Talented striker Stephanie “Snowflake” Eggink made a triumphant return to action tonight at Xtreme Fighting Championships 21: “Night of Champions 2” in Nashville, Tennessee. Eggink earned a Unanimous Decision victory over Jackson’s MMA’s “Hurricane” Heather Clark in a featured strawweight bout.

It was Clark who dominated the early striking exchanges with a series of right hooks, but Eggink showed off her underrated ground skills in working for submissions. Eggink’s jabs and counterpunches allowed her to take control in the later rounds and she walked away with a well-deserved win.

Eggink (2-1-0) had to play defence in the early stages of round one as Clark (5-3-0) pressed forward with right hook after right hook; all of which found their target. A one-two and a knee also scored for Clark, but Eggink clinched and backed her up to the cage. Clark was able to land more quick punches after breaking free of the clinch and she looked to secure a trip takedown. Eggink jumped guard and postured for a triangle choke and an armbar that forced Clark to act quickly to escape before the bell.

Clark took Eggink back down in round two, but soon found herself trapped in another triangle choke. Eggink tried to use the hold to sweep into mount, but Clark was able to scramble into top position in Eggink’s half-guard. Clark took Eggink’s back in search of a rear-naked choke. She could not get it and Eggink stood up, then rained down punches and transitioned to a rear-naked choke of her own. Eggink landed more punches from back control and continued to hunt for the choke until the end of the round.

With the fight potentially even through ten minutes, both fighters landed punches early in the final round. Clark mixed up her strikes with leg kicks and overhand rights, but Eggink began to establish her jab and she used it to keep Clark at bay. Eggink landed a knee to the body in the clinch and followed with more jabs and one-twos. Late in the round, Clark shot in for a takedown and Eggink stuffed it. She landed hammerfists to the side of Clark’s head and the fight ended with an exchange of punches.

One judge awarded the close first round to Clark, while the remaining two saw the fight as a shutout in Eggink’s favour. Eggink took the Unanimous Decision victory and secured her biggest career win in the process. Tonight’s bout marked Eggink’s first fight since a devastating seven-second knockout loss in March that resulted in a severe concussion.

Winner: Stephanie Eggink by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 2-1-0.

(Photo Credit: For Your Eyes Only Photography)