Official weigh-ins were held today at the DEEP Gym for Friday’s Jewels: “Twelfth Ring” card in Tokyo, Japan, and all but one of the 14 fighters who weighed in successfully made weight. The lone exception was England’s Danielle “The Curse” West, who weighed in heavy for her 65kg fight.
American Top Team standout Jessica “Jag” Aguilar and Jewels Lightweight Queen Champion Ayaka Hamasaki had no troubles making weight for their non-title main event bout. Aguilar accepted the matchup on just one week’s notice. A full account of weigh-in results and fighter quotes is listed below.
Grappling wizard Roger Gracie is expected to make his return to Strikeforce action on June 18th in Dallas, Texas. A current plan is in place for Gracie to take on recently-dethroned former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Gracie has already verbally agreed to the fight.
Former Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Champion Sarah Kaufman may have finally found her next opponent. The Victoria, British Columbia native is currently in talks to face Japanese veteran Megumi Yabushita in a featured bout at Armageddon Fighting Championship 5: “Judgment Day” on April 2.
On October 28, 2010, Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii suffered the first defeat of her storied mixed martial arts career. That Fujii was able to compete at all in 2010 was a remarkable feat in itself, however, as the Japanese submission ace suffered multiple serious injuries that had her on the verge of retirement.
DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki is expected to make his return to the Strikeforce cage on April 9th against once-beaten prospect Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm. The matchup was first reported by MMA-Japan.com and has since been confirmed by multiple sources.
South Korean kickboxing star Seo Hee Ham won her third fight in a ten-day span on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. Making a successful defence of her CMA KPW Women’s Lightweight Championship, Ham defeated Anna Saito via Unanimous Decision under mixed martial arts rules at Gladiator 15: “GI 2.”
Strikeforce came to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio tonight with a double bill of title fights at Strikeforce: “Feijao vs Henderson.” The event was headlined by a Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship bout between champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante and Dan “Hendo” Henderson.
Multi-time boxing champion Holly “Hottie” Holm picked up her first mixed martial arts victory tonight with a convincing stoppage of tough challenger Christina “Machine Gun” Domke in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The featured bout was part of a solid card at Fresquez Productions: “Double Threat.”