Women’s MMA Report: Julianna Pena avenges loss, advances to “TUF 18? Final

She may not have been the most popular fighter in the house, but Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Pena has become one of MMA’s most talked-about female bantamweights thanks to her time on “The Ultimate Fighter 18: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate.” Pena earned her spot in the “TUF 18? final by submitting teammate Sarah “Cheesecake” Moras during episode 11 of the competition, which aired this past Wednesday.

Pena (4-2) and Moras (3-1) first faced each other at Conquest of the Cage 11 in April 2012. Moras dominated the first fight and broke Pena’s arm with an armbar. Pena refused to submit, but the cageside doctor stopped the bout at the end of the second round.

Following the “TUF 18? elimination round, both Pena and Moras were recruited by mutual friend Miesha “Cupcake” Tate to join Tate’s team. Pena advanced to the semifinals by upsetting heavy favorite Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler. Moras submitted Peggy “The Daywalker” Morgan in her quarterfinal matchup.

In the much-anticipated rematch, Pena countered early leg kicks from Moras with punches on the feet and she reversed a takedown into Moras’ guard. Moras was active with submission attempts from her back and she tried to trap Pena in a triangle choke, but Pena escaped into half-guard and then to side control. She dropped elbows on Moras’ face before the bell.

Moras landed more leg kicks in Round 2 and Pena once again replied with a flurry of punches. She tripped Moras to the mat and passed to side control. Pena escaped from an inverted triangle choke attempt and she badly bloodied Moras’ nose with elbows. Moras scrambled to her knees and tried to stand up, but Pena pulled half-guard and locked on a tight guillotine choke that forced Moras to submit at the 3:31 mark of the second round.

Wednesday’s episode portrayed Pena as a social outcast amongst her fellow castmates, but the Washington native’s performances on the show have proven that she is not to be taken lightly.

Pena now advances on to The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale on Nov. 30. She will next face the winner of the second women’s semifinal fight between Team Tate’s Raquel “Rocky” Pennington and Jessica “The Ragin’” Rakoczy, who represents UFC women’s bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey’s team. The finale winner will earn a six-figure UFC contract.

In addition to the tournament final, the TUF 18 Finale card is also expected to include a number of other women’s matchups featuring contestants from the show. Bouts will be revealed later this month following episode 13 of “TUF 18,” which airs on Nov. 27.

UFC adds women’s strawweight division, Aguilar signs with WSOF

The UFC women’s bantamweight division has been in place for less than a year, but its success has already led Zuffa executives to make plans for a second women’s weight class in the near future. UFC president Dana White announced this past week that his promotion will soon start up a 115-pound women’s strawweight division. A date was not revealed for when the division will officially debut, but it is expected to be instated during the first half of 2014.

Plans to add a second UFC women’s division were formed earlier this year and a small group of fighters was contacted at the time, but details remained tentative until White’s announcement. The 115-pound women’s weight class has long been considered to be the second-deepest division behind bantamweight. Female strawweight fighters have excelled in Invicta Fighting Championships, which currently has most of the top 115-pound fighters signed to its roster.

Next month’s Invicta FC 7 card features three strawweight fights including a title bout between champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza and challenger Claudia “Claudinha” Gadelha. It appears likely that the UFC’s women’s strawweight division will draw heavily from the Invicta FC roster, but initial signings may hinge on the outcomes of the Invicta FC 7 fights.

One woman who will not be joining the new UFC division is top-ranked strawweight Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (16-4). This past week, the American Top Team standout signed on with World Series of Fighting. She is expected to make her debut for the promotion next year.

Aguilar was announced as WSOF’s first female signing, but she is in fact the second female fighter to sign with the promotion. Current Invicta FC atomweight champion Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson signed with WSOF prior to its first show in 2012, but repeated delays in scheduling the inaugural WSOF event led Waterson to fight instead for Invicta FC. Her deal with WSOF subsequently expired, but she remained on WSOF’s official site until this summer.

Currently riding a seven-fight winning streak, Aguilar has struggled to find fights during the past three years. This well-documented issue has led many to question why she chose to sign on with WSOF, which has yet to promote a single female bout.

After taking a contentious split decision victory over “Little” Patricia Vidonic in March, Aguilar received her release from Bellator. She most recently faced Japanese legend Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii for a second time at Vale Tudo Japan 3rd on Oct. 5. Aguilar won the rematch via technical decision when Fujii was injured by two eye pokes.

With many of the top 115-pound female fighters now eyeing a move to the UFC, and Invicta FC looking to recruit new talent in order to keep its strawweight division intact, opponents could be few and far between for Aguilar in her new home at WSOF. Nevertheless, Aguilar speaks highly of her deal with WSOF and she remains optimistic that the promotion will be able to provide her with consistent fights against credible opposition.

Julie Kedzie vs. Bethe Correia booked for UFC Fight Night 33

With Russian newcomer Aleksandra “Stitch” Albu sidelined due to an undisclosed injury, veteran Julie “Fireball” Kedzie has received a new opponent for her upcoming fight at “UFC Fight Night 33: Hunt vs. Bigfoot” on Dec. 7 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Kedzie is now set to face unbeaten Brazilian prospect Bethe “Pitbull” Correia on the card. The change was officially announced this past Tuesday.

Kedzie (16-12 MMA, 0-1 UFC) made her Octagon debut in July at UFC on FOX 8 and dropped a competitive split decision to multi-time Muay Thai champion Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie. She previously succumbed to a third-round armbar from former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate in an August 2012 bout that Kedzie twice appeared to be on the verge of winning. She looks to put an end to the losing skid when she returns to the cage next month.

Correia (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) spent much of the early portion of her career competing as a flyweight in Brazil. She won five straight fights during her first year of fighting and most recently competed in her highest-profile bout to date. Moving up to the bantamweight division, Correia outpointed Erica Paes at Jungle Fight 54 in late June. She stays at 135 pounds for her UFC debut and now seeks her biggest career victory.

UFC Fight Night 33 airs on Friday, Dec. 6, in North America.

Kyra Purcell, Claire Fryer capture titles at FightWorld Cup 16

On Saturday night, Kyra Purcell captured her first championship title in the main event of FightWorld Cup 16 in Nerang, Queensland, Australia. Purcell outpointed Jessy Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark to become the first FightWorld Cup women’s bantamweight champion.

Purcell (2-1) and Clark (2-1) battled back and forth in an action-packed bout that saw both women attempt a series of submissions on the ground. Purcell was later docked a point for an illegal knee to her downed opponent, but she landed some solid punches on the feet in Round 3. The judges returned scores of 28-27 and 29-27 twice for Purcell, who took the title win.

Earlier on the card, Claire Fryer (4-1) earned her second straight stoppage victory to become the inaugural FightWorld Cup women’s strawweight champion. Fryer dispatched of Melanie Malone (1-2) via first-round TKO. After hurting Malone with elbows on the feet, Fryer unloaded with strikes on the ground until the brief bout was waved off at the 1:26 mark of Round 1.

In non-title action, Kenani “Mad House” Mangakahia (2-1) def. Belinda “The Bellringer” Sedgwick (0-4) via submission (punches) at the 1:38 mark of Round 1 and Zoie Shreiweis (1-0) def. Megan Anderson (0-1) via majority decision.

Quick results

Maria Hougaard Djursaa (5-4) def. Alexandra Buch (8-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at the 4:59 mark of Round 1 at European MMA 7 on Nov. 7 in Aarhus, Denmark. Buch reversed a takedown in the opening round and attempted a guillotine choke, but Djursaa escaped and tried to set up a guillotine of her own. Later in the round, she locked in a no-hooks rear-naked choke against the cage and Buch was forced to submit. Djursaa has won three straight fights.

Izabela Badurek (3-2) def. Weronika Zygmunt (0-1) via submission (arm-triangle choke) in Round 1 at Thunderstrike Fight League 1 on Nov. 8 in Lublin, Poland. All three of Badurek’s victories this year have come via first-round submission.

Gina “Conviction” Iniong (2-1) def. Nathalie Heidel (0-1) via TKO (punches) at the 3:43 mark of Round 1 at Pacific Xtreme Combat 41 on Nov. 9 in Pasig, Philippines. Iniong floored Heidel with a massive right hook in the opening round. She dropped down into the scarf hold position and trapped Heidel’s arm, then teed off with punches until the fight was stopped.

Tina Lahdemaki (5-0) def. Karla Benitez (11-5) via technical submission (arm-triangle choke) at the 4:50 mark of Round 1 at “Cage 24: Turku 3? on Nov. 9 in Turku, Finland. Lahdemaki took mount in the opening round, forcing Benitez to roll to try to escape. Lahdemaki secured an arm-triangle choke in an ensuing scramble and Benitez was soon rendered unconscious.

Iman Darabi (1-0) def. Lena Tkhorevska (2-1) via technical decision (unanimous) at the 2:36 mark of Round 3 at MMA Fighters Club on Nov. 9 in Inowroclaw, Poland. Darabi landed hard ground and pound throughout the final round. The bout was stopped due to what appeared to be a Tkhorevska facial injury and Darabi took the win on the scorecards.

Gemma Hewitt (1-0) def. Chloe Hinchliffe (1-4) via TKO (punches) at the 3:56 mark of Round 1 at Shock n Awe 15 on Nov. 9 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Hewitt rebounded from a loss in her final amateur bout by stopping Hinchliffe, who has dropped back-to-back fights.

Aline Sattelmayer (4-4) def. Bruna “Wing” Matos (0-1) via unanimous decision at Brazil Combate 2 on Nov. 10 in Americana, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Sattelmayer has fought six times in 2013 and she has posted victories in two of her past three bouts.

On the same Brazil Combate 2 card, Daiane “Dai Fox” Firmino (1-0) def. Roberta “Marreta” Pereira da Silva Gomes (0-1) via TKO (punches) at the six-second mark of Round 1.

Gabby Clark (1-0) def. Kyleen “Pink Punisher” Davis (1-2) via submission (arm-triangle choke) at the 4:34 mark of Round 1 at “Alaska Fighting Championship 103: Salute Our Veterans” on Nov. 13 in Anchorage, Alaska. Clark made a successful pro debut with the victory.

Marion “The Bruiser” Reneau (3-1) def. Leslie Rodriguez (0-1) at “Tachi Palace Fights 17: Fall Brawl” on Nov. 14 in Lemoore, Calif. Rodriguez stepped into the fight on short notice and she was overwhelmed by ground and pound from Reneau.

Lynnell House (2-0) def. Sarah McRann (1-1) via KO (punch) at the 1:56 mark of Round 1 at “King of the Cage: Out Cold” on Nov. 15 in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada. This bout was a rematch from one year earlier when House took a unanimous decision victory over McRann in an amateur fight. House has earned back-to-back first-round knockout wins this year.

Karla Benitez (11-5) def. Rita Marreno (0-1) via TKO (punches) in Round 3 at “Hombres de Honor: Fight Contender – Women’s Edition” on Nov. 16 in Telde, Las Palmas, Spain. Benitez rebounded from her submission loss to Tina Lahdemaki one week earlier with the win.

On the same Hombres de Honor card, Minerva Montero (1-0) def. Esther Cardenas (0-2) via submission (rear-naked choke) in Round 1. Montero earned her first pro win in the fight.

Chrissie “The Demon” Daniels (1-0) def. Jen “Tink” Aniano (0-1) via KO (knee to the body) at the 22-second mark of Round 1 at “Total Warrior Combat 20: Final Cut” on Nov. 16 in Lansing, Mich. Daniels earned her second first-round knockout win over Aniano in Saturday’s rematch. She first KOed Aniano with one punch when the fighters met as amateurs in February 2012.

Christine Stanley (2-1) def. Jackie Bollinger (0-1) via TKO (leg kicks) at the 45-second mark of Round 1 at “Xplode Fight Series: Feast or Famine” on Nov. 16 in Valley Center, Calif. Bollinger took the fight on short notice and she was quickly overwhelmed by Stanley’s powerful kicks.

Satomi “Sarami” Takano (3-2) def. Miyoko Kusaka (4-7-1) via submission (armbar) at the 4:04 mark of Round 1 at “Deep: Toyama Impact – Rookies 3? on Nov. 17 in Toyama, Japan. Takano threw Kusaka to the ground early in the fight and quickly transitioned to back control. She landed some hard ground and pound and worked for armbars until she was finally able to wrench back on Kusaka’s arm for the tapout victory.

Upcoming fights

Elizabeth Phillips (1-1) faces Priscilla “The Gorilla” White (0-2) at Conquest of the Cage 14 on Nov. 20 in Airway Heights, Wash. The fighters have faced off twice before as amateurs. The first bout ended in a three-round draw and Phillips earned a narrow split decision win in the pair’s June 2012 rematch. Phillips picked up her first professional victory in July.

Linn “La Machine” Wennergren (1-1) faces Angelica Babbi (0-1) at “Superior Challenge 9: Gothenburg” on Nov. 23 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Wennergren earned her first pro win in June. Babbi looks to rebound from a loss in her December pro debut.

Carolina Karasek (1-0) faces Betina Baino (0-0) at Mega Fight 8.0 on Nov. 23 in Bento Goncalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Karasek scored an impressive first-round TKO victory in her professional debut this past month. Baino competes as a pro for the first time.

Carina “Barbie” Damm (19-10) faces Roberta “Marreta” Pereira da Silva Gomes (0-1) at MMA Super Heroes 2 on Nov. 23 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Damm has won two of her past three fights in Brazil against vastly outmatched opponents. She will once again hold a massive experience advantage when she takes on Pereira da Silva Gomes, who lost her pro debut in six seconds.

On the same MMA Super Heroes 2 card, Kalindra Faria (11-3-1) faces Hellen Bastos (1-0). Faria has won seven straight fights and she most recently submitted Carina Damm in a rematch at MMA Super Heroes 1. Bastos returns to action for the first time since September 2008.

Herica Tiburcio (6-2) faces Chayen Aline Gaspar (1-0) at “Talent MMA Circuit 5: Etapa Campinas 2013? on Nov. 23 in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tiburcio remains one of the top female strawweights in Brazil. She earned her biggest victory to date when she submitted Kinberly Novaes at MMA Super Heroes 1 in July. Gaspar won her pro debut in August.

Also at Talent MMA Circuit 5, Camila “Camilinha Pitbull” Lima (7-4) faces Bianca Reis (1-0). Lima has not fought since she suffered a shocking 19-second KO loss to Mylla Souza Torres in July. She had won seven straight fights prior to the setback. 18-year-old Reis kicked off her pro career with a slick submission victory this past month.

Rounding out the female portion of the Talent MMA Circuit 5 card, Vanessa Melo (1-2) faces Suelen Pereira (1-1). Melo looks to get back on the winning track after suffering losses to Brazilian standouts Camila Lima and Juliana Werner. Pereira scored her first pro win in July when she knocked out Margarete Soares in just 36 seconds.

Alida Gray (3-0) faces Katie Klimansky-Casimir (1-1) at “Sugar Creek Showdown 20: Vinte” on Nov. 23 in Hinton, Okla. This bout will be contested for Gray’s SCS women’s strawweight title. Gray is coming off of a devastating one-punch knockout win over Soannia Tiem this past month. Klimansky-Casimir competes for the first time since May 2012.

Amber “The Apex Predator” Stautzenberger (3-1) faces Lacey “The Ladie” Schuckman (9-6) at Xtreme Knockout 20 on Nov. 23 in Arlington, Texas. Stautzenberger has won all three of her fights this year and she is one of the fastest rising new stars in the women’s strawweight division. Schuckman steps into the fight on short notice and moves back up to 115 pounds after recently competing as an atomweight. She has won back-to-back fights in 2013.

On the same Xtreme Knockout 20 card, Sabrina Garcia (1-0) faces Alice Smith Yauger (0-0). Garcia opened her pro MMA career with a first-round TKO victory over Jade De Haas at Xtreme Knockout 19 in August. Smith Yauger, a former professional boxer, makes her MMA debut.

Shizuka Sugiyama (10-3) faces Ji Yun Kim (0-0) at “Deep: Cage Impact 2013? on Nov. 24 in Tokyo. Sugiyama has won four straight fights since she returned to MMA competition in 2012. The popular karateka made a successful Deep debut in July and she has knocked out three straight opponents. Kim makes her MMA debut after competing for Jewels and Deep Jewels in a pair of kickboxing matches. Elbow strikes will be permitted in the fight.

Cristina Mejia (1-1) faces Priscila de Souza (1-0) at Peru Fighting Championship 15 on Nov. 29 in Pueblo Libre, Lima, Peru. Mejia is coming off of a second-round TKO victory at Peru FC 14 in August. Brazil’s de Souza won her pro debut via second-round submission this past month.

Christina “Ratatat” Tatnell (2-1) faces Amy “Ace” Adam (1-2) at “Valor Fight 6: Validation” on Nov. 30 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. Tatnell made her pro debut against current Invicta FC star Bec Hyatt on just 24 hours’ notice in October 2012 and suffered a quick TKO defeat. She has since bounced back with two key victories for Valor Fight including a submission win over Hyatt’s former training partner, Shauna Carew. Adam is 1-1 in 2013 and she looks to rebound from a loss to Lana Kate in a May rematch.

Juliana “Xitara” Costa (1-1) faces Chelsea Bailey (0-0) at Haidar Capixaba Combat 14 on Nov. 30 in Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Costa steps back into the cage for the first time since she suffered a unanimous decision loss in May. Bailey travels south to Brazil for her pro debut after dropping a decision in her most recent amateur fight in September.

On the same Haidar Capixaba Combat 14 card, Emanuela “Manu” Silva Ferreira (0-0) faces Valeria da Silva (1-0). The 17-year-old Silva Ferreira makes her pro MMA debut in the fight. Da Silva looks to follow up on her second-round TKO victory in January.

MMAjunkie.com publishes the Women’s MMA Report every few weeks. Its author, Robert Sargent, is a veteran MMA journalist who also runs MMARising.com. Feel free to email us at news [AT] mmajunkie.com with any questions, news tips or suggestions.