Top prospects “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and Julia “The Jewel” Budd have verbally agreed to face off at Strikeforce Challengers 20 on November 18th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Strikeforce announced the featherweight matchup on Wednesday and MMAjunkie.com first reported on the event and venue.
Rousey picked up a quick but controversial victory in her Strikeforce debut last month; stopping Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio via technical submission due to an armbar in 25 seconds. Budd rebounded from a loss in January by defeating long-time rival Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie in June.
Heavyweight legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira picked up one of his biggest wins in recent years on August 27th at UFC 134: Rio. Competing at home in Brazil for the first time in his storied career, Nogueira knocked out Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub and re-enters the heavyweight rankings.
Two of the top female fighters in Bellator will soon square off for a second time. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed to MMARising.com today that Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Gurgel and Jessica “Jag” Aguilar have verbally agreed to compete in a late October rematch at an event to be determined.
Former WEC lightweight title challenger Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone will step in to face Dennis Siver at UFC 137 on October 29th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cerrone replaces Sam “Hands of Stone” Stout, who withdrew from the fight. MMAWeekly.com first reported on the change to the matchup on Monday.
A 125-pound women’s bout between Jessica “Evil” Eye and Casey “KO” Noland has been added to the Bellator Fighting Championships 51 card on September 24th in Canton, Ohio. The fight was officially announced by the promotion earlier today and serves as both fighters’ Bellator debuts.
Keeping her unblemished record intact, 2004 Olympic silver medallist Sara McMann earned a third-round submission victory over a very game Raquel “Rocky” Pa’aluhi at ProElite 1 tonight in Honolulu, Hawaii. The pair engaged in a spirited Fight of the Night battle that drew cheers from the crowd.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Brazil for the first time in 13 years tonight at UFC 134: Rio. The event took place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro and featured a bout between Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Yushin “Thunder” Okami for the UFC Middleweight Championship.
Leading amateur promotion Tuff-N-Uff crowned two women’s champions tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada. Teen prospect Jordan Nicole Gaza won the promotion’s 115-pound title by submitting Kathryn Davis, while unbeaten Liz “Lil’ Lightning” McCarthy upset Jordan McDonald for 110-pound gold.