title in a bloody and action-packed five-round fight.
Four-time amateur champ Amanda Bobby Cooper makes her long-awaited pro debut on November 15th at North American Fighting Championship: “Unrivaled” in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cooper will face flyweight prospect Heather Bassett, who scored an impressive victory two weeks ago.
The quarterfinal round of The Ultimate Fighter 18: “Team Rousey vs Team Tate” kicked off with a significant upset tonight. In a battle between each team’s first picks, Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña secured a big win for Team Tate by submitting Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler.
One of MMA’s most accomplished female fighters, Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii, now has an opponent for her retirement fight at Vale Tudo Japan 3rd on October 5th in Tokyo. Fujii will conclude her storied career when she takes on former Bellator rival Jessica “Jag” Aguilar in a rematch on the card.
A second women’s bout between bantamweight strikers Amanda “Lioness” Nunes and Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie has been added to UFC Fight Night 31: “Fight For The Troops 3” on November 6th in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. UFC officials announced plans for the fight earlier this evening.
Stephanie “Snowflake” Eggink once again showcased her slick submission skills tonight in the XFC 25: “Boiling Point” main event in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The talented rising star submitted experienced veteran Angela Magana to become the inaugural XFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.
Former top-ranked boxing champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm looks for her third MMA win of 2013 when she returns to the cage at Legacy Fighting Championship 24 on October 11th in Dallas, Texas. Holm is set to face Brazilian veteran Érica Paes in a main card bantamweight bout.