Former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Marloes Coenen has officially signed a new deal with North Carolina-based BlackEye Promotions. The Dutch submission specialist was abruptly released from her Strikeforce contract earlier this month along with her Golden Glory teammates.

Coenen, who lost her Strikeforce title to Miesha Tate on July 30th, has spent time on vacation in the United States since her release. She recently began training with camps in the Missouri area and will return to the Netherlands soon. Her signing with BlackEye Promotions was officially announced today.

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Amanda “Powerhouse” Lucas, the adopted daughter of Star Wars creator George Lucas, earned her second mixed martial arts victory this evening at DEEP: “55 Impact” in Tokyo, Japan. Lucas defeated pro wrestler and MMA veteran Hikaru Shinohara by technical submission due to an armbar.

The 30-year-old Lucas took her opponent down to the mat in the opening round and threatened with submissions before using punches to set up the armbar. A dejected Shinohara did not tap, but her corner threw in the towel and an elated Lucas was awarded with the victory in her Japanese debut.

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A second kickboxing matchup has been added to the Jewels: “16th Ring” card on September 11th in Tokyo, Japan. Kozue “Azuma” Nagashima, who was victorious in the kickboxing main event of “13th Ring” in May, will face once-beaten South Korean Kim Sung Eun, who holds numerous titles.

Nagashima defeated Yukimi Kamikaze in their May headliner and she has captured championships of her own during her kickboxing career. The fight between Nagashima and Eun joins a previously announced kickboxing match between Chikako WSR and Satoko Ozawa on the September card.

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A foot injury has forced Josh Thomson off of the upcoming Strikeforce card on September 10th in Cincinnati, Ohio. The embattled former champion had been scheduled to face Maximo “Maxi” Blanco, but he must now watch from the sidelines due to the injury. He has fought just four times in three years.

Thomson was kept out of action for nearly all of 2009 due to a broken leg and lost the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship in a rematch with Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez at the end of the year. He earned two wins in 2010, but suffered a defeat against Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri on New Year’s Eve.

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Two light heavyweight bouts have been added to the upcoming UFC 139: “Velasquez vs dos Santos” card on November 19th in San Jose, California. Ryan “Darth” Bader faces Jason “The Hitman” Brilz, while “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar squares off with Kyle “Kingsbu” Kingsbury.

The fights were officially announced by the promotion earlier today. Both Bader and Brilz will look to rebound from losses in their most recent bouts. Bonnar and Kingsbury, both of whom are currently in the midst of winning streaks, will be aiming to take another step towards contendership at 205.

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Three more bouts have been announced for the Jewels: “16th Ring” card on September 11th in Tokyo, Japan. Teen prodigy Mizuki Inoue, who turned 17 on Friday, will take a huge step up in competition when she faces Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion Ayaka Hamasaki in a non-title matchup.

Also announced for the event was the return to MMA of grappling ace Emi Tomimatsu, who faces Norway’s Celine Haga. Tomimatsu has not competed in MMA since early 2008. In other action, Yuko “Amiba” Oya looks to bounce back from her first loss in two years when she faces Akiko “Betiko” Naito.

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The “Strongest Female High School Student” reigns supreme. Tonight at Shibuya-AX in Tokyo, Japan, Erika Kamimura outlasted three opponents to win the 2011 Shoot Boxing Girls S-Cup tournament. The 18-year-old edged out kickboxer and MMA standout Seo Hee Ham in the finals of the event.

In other action, two-time Girls S-Cup champion Rena Kubota defeated “Muay Thai Idol” Zaza Sor Aree by second-round knockout and will rematch Kamimura at a November 23rd RISE event. Kubota’s 16-year-old protégé, Mio Tsumura, made her pro debut and defeated Yoko “Iron Beauty” Yamada.

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Final Valkyrie Open-Weight Champion Rin Nakai will put her unbeaten MMA record on the line against England’s Danielle “The Curse” West at Pancrase Impressive Tour 9 on September 4th in Tokyo, Japan. MMARising.com first learned of the bout on Wednesday and the promotion announced it today.

Nakai has not fought since December 30th when she quickly submitted an overmatched Mika “Hari” Harigai at SRC: “Soul of Fight.” She captured the Valkyrie title in November before the promotion ceased operations. West will look to rebound from a loss in May as she makes her second trip to Japan.

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