Former Strikeforce heavyweight contender Chad “The Gravedigger” Griggs makes his Octagon debut against unbeaten prospect Travis “Hapa” Browne at UFC 145 on March 24, 2012 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. UFC officials announced the heavyweight tilt on the promotion’s website earlier today.

The bout joins a previously announced welterweight clash between rising star Rory “Ares” MacDonald and British striker “Beautiful” Che Mills on the card. MacDonald returns to action in his native Canada after injuries kept him out of the cage for part of 2011 and looks for this third straight win.

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Voting is now underway for the 2011 Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Awards and this year’s edition again features over a dozen categories. Awards will recognise notable achievements made by fighters, promotions and other individuals associated with the sport over the course of the past year.

Members of seven different mixed martial arts publications compiled this year’s awards. A full list of all categories and nominees, as well as fight videos for best fight, knockout and submission, is available below. Winners in each of the categories will be announced at the end of December.

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Strikeforce showcased two title fights on its final card of 2011 tonight at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Strikeforce: “Melendez vs Masvidal” was headlined by a Strikeforce Lightweight Championship bout between Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal.

In the night’s co-main event, Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos returned to action for the first time in 18 months to defend her title against Japanese standout Hiroko “Cat’s Eye” Yamanaka. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s Strikeforce main card.

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Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion Ayaka Hamasaki made a successful defence of her title in the main event of Jewels: “17th Ring” tonight in Tokyo, Japan. Hamasaki defeated rival Seo Hee Ham after Ham was unable to continue following round one. The bout was a rematch from one year ago.

Elsewhere, Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama kept her unbeaten record intact by winning twice in one night to become the first Jewels Featherweight Queen Champion. Sugiyama edged past fellow prospect Kikuyo Ishikawa in the semi-finals and finished Misaki Takimoto with an armbar to claim the title.

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Leading all-female promotion Jewels showcased a pair of title fights on its year-end card today at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan. Jewels: “17th Ring” featured a Jewels Lightweight Queen Championship rematch between current champion Ayaka Hamasaki and South Korea’s Seo Hee Ham.

The semi-finals and final of the Jewels Featherweight Queen Grand Prix also took place on tonight’s card. Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama faced Kikuyo Ishikawa, while Misaki Takimoto took on Yukiko Seki. The winners then met in the tournament final. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.

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A four-woman tournament to crown a Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 125-pound women’s champion will begin on April 15, 2012 in Amman, Jordan. Cage Warriors officials confirmed the news with MMARising.com today and three of the four participants have already been determined.

Top UK star Rosi “The Surgeon” Sexton, who captured a 132-pound title in the promotion early in her career, will look for her second CWFC belt in the tournament. Sexton joins Irish standout Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly and fast-rising prospect Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff as confirmed entrants.

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All main card fighters successfully made weight earlier today for Saturday’s Jewels: “17th Ring” card in Tokyo, Japan. The event features a Jewels Lightweight Queen Championship rematch between Ayaka Hamasaki and Seo Hee Ham, which will be contested over three, five-minute rounds.

A second champion will also be determined when the Jewels Featherweight Queen Grand Prix concludes on the card. Unbeaten prospect Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama faces rising star Kikuyo Ishikawa in one semi-final, while Misaki Takimoto clashes with fellow veteran Yukiko Seki in the other.

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Bushido FC women’s champion Yana “Foxy” Kunitskaya returns to action on February 11, 2012. The talented striker battles taekwondo and kickboxing champ Ekaterina Saraykina at Verdict Fighting Championship 1 in Moscow, Russia. Kunitskaya discussed the bout with MMARising.com today.

Kunitskaya has maintained an active schedule in both MMA and kickboxing dating back to her pro MMA debut in 2009. The 22-year-old has knocked out three straight opponents since her lone defeat last year. Saraykina makes her pro debut in the fight, but has considerable experience as an amateur.

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