Ultimate Women Challenge: Pictures

Kyra Gracie: Video Interview

The students at Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu were treated to a very special visitor this past Wednesday night. There was a seminar at OCBJJ hosted by the woman, the myth, the legend, Kyra Gracie. OCBJJ was kind enough to invite TheGARV.com to cover this seminar and Kyra Gracie was kind enough to grant us an exclusive interview as well.

Kyra Gracie has won upwards of 21 BJJ/Grappling Championships over the course of her career. This includes 5 World Titles - and she is only 25 years old. Having conquered the world of grappling, Kyra is looking to make an impact in the world of MMA. Gracie will make her debut sometime in 2011. I, for one, will be looking forward to that. I feel the women of MMA do not get the credit and recognition they rightfully deserve. Hopefully we will be able to add Kyra Gracie’s name to that of Cris “Cyborg” Santos and Gina Carano.

To watch the entre interview click here

Fujii vs Ward, Aguilar vs Frausto Set For Bellator 31

The semi-finals of the Bellator Fighting Championships 115-pound women’s tournament will take place at Bellator 31 on September 30th. Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii faces Lisa Ward for the second time, while Jessica “Jag” Aguilar battles Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto. The promotion confirmed both fights with MMARising.com earlier today.

To read the entire article by MMARising.com click here

Kelly Warren vs. Maryellen Cano

Kelly Warren (1-0-0) will battle Maryellen Cano (1-0-0) Sept 18th at "Fight Party Xtreme" in Greenville, SC

Kelly defeated Amanda LaVoy in July by unanimous decision.

Maryellen aso last fought in July defeating Linda Cunningham by subission.








(Kelly Warren pictured)

Ultimate Women Challenge to air Sept 25th on NBC.

This thirteen episode reality TV show goes live on September 25th and features Educational and Instructional programming showcasing sixteen ultimate women dedicated to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts who overcome extraordinary challenges each episode. These ultimate women are immersed in real life challenges surrounding everyday issues that many Americans face, such as obesity, education and literacy, homelessness, foster care, cancer and disabilities. Each physical challenge will reward the winner, or penalize the loser, while imparting educational information on nutrition, fitness, general health and wellness, financial management, and other relevant information. All challenges will be both entertaining and enlightening and will ultimately benefit a charitable cause whose works will be highlighted. The charities will be presented with a donation in the name of the contestant who wins the challenge.

To read the entire article click here

Jessica Eye: Audio Interview

NAAFS Radio interviews Jessica Eye (1-0-0) who will be facing Marissa Caldwell (2-1-0)

at "NAAFS: Eve Of Destruction" on Saturday, September 18, 2010

To listen to the interviews click here

Stephanie Frausto vs. Paulina Ramirez

Stephanie "Macaquinha" Frausto (2-2-0) will take on Paulina Ramirez (1-0-0) on Thursday, September 09, 2010 at "TPF: High Stakes"

Stephanie is looking to rebound from her submission loss to Lisa Ward at Bellator 22 on June 17th.

Paulina last fought Nov, 20th 2008 when she defeated Brittany Briano by Unanimous Decision.

The fight can be seen live at Gofightlive.tv

Marianna Kheyfets: Interview

Girls of MMA speak to Marianna Kheyfets about her MMA career.

Let us introduce to you Marianna Kheyfets a next generation Pro MMA fighter.

Marianna took the world by Storm by beating Kim Couture on her first Pro MMA debut at the XFC 11. Marianna Kheyfets dropped Couture and finished the fight with a triangle choke for force Couture into a submission.
 
 
To read the entire interview click here
 

T.J. Cunanan: Interview

On Sept 24th at the The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas,

Tuff-N-Uff will be holding the final round of two women’s tournaments in the 125lb and 135lb divisions at their Future Stars event. Both tournaments started off on July 2nd with eight women in each division. Now down to two in each division, fighting out of Arizona will be 24 year old Tsui-Jen Cunanan.

T.J. as she is also known as, stands 5'5 and walks around at 130lbs. T.J. did say that she could  make 115lbs.

She trains at Phoenix Combat Academy/ Jay Pages Jiu Jitsu, where she has been trainning at over a year and a half. Tsui-Jen has maintained a grueling pace since first signing on for this tournament. Working with coaches Jay Pages and Sunshine Fettkether, Tsui-Jen keeps to a regimen that stresses strength, conditioning, toughness, and all around skill. She is a student of various martial arts, including Muay Thai and wrestling she is best known for her Jiu Jitsu and grappling.

Her record is 3-2, Tsui-Jen began her MMA career with a first round victory at RITC 135 against Sarah Roberts.

T.J. is the replacment fighter for Emily Peters-Kagan, who defeated her at the semi-finals, in a very close decision.

When I asked T.J. to sum up her thoughts on the fight, she said, "I can see how the fight could have gone either way." She did however point out that she could have done better.

T.J, though she has not often scouted her opponents in the past, has said, “How can I not scout Ashley." They have both fought on the same cards twice. Tsui-Jen Cunanan, the naturally smaller fighter, has said she’ll look to stand up with her but is ready to use her grappling skill if needed. With aspirations of being the best, she knows how important winning this tournament is.

Tonya Evinger: Fight Videos

Tonya Evinger vs. Gina Carano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66jUPjrtnMo

Tonya Evinger vs. Kat Alendal Pt. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u-h3fWIXis

Tonya Evinger vs. Kat Alendal Pt. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2acnkvJfgQ

Tonya Evinger vs. Brittany Pullem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIc0WF_8Oqk

Tonya Evinger vs. Julie Kedzie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjIOHyvvv5Q

Tonya Evinger vs. Sarah Schneider Pt.1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuc6llEr1_4&p

Tonya Evinger vs. Sarah Schneider Pt. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ikG6FAl70

Tonya Evinger vs. Alexis Davis I Pt. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXOzqm6T7Co

Tonya Evinger vs. Alexis Davis I Pt. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cG8kFcFS6c&feature=related

Tonya Evinger vs. Alexis Davis I Pt. 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yowQmgGaNNM

Tonya Evinger vs. Adrienna Jenkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doLHTJ_xQcs

Jessica Aguilar: Audio Interview

Mysportsgeek.com interviews Jessica Aguilar about her upcoming fights.

Jessica Aguilar takes on Zoila Frausto at Bellator 31on Sept, 30th.

To listen to the interviews click here

Marissa Caldwell: Article

The life of Cincinnati Mixed Martial Arts, comes in all shapes, sizes and genders. While the facts show that this is a very male dominant and promoted sport, the growth of Women’s Mixed Martial Arts is slowing starting to build into a more televised and respectable class.

This is where the face of Women’s MMA in Cincinnati, Ohio Marissa “Shorty” Caldwell from Team Vision MMA comes in.

To be a fighter that is well liked and respected in the fight game, you must be successful and you have to be exciting, that is what draws fans to fights. Marissa Caldwell, hammers down being exciting and successful down to the t.

Marissa Caldwell is a 23 year old who has a 2-1-0 professional record, with both of her wins coming via submission in the very first round. Her only loss, was to former number 1 contender for the woman’s 145 pound champion of Strikeforce, Jan Finny. That was her first professional bout, in which she fought in a bloody battle that ended in Marissa being stopped in the first round. Since then, Marissa has dropped weight classes and is now competing at 125.

To read the entire article cick here

Ultimate Women's Challenge: Karina Taylor and Marissa S. Rodriguez

Original cast members Lacey Schuckman and Kristin Molina have been replaced by Karina Taylor (0-3-0) and Marissa S. Rodriguez (0-0-0).

The reason for the replacments is unknown.

(Karina Taylor top, Marissa S. Rodriguez bottom)

Windy Tomomi defeats Monica Lovato (play by play)

Round one: They don't touch gloves. Windy comes right out and starts racking up the low kicks. Lovato trying to line up that big left hand, but it doesn't find a home yet. Windy still racking up them low kicks.

Windy throws a hard kick to the body which Lovato catches and uses to yank Windy to the canvas. Windy scoots back and quickly gets to her feet. She resumes with the low kicks, throwing in a few jabs for variety. Lovato is now meeting her with jabs, timing that middle kick.

Lovato catches another middle kick, but Windy pulls it free. Lovato catches another middle kick, but eats a few punches from Windy and she punches her way out. Windy is walking Lovato down with kicks.

Lovato pulls Windy into the clinch and puts her down onto the mat. She's up against the ropes though, so she cannot drop knees or punches. Chiba repostions them in the center and Lovato gets busy dropping punches.

Lovato picks Windy up twice to slam her on her back. In Windy's corner, Takafumi Ito urges Windy to stand up.

Windy locks up an armbar from bottom!

Lovato slams her way out of it however, allowing Windy to jump back to her feet as soon as the armbar is broken.

Lovato smashes Windy up against the corner, eating some punches for her trouble. Umeki breaks them at the last twentry seconds and Windy swarms, throwing punches, low kicks, and a knee to Lovato's guts just before the bell.

10 - 9 Windy Tomomi.


Round 2: Lovato charges Windy, catching middle kicks and just trying to rack up punches. Windy gets stuck in the clinch in the corner. Windy's cornerman, Ito, goes nuts, stands up in front of me, obstructing my view. I think he's telling Windy to throw knees and disengage from the clinch.

Lovato throws a punch or two from the clinch. A nice one to the guts from Lovato before Chiba breaks them up again.

Windy returns to mashing up Lovato's lead leg with low kicks. Lovato's leg is red and looking like it's hurting.

Lovato charges again into the clinch and Windy pulls her into the Thai plum, throwing knees up the middle to Lovato's body.

Lovato returns the favor, punching to the body before Umeki breaks them again.

Lovato misses a huge left hand as Windy puts a few big punches on her visiting opponent. Lovato's corner are urging her "just throw! Let's win this round! Let's land that left!"
Windy lands a solid one-two-knee to the belly, and it looks like Lovato isn't liking any of it. They're back in the clinch and Windy, from the outside is racking up more knees. She disengages in the last 30 seconds to chase Lovato down with more strikes, again landing in the clinch to finish out the round with knees to the belly.

And all three judges have it unanimously for Windy Tomomi.

Tomoki Matsumiya: 20 - 19 Windy

Yoshifumi Oyabu: 20 - 19 Windy

Last judge: 20 - 18 Windy


Tony Loiseleur: Lovato did well, I thought. It's unfortunate that the bout was only two rounds as Windy was huffing and puffing by the end of it. She didn't look like she was falling apart due to cardio, but you'd never know if there would have been a third round. Certainly though, she and Windy had a great, fun fight this evening.


Source: Sherdog.com

Angelica Brotherton defeats Tiffany Connell at AOF 9

Featured in the only women's bout on the AOF 9 card Angelica Brotherton made her successful mixed martial arts debut against Tiffany Connell at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. Sept.4.

While both fighters entered the cage as accomplished kickboxers Brotherton was clearly focused on a ground battle as she immediately went for a takedown. Once on the ground Connell was able to use Brotherton's strategy to her advantage by locking her into a guillotine choke.

But Brotherton showed a lot of perseverance by not only escaping Connell's choke hold but turning the tables on her with a guillotine submission attempt of her own.



To read the entire article click here

Miesha Tate: Interview

Miesha Tate 11-2 was born in Tacoma, Washington, in 2005 she won the high school women’s state championship and also the nationals at the World Team Trails in the 158lb division.

In 2007 Takedown Tate began her MMA career at the HooknShoot Women’s Grand prix. Miesha recently won the one-night Strikeforce 135lb women’s tournament by defeating Maiju Kujala in the first round and then Hitomi Akano to become the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight Tournament Champion. Her next fight will be a title fight against the winner between Sarah Kaufman & Marloes Coenen.

MMAmadhouse was very pleased when given the honor of an interview with Miesha “TAKEDOWN” Tate and here it is.  http://www.mmamadhouse.com/

Ultimate Women's Challenge: Picture

The girls having a good time, watcing UFC 118.

Joanna Krupa & Amber Nicole : Video Interviews

Joana Krupa: Interview




Amber Nicole: Interview

Monica Lovato vs Windy Tomomi

Monica Lovato vs Windy Tomomi Sunday, September 05, 2010 "Pancrase MMA"

weigh-in pictures: both fighters made the 115lbs limit.

Tiffany Connell vs. Angelica Brotherton

Tiffany Connell (0-1-0) will take on Angelica Brotherton (0-0-0) at Art of Fighting 9: Apocalypse September 4th.

Tiffany lost to Catia Vitoia in her only fight on April, 3rd 2010.




 
 
( Brotherton on the left, Connell on the right.)

Lacey Schuckman: Interview

I had an honor recently to be able to do an interview with Lacey Schuckman. Lacey is a Pro Female MMA Fighter and one of the best up and comers in the sport today. For those of you who don't know much about Lacey let me give you a little bit of background about her before we start the interview. Lacey has trained with some greats since she has started training to include 5 time World Muay Thai Kickboxing Champion and MMA Fighter John Cronk. She has also trained with Hale Hilsabeck from Rocky Mountain Karate and had her first 8 Mauy Thai fights representing that school by the time she was 17 year old. To start on her MMA training she also studied under Rex Payne who is an affiliate of Rickson Gracie and works with Team Bad Breed. Also under Team Bad Breed is where Lacey first two amateur MMA fights happened. Currently Lacey is training with her husband Randall and their team called Team Rugburn out of the Pressroom in Colorado. Lacey made her Pro MMA debut in January of 2009 at the G-Fight Grand Prix and has been moving forward with her Pro MMA career ever since.

To read the entire article click here

Tisha Rodrigues: Interview

Girls of MMA speaks to Tisha Rodrigues about her career from being a Fitness Model to an MMA convert.

To read the interview click here

NBC reality show, ‘Ultimate Women Challenge,’ to film on Metro SWAT course

For more information about the show, visit www.ultimatewomenchallenge.com

Contestants from a new reality TV show called “Ultimate Women Challenge” will be competing on Las Vegas Metro Police Department’s special weapons and tactics course Saturday.

The episode being filmed at the SWAT course, located at 7600 E. Carey Ave., will help benefit the Injured Police Officers’ Fund, a local non-profit organization that helps families of police officers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty.

“Ultimate Women Challenge,” airing in September on NBC, will feature 16 female mixed martial arts fighters. The TV series is about empowerment, with an emphasis on education and community service, according to the show’s website. Certain episodes will be dedicated to a specific social cause or charity, which will be incorporated into the challenges the women face.

Metro Police officers will be on-hand Saturday to assist with the competition, set to start in the morning.

Source: http://www.lasvegassun.com/

Stephanie Eggink Interview

As a girl growing up, Stephanie Eggink, 21 played soccer, ran track and even tried golf. They were fun sports, but still there was something missing.

Then she found boxing. She studied boxing for about three years, before joining the U.S. Olympic National Team where she became the United States amateur national champion and competed for the US in the Pan American Games in Equador. Her amateur boxing record was an outstanding  (11-1) when she turned pro. As a pro she went (1-0-1). 

In January 2009, Eggink began attending WCFC (West Coast Fight Club). Upon joining this gym, she was introduced to the world of MMA fighting.

She retired from professional boxing, and now focuses all her training on mixed martial arts. Eggink says she experienced too many politics in boxing and too much arrogance. "MMA is a much more humble than boxing," Eggink says. "In boxing it takes just your hands, in MMA it takes your entire body. You have to give it all."  

Her coach at WCFC is Cody Houston he has been coaching her since she first came to the gym and is responsible for introducing her to the other styles of fighting that are part of MMA. Eggink’s training at WCFC has helped shape her into a better fighter, he said.“We’ve taken her to the next level of athletics,” Houston said. “She’s beating people that have been doing it twice as long as her, and [in the gym] that is pretty exciting.”

When I asked Stephanie about her jiu jitsu she said, " I feel just as comfortable on the ground as I do standing up." She has proven that with her dominaion on the ground in her first two fights.

Eggink says one of her biggest challenges in MMA is overcoming the stereotypes of women's sports.

She says comments always surface regarding looks, for example men yelling rude remarks from the audene or the sarcastic realization, "Oh, she can actually fight."

"I want to prove that girls can be just as badass as guys," Eggink says. "We definitely have to work harder to get respect."

I asked her if she thought women fighters were treated different based on thier looks, "Looks do make a difference in the careers of women fighters," she said and although she thinks its ok to wear a little make-up to look pretty, don't ever expect to see Stephanie take any provacative pictures in a attempt to further her career. "That's just something I would never do." Eggink says.

Eggink had been trying to enter MMA fights all over Washington and Oregon for almost a year, before entering the Tuff-N-Uff 125lbs tournament, but none of the coaches would allow their fighters to accept her challenge. This is mainly because Eggink has a professional boxing background in addition to her MMA training which she said might make her opponents see her as more of a threat.

Thanks in large part to Sam Wilson, she was invited to enter the Tuff-N-Uff tournament.
"I was having trouble finding fights because of my boxing background, but now thanks to this tournament girls have to fight me, you cant back out of a tournament." Eggink says

He father Mark Eggink said he still gets nervous from time to time when he watches his daughter, but not as nervous as he was when he watched her very first fight. “You could actually see my heart beating through my shirt,” Eggink said. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack, but she ended up doing OK.” Her mom on the other hand keeps her eyes off the fight until the fght is over.

On July 2nd  Stephanie Eggink defeated Jillian Lybarger by submission. (triangle choke) Stephanie said she was very proud of her performance in this fight and that she actually came close to finishing this fight in the first round when she had Jillian in a submission but the bell rang to end the round.

On August 6th Stephanie Eggink def. Katie Klimanski via Unanimous Decision. Stephanie felt she could have done better in this fight but she was happy to have won.

On September 24th Stephanie Eggink (2-0-0) will  face Jenny Yum (6-0-0), when I asked Stephanie about her opponent Jenny Yum, she said, " I respect Jenny alot she's real nice and I have actually spent time getting to know her." As far as how she expects the fight to play out, she says she expects this one to stay on the feet and thats exactly where she want's it since she has yet been able to showcase her stand-up game.

As for Eggink, she said she feels confident about the tournament. Even though she may get nervous backstage before the fight  she knows that the feeling is only temporary. “Before a fight, I get serious nerves,” Eggink said. “But once I’m in that cage or ring and the bell goes off, then I’m OK. It sounds bad," she conceded with a smile, "but when you hit someone it feels good."

Stephanie Webber vs Kianna Norman

Stephanie Webber (0-1-0) takes on Kianna Norman (0-0-0) at CageSport MMA, on Oct. 2nd, 2010.

Stephanie's loss came against Julianna Pena and Kianna Norman is making her pro debut.

(Stephanie Webber pictured)

Miesha Tate: Interview

Strikeforce Challengers: Phoenix looked like an action packed show from the very beginning. Joe Riggs won the main event and Ryan Couture, son of MMA legend Randy, won his debut. However, they were both overshadowed by the performance of Miesha Tate. Tate stole the show in Phoenix with not one, but two exciting decision victories in the 135-pound women’s tournament. Now the #1 contender, Miesha recently took time away from her busy schedule to chat with VigilanteMMA. She discusses the tournament, her dream fight, and wrestling with the boys in high school.

To read the entire interview click here

Cat Zingano vs. Molly Helel

Cat Zingano formerly Albert (4-0-0)  will take on Molly Helsel (8-9-0) October 9th in a 3 round battle for the VFC 125 title in Omaha, Nebraska.

Cat is coming off a victory agsainst Ivana Coleman in June and Molly last fought Jan. 30th when she lost to Roxanne Modafferi.

Germaine de Randamie vs. Nicole Johnson

With 10 titles to her name, Germaine de Randamie starting over

If an early childhood choice had gone another direction, Germaine de Randamie might've become a danger.

Instead, she turned to something no less focused on movement but a touch more violent.

"When I was 8, my mother said I could choose between dancing and kickboxing," de Randamie told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I went to the first kickboxing class, and I never even made it to dancing. I told her I had found what I wanted to do."

Forty-five professional kickboxing fights later, de Randamie is looking for another new opportunity. The 36-year-old Dutch native has turned her attention away from the sport that saw her go 45-0 during a career that made her one of the most significant female kickboxers in the world and to a new challenge.

Next week, de Randamie will make just her second mixed-martial-arts appearance (and first since December 2008), when she faces Nicole Johnson at 135 pounds in the Playboy Fighting Championships promotion bout at the Playboy Mansion.

To read the entire article by MMAJunkie click here

Marissa Caldwell: Audio Interview

 Marissa Caldwell (2-1-0) will be taking on Jessica Eye (1-0-0) at NAAFS "Eve Of Destrucion" on Sept 18th. She talks about her upcoming fight and her loss to Jan Finney.


To hear the interview click here

Elaina Maxwell: Audio Interview

Mysportsgeek.com Interviews Elaina Maxwell, she talks about her recent victory over Alexis Davis and her upcoming plans.


listen to the interview here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bsrlounge

Ultimate Women's Challenge

Here are all the women, the T.V. schedue will be released Friday

Karina Hallinan vs. Yung Xiao Nan

Karina Hallian (2-2-0) will face Yung Xiao Nan (3-0-0) at Martial Combat 10 on Sept 16th, 2010.

Karina is coming off a victory against Heather Jo Clark in April and is currently filming the Ultimate Women's Challenge. This fight date seems to be cutting it close to the date she woud have wapped filming up.

Yang Xiao Nan is from China has fought twice in Ultimate Wrestle and beaten top BJJ female fighters in China. Yang is fast, aggressive, very fast hands and kicks, and has good defense against take downs. This is Yang's first international MMA fight and is keen to make her mark and establish herself as a top female MMA fighter.

Chris "Cyborg" Santos Interview

For those of you who don't know Cris "Cyborg" Santos she is the current Strikeforce 145lb Champion.

She earned the title after beating Gina Carano; has defended it already once against Marloes Coenen; and has just successfully defended her belt against Jan Finney on June 26th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.

To read the entre article click here

source: theultimatefemalefighter.com

Michele Gutierrez: Audio Interview

mysportsgeek.com interviews Michele "Diablita" Gutierrez (2-1-0) who will be fighting Tammie Schneider on Sept 11th at "Fall Brawl".

click here to listen to the interview

Marloes Coenen Interview

Lose a title fight, get another title fight?

That is precisely the good fortune that was recently bestowed upon Marloes Coenen.

After sustaining a TKO loss at the hands of Cris Cyborg in January 2010 at 145 pounds she will take advantage of yet another opportunity at gold.

This time, however, she will make the trek down to 135 pounds and challenge undefeated champion Sarah Kaufman.

The pair will do battle in Strikeforce’s backyard at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on Saturday, October 9.

In the meantime, “Rumina” took some time out of her schedule to discuss moving down in weight, Kaufman, Dutch culture, and her hatred for Twitter.

Check it out here

Source: bleacherreport.com