Damm-Kujala Completes Aug. 13 Strikeforce Women’s Tourney

Carina Damm (top) file photo | Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

Carina Damm and Maiju Kujala will meet in the second bracket of a four-women 135-pound tournament at Strikeforce Challengers 10 on Aug. 13 at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., the promotion confirmed with Sherdog.com on Monday.

Strikeforce veterans Miesha Tate and Hitomi Akano were announced for the first bracket last week.

The Showtime-televised event will host the tournament over one night, with the winner earning a title shot against the promotion’s 135-pound champion at a later date. Champion Sarah Kaufman will defend her crown against Roxanne Modafferi at Strikeforce Challengers 9 on July 23 in Kent, Wash.

Damm has won 10 straight bouts since February 2007. The Alliance Jiu-jitsu rep earned a first-round TKO over Aline Serio at Jungle Fight 17 last February in her hometown of Vila Velha, Brazil.

Damm has not fought in the U.S., since testing positive for steroids following her first-round submission victory over Sophie Bagherdai at Femme Fatale Fighting 4 in April 2008 in Los Angeles. Damm served a one-year suspension, which killed a multi-fight deal she had signed at the time with the now defunct EliteXC.

Finnish import Kujala earned her tournament slot after blazing through a similar four-women, one-night event at Upcoming Glory 7 on March 27 in The Netherlands. Kujala boasts a 4-1 record since her September 2009 debut.

A reserve match, which will provide a same-night replacement should one of the two finalists be unable to compete beyond their first bout, will be announced by the promotion shortly.