The “Little Warrior” reigned supreme against the “Lil Bulldog” on Friday night, as Barb Honchak defeated Felice Herrig via competitive decision after three hard-fought rounds. The featured women’s bout served as the co-main event of Hoosier Fight Club 6: “New Years Nemesis” in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Honchak, who earned her second MMA win as a professional, used effective knees from a Thai clinch that bloodied Herrig’s nose, and she rocked Herrig with a spinning backfist late in the fight. The victory gets Honchak back on track after a loss to unbeaten prospect Cat “Alpha” Zingano one year ago.
A second women’s bout has been added to the undercard of Strikeforce: “Diaz vs Cyborg” on January 29th in San Jose, California. Muay Thai and San Shou standout Jenna Castillo will make her MMA debut against fellow Californian Charlene “Princess” Gellner, who went 3-0 as an amateur.
A third meeting between UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie “The Answer” Edgar and Gray “The Bully” Maynard is reportedly set for UFC 130 on May 28th in Las Vegas. MMAFighting.com was first to report on the fight, which comes on the heels of the pair’s second bout at UFC 125; a Split Draw.
Joining a group of elite female athletes from other combat sports who have recently transitioned to mixed martial arts, multi-time world boxing champion Holly “Hottie” Holm is reportedly set to make her pro MMA debut. According to USCombatSports.com, Holm will face Christina “Machine Gun” Domke on March 4th at an undetermined event in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A rematch from one of the most controversial fights of 2010 is nearly set for UFC Fight Night 24 on March 26th in Seattle. MMAWeekly.com was first to report that TUF 12 alum Nam Phan has agreed to face decision king Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia for a second time on the March card.
At age 16, Mizuki Inoue is one of the youngest female champions in mixed martial arts history. The teen prodigy, who has been a professional MMA fighter for just three months, became the 2010 Jewels 56kg Rough Stone Grand Prix Champion in December and is just getting started in her career.
Many of MMA’s top amateur stars and prospects were in action on Friday night in Las Vegas as Tuff-N-Uff showcased a 16-fight card pitting Xtreme Couture against 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Riverside. In the main event, 10th Planet’s Trace “Midnight” Gray defeated Jake “Rorshach” Swinney.
Strikeforce made its way to the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee tonight for Strikeforce Challengers 13: “Woodley vs Saffiedine.” The event was headlined by a welterweight bout between unbeaten Tyron “T-Wood” Woodley and fellow rising star Tarec “Sponge” Saffiedine.