A 125-pound women’s bout between divisional standouts Tara LaRosa and Carina “Beauty But The Beast” Damm is in the works for Shark Fights 14 in just nine days. The matchup, which has been in the making for three years, is expected to serve as the co-main event on the HDNet-televised card.
HDNet Fights first noted the matchup on the network’s official website earlier today. MMARising.com has subsequently confirmed that verbal agreements are in place from both fighters. The bout will take the place of a planned light heavyweight rematch between James Irvin and Houston Alexander.
After weeks of speculation, Strikeforce has confirmed the postponement of the remainder of the opening round of its inaugural Heavyweight Grand Prix. The final two quarterfinal bouts, first set for April 9th, will now take place on June 18th at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
February was another solid month for mixed martial arts, and will likely best be remembered for Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva’s impressive victory over “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce. Emelianenko drops from the top five in the heavyweight division as a result, while Silva climbs up the ranks.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship travelled to the Acer Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia tonight for UFC 127: “Penn vs Fitch.” The card was headlined by a welterweight contender’s bout between former two-time champion “The Prodigy” B.J. Penn and tough challenger Jon Fitch.
A highly competitive women’s bout between 125-pound British standout Rosi “The Surgeon” Sexton and former Strikeforce title challenger Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi capped off a stellar night of fights this evening at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 40 in North London, England.
In a rematch three years in the making, South Korean kickboxing standout Seo Hee Ham once again defeated Jewels mainstay Saori “Shooting Star” Ishioka tonight at DEEP: “52 Impact” in Tokyo, Japan. Ham battered Ishioka en route to a commanding Unanimous Decision after two dominant rounds.
An untimely knee injury in training has forced Miesha “Takedown” Tate out of her Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Championship bout against Marloes “Rumina” Coenen on March 5th in Columbus, Ohio. Tate has been replaced by top contender Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche in the 135-pound title fight.
Former Sengoku Raiden Championship Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro is the latest fighter to leave the embattled promotion. The reigning Featherweight King of Pancrase has signed a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships to compete in the promotion’s upcoming fourth season.