(It may not be the most conventional fight attire, but we’ll give Miesha a ton of fap style points for the effort.)
It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a few short months since Miesha Tate nearly had her arm torn in two by Ronda Rousey in the their bantamweight championship showdown on March 3rd. It was undoubtedly one of the most heated (not to mention hyped) fights in WMMA history, and did not disappoint once the caged door closed. As it turns out, despite the fact that Meisha ended up coming short and losing her belt in the process, the fight didn’t even come close to squashing the beef between her and Rousey. How appropriate then, that it was recently announced that the former champ has been booked to take on Julie Kedzie at the same event that Rousey will attempt to defend her belt for the first time against Sarah Kaufman.
Is this just an attempt by Strikeforce to pack as many exciting fights as possible into their ever-decreasing number of cards, or rather an elaborate ploy to set up another post fight brawl that will in turn hype the inevitable rematch between Rousey and Tate?
(It may not be the most conventional fight attire, but we’ll give Miesha a ton of fap style points for the effort.)
It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a few short months since Miesha Tate nearly had her arm torn in two by Ronda Rousey in the their bantamweight championship showdown on March 3rd. It was undoubtedly one of the most heated (not to mention hyped) fights in WMMA history, and did not disappoint once the caged door closed. As it turns out, despite the fact that Meisha ended up coming short and losing her belt in the process, the fight didn’t even come close to squashing the beef between her and Rousey. How appropriate then, that it was recently announced that the former champ has been booked to take on Julie Kedzie at the same event that Rousey will attempt to defend her belt for the first time against Sarah Kaufman.
Is this just an attempt by Strikeforce to pack as many exciting fights as possible into their ever-decreasing number of cards, or rather an elaborate ploy to set up another post fight brawl that will in turn hype the inevitable rematch between Rousey and Tate? Only time will tell, Potato Nation, but we just hope we don’t have to see Brian Caraway taking on all of Team Cesar Gracie by himself. Dude’s got a hell of a chin, but it damn sure ain’t strong enough to deal with the Stockton curb stomp that the Diaz’s have perfected in such classic quarrels as “The Nashville Dissagreement on Post-Fight Ethics.”
Tate will be given no easy comeback fight in Kedzie, who you might recognize as one of the announcers from the Invicta FC all-female card back in May. Currently 16-9 in professional competition, Kedzie is a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do who holds notable victories over Kaitlin Young and Jan Finney (aka that poor girl who was killed by Chris Cyborg back in 2010), Kedzie has not fought since coming up short against Alexis Davis at Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Fedor back in July of 2011.
Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman goes down on August 18th from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.
Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff scored her third-straight knockout victory on Friday night, when she dummied up Chute Boxe product Jennifer Maia in just 10 seconds at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 4 in Dubai. Gaff’s strategy relied on the element of surprise; instead of returning Maia’s offer for a glove-tap at the beginning of the fight, Gaff swung an overhand right with lethal intentions, then fired punches and knees until she found Maia’s off-switch with a short right hook.
Not the worst cheap-shot we’ve seen, but it’s definitely in the mix. Gaff doesn’t seem to be a big fan of the glove-tap in general. For proof, check out her eight-second knockout of Hanna Sillen from last February after the jump, which begins and ends just as furiously…
Sheila “The German Tank” Gaff scored her third-straight knockout victory on Friday night, when she dummied up Chute Boxe product Jennifer Maia in just 10 seconds at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 4 in Dubai. Gaff’s strategy relied on the element of surprise; instead of returning Maia’s offer for a glove-tap at the beginning of the fight, Gaff swung an overhand right with lethal intentions, then fired punches and knees until she found Maia’s off-switch with a short right hook.
Not the worst cheap-shot we’ve seen, but it’s definitely in the mix. Gaff doesn’t seem to be a big fan of the glove-tap in general. For proof, check out her eight-second knockout of Hanna Sillen from last February after the jump, which begins and ends just as furiously…
(Date, time and location of ring card boy auditions TBA)
Women’s MMA will have a new home starting on April 28 when Invicta Fighting Championships holds its inaugural event in Kansas City.
The upstart all female fight league, which will be promoted by IFC co-owner and VP Shannon Knapp who has worked for the IFL, UFC and Strikeforce in different capacities including matchmaker and fighter relations, announced the event and its existence on Sunday. A press release sent out by the promotion also stated that it has signed several of the sport’s top female talents (a few of whom are regular CP readers), including Strikeforce standouts Marloes Coenen, Sarah D’Aleo and Liz Carmouche, Dutch submission specialist Romy Ruyssen and former Bellator tournament competitors Jessica Penne and Lisa Ellis-Ward.
“The time has come for a platform dedicated exclusively to building the growing women’s division in our great sport,” said Knapp. “Invicta is committed to increasing the depth of the women’s field and building female superstars by providing women athletes with the opportunity to compete and hone their skills on a consistent basis throughout the year.”
The April show will feature former Strikeforce bantamweight champ, Coenen’s return to featherweight where she will rematch Ruyssen in the main event of the night.
(Date, time and location of ring card boy auditions TBA)
Women’s MMA will have a new home starting on April 28 when Invicta Fighting Championships holds its inaugural event in Kansas City.
The upstart all female fight league, which will be promoted by IFC co-owner and VP Shannon Knapp who has worked for the IFL, UFC and Strikeforce in different capacities including matchmaker and fighter relations, announced the event and its existence on Sunday. A press release sent out by the promotion also stated that it has signed several of the sport’s top female talents (a few of whom are regular CP readers), including Strikeforce standouts Marloes Coenen, Sarah D’Aleo and Liz Carmouche, Dutch submission specialist Romy Ruyssen and former Bellator tournament competitors Jessica Penne and Lisa Ellis-Ward.
“The time has come for a platform dedicated exclusively to building the growing women’s division in our great sport,” said Knapp. “Invicta is committed to increasing the depth of the women’s field and building female superstars by providing women athletes with the opportunity to compete and hone their skills on a consistent basis throughout the year.”
The April show will feature former Strikeforce bantamweight champ, Coenen’s return to featherweight where she will rematch Ruyssen in the main event of the night.
Like several of her Golden Glory stablemates, Coenen found herself unceremoniously dropped by Strikeforce following a disagreement between then-teammate Alistair Overeem and Zuffa. Although the issue has since been cleared up and some of her fellow Golden Glory-affiliated fighters have been re-signed to UFC and Strikeforce deals, “Rumina” was never brought back into the fold of Strikeforce’s stacked female 135-pound class. Instead, the promotion gifted Olympic judo bronze medalist Ronda Rousey with a shot at current bantamweight titleholder Miesha Tate in spite of the fact that she has never competed at 135. It looks like Invicta will have plenty of potential match-ups for Coenen, though, including her bout with Ruyssen, whom she handed the sole loss of her MMA career back in 2008 via rear-naked choke.
“I am honored to headline Invicta’s first fight card and I am looking forward to earning another win over Romy,”Coenen said.
Since the loss to Coenen, the team GDSI fighter has rattled off four first-round submission wins and has been vocal about avenging the blemish on her record.
“My first fight with Marloes is the only loss of my career so far, and I intend to avenge that loss on April 28,” said Ruyssen. “Marloes is a great fighter, but she doesn’t quite have the ground game that I have. I am going to take her down and finish her.”
In the co-main event, Ellis-Ward will drop down to paperweight (105) to meet Penne, while Carmouche will lock horns with D’Alelio in the third-last bout of the evening.
———-
Invicta MMA 1 April 28, 2012 Kansas City, KS
Marloes Coenen vs. Romy Royssen
Jessica Penne vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward
Liz Carmouche vs.Sarah D’Alelio
Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs. Amy Davis
Sarah Maloy vs. Michele Gutierrez
Mollie Estes vs. Randi Miller
Ashley Cummins vs. Sofia Bagherdai
Jessica Philippus vs. Meghan Wright
Can you believe that we didn’t include a single women’s match in our tribute to falling tree knockouts? Well, it’s time to give the ladies their due. Here’s a video of Rhiannon Thompson starching Bec Hyatt with a head-kick at a Brace for War event that’s so brutal (and beautiful), it’s like Hornbuckle vs. Gono and Young vs. Tate met and had a baby.
Can you believe that we didn’t include a single women’s match in our tribute to falling tree knockouts? Well, it’s time to give the ladies their due. Here’s a video of Rhiannon Thompson starching Bec Hyatt with a head-kick at a Brace for War event that’s so brutal (and beautiful), it’s like Hornbuckle vs. Gono and Young vs. Tate met and had a baby.
After making history in June 2009 as the first female MMA referee to oversee a UFC fight, Kim Winslow drew controversy earlier this month for her handling of the Muhammad Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin match at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. Last week, CagePotato had the chance to chat with Winslow, who spoke to us about her life inside and outside of the cage, her pioneering role in MMA, and how she responds to criticism of her job performance. Read on for the full Q & A…
CagePotato: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Tell us a little bit about how you first were introduced to MMA, and when you knew you wanted to be an MMA referee.
Kim Winslow: I introduced myself to martial arts in 1992 by studying my first art form, Tae Kwon Do. I then saw the first UFC event in 1993 and was instantly enthralled. I had to watch every one of them and could hardly wait for the next one to come out. As the sport evolved so did my training in MMA, and I switched to more modern art forms and trained in Muay Thai, BJJ, kickboxing, boxing, grappling, street fighting, Krav Maga, some judo, and lately Capoeira for fun.
CP: What experience or training is required before a commission will license you?
KW: Every state has different requirements and it is your responsibility to find out what they are and meet them when you apply. Refs are required to renew their license every year in each state, and in some states twice a year.
CP: Back in 2009 at the Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, you made history by becoming the first woman to ever ref a fight in the UFC. How difficult was it to break into the industry and how does it feel to be a UFC pioneer?
After making history in June 2009 as the first female MMA referee to oversee a UFC fight, Kim Winslow drew controversy earlier this month for her handling of the Muhammad Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin match at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. Last week, CagePotato had the chance to chat with Winslow, who spoke to us about her life inside and outside of the cage, her pioneering role in MMA, and how she responds to criticism of her job performance. Read on for the full Q & A…
CagePotato: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Tell us a little bit about how you first were introduced to MMA, and when you knew you wanted to be an MMA referee.
Kim Winslow: I introduced myself to martial arts in 1992 by studying my first art form, Tae Kwon Do. I then saw the first UFC event in 1993 and was instantly enthralled. I had to watch every one of them and could hardly wait for the next one to come out. As the sport evolved so did my training in MMA, and I switched to more modern art forms and trained in Muay Thai, BJJ, kickboxing, boxing, grappling, street fighting, Krav Maga, some judo, and lately Capoeira for fun.
CP: What experience or training is required before a commission will license you?
KW: Every state has different requirements and it is your responsibility to find out what they are and meet them when you apply. Refs are required to renew their license every year in each state, and in some states twice a year.
CP: Back in 2009 at the Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, you made history by becoming the first woman to ever ref a fight in the UFC. How difficult was it to break into the industry and how does it feel to be a UFC pioneer?
KW: I had already been in the industry for years! I was working my way up just like everybody else! Difficult is just a matter of perception and I don’t have any comparisons, just my own experience. I am very goal-oriented and when I have a sport that I love very much I don’t take no for an answer. If someone says no I simply find another way. If I get criticism I use it to improve. My bosses have always been good about giving me constructive criticism. I always feel good when I accomplish a goal but then I always set a new one to replace it.
CP: Refs get thrown under the bus all too frequently. Joe Rogan recently called out Mario Yamasaki, criticizing his decision to stop a fight. How would you have responded to Joe and what are the Athletic Commissions telling referees to do if this ever happens again?
KW: Athletic Commissions don’t tell us what to do in those situations. We are expected to handle it as professionals and we know it’s part of the job. I don’t critique other referees or calls that they make so I will not comment on what happened with Mario. I will say that we are human and we make mistakes and we simply try to minimize them as much as possible.
KW: I did consider it but I am too old to start as a fighter and I have always been too concerned for my opponent’s safety to go down that road. I am capable of fighting, I just don’t have the desire to hurt someone without due cause. I have already been in enough fights in my lifetime and don’t wish to continue it as an adult.
CP: How do you respond to people who think you suck at your job?
KW: First, I don’t read what they are saying so I don’t know what you’re talking about. I do know that the people I am supposed to make sure are happy with my performance are! They have the opinions that count to me. I knew going in that no matter what I do there is always going to be this element that will never like what I do and always find something wrong with it. You take my performance and juxtapose someone else’s body in there and I wonder if the reaction would be the same. Something tells me it wouldn’t.
CP: What was the scariest thing to ever happen to you or a fighter while you were in the cage?
KW: I have never been afraid for myself in the cage. Once, I was watching a fight that happened without a sanctioning body, and both fighters were covered in blood from head to toe and the ref would not stop the fight. One fighter had a really bad cut that was arterial and every time his heart pumped it would send out a spurt of blood onto the canvas. As the fight continued he was getting weaker and weaker. There was no doctor but there were, thank God, REMSA in attendance. The fight ended with the fighter collapsing and the ref never even checked on the downed fighter but went and hugged the winner. I was truly afraid I was going to see a death that night.
CP: One of our writers, Rex, wants to know who makes the sammiches in your house?
KW: Okay – I will humor you on this one! I cook very well and I make homemade bread, as well as many other meals from scratch. I enjoy cooking as it relaxes me and is much better for you than fast food or pre-packaged junk.
KW: I am human and I believe I have done that one time in my career. In many small shows they do not announce the corner of the fighter just the name. There are soooo many fighters that it is hard to remember who all of them are. I try to double check before each bout who is in which corner but it’s easy to mix them up or forget. There is more to it then just raising a hand sometimes.
CP: What is the biggest mistake a referee can make?
KW: To me that is impacting the fight to a point where the outcome is different then it should have been through an error.
CP: Do you think the UFC will ever have a women’s division?
KW: Sorry – I agree with Dana on this one. Until they have enough women that are trained to fill different weight divisions and you don’t have the same few women fighting each other over and over, then no.
CP: What’s the most sexist thing a fan has ever yelled at you during or after a fight?
KW: I tune out the crowd completely so I don’t hear anything while I’m in the cage. If someone is going to say something sexist or rude to me after the fight, I ignore him or her and move on.
Many of you are likely familiar with a Brazilian based promotion called Jungle Fight; through it we have witnessed Jose Aldo’s only professional loss, Machida vs. Bonnar, and the humble beginnings of such fighters as Paulo Thiago, Thales Leites, and Ronaldo Souza. Created and currently run by former fighter Wallid Ismail, Jungle Fight has grown to become a regular feature of ESPNDeportes, and will be looking to branch out into the world of women’s mixed martial arts when it debuts an all woman promotion, audaciously labeled Pink Fight MMA, on January 29th.
That’s right. Pink Fight MMA.
The card will feature six fights and is headlined by a 125 pound clash between 4-2 Shooto veteran Maria Elisabete “Beth” Tavares and 2-3-1 muay Thai striker Kalindra Carvalho Faria. The affair will transpire at the Descobrimento Cultural Event Center in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. Ismail released a statement on the promotion’s big debut, declaring that, “I’m sure that Pink Fight will reveal new talents and encourage other women to become professional fighters.” Truly a man of his word, Pink Fight’s official website has already begun accepting applications, so if you have a little sister in need of a disciplinary lesson that simply cannot be taught in the household, sign them up today.
(Sorry Cyborg, you can’t come.)
Many of you are likely familiar with a Brazilian based promotion called Jungle Fight; through it we have witnessed Jose Aldo’s only professional loss, Machida vs. Bonnar, and the humble beginnings of such fighters as Paulo Thiago, Thales Leites, and Ronaldo Souza. Created and currently run by former fighter Wallid Ismail, Jungle Fight has grown to become a regular feature of ESPNDeportes, and will be looking to branch out into the world of women’s mixed martial arts when it debuts an all woman promotion, audaciously labeled Pink Fight MMA, on January 29th.
That’s right. Pink Fight MMA.
The card will feature six fights and is headlined by a 125 pound clash between 4-2 Shooto veteran Maria Elisabete “Beth” Tavares and 2-3-1 muay Thai striker Kalindra Carvalho Faria. The affair will transpire at the Descobrimento Cultural Event Center in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. Ismail released a statement on the promotion’s big debut, declaring that, “I’m sure that Pink Fight will reveal new talents and encourage other women to become professional fighters.” Truly a man of his word, Pink Fight’s official website has already begun accepting applications, so if you have a little sister in need of a disciplinary lesson that simply cannot be taught in the household, sign them up today.
The upstart promotion has already found its fair share of advocates, starting with long time MMA supporter and Brazilian Senator Magno Matla, who has publicly come out in favor of an all woman MMA league, stating the following:
Such a big nation with the potential to create champions deserved a female promotion. We have a lot of examples to follow, [like] world No. 1 Cris ‘Cyborg’ [Santos] and our president, who is also a woman. Brazil has a lot of female representatives who make us proud and now it’s time to create MMA idols, too.
While Her Excellency Dilma Rousseff is undoubtedly an inspiration for women worldwide, you might want to reserve judgement on Cyborg, Mr. Malta. Don’t get us wrong, the woman is being made an example of, but that’s not exactly the same thing.
What say you, Potato Nation? Is Pink Fight destined to become the Mecca of women’s MMA, or will it fall face down in the mud, nay, the YAMMA pit? Let’s hope it’s the former.
