Popular prospect Jordan Nicole Gaza will compete for the final time as an amateur on the May 25th Tuff-N-Uff card in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Texas native, better known as “Ninja Princess,” faces Werdum Combat Team’s Kaiyana Rain in a featured 115-pound matchup announced this week.
Also targeted for the May card is a Tuff-N-Uff 115-pound women’s title bout between Stephanie “The Shark” Gonzalez and Jillian “Justice” Lybarger. Gonzalez was awarded the belt earlier this month when then-champion Lybarger was unable to make weight. The score will be settled in May.
Gaza (4-2-0), a former Tuff-N-Uff titleholder in her own right, has maintained an extremely active fighting schedule since her amateur debut at the young age of 17 in 2010. The talented grappler won two of her first three fights leading into a 115-pound title tilt for Tuff-N-Uff this past August. Gaza captured the title with a first-round guillotine choke submission of Kathryn Davis, but suffered a second-round TKO defeat to Lybarger in her first title defence less than three months later. In her most recent fight in December, the former cheerleader submitted Andy Nguyen on the undercard of a K.O. Kings boxing and MMA event in Georgia. Now eyeing a move to the professional ranks, Gaza returns to the Tuff-N-Uff cage in hopes of ending her amateur career with a solid victory.
Rain (2-1-1) kicked off her amateur career with a decision victory in October 2010 and she received a big opportunity the following July in the form of a shot at the Tuff-N-Uff 115-pound women’s title. Despite her limited experience, Rain battled Kathryn Davis to a Majority Draw in a close and competitive fight. Rain suffered her lone setback in October, losing a Split Decision to current Tuff-N-Uff champ Gonzalez at a Grappling X event in California. She rebounded with a decision win this past month. The part-time actress, who has made appearances on hit television shows “CSI: Miami” and “Medium,” has a busy schedule ahead of her in the coming weeks. Before stepping in to face Gaza, Rain first battles Lena Hellqvist in the main event of Epic Fighting 12 on May 4th.
Gonzalez (4-0-0) and Lybarger (4-4-0) were originally set to face off at Tuff-N-Uff: “The Fist-ival” on April 7th, but the bout was scrapped on short notice when back spasms prevented Lybarger from cutting down to make the contracted weight limit. Tuff-N-Uff officials awarded Lybarger’s 115-pound title to Gonzalez by default and the fighters will now compete to determine the undisputed champion next month. Lybarger looks to avenge her twin sister Jocelyn’s most recent loss at the hands of Gonzalez before turning pro later this year. Gonzalez aims to keep her perfect record intact by successfully defending her new title belt.
A third 115-pound women’s bout has also been added to the May 25th card, as Lindsey Carter faces Chelsea Lewis. Additional fights will be announced in the coming weeks. The event takes place at a venue to be announced in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Go rain!
Go Jordan