Former Invicta FC champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza made history once again tonight in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada. Esparza submitted highly-touted rising star “Thug” Rose Namajunas to become the inaugural UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion.

Tonight’s championship fight capped off the first all-female season of The Ultimate Fighter, which featured 16 of the top female strawweights in MMA. Also tonight, another former Invicta FC champion, Jessica Penne, earned a hard-fought Split Decision victory over Randa Markos on the main card.

Read More…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale. The card was headlined by the first UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship bout between Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza and “Thug” Rose Namajunas.

In the co-feature, Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens met Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira at 145. “King” K.J. Noons took on Daron “The Detroit Superstar” Cruickshank at 155 and TUF 20 semi-finalists Jessica Penne and Randa Markos clashed at 115. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

Read More…

Former Invicta FC champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza and fast-rising star “Thug” Rose Namajunas will face off for the inaugural UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship on Friday at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale in Las Vegas. Both women moved on with key wins during TUF 20 Episode 12.

In the first of two semi-finals during tonight’s episode, Esparza showcased her much-improved boxing skills en route to a Unanimous Decision victory over friend and training partner Jessica Penne. Namajunas earned her spot in the championship final by submitting Randa Markos in the first round.

Read More…

TUF 18 semi-finalist Raquel “Rocky” Pennington scored an incredible come-from-behind victory in a featured bantamweight bout tonight at UFC 181: “Hendricks vs Lawler 2” in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pennington choked out CFA champion Ashlee Evans-Smith at the very end of the first round.

Evans-Smith controlled the majority of tonight’s fight and she opened a cut on Pennington’s forehead with a series of knees in the clinch. In the final 15 seconds of the round, Pennington locked on a standing bulldog choke that rendered Evans-Smith unconscious on the mat just as the bell sounded.

Read More…

The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 181: “Hendricks vs Lawler 2.” The event was headlined by a UFC Welterweight Championship rematch between Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks and “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler.

In tonight’s co-main event, UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis defended his title against top contender Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez. Travis “Hapa” Browne squared off against Brendan “Big Brown” Schaub in heavyweight action. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

Read More…

Invicta Fighting Championships crowned a new atomweight champion in a thrilling main event on Friday night in Houston, Texas. Brazilian grappling specialist Hérica Tibúrcio submitted Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson to win the title in the Invicta Fighting Championships 10 Fight of the Night.

The $1500 Fight of the Night award was not the only bonus that Tibúrcio pocketed on Friday. She also earned a $1000 Performance of the Night bonus for her impressive submission finish. Mexican striker Alexa Grasso also took home a Performance bonus for her quick stoppage of Alida Gray.

Read More…

Grappling ace Hérica Tibúrcio scored the biggest win of her young MMA career in the main event of Invicta Fighting Championships 10 tonight in Houston, Texas. The 21-year-old Brazilian submitted Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson to claim the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.

Tibúrcio showcased her submission skills throughout tonight’s 105-pound headliner and she had Waterson in danger on multiple occasions before finishing the bout with a third-round guillotine choke. In the bantamweight co-feature, Tonya “Triple Threat” Evinger mauled Cindy “Battlecat” Dandois.

Read More…

Invicta Fighting Championships held its tenth card tonight at Arena Theatre in Houston, Texas. Invicta FC 10 featured an atomweight championship bout between reigning Invicta FC champ Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson and Brazilian standout Hérica Tibúrcio, who made her Invicta FC debut.

Also on the card tonight, veteran bantamweight contender Tonya “Triple Threat” Evinger took on Cindy “Battlecat” Dandois in the 135-pound co-feature. Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi battled Andrea “KGB” Lee in flyweight action. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

Read More…