Standout striker Justine Kish improved her MMA record to a perfect 4-0 with an impressive victory tonight at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 12: “Ortega vs Koch” in Los Angeles, California. Kish defeated the previously unbeaten Randa Markos Thomas by Unanimous Decision in an action-packed fight.
Elsewhere tonight, undefeated prospect DeAnna “The Argentine Assassin” Bennett picked up a quick submission victory in her third professional fight at Showdown Fights 13: “Lopez vs Castillo” in Orem, Utah. Bennett made short work of wrestler Sharon Jacobson via first-round rear-naked choke.
Kish (4-0-0) and Markos (3-1-0) traded hard punches right away and Markos clinched in search of a takedown, but Kish stuffed it and she landed a nice knee and a combination. As the round progressed, Kish mixed up her strikes well with knees, quick punches and leg kicks. She tagged Markos with a flurry, then took her back and dragged her to the mat. Markos, bleeding from above the left eye, got back to her feet only to be taken right back down again. She swept into top position before the bell.
In round two, the fighters traded punches again and Kish narrowly missed with a spinning backfist. She reversed a takedown and took Markos’s back, but Markos scrambled up to her feet. Kish landed a hard body kick and a combination, then followed with power punches and a side kick. She continued to press the action on the feet and landed a spinning back elbow in the final minute. Markos tried for a takedown, but Kish fought her off with another solid knee strike.
The final round began with more striking dominance from Kish, who landed leg kicks and a knee. Both women connected with hard punches in close and Kish backed Markos up. Markos eventually closed in again and took Kish down. She made the most of her takedown by transitioning to mount, where she postured up with elbows. Soon after, Markos transitioned to a tight armbar that had Kish in some trouble. Kish rolled through and escaped, but Markos took her back down before time expired.
In spite of Markos’s late rally in round three, Kish had done enough in the opening ten minutes of the fight to take a hard-fought victory. Scores were 30-27 and 29-28 twice from the judges, all in favour of Kish. The veteran striker remains perfect in her mixed martial arts career and tonight’s bout marked a successful strawweight debut.
Winner: Justine Kish by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 4-0-0.
Competing for the first time since her February 2013 win over TUF 18 victor Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña, Bennett (3-0-0) showed no signs of ring rust in her brief fight tonight. In front of hometown fans in Orem, Bennett trapped MMA newcomer Jacobson (0-1-0) in a rear-naked choke at the 2:12 mark of the opening round in their fight tonight. With the quick win, Bennett remains unbeaten in three pro fights, all of which have come under the Showdown Fights banner. She remains one of the sport’s top female flyweight prospects.
Winner: DeAnna Bennett by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:12 of round one. She improves to 3-0-0.
(Photo Credit: Mike Lee)