Few MMA fans know the name Katie Castro, but most know her work. A fighter for the Xplode Fight Series promotion, Castro became an overnight star last year when a tape of her getting knocked out went viral under the title "Soccer Mom Knockout." While Castro herself was a cog in a shady machine specifically designed to churn out fighters for major MMA promotions, she has become something of a queen-maker in her own right.
The most recent example of that surfaced with the announcement that one of her past opponents, Kristi Lopez, will be a contestant on season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter. Lopez defeated Castro in 2014 at Xplode Fight Series: Cerebral via knockout in just 26 seconds and, despite not competing since, will have the opportunity to earn her way into the UFC.
She isn't alone, either. Laura Salazar, who handed Castro her second loss, has since moved on to Invicta FC. Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, the woman that knocked Castro out in the aforementioned video, has since signed with Bellator MMA and posted back-to-back wins, most recently scoring a first-round submission at Bellator 148.
Unfortunately, this is the desired outcome for an organization like XFS. The promotion actively builds up competitors in an effort to fast track them into major promotions. Castro, however, has proved to be a Queen Midas for it...except it's anyone who touches her that turns to gold.
