The first-round matchups for the one-night Strikeforce 135-pound women’s tournament on August 13th are now reportedly set. Miesha “Takedown” Tate will take on former Smackgirl champ Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano, while Brazil’s Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm faces 2010 Upcoming Glory Tournament Champion Maiju Kujala.
MMARising.com first reported on the participation of all four fighters and Strikeforce reportedly confirmed the matchups this week with Sherdog.com. An untelevised tournament reserve bout will also be held in case of injury.
Note: Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has since stated that these matchups are NOT planned and that a random draw format, as first reported here on MMARising.com, will still be used.
Tate (9-2-0) and Akano (15-7-0) share similar styles and both are most comfortable in taking their opponents down and working for submissions, but Tate will hold an advantage in wrestling heading into the fight. Akano is skilled at working off of her back and counts 12 submission victories on her record, with 11 coming by way of armbar. Tate has worked diligently to improve her striking and should be comfortable wherever the fight goes, but Akano remains a dangerous opponent for anyone at 135.
Damm (15-3-0) and Kujala (4-1-0) will both make their Strikeforce debuts in the tournament, with Damm returning to the United States for the first time since a 2008 suspension for steroids. Eleven of Damm’s wins have come by way of stoppage and she has knocked out five of her last seven opponents. The jiu-jitsu standout will be forced to tackle a relative unknown in Kujala, who won the 135-pound bracket of the Upcoming Glory Tournament earlier this year. Kujala has finished three opponents to date and her lone loss came against unbeaten Bellator signee Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly.
As first reported by MMARising.com, the tournament will be contructed over a single evening at Strikeforce Challengers 10 in Phoenix, Arizona. A random draw format had been planned to determine first-round matchups, but will reportedly no longer take place. An untelevised reserve bout will be held on the event’s undercard, with the participants to be announced shortly.
