Carina Damm vs Tara LaRosa Planned For Shark Fights 14A 125-pound women’s bout between divisional standouts Tara LaRosa and Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm is in the works for Shark Fights 14 in just nine days. The matchup, which has been in the making for three years, is expected to serve as the co-main event on the HDNet-televised card.

HDNet Fights first noted the matchup on the network’s official website earlier today. MMARising.com has subsequently confirmed that verbal agreements are in place from both fighters. The bout will take the place of a planned light heavyweight rematch between James Irvin and Houston Alexander.

Damm (15-5-0) is coming off of back-to-back losses to Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano and Cat “Alpha” Zingano in the latter half of 2010 and has recently relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where she trains and teaches at Jesse Finney’s MMA and kickboxing gym. The Brazilian and her long-time manager, Shu Hirata, are in the process of parting ways and it was Finney who reportedly agreed to the matchup with LaRosa on Damm’s behalf after the bout was initially declined. Damm had previously been in talks to face LaRosa at Titan Fighting Championship 17 on March 25th.

LaRosa (19-2-0) last fought on November 24th when she captured the vacant DaMMAge Fight League 125-pound women’s title with a five-round decision victory over former Strikeforce title challenger Takayo Hashi. The win got LaRosa back on track after her first loss in seven years – a close decision defeat against old rival Roxanne Modafferi – last May. LaRosa has faced and beaten many of the best female fighters at 125 and 135 pounds, and has been chasing a fight with Damm since BodogFIGHT collapsed three years ago. Despite the last-minute nature, both competitors have verbally agreed to the matchup.

While not yet official, Shark Fights and HDNet are reportedly interested in featuring the women’s bout as the co-main event on the Shark Fights 14 card. Additional plans call for a second 125-pound bout in April, with the winners of each fight then facing each other for a newly-created title in May or June.

Shark Fights 14 takes place on March 11th at the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas. The event will air live on HDNet and is headlined by a middleweight clash between UFC and IFL veterans Matt “Suave” Horwich and Danillo “Indio” Villefort.

 

  1. Tara subs Carina.

  2. […] not yet official, MMARising has said that Shark Fights and HDNet are reportedly interested in featuring the women’s bout as […]