Fight Factory gym co-owner Damien Roche is once again facing allegations of embezzlement following the closure of the Patong Beach, Thailand-based training centre this past week. Roche is accused of disappearing with tens of thousands of dollars taken from investors, suppliers and former friends.
This incident is not the first time that Roche has been the subject of similar allegations. In October 2010, fighters were stranded in Macau after the Fury 2 MMA event was cancelled at the last minute amidst allegations that its promoter, Roche, had fled with event money totalling close to $100,000.
Former DEEP Women’s Lightweight Champion Hisae Watanabe will make her Jewels debut in an exhibition match against one-time rival Naoko Omuro at Jewels: “22nd Ring” on December 15th in Tokyo, Japan. Omuro is set to retire following the exhibition bout after competing for close to 11 years.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington tonight for UFC on FOX 5: “Henderson vs Diaz.” The event was headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship matchup between reigning champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson and top contender Nate Diaz.
DEEP women’s open-weight champ Amanda “Powerhouse” Lucas earned a hard-fought decision win over pro wrestling veteran Yuiga tonight at DEEP: “Cage Impact 2012 In Tokyo.” Lucas showcased her improved striking and defeated Yuiga by Majority Decision after two rounds in a non-title bout.
Talented striker Stephanie “Snowflake” Eggink made a triumphant return to action tonight at Xtreme Fighting Championships 21: “Night of Champions 2” in Nashville, Tennessee. Eggink earned a Unanimous Decision victory over Jackson’s MMA’s “Hurricane” Heather Clark in a featured strawweight bout.
An atomweight bout between amateur champs Laura Marcusse and Cassie Robb has been added to Invicta Fighting Championships 4, which takes place on January 5th in Kansas City, Kansas. MMARising.com confirmed plans for the matchup with sources close to the negotiations this week.
In her biggest fight to date, flyweight standout Jessica “Evil” Eye put on the most impressive performance of her career tonight at Bellator Fighting Championships 83 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Eye choked out Bellator champ and bitter rival Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Gurgel in 58 seconds.
Russia’s Julia Berezikova picked up her sixth straight win tonight at Super Fight League 12 in Mumbai, India. Berezikova submitted Spanish rival Karla Benitez in a rematch from a hotly-contested bout in May. Berezikova has won four fights in 13 months and is quickly rising up the female ranks.