UFC Lightweight Champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson earned a close but Unanimous Decision victory over former champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar at UFC 144 in Saitama, Japan. Henderson ascends to the number one spot in the lightweight rankings and awaits his first title challenger.
In February women’s bouts, Marianna “The Crushen Russian” Kheyfets and Jessica “Evil” Eye were both victorious and climb up the 125-pound ranks. Kheyfets defeated Heather Hurricane Clark at XFC 16: “High Stakes,” while Eye outpointed Kelly Warren at NAAFS: “Caged Vengeance 10” in Ohio.
On Saturday night in Riverside, California, standout wrestler Carla Esparza will compete in the first five-round title fight of her two-year MMA career at MEZ Sports: “Pandemonium 6.” Esparza faces Angela Magana, a woman who helped to inspire her to pursue MMA just a few short years ago.
The lineup for the inaugural Cage Warriors 125-pound women’s tournament is now complete. Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff will face Brazilian prospect Jennifer Maia in the first semi-final bout at CWFC: Fight Night 4 on March 16th at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
A rematch between two of MMA’s top 125-pound female fighters is in the works for Bellator Fighting Championships 66 on April 20th in Cleveland, Ohio. Hometown favourite Jessica “Evil” Eye will look to avenge her lone defeat when she faces Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly for a second time.
Four new bouts have been added to Saturday’s Jewels: “18th Ring” event and the ten-fight card is now complete. Among the bouts announced by the promotion today was an amateur mixed martial arts matchup pitting Club Barbarian’s Satomi Takano against Alliance-Square Narita’s Miyuki Irie.
Unbeaten Ukrainian Lena “Hunter” Ovchynnikova has signed on as the first contracted female fighter to the upstart Super Fight League promotion. Ovchynnikova is set to face off against Serbia’s Sanja Sučević, a fellow kickboxer, at Super Fight League 1 on March 11th in Mumbai, India.
After a ten-month break from MMA competition, amateur prospect Sarah “Piranha” Goodlaxson steps back into the cage at United Fight League’s “March Madness” event on March 31st in Davison, Michigan. Goodlaxson is set to face Myndi “Moose” Collins, who has won back-to-back fights.
Top Japanese prospect Mizuki Inoue returns to mixed martial arts action for the first time in six months at Jewels: “18th Ring” this Saturday evening in Tokyo. The 17-year-old karateka faces off against unbeaten Australian jiu-jitsu practitioner Alexandra Chambers in a featured bout on the card.