Former Shoot Boxing Japan Women’s Flyweight Champion Ai Takahashi faces a tough challenge when she steps back into the ring on April 18th at Shoot Boxing 2015: Act.2 in Tokyo, Japan. Takahashi meets long-time kickboxing contender Kanako Taniyama in a featured matchup on the card.

Shoot Boxing officials announced the bout this week. Takahashi has won four straight fights and she is coming off of an impressive second-round knockout victory in August. Taniyama picked up a three-round decision win earlier this month and makes her shoot boxing debut in next month’s fight.

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Brazilian standout Amanda “Lioness” Nunes once again showcased her striking power in a quick and one-sided victory tonight at UFC Fight Night 62: “Maia vs LaFlare” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Nunes stopped Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler in round one of their bantamweight bout.

From the outset, Nunes was a step ahead of Baszler and she hurt the veteran grappler with an early kick to the body. Baszler recovered and tried in vain to get the fight to the mat, but Nunes dropped her with a vicious leg kick and followed with punches to seal the dominant TKO victory.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Maracanãzinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil tonight for UFC Fight Night 62: “Maia vs LaFlare.” The event was headlined by a welterweight bout between Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Demian Maia and unbeaten American prospect Ryan LaFlare.

In tonight’s 170-pound co-feature, Erick “Índio” Silva took on short-notice replacement opponent Josh Koscheck. Leonardo Santos faced Tony Martin at lightweight and Amanda “Lioness” Nunes battled Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler at 135. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

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UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey is set to make the next defence of her title on August 1st at UFC 190: “Rousey vs Correia” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rousey meets outspoken and undefeated Brazilian contender Bethe “Pitbull” Correia in the night’s main event.

UFC officials formally announced the title fight on Friday following reports from Tatame and Globo. Rousey most recently submitted “Alpha” Cat Zingano in 14 seconds at UFC 184. Correia is 2-0 against Rousey’s “Four Horsewomen” stable, with wins over Jessamyn Duke and Shayna Baszler.

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TUF 20 semi-finalist Jessica Penne looks for her second victory inside the Octagon when she returns to action at UFC Fight Night 67 on May 30th in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. The former Invicta FC champion is expected to face off against veteran Brazilian contender Juliana “Ju Thai” de Lima Carneiro.

Combat Press first reported on the targeted matchup today. Penne won her UFC debut in December when she edged out fellow TUF 20 semi-finalist Randa “Quiet Storm” Markos. Lima bounced back from a loss in her first UFC bout by defeating Nina “The Strina” Ansaroff at UFC Fight Night 56.

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Veteran Russian contender Julia Berezikova earned one of her biggest wins to date in a featured flyweight bout tonight at XFC International 9 in São Paulo, Brazil. Berezikova entered hostile territory and submitted Brazilian standout Juliana “Julie” Werner with an impressive second-round kneebar.

In the XFCi 9 co-feature, Poliana Botelho picked up her second straight win by knocking out Antonia “Marretinha” Silvaneide da Silva to win the XFC women’s flyweight tournament. In strawweight tournament semi-final bouts, Viviane “Sucuri” Pereira and Vuokko Katainen both earned big wins tonight.

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Undefeated striking sensation Joanna Jędrzejczyk made history tonight by becoming the UFC’s first Polish champion at UFC 185: “Pettis vs dos Anjos” in Dallas, Texas. Jędrzejczyk battered and ultimately stopped Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza to claim the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship.

In addition to capturing UFC title gold, Jędrzejczyk also ascended to the number one spot in the 115-pound women’s division with her dominant win in the UFC 185 co-main event. Elsewhere on the card, Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie picked up a key victory over Larissa Moreira Pacheco.

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas tonight for UFC 185: “Pettis vs dos Anjos.” The event was headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship bout between champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis and top-ranked challenger Rafael dos Anjos.

In tonight’s co-main event, UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza made her first title defence against Joanna Jędrzejczyk in a much-anticipated bout that determined a new number one at 115 pounds. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

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