The Future:
Elena “Babydoll” Reid (3-0-0): She may only have three professional MMA bouts to date, but Reid is regarded as the top prospect in women’s MMA for a reason. The former WIBA and IFBA Flyweight Champion has compiled a 19-5-6 record in boxing and still competes as a boxer in addition to her new focus on mixed martial arts.
Exploding onto the scene with three TKO victories, the most recent of which being a complete dismantling of fellow prospect Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (in a fight depicted in the image at the top of this article), Reid poses endless problems for anyone at 115 pounds. Working first with Xtreme Couture and now with the acclaimed Arizona Combat Sports team, Reid has been diligent in developing an all-around game for MMA, but her boxing skills are all but unmatched.
While she may experience trouble against talented wrestlers and submission artists who can weather her punches and score a takedown, Reid could easily compete for a major title in mixed martial arts within a year. She should have enough competition in North America to keep her busy for some time to come, but a trip overseas to Japan would provide her with a near-endless supply of challengers in her natural weight class.
Anyone stepping into a ring or cage against Reid is sure to be in for the fight of their life, and all potential foes would be well-advised to start figuring out a game plan to defeat the future star right away.
Aisling “Ash The Bash” Daly (8-0-0): Though almost entirely unknown to North American fans, Daly has quietly established herself as the newest female star in European MMA. With all eight victories coming by way of TKO or submission, and none lasting more than two rounds, Daly is an imposing force for opponents.
At just 21 years of age, the sky is the limit for Daly, but the demise of Cage Rage – where she was a mainstay until it closed – has left Daly without a promotion to compete for. New shows have emerged in and around England to fill the void, however, and Daly could easily compete abroad if needed.
While Daly does not have the pedigree of Elena Reid, who is a champion boxer in addition to competing in mixed martial arts, she has destroyed everyone who has been put in front of her to date and seems poised to make a big impact on the sport in the near future.
Should fights not become readily available in the United Kingdom, Daly should make the trip overseas to North America to test herself against the competition. With a few more wins, it may not be long before Daly can be seen in front of a large television audience.