Two-time All-American wrestler Carla Esparza earned a dominant decision victory tonight at Xtreme Fighting Championships 15: “Tribute” in Tampa, Florida. Esparza employed an effective game plan of takedowns and top control to defeat striker Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig after three rounds.

Displaying marked improvement in her striking, Esparza was able to hold her own in the standup battles with Herrig and shined on the ground. Herrig was game and threatened with submissions in the final round, but Esparza escaped danger and emerged victorious for the sixth time in her career.

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Xtreme Fighting Championships returned to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida tonight for XFC 15: “Tribute.” The HDNet-televised card was headlined by a lightweight bout between Florida veteran Eric “It’s A Wrap” Reynolds and Brazilian submission ace Jonatas “Peixe Frito” Novaes.

Also on the card, Bellator veteran Carla Esparza took on standout striker Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig in a featured 115-pound women’s matchup, and unbeaten lightweight “Notorious” Nick Newell battled Denis Hernandez. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s XFC 15 main card.

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The final bout in the inaugural Jewels Under-15 Kickboxing Tournament has now been made official for Jewels: “17th Ring” on December 17th in Tokyo, Japan. Twelve-year-old “Muay Thai Genius” Saya Ito takes on 14-year-old Chihiro Imoto. The promotion confirmed the matchup earlier today.

Both Ito and Imoto advanced to the final round of the tournament with wins at “16th Ring” in September. Ito took a dominant Unanimous Decision over Ryoka Yasuoka in one semi-final. Imoto edged out Miiri Sasaki in the other. The two face off to crown the first Jewels kickboxing tournament winner.

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Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold is expected to make the first defence of his new title against UFC veteran “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine on January 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMAFighting.com first reported the bout on Thursday. Jardine replaces an injured Tim Kennedy.

Rockhold captured the championship in a razor-thin five-round battle with former champion Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza in September and has won seven straight fights. Jardine is unbeaten in his past three fights after enduring a disastrous 2009-2010 campaign that included five consecutive losses.

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Former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion Dan “Hendo” Henderson picked up one of his biggest wins to date in a thrilling contest at UFC 139 last month. Henderson edged one-time UFC titleholder Mauricio “Shogun” Rua after five rounds and vaults to the number two spot in the light heavyweight division.

One week earlier, Junior “Cigano” dos Santos stopped Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds on FOX. Dos Santos begins his reign atop the heavyweight ranks. In women’s action, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey enters the top three at 145 pounds after a quick submission victory over Julia “The Jewel” Budd.

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Japanese star Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii will make her DREAM debut on New Year’s Eve. The submission specialist faces Spanish prospect Karla Benitez at DREAM: “Genki Desu Ka” in Saitama, Japan. MMARising.com confirmed plans for the bout following an initial report from Sherdog.com.

Fujii has been sidelined while rehabbing injuries following a July victory over Jewels postergirl Mika “Future Princess” Nagano. She has tasted defeat just once; a contentious decision in last year’s Bellator women’s tournament. Benitez most recently had a five-fight winning streak snapped in October.

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Leading U.K. promotion Cage Warriors Fighting Championship has instated a 125-pound women’s title and will crown a new champion in 2012. CWFC director Graham Boylan and matchmaker Ian Dean confirmed the news with MMARising.com today and discussed plans for the coming year.

Cage Warriors’ first and only women’s champion, Rosi Sexton, captured her title in 2005 before travelling outside of the U.K. for bouts in BodogFight and EliteXC. Sexton’s title was later retired, but she is expected to be among the top contenders for the newly-created vacant championship in 2012.

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Welterweight contenders Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger and Diego “The Dream” Sanchez are likely to face off in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 1 on February 15, 2012. The targeted matchup is expected to take place at the CenturyLink Center in Ellenberger’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska.

MMAjunkie.com first reported the bout today, including details of the date and location. UFC officials confirmed the fight this evening. Ellenberger has won five straight fights since a close defeat in his Octagon debut. Sanchez earned a contentious decision victory over Martin Kampmann in March.

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