Women's MMA Report: Rousey retains UFC title in 16 seconds, 'TUF 20' cast revealed

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey successfully retained her title with another quick and dominant victory on Saturday night at “UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida” in Las Vegas.

Rousey made short work of top contender Alexis Davis, knocking the Canadian challenger out in just 16 seconds in the UFC 175 co-main event.

Leading up to the title bout, Rousey (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) was expected to be tested if Davis (16-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a highly skilled BJJ black belt, could get the fight to the ground. Instead, just as she has done in the majority of her pro bouts to date, Rousey completely nullified her opponent’s offense, then knocked Davis out after throwing her on her head.

In the opening seconds of the brief fight, Davis landed two stiff jabs and an overhand right. Rousey, who has been working diligently on her striking throughout the past year, immediately answered back with a big right hook and a knee that appeared to daze the challenger. She latched on to Davis’ neck and whipped her to the mat with a slightly modified koshi guruma (kubi nage) judo throw.

A dazed Davis landed on the side of her head and Rousey unloaded with unanswered right hands from the scarf hold position. Davis went limp as Rousey blasted her with punches and referee Yves Lavigne jumped in to stop the fight at the 16-second mark of Round 1.

The emphatic knockout victory was Rousey’s quickest win to date and she continues to dispatch of all challengers with ease. Only two women, former UFC title challengers Liz Carmouche and Miesha Tate (twice), have survived for longer than 66 seconds with the Olympic bronze medal-winning judoka. Even more impressively, Rousey is developing her skills at a rapid rate in spite of a hectic schedule that includes countless interviews and two recent movie shoots.

UFC officials had hoped that Rousey could be ready to make a quick turnaround and compete again at the now-canceled UFC 176 event next month. However, it was revealed this week that Rousey suffered a broken hand in the bout with Davis and she plans to go ahead with a minor knee surgery to repair a nagging injury. As such, she is expected to be out of action for at least two months, but a return to the Octagon later this year remains a definite possibility.

With Rousey standing tall atop the 135-pound women’s division, some now wonder whether any female bantamweight will ever be able to dethrone the gifted judoka. Rousey’s next challenger may be undefeated powerhouse Cat Zingano, who has held the top contender spot since she knocked out Miesha Tate in April 2013. Zingano has since been sidelined due to a knee injury and the tragic death of her husband, but she plans to compete in September and will reportedly face Amanda Nunes at UFC 178 in Las Vegas.

Sarah Moras edges out Alexis Dufresne at TUF 19 Finale

“TUF 18? semifinalist Sarah Moras (4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) overcame a size and weight disadvantage and earned her first official UFC win on Sunday night at The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale in Las Vegas. Moras narrowly outpointed UFC newcomer Alexis Dufresne (5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who missed weight by eight pounds for what was intended to be a bantamweight bout.

Dufresne countered an early combination from Moras by taking the Canadian down and she spent the remainder of the opening round in top position. However, Moras was the more active fighter on the ground and she attacked with elbows and submission attempts from the bottom throughout the round. Dufresne nearly passed to mount on one occasion, but Moras regained guard. She landed more elbows and an upkick, then tried for an armbar before time expired.

In Round 2, Moras scored again with punches on the feet and Dufresne took her back down. Moras threw hammerfists from the bottom as a fatigued Dufresne’s offense slowed down. The fighters were stood up and Moras secured a takedown of her own, but it was short-lived and referee Yves Lavigne called for another standup. Dufresne reversed a takedown, but Moras swept into top position and she landed punches from the top before the bell.

Dufresne immediately took Moras down in the final round and she wound up in side control following a brief scramble. She bloodied Moras’ nose with punches and targeted the body with more strikes. Moras fought back to guard and worked for a triangle choke and an armbar, but Dufresne battled free and she kept Moras pinned down. Moras transitioned from an armbar back to another triangle choke attempt late in the fight, but Dufresne escaped again.

The competitive bout went to the scorecards and Moras was rewarded for her activity from the bottom. Scores were 30-27 and 29-28 twice for Moras, who picked up a big win and secured her spot on the UFC roster. A tired Dufresne, who had to be propped up by her teammates following the fight, expressed a look of shock when the decision was read. The bout marked the first time that Dufresne had ever been outside of the first round in her brief pro career.

“TUF 20? filming begins, full cast revealed

Filming is now underway for Season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show competition and the full cast for the all-female edition was officially revealed this past week. For the first time in the show’s history, the winner of “TUF 20? will earn both a UFC contract and also the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight championship.

Eight of the 16 women who are competing on the show were already announced in late 2013. The initial group is comprised of Invicta FC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (9-2), Joanne Calderwood (8-0), Tecia Torres (4-0), Felice Herrig (9-5), Bec Rawlings (5-3), Alex Chambers (4-1), Emily Kagan (3-1) and Rose Namajunas (2-1). All eight women signed on for the competition when their contracts were transferred over to the UFC from Invicta FC.

Joining the original eight are former Invicta FC atomweight champion Jessica Penne (11-2), veterans Lisa Ellis (15-8) and Aisling Daly (14-5), bitter rivals Heather Clark (6-4) and Angela Magana (11-6), and prospects Justine Kish (4-0), Randa Markos (4-1) and Angela Hill (1-0).

As many had expected, it did not take long for tempers to flare and UFC President Dana White confirmed that a fight broke out during the first day of filming. The brawl reportedly involved Herrig, who has publicly feuded with both Clark and Magana for years. Herrig and Clark were involved in a post-fight altercation following their bout at Bellator 94 in March 2013 that ultimately played a key factor in the promotion’s decision to dissolve its women’s divisions.

“TUF 20? is currently slated to premiere on Sept. 10 on FOX Sports 1 in the U.S. and Sportsnet 360 in Canada. A date has not yet been announced for this season’s finale, when one woman will be crowned as the first ever UFC women’s strawweight champion.

UFC announces two more female fights for upcoming cards

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s second women’s strawweight bout is set to take place on July 26 at “UFC on FOX 12: Lawler vs. Brown” in San Jose, Calif. Polish striking sensation Joanna Jedrzejczyk (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her Octagon debut against fellow UFC newcomer Juliana de Lima Carneiro (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a featured 115-pound matchup on the card.

Jedrzejczyk signed on with Invicta FC earlier this year, but the promotion’s eighth event has been repeatedly delayed and Jedrzejczyk has been forced to take fights outside of the organization in order to stay busy. This past month, she knocked out MMA pioneer Rosi Sexton at Cage Warriors 69 in England and the crushing victory earned Jedrzejczyk a call from the UFC. The 26-year-old striker, who has competed in close to 100 kickboxing matches, now leaves her Invicta FC deal in the past and makes her UFC debut later this month.

Lima is also an experienced striker who has competed extensively in Muay Thai. The 32-year-old Brazilian opened her MMA career with five straight wins that included a key victory over highly-touted prospect Kinberly Novaes. In her lone Invicta FC bout in April 2013, Lima suffered her first career defeat when she was outpointed by Finnish standout Katja Kankaanpaa. She rebounded with a quick TKO win in October and was rumored to be competing on “TUF 20,” but concerns over Lima’s accent and ability to speak English led to her removal from the show.

The winner of the Jedrzejczyk-Lima bout could find herself on a short list of title contenders for the newly-created UFC women’s strawweight championship, which will be awarded to the “TUF 20? tournament winner later this year.

A second intriguing women’s bout has also been booked for next month. Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who challenged unsuccessfully for UFC title gold in February, faces Invicta FC bantamweight champion Lauren Murphy (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at “UFC Fight Night 47: Bader vs. St. Preux” on Aug. 16 in Bangor, Maine.

McMann kicked off her pro career in May 2011 and she went on to score dominant victories in each of her first five pro bouts. That stretch included notable wins over fellow wrestler Tonya Evinger and submission specialist Hitomi Akano. In July 2012, McMann headlined Invicta FC’s second event and she narrowly outpointed Shayna Baszler in a closely-contested bout. She transitioned to the UFC this past year and mauled Sheila Gaff en route to a first-round TKO triumph at UFC 159. However, McMann’s most recent fight against Rousey at UFC 170 ended in a disappointing defeat when she was stopped by a knee to the body early in the first round.

Murphy has gradually climbed up the women’s bantamweight rankings since she dropped down to the 135-pound division this past year. She brought a perfect 5-0 record into her Invicta FC debut in April 2013 and posted back-to-back wins over Kaitlin Young and Sarah D’Alelio to earn a shot at the inaugural Invicta FC bantamweight title. In December, Murphy got off to a slow start against world-renowned striker Miriam Nakamoto at Invicta FC 7, but she weathered the storm and ultimately emerged victorious when Nakamoto sustained a knee injury that prevented her from continuing on.

Like many others on the Invicta FC roster, Murphy has been left without a fight this year due to repeated delays in scheduling the promotion’s eighth event. She has sat and watched as the UFC has signed other female bantamweights who possess far less experience – and arguably far less skill – but Murphy’s opportunity to shine will come next month when she steps into the Octagon against an Olympic medalist and former UFC title challenger.

Gadelha vs. Lahdemaki, Duke vs. Smith set for next Wednesday

History will be made on Wednesday night when the UFC stages its first 115-pound female fight at “UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller” in Atlantic City, N.J. Decorated BJJ black belt Claudia Gadelha (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her much-anticipated Octagon debut against Finnish rising star Tina Lahdemaki (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight bout.

The fight between Gadelha and Lahdemaki is a pivotal one and already has major title implications. Gadelha, who was twice scheduled to compete for Invicta FC gold before injuries and illness knocked her out of both bouts, is expected to challenge the winner of “TUF 20? for the UFC women’s strawweight championship if she is able to get past Lahdemaki on Wednesday. Thus far, Gadelha has dominated most of her opponents in MMA, including former Jewels champion Ayaka Hamasaki at Invicta FC 6, but she will face a solid test in her UFC debut.

Lahdemaki enters the bout with Gadelha as an underdog, but the talented 26-year-old is looking to score the biggest win of her career by upsetting the Brazilian and a win over Gadelha could potentially earn Lahdemaki a UFC title shot in early 2015. In 11 pro and amateur MMA bouts, Lahdemaki has yet to taste defeat, and she holds key wins over Strikeforce tournament veteran Maiju Kujala and Spanish prospect Karla Benitez. The well-rounded Finn is skilled on the feet and also on the ground.

Joining the Gadelha-Lahdemaki fight on the UFC Fight Night 45 card is a women’s bantamweight bout between “TUF 18? quarterfinalist Jessamyn Duke (3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and former Invicta FC flyweight title challenger Leslie Smith (6-5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

Duke was seen by some as an early favorite to advance to the “TUF 18? final, but a close decision loss in a thrilling bout with Raquel Pennington during the quarterfinal round dashed Duke’s hopes of winning the show. She won her official UFC debut at the TUF 18 Finale in November and now looks to rebound from her first career defeat against unbeaten Brazilian rising star Bethe Correia in April. A second straight loss could potentially end Duke’s tenure in the UFC, but a victory over Smith would vault her up the 135-pound women’s rankings.

Smith also finds herself in a potential must-win situation after dropping her short-notice UFC debut to rival Sarah Kaufman in April. The battle-tested veteran previously dropped down to 125 pounds for a brief run in the Invicta FC flyweight division that culminated with a competitive decision loss to reigning champion Barb Honchak in December. Smith has already faced many of the sport’s top female fighters during her career and she brings a significant experience advantage into the fight with Duke next week.

Both women’s bouts will be featured on the UFC Fight Night 45 preliminary card.

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.