Women's MMA Report: Invicta FC and Jewels Announce 115-Pound Title Fights

Women's MMA Report: Invicta FC and Jewels announce 115-pound title fights
by Robert Sargent on Nov 26, 2012 at 12:15 pm ET

Invicta Fighting Championships is set to crown its second champion on Jan. 5 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.

A five-round title bout between unbeaten Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Claudia "Claudinha" Gadelha and standout wrestler Carla "Cookie Monster" Esparza headlines Invicta FC 4, and the inaugural Invicta FC strawweight championship is on the line.

Gadelha (9-0) has spent the majority of her career competing at 125 pounds in Brazil, where she has developed a big fan following. She has secured finishes in seven of her nine fights and is widely regarded as the country's top female prospect. The 23-year-old holds multiple titles in jiu-jitsu, including three world championships. She made her North American MMA debut in April and took a split-decision victory over Canada's Valerie Letourneau.

In September, Gadelha earned her first TKO win by stopping Adriana Vieira at Shooto Brazil 34.

Esparza (8-2) is arguably the top wrestler in the women's 115-pound division, and the 25-year-old has also showcased some vicious ground-and-pound skills in both of her Invicta FC appearances. Following a commanding decision win over Felice "Lil' Bulldog" Herrig in December, Esparza debuted for Invicta FC on the promotion's second card in July. She escaped opponent Sarah "White Tiger" Schneider's slick submission attempts and finished her with punches late in the second round.

This past month, Esparza made short work of Lynn "Lights Out" Alvarez at Invicta FC 3.

Both Gadelha and Esparza are proven finishers who are known for having exciting fights, and the January title fight represents an interesting clash of styles. Gadelha competes on U.S. soil for the first time in her MMA career and looks to capture a major championship in just her second fight at 115 pounds. For Esparza, a title win in January would represent the culmination of many years of hard work, both on the wrestling mat and in the MMA cage.

Invicta FC 4 is expected to once again stream live and for free on InvictaFC.com.

Baszler vs. Davis 2, Nunes vs. D'Alelio highlight Invicta FC 4 main card

Along with the inaugural strawweight title bout, Invicta FC 4 will feature at least 11 additional matchups. Ten more fights, including a pair of bantamweight contender's bouts, were confirmed for the card this past week.

In one, Shayna "The Queen of Spades" Baszler (15-7) battles fellow submission specialist Alexis "Ally-Gator" Davis (12-5) in a rematch from 2010. The fighters engaged in a hotly contested ground battle in their first fight, which Baszler won via a narrow decision. Both are coming off impressive submission victories for Invicta FC this year.

Strikeforce veterans Amanda "Lioness of the Ring" Nunes (7-2) and Sarah "The Monster" D'Alelio (6-3) face off in a second featured matchup at 135 pounds. Nunes rebounded from a Strikeforce loss to Davis by choking out Raquel "Rocky" Pa'aluhi in her Invicta FC debut. D'Alelio finished Vanessa Mariscal and Vanessa Porto in her first two fights for Invicta FC and now looks to get back on track after a loss to Baszler this past month.

Both fights could have title implications for later in 2013.

The preliminary-card portion of the event is arguably the strongest of any Invicta FC card to date, with six compelling matchups that feature some of the sport's top up-and-coming female talent. Featherweight prospects Veronica "The Heartbreaker" Rothenhausler (3-0 amateur) and Amanda "The Lady Killer" Bell (6-1 amateur) both make their pro debuts in separate bouts, as will highly touted strawweight Rose "The Riveter" Namajunas (4-0 amateur).

The Invicta FC 4 card currently stands as follows:
115 title: Claudia "Claudinha" Gadelha (9-0) vs. Carla "Cookie Monster" Esparza (8-2)
135: Shayna "The Queen of Spades" Baszler (15-7) vs. Alexis "Ally-Gator" Davis (12-5)
135: Amanda "Lioness of the Ring" Nunes (7-2) vs. Sarah "The Monster" D'Alelio (6-3)
TBD: Leslie "The Peacemaker" Smith (4-2-1) vs. TBD
145: Ediene "India" Gomes (9-2) vs. Hiroko "Cat's Eye" Yamanaka (12-2)
115: Joanne Calderwood (4-0) vs. Bec "Rowdy" Hyatt (4-1)
105: Stephanie "Macaquinha" Frausto (4-4) vs. "Sassy" Cassie Rodish (3-3)
145: Tamikka "Boom Boom" Brents (1-0) vs. Amanda "The Lady Killer" Bell (pro debut)
105: "Lightning" Liz McCarthy (1-0) vs. Jodie Esquibel (2-0)
115: Emily Kagan (2-0) vs. Rose "The Riveter" Namajunas (pro debut)
115: Tecia "The Tiny Tornado" Torres (1-0) vs. "12 Gauge" Paige VanZant (2-0)
145: Katalina Malungahu (2-1) vs. Veronica "The Heartbreaker" Rothenhausler (pro debut)
Hamasaki vs. Fujino title bout headlines "Jewels: 22nd Ring"

Three weeks before Invicta FC determines its first 115-pound female champion, the Jewels lightweight (115-pound) title will be on the line when champion Ayaka Hamasaki (8-0) defends against Emi "Kamikaze Angel" Fujino (11-5) at "Jewels: 22nd Ring." The event takes place on Dec. 15 in Tokyo and, for the first time in Jewels' history, will be contested inside a cage.

Hamasaki became the first Jewels champion in late 2010, and she has since made two successful title defenses. In July, she debuted for Invicta FC and secured a third-round submission victory over Lacey "The Ladie" Schuckman. Hamasaki was in line to face Carla Esparza in an Invicta FC title bout in January, but she will instead defend her Jewels championship. Five of Hamasaki's eight wins have come inside the distance, and she is one of the most talented fighters in Japan.

Fujino debuted in MMA more than nine years ago and holds a significant edge in experience over the champion, but she has battled inconsistency in recent years. She is currently riding a two-fight win streak, however, and earned a notable win over Jewels star Mika "Future Princess" Nagano in March. Fujino has been inactive in MMA since the win over Nagano, but she did pick up a 44-second knockout victory in a J-Girls kickboxing match this month.

While most Jewels bouts are contested over two five-minute rounds, the Hamasaki-Fujino title fight will use three five-minute rounds. Full ground and pound is permitted.

Among the other confirmed fights for the "22nd Ring" card is a 130-pound catchweight bout between Shizuka Sugiyama (8-3) and former Strikeforce title challenger Roxanne "The Happy Warrior" Modafferi (15-10). Sugiyama took a year off from fighting to train jiu-jitsu in Australia, and she is unbeaten since returning to Jewels in July. Modafferi remains in search of her first Jewels victory and looks to snap a tough five-fight losing streak.

Satomi Takano (2-0), a bright prospect on the Jewels roster, seeks her biggest victory to date when she faces former Valkyrie champion Yasuko "Ikuko" Tamada (13-8-3). Jewels producer/matchmaker Yasuko "Pink Spider" Mogi (3-6) is set to compete for the first time since April 2010 when she faces Keiko Tomita (0-1).

In her retirement fight, AACC's Rina Tomita (3-7) takes on the aforementioned Nagano (10-8) in a trilogy bout. Veteran Naoko Omuro (13-9-4) will also retire after the Jewels card. She will compete in an exhibition match against an opponent to be determined.

Additional matchups will be announced in the coming weeks.

The "Jewels: 22nd Ring" card currently stands as follows:
52 kg. title: Ayaka Hamasaki (8-0) vs. Emi "Kamikaze Angel" Fujino (11-5)
59 kg.: Shizuka Sugiyama (8-3) vs. Roxanne "The Happy Warrior" Modafferi (15-10)
46 kg.: Satomi Takano (2-0) vs. Yasuko "Ikuko" Tamada (13-8-3)
52 kg.: Mika "Future Princess" Nagano (10-8) vs. Rina Tomita (3-7)*
56 kg.: Yasuko "Pink Spider" Mogi (3-6) vs. Keiko Tomita (0-1)
48 kg.: Naomi Taniyama (pro debut) vs. Mina Kurobe (pro debut)
60.5 kg. kickboxing: Mayumi "Super Benkei" Aoki vs. Satoko Ozawa
TBD: Naoko Omuro (13-9-4) vs. TBD+
*Tomita's retirement bout
+Omuro's retirement bout (exhibition match)

Casey, Lybarger impress at "Tuff-N-Uff: Feastibrawl"

Tuff-N-Uff 125-pound women's champion Cortney "Cast Iron" Casey (6-2) notched another impressive victory this past Wednesday at "Tuff-N-Uff: Feastibrawl" in Las Vegas. The amateur standout used a flying armbar to submit rival Rachael "The Panther" Cummins (2-4) in a non-title rematch from September.

The opening round of the rematch was an even one, and both fighters were effective with knees in the clinch. Casey began to take control with a hard flurry of punches and a takedown late in the first round, but Cummins rallied back with a takedown of her own early in the second stanza. Casey was active from her back, and she hurt Cummins with punches and knees to the body after sweeping into top position.

In the third round, Casey was aggressive from the outset. She pushed forward with punches that kept Cummins on the defensive and jumped into a slick flying armbar. Casey used the hold to drag Cummins to the mat, and Cummins was forced to submit at the 46-second mark. Casey has won five straight fights and hopes to turn pro in 2013.

Earlier on the card, former 115-pound champions Jillian "Justice" Lybarger (5-5) and Stephanie "The Shark" Gonzalez (5-2) faced off in a long-awaited matchup. Gonzalez moved up in weight for the 125-pound fight, and she was clearly at a size disadvantage, but it was Lybarger's rapidly improving striking that proved to be the difference maker.

Lybarger landed overhand rights at will throughout the first round, and her power was big enough to stun Gonzalez on two occasions. A final right hand sent Gonzalez to the mat against the cage, and Lybarger dove in with more punches for the TKO stoppage at the 1:23 mark of the first round. She has won four of her past five bouts and is expected to join twin sister Jocelyn on the Invicta FC roster next year.

A third women's bout on the Tuff-N-Uff card saw Mercedes "The Zombie Killer" White (1-0) take a unanimous-decision victory over Danielle "The Executioner" Mack (0-2). White landed hard punches throughout the opening round, and she remained in control of the striking exchanges in Round 2 and 3 to earn the decision win.

Quick results

Monika (1-0) def. Gurleen Kaur (0-2) via unanimous decision at Super Fight League 9 on Nov. 16 in Mumbai, India. Both fighters threatened with a number of submissions throughout the fight, but Monika's top game and ability to control Kaur with bulldog chokes were enough to earn her the decision win on all three judges' scorecards.

Margaret "Magga" Aase (1-0) def. Lina "Lynx" Eklund (2-2) via TKO (punches) at the 2:36 mark of Round 2 at Rumble of the Kings 7 on Nov. 16 in Linkoping, Sweden. Aase pinned down Eklund and landed dozens and dozens of punches from mount and back control until the fight was finally stopped. She remains unbeaten in four pro and amateur bouts.

Kathina "Kill Switch" Catron (2-0) def. Amber "The Crazy Bitch" Powell (3-5) via submission (armbar) at the 1:52 mark of Round 1 at "Xtreme Fighting League: Xtreme Fight Night 10" on Nov. 16 in Catoosa, Okla. The bout was a short-notice rematch from September when Catron submitted Powell with a first-round guillotine choke. The rematch lasted 11 seconds longer than the first fight, but the outcome was the same, and Catron kept her unbeaten record intact. All seven of her pro and amateur fights have ended in stoppage wins.

Eeva Siiskonen (2-0) def. Helin Paara (1-2) via unanimous decision at "Cage 20: Northern Storm 2" on Nov. 17 in Oulu, Finland. Siiskonen has won both of her fights in impressive fashion since debuting in September, and she could be a new prospect to watch for in the featherweight division.

Laura Balin (2-0) def. Ana "Bad Girl" Blank (0-1) via TKO (punches) in Round 1 at 360 Pro Fight on Nov. 17 in Corrientes, Argentina. Balin has secured quick finishes in both of her pro bouts.

Randa Markos Thomas (1-0) def. Allanna "Hands of Stone" Jones (1-1) via submission (armbar) at the 3:14 mark of Round 3 at "Impact Fight League 51: No Guts, No Glory" on Nov. 17 in Auburn Hills, Mich. Markos Thomas put on a strong performance in the spirited matchup before locking on the armbar in the final round. With the victory, Markos Thomas made a successful pro debut following a 5-1 run as an amateur.

Charmaine "Not So Sweet" Tweet (2-3) def. Puja Kadian (1-1) via submission (guillotine choke) at the 45-second mark of Round 1 at Super Fight League 10 on Nov. 23 in Mumbai, India. Tweet countered a takedown attempt with a series of knees and trapped Kadian in the fight-ending standing guillotine. She has won two of her past three fights.

Simona Soukupova (3-2-1) def. Elodie Puget (1-1) via submission (armbar) at the 4:21 mark of Round 1 at KAYO MMA 9 on Nov. 24 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. Soukupova is 1-1-1 this year, but she has put on solid performances in each fight and is now back on track as she continues her move down to 105 pounds. All three of her wins have come inside the distance.

Nina "The Strina" Ansaroff (2-3) def. Jessica Doerner (2-1) via TKO (punches) in Round 1 at "The Cage Inc.: Battle at the Border 11" on Nov. 24 in Hankinson, N.D. Ansaroff was returning to action for the first time since July 2011, but ring rust did not appear to play a factor and she overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Doerner en route to the first-round stoppage.

Upcoming fights

Rin Nakai (12-0-1) faces Danielle "The Honey Badger" West (4-4-1) in a rematch at Pancrase Progress Tour 14 on Dec. 1 in Tokyo. This bout will determine the first bantamweight Queen of Pancrase champion. Nakai and West engaged in a back-and-forth bout in September 2011 that ended in a contentious split draw with some feeling that West deserved the win on the scorecards. She looks to hand Nakai her first loss in the title rematch next weekend.

Paulina Bonkowska (3-1) faces Karolina Kowalkiewicz (1-0) at "KSW 21: Final Resolution" on Dec. 1 in Warsaw, Poland. Bonkowska rebounded from a decision loss in her pro debut with three straight first-round wins this year. Kowalkiewicz made a successful debut with a first-round TKO win in May. Both women will be competing for KSW for the first time.

Kaka Naja (2-0) faces Daniela Maria "Danny Fenix" da Silva (0-1) at Maceio Fighting Championship on Dec. 1 in Maceio, Alagoas, Brazil. Naja made a name for herself with a pair of victories for the all-female Pink Fight promotion earlier this year. She will compete again one week after the bout with da Silva, who looks for her first win after dropping a decision in May.

Brenda "Boom Boom" Gonzales (3-0) faces Elsie "The Sweetheart" Zwicker (6-4) at "King of the Cage: Battlegrounds" on Dec. 1 in Towaoc, Colo. Gonzales captured the KOTC 125-pound women's championship from Sarah "Too Sweet" Alpar in her most recent fight and now makes the first title defense of her new title. Zwicker has earned TKO victories in each of her past two fights and makes her eighth appearance for KOTC.

Bellator women's champion Zoila "The Warrior Princess" Gurgel (12-1) faces Jessica "Evil" Eye (8-1) in a non-title flyweight bout at Bellator 83 on Dec. 7 in Atlantic City, N.J. Gurgel has won seven straight fights against some of the sport's top female fighters. She made a successful return from ACL surgery by defeating Casey "KO" Noland at Bellator 78 this past month. Eye is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and earned her biggest victory to date by defeating Angela Magana in August. This bout will not be for Gurgel's 115-pound Bellator title, but it will likely determine the No. 1 female fighter at 125 pounds.

"Hurricane" Heather Clark (5-2) faces Stephanie "Snowflake" Eggink (1-1) at "XFC 21: Night of Champions 2" on Dec. 7 in Nashville, Tenn. Clark made short work of Avery "Psycho" Vilche at XFC 18 in June. She has finished her opponents in all five of her wins and has found a new home at 115 pounds. Following a stellar amateur career, Eggink made a successful pro debut in June 2011, but she has not fought since suffering a vicious knockout loss in March.

Kinberly Tanaka Novaes (4-1) faces Anne "Karol Mutante" Karoline (0-0) at Iron Fight Combat 2 on Dec. 7 in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Novaes has won four straight fights this year and is one of the top young prospects in Brazil. Karoline makes her pro debut in the fight. She trains alongside Kaka Naja and plans to make a statement by upsetting the highly-touted Novaes.

Amanda "Powerhouse" Lucas (4-1) faces Yuiga (3-5) at "DEEP: Cage Impact 2012" in Tokyo on Dec. 8. Lucas became the first DEEP women's open-weight champion in February and has won four straight fights. Her DEEP title will not be on the line against the returning Yuiga, but the bout will use a special rule set that permits elbows – a rarity in Japan.

Kaka Naja (2-0) competes for the second time in one week when she faces Ericka Almeida (5-0) at Garra Fight Champion 1 on Dec. 8 in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Almeida has finished all five of her opponents in the first round and she should be Naja's toughest test to date.