Top-ranked amateur champion Taylor “No Mercy” Stratford makes her long-awaited pro debut against unbeaten knockout artist Katalina Malungahu at Invicta Fighting Championships 3 on October 6th in Kansas City, Kansas. MMARising.com confirmed plans for the featherweight matchup today.
Stratford has tasted defeat only once in her ten-fight MMA career and she is widely seen as the number one amateur female fighter in the United States. Malungahu has knocked out all five of her pro and amateur opponents to date and she is coming off of a 36-second KO victory this past month.
Stratford (9-1-0 amateur) began her career in her adopted hometown of Reno, Nevada at the age of 18 in November 2009 and went on to win five straight fights for the Ultimate Reno Combat promotion. She debuted for the Las Vegas-based Tuff-N-Uff organisation in 2010 and earned a quick submission win to advance on in the Tuff-N-Uff 145-pound women’s tournament. Her next fight ended in a controversial loss at the hands of current Strikeforce champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, in which Stratford was trapped in an armbar but never tapped out, but the defeat only served as fuel to motivate the young prospect.
In March 2011, Stratford became URC 145-pound women’s champion with a fourth-round knockout of Amanda Bell. Just eight days later, she picked up her second title by submitting Ashlee Evans-Smith for Tuff-N-Uff gold. Stratford closed out her amateur career with a Unanimous Decision victory in June of last year, but she has not fought since. She recently relocated from Reno back to her home state of California and now fights out of the city of Dunnigan in preparation for her much-anticipated pro debut.
Malungahu (2-0-0) had a more low-key amateur career than Stratford, but her accomplishments thus far have been equally impressive. After making three appearances for Jeremy Horn’s Elite Fight Night promotion in 2011 and winning each fight by knockout, Malungahu turned pro in October. She needed just over three minutes to stop the previously unbeaten “Vicious” Valerie Barney, who had won all five of her prior fights by knockout. In late July, Malungahu returned to action and knocked out undefeated prospect Ericka Newsome in just 36 seconds. As one of the hardest hitters at 145 pounds, Malungahu now looks for another impressive victory when she faces Stratford in October.
Invicta Fighting Championships 3 takes place on October 6th at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The event is headlined by an Invicta FC Atomweight Championship bout between Jessica Penne and Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama.
Invicta Fighting Championships 3 Fight Card (to date; subject to change):
– Jessica Penne vs Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama [Atomweight (105-Pound) Championship]
– Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler vs Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio [135 Pounds]
– Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak vs Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly [125 Pounds]
– Tara LaRosa vs Vanessa Porto [125 Pounds]
– Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith vs Cat “Alpha” Zingano [135 Pounds]
– Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson vs Lacey “The Ladie” Schuckman [105 Pounds]
– Julia “The Jewel” Budd vs Elaina “Beef” Maxwell [145 Pounds]
– Carla Esparza vs Lynn “Lights Out” Alvarez [115 Pounds]
– Ashley “Smashley” Cummins vs Joanne Calderwood [115 Pounds]
– Amy “Lil’ Dynamite” Davis vs Stephanie “Macaquinha” Frausto [105 Pounds]
– Jessamyn “The Gun” Duke vs Marciea “Black Widow” Allen [135 Pounds]
– Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres vs Kaiyana Rain [115 Pounds]
– Katalina Malungahu vs Taylor “No Mercy” Stratford [145 Pounds]
(Photo Credit: Tuff-N-Uff)
You got this Tay!!!! So proud of you
kick some butt Tay!!
Tongan powere in the house!!