Amanda “Powerhouse” Lucas returns to Japan for her third bout under the DEEP banner when she faces Japanese female MMA pioneer Yumiko Hotta at DEEP: “57 Impact” on February 18th in Tokyo. The matchup, which was officially announced today, will be contested for a new DEEP women’s title.
Lucas posted back-to-back first-round submission wins in her first two bouts for DEEP in late 2011 and she has won three straight since dropping her pro MMA debut. Hotta remains heavily involved in pro wrestling, but she has not competed in mixed martial arts since all the way back in November 2000.
One of MMA’s top female prospects, Ashley “Smashley” Cummins, is set to compete for the second time as a professional on January 28th at NAAFS: “Caged Fury 16” in Morgantown, West Virginia. Cummins faces talented striker Stephanie “Macaquinha” Frausto in a featured bout on the card.
Making a quick return to the cage after his shocking seven-second loss at UFC 140, Canadian featherweight Mark “The Machine” Hominick competes in his home country once again when he faces “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin at UFC 145 on March 24th in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Former Strikeforce and DREAM champ Alistair Overeem solidified his spot as a top-three heavyweight in MMA with a first-round destruction of ex-UFC champion Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141. With the impressive win, Overeem will have a chance to capture UFC title gold later this year.
Voting for the 2011 Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Awards has concluded and winners have been crowned in over a dozen categories. With a 4-0 record in 2011 and a significant fan following, Olympic medallist turned MMA star “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey has been named 2011 Female Fighter of the Year.
Japan’s top female fighter, Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii, needed a mere 75 seconds to secure victory in her DREAM debut tonight at DREAM: “Genki Desu Ka! 2011” in Saitama, Japan. Fujii submitted Spanish prospect Karla Benitez with an armbar in the first women’s bout in DREAM history.
DREAM showcased its annual New Year’s Eve card tonight at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This year’s event, titled “Genki Desu Ka! 2011,” featured a matchup between former long-time PRIDE Heavyweight Champion “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko and Satoshi Ishii.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight for UFC 141: “Lesnar vs Overeem.” The promotion’s year-end card was headlined by a heavyweight contender’s bout between former UFC champion Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem.