Featherweight standout Julia “The Jewel” Budd has a new opponent for her main card bout at Invicta Fighting Championships 5 on April 5th in Kansas City, Missouri. After two opponent changes, Budd faces off against veteran “Miss” Mollie Estes, who makes her second appearance for the promotion.

Invicta FC officials announced the change today following an initial report from TheMMACorner.com. Estes’s original opponent, unbeaten knockout artist Veronica “The Heartbreaker” Rothenhausler, has withdrawn from the event due to an injury. The all-female card will proceed with 13 fights.

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Three more fights and a one-day grappling tournament have been added to this Saturday’s Jewels: “23rd Ring” event at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan. In amateur kickboxing matches, teen prospect Miiri Sasaki takes on Moga, and 16-year-old J-Girls veteran Mao Muronaga battles Ayumi Otaki.

A featured mixed martial arts bout involving teen prodigy Mizuki Inoue has undergone a change due to injury. Inoue’s original opponent, Mi-Jeon Chan, has been forced to withdraw from the event. Her South Korean compatriot, unbeaten kickboxer Seo Ye Jung, will now face Inoue on the main card.

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Top-ranked flyweight Jessica “Evil” Eye has sustained a serious back injury and has been forced to withdraw from her fight against Munah “The Perfect Storm” Holland at Bellator 95 on April 4th in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Eye discussed details of the injury with MMARising.com this weekend.

Eye, who has fought through injuries including a broken foot in the past, was left unable to walk or train due to the severity of the back injury. She incurred damage to the sacral vertebrae in her lower back and will undergo shots and therapy in hopes of making her return to the Bellator cage this summer.

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Stepping in on two days’ notice, Norma Rueda Center made a successful pro debut on Saturday night at MEZ Sports: “Pandemonium 8” in Pomona, California. The Jackson’s MMA fighter edged out Tuff-N-Uff veteran Rachael “The Panther” Cummins in a bout much closer than the scores suggested.

Center scored a big takedown in the opening round, but had to work quickly to fend off Cummins’s submission attempts from her back. Cummins began to show signs of fatigue as the fight progressed and Center took advantage with a strong third round to take home a close Unanimous Decision victory.

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Highly-touted judoka Marina Shafir picked up her third first-round submission victory on Saturday night at Tuff-N-Uff: “Mayhem In Mesquite 2” in Mesquite, Nevada. Shafir submitted Danielle “The Executioner” Mack with an armbar just 59 seconds into round one of their 150-pound co-main event matchup.

Shafir, the best friend and training partner of UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, is quickly making a name for herself in the amateur ranks. She has looked impressive in all three of her victories to date and made a successful Tuff-N-Uff debut with the win over Mack.

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Kristi “Violencia” Lopez took a step towards Tuff-N-Uff women’s flyweight title contention with a victory tonight at Tuff-N-Uff: “Mayhem In Mesquite 2” in Mesquite, Nevada. Lopez defeated veteran opponent Kari Lichtenwalner by Split Decision in a featured main card matchup on the all-amateur card.

Lopez pressed the action throughout with punches and maintained an edge in the clinches against the cage. She caught a kick from Lichtenwalner and threatened with a rear-naked choke in the third and final final round, and her offence proved to be enough to take the victory on the judges’ scorecards.

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Three of the top female prospects in Texas earned decision victories in their home state tonight. Amber “The Apex Predator” Stautzenberger picked up her second straight win by defeating newcomer Ashley Allen in a featured strawweight matchup at Xtreme Knockout 18 in the city of Arlington.

In Corpus Christi, Paulina “Firefox” Granados made a successful pro debut by defeating atomweight Sarah “The Midget” Lagerstrom at Xtreme Combat Productions and ABG Promotions: “Rocks Extreme MMA 2,” and flyweight Audrey “The Assassin” Alvarez dispatched of Anita “El Tigre” Rodriguez.

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Kentucky native Gina “Jellybean” Begley earned her third submission win tonight in a featured bout at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 7 in Broomfield, Colorado. Begley handed Sparta Combat League champ Shannon “Sinn” Culpepper her first career defeat via second-round guillotine choke.

Begley, one of Invicta FC prospect Jessamyn “The Gun” Duke’s primary training partners, once again showcased her formidable ground skills in tonight’s 130-pound amateur matchup. She countered a takedown from Culpepper by locking on the choke for the impressive submission victory.

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