After two years away, MMARising.com can exclusively report that former #2-ranked bantamweight Amanda Buckner will return to mixed martial arts at Freestyle Cage Fighting 42. The eight-year veteran will be a part of the first FCF event in the state of New Hampshire on May 22nd.

Buckner was scheduled to compete in the opening round of the FCF Women’s Bantamweight Grand Prix in January, but suffered a torn ACL in training and was forced to withdraw. She is now recovering after successful surgery and will compete at FCF 42 for just the second time in three years.

Buckner (11-5-1) began her career with a modest 3-3-1 record against tough competition, but put together a six-fight winning streak that saw her defeat EliteXC and Strikeforce veteran Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler on two separate occasions. Buckner is perhaps best known for her August 2006 war with pound-for-pound queen Tara LaRosa in BodogFIGHT. Putting on one of the best performances of her career, Buckner was thought by most observers to be winning the fight before succumbing to a rear-naked choke very late in the third round.

Not to be deterred, Buckner rebounded with impressive victories over Julie “Fireball” Kedzie and former Smackgirl champ Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano, but found difficulty in securing fights. Her most recent bout, an April 2008 loss to recent Strikeforce title challenger Takayo Hashi, was not Buckner’s best performance and she had looked to return to her winning ways in the FCF tournament. Despite the disappointing injury, Buckner remained focused on her future in 2010 and will make her long-awaited return for FCF. An opponent has not yet been named.

Freestyle Cage Fighting 42 is set to take place at the Douglas Everett Arena in Concord, New Hampshire on May 22nd. The FCF Women’s Grand Prix continues at FCF 40 on March 27th at the FireLake Grand Casino in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Further information on both events can be found at FreestyleCageFighting.com or at FCF-NE.com.

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)