Monday, April 30, 2012

April 2012 MMA Babe of the Month – Brooke Lynette

Our April 2012 MMA babe of the month is Cage Warriors ring girl Brooke Lynette. This London based blonde bombshell is 26 years old, 5’8”, 125 lbs and measures 34-25-33. In addition to being the head ring girl for Europe’s largest MMA promotion Cage Warriors, she is also a professional fitness, commercial and lingerie model. We recently caught up with the stunning Ms. Lynette for the interview below as our MMA babe of the month for April 2012.

How did you get into the world of MMA?

-I was training in the MMA Clinic for my fight I had last year and I slowly got into it through that. I was also approached by Cage Warriors and asked to ring girl for them and since then I’ve been hooked!

What were you doing before you became an MMA ring girl and model?

-I was actually cabin crew when I was just 18! I had the best time flying around but my love was modeling so I moved to London from Scotland and gave up my job.

Who are your favorite MMA fighters?

-I like watching Nick Diaz, Chael Sonnen and Dan hardy. A few of my faves on Cage Warriors are Joe Duffy, Brad Wheeler, Adam Brearley, Olly Battell and Charlie Watts to name a few! I train in the same gym as them so their like brothers to me. They are all amazing guys with great careers ahead of them.

What are the strangest and sweetest comments MMA fans have said to you?

-I had one guy in Jordan who took one of my Facebook pictures, painted it and framed it for me. It must have taken him awhile so I’m grateful for that. It’s really sweet to get comments from people who love Cage Warriors and follow the shows. Luckily, never had any strange comments but I tend not to dwell on negativity anyway so if I was to hear any it wouldn’t affect me. You can’t please everyone in this world and I can only be myself!

What would your fight name be if you were a fighter?

-I actually had a fight last year and my name was 'Brookelyn Go hard' haha! Was an amateur boxing match and I got the win! It was a great experience and hoping to fight again. When I get time maybe I will sort a date out to fight again and you guys can watch :)

What is something most people don't know about you?

-People assume I’m Eastern European or English as I live in London, but I’m actually Scottish. I’ve been away from home for eight years now and still have my accent so when people hear me talk its usually a shock!

What are your hobbies and how do you spend your free time?

-I love training, strength and conditioning, running and boxing. I love fashion, cooking, traveling and seeing new places. I'm a real homely person so when I’m free you will usually find me at home chilling. There’s no place like home!

Are you single?

-No I’m lucky enough to have met my soul mate. He's a keeper.

What do you look for in a guy?

-A sense of humor, sensitivity and caring are all good points to have!

What are your turn-ons?

-Accents are cool and people who take care of their appearance.

What are your turnoffs?

-Bad hygiene! There’s no excuse not to wash, stay clean guys!

What would you say is your best feature?

-People have said my eyes and others have said my legs as they are so long. Then again, people have said my smile! I’d go with my eyes, windows to the soul ;)

What are your future plans or dreams in life?

-I intend on working with Cage Warriors for a long time. I’ve also got some pageants coming up, fitness, beauty and swimwear so I intend on getting some wins. The worlds my oyster and I plan on taking over ;)

Any special shout outs or thank you's?

-Huge thanks to Babes of MMA for my feature, to Cage Warriors for having me onboard and all the Cage Warriors fans who make my job even more awesome than it already is x

Thank you too for your time Brooke. We definitely look forward to each Cage Warriors event and hope to catch one someday soon. Check out the beautiful ladies of Cage Warriors here and on Twitter @Brrrookelyn and @Natalie_L23. You can also find Brooke on Facebook and be on the lookout for her very own website coming soon!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Invicta Fighting Championships One

Invicta Fighting Championships One goes down tonight in Kansas City, KS starting at 7 PM and also streamed online for free at http://www.invictafc.com/. Touted as a cage of their own, this all female, all pro promotion looks to lead the way for women's MMA. Check out the fight card below in addition to ring girls Natasha Wicks and Gianna Puppo who will be on hand.

•145 pounds: Marloes "Rumina" Coenen (19-5) vs. Romy Ruyssen (5-1)

•105 pounds: Jessica Penne (8-1) vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-7)

•135 pounds: Liz "Girl-Rilla" Carmouche (5-2) vs. Ashleigh Curry (1-0)

•135 pounds: Kaitlin Young (7-5) vs. Leslie Smith (3-2)

•135 pounds: Sarah "The Monster" D'Alelio (4-2) vs. Vanessa Mariscal (2-0)

•115 pounds: "Slick" Sally Krumdiack (9-4) vs. Sarah "White Tiger" Schneider (5-5)

•105 pounds: Nicdali "The Night Queen" Rivera-Calanoc (7-5) vs. Amy "Lil' Dynamite" Davis (2-2)

•125 pounds: Michele "Diablita" Gutierrez (3-2) vs. Sarah Maloy (2-2)

•145 pounds: Randi Miller (0-0) vs. "Miss" Mollie Ahlers-Estes (1-0)

•115 pounds: Ashley "Smashley" Cummins (2-0) vs. Sofia Bagherdai (4-1)

•105 pounds: Cassie Rodish (1-3) vs. Meghan "The Babe" Wright (1-3)

Friday, April 27, 2012

Fighter Babe Nicdali "The Night Queen" Rivera-Calanoc Ready to Dominate 105ers

Fighter babe Nicdali "The Night Queen" Rivera-Calanoc (7-5) returns to the cage tomorrow at Invicta FC 1 to take on Amy "Lil Dynamite" Davis (2-2). Revitalized and hungry, Nicdali makes her 105 lb debut and looking to shake up the weight class. Babes of MMA is proudly sponsoring Nicdali and looking forward to this historic event. For the latest on The Night Queen like her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter @Nicdali.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Natasha Wicks Returns to the Cage on Saturday

Natasha Wicks returns to the cage as a ring girl on Saturday at Invicta Fighting Championships inaugural event in Kansas City, KS. Although we haven't seen fan favorite Wicks circling the cage since her UFC days in 2009 she has still remained close to the sport through various channels including It Ain't Chemo, a non-profit organization helping young warriors with cancer who will also be on hand this weekend at Invicta. Say hello to Natasha on Facebook and Twitter.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Fighter Babe Jessica Penne Returns to the Cage this Saturday

Fighter babe Jessica Penne (8-1) is back in action this Saturday to take on Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-7) at Invicta FC in Kansas City, KS. We recently caught up with Jessica as she prepares for her co-main event fight this weekend.

How did you get involved in MMA and how long have you been training?

-I got involved in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing about six years ago. I had seen some matches and it looked interesting. I have always played sports, so I was looking for some form of competition to get into.

Where are you currently training, and what's a typical training week like for you?

-I currently train at Reign Training Center, Kings MMA and Checkmat BJJ. I also do strength and conditioning at Innovative Results. I train six days a week whether I have a fight or not. When I am training for a fight I step it up to two and three a days.

Tell us about your upcoming fight, who you're fighting and where?

-My next fight is April 28th in Kansas. I am fighting Lisa Ward and we are the co-main event for Invicta FC's first show! It’s really exciting to be a part of an all women's card. I can’t wait!

What is your best experience as a fighter?

-My best experience as a fighter was from my last fight. I took a fight on about a week notice for the Shootboxing organization in Japan against their SCUP Champ RENA. It was my most challenging fight because I really didn't know the rules and it was my first time fighting abroad as well as going against a really tough opponent. It was a great experience and I am so happy and thankful for having the opportunity. I really learned a lot about myself from that fight.

What advice would you give to other women who are reading this interview and want to get started in MMA?

-Go for it!

What are some of the hurdles that you think Women in MMA need to overcome before Women's MMA will be considered a top level sport like Men's MMA is today?

-I think with an organization like Invicta supporting WMMA we will see much needed organization in the weight classes and consistency in competition. WMMA needs a show like Invicta to give us a platform to perform on so that we can show our hard work and talents.

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-I always look up to people that are hard workers. My coaches, teammates, friends and family inspire me to work hard and I always try to improve myself in MMA and in life. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by the people in my life.

Who are your favorite MMA fighters?

-I really admire the fighters from the gyms that I train at. I get to see how hard they work in training and it makes me want to work harder. Some of my favorite fighters are Mark Munoz, Jake Ellenberger, Anderson Silva and Genki Sudo to name a few.

How do you enjoy your free time when not training or fighting?

-In my free time I like to be outdoors and do other types of exercise. I like being at the beach, playing with my dogs, going for hikes or trying something new. I have a house that has a nice sized backyard and I spend a lot of time gardening. I love training and being active, it is important to me to maintain an active lifestyle.

Of course we have a few questions for the male readership as well.

Are you single?

-I am single.

What do you look for in a person?

-In a person, I look for someone who is patient, loyal and supportive of me and my lifestyle.

What are your turnoffs?

-People with egos are gross!

Last but not least would you like to make any shout outs?

-I want to say thank you to my coaches and teammates from Reign Training Center, Kings MMA, Black House MMA, Checkmat La Habra and Innovative Results. Everyone has always been so encouraging and positive. Everyone is really supportive I also want to say thank you to my family and friends!

It was a pleasure getting to know Jessica and really looking forward to her fight this Saturday. For the latest on Jessica you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Fighter Babe Kaitlin Young Back in Action this Saturday

Fighter babe Kaitlin Young (6-5) returns to the cage this Saturday to take on Leslie Smith (3-2) at Invicta FC in Kansas City, KS. Kaitlin is a 26 year old bantamweight fighting out of Minnesota with a background in Taekwondo and Muay Thai. Continue reading our interview below to learn more about Kaitlin’s background and upcoming fight.

How did you get involved in MMA and how long have you been training?

-I was training Muay Thai at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy (now known as simply The Academy) in Brooklyn Center, MN when a couple of the coaches suggested I start training wrestling and BJJ and take an MMA fight. That was about 5 years ago, and I had my first MMA fight on October 4th of 2007.

Where are you currently training, and what's a typical training week like for you?

-I am still at The Academy for all of my martial arts training. I have added a few supplemental activities .Myself and a few of the guys are fortunate enough to have Robert Brant come in to work with us on our boxing. I also go to Horsepower Strength and Conditioning to work with Matt Miller.

-My training week typically consists of various martial arts training for 1 -3 hours in the morning (Monday - Friday). This usually includes pad work, sparring, drilling, grappling, MMA live goes, etc. Pro practice at The Academy is usually followed by some kind of supplemental training for (running, strength and conditioning, etc.) in the afternoons and on Saturdays.

Tell us about your upcoming fight, who you're fighting and where?

-I am fighting Leslie Smith for the upcoming Invicta FC One card. The fights will take place on April 28th in Kansas City. It is a stellar card with a stacked line up of top female fighters. They are streaming it online for free from their website! Invicta FC

What is your best experience as a fighter? What is your worst?

-My best experience as a fighter is winning a fight, hands down! The worst experience is dealing with unreliable promotions over, and over, and over again. Luckily, 2012 has been a great year thus far and the two promotions I have dealt with have been amazing.

What advice would you give to other women who are reading this interview and want to get started in MMA?

-Be prepared to work very hard!

What are some of the hurdles that you think Women in MMA need to overcome before Women's MMA will be considered a top level sport like Men's MMA is today?

-Honestly, I think it needs to get to a point where several of the top level females are able to FIGHT and TRAIN as a full-time job. It has certainly improved in recent years, but that will be the catalyst for it to become a top level sport. Imagine how much better all of the top female fighters would be if they were able to JUST TRAIN.

When do you think we will see women divisions in the UFC?

-We will see it within the next 3 - 5 years. I take that back, we will see something like it in the next 3-5. I think the possibility of Zuffa owning an all women's promotion is good as well.

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-I am mostly inspired by my teammates and personal training clients. In both situations, you get to see them shine on their best days and push through their worst days. In the process, you see some very remarkable things.

How do you enjoy your free time when not training or fighting?

-I rest. As lame as it sounds if I'm not at work or training I usually just like to relax and eat. I love stand-up comedy and walking my dog.

Of course we have a few questions for the male readership as well.

Are you single?

-I am not.

What are your turn-ons?

-Confidence, confidence and confidence.

What are your turnoffs?

-Jewelry and insecurity.

What would you say is your best feature?

-My temperament.

Any future plans or dreams?

-I want to climb to the top of this division. In the super long term, I'd like to have a gym of my own one day.

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-Absolutely. First, my coaches I have been working with for this fight Greg Nelson, Ryan Murray, Robert Brant, and Matt Miller. I would also like to thank my awesome sponsors Gamebred Fightwear, Intimidation Clothing, Ethic Fight Co, and One N Done. I'd also like to thank Shannon Knapp and Janet Martin for making the Invicta show possible and holding it to such high professional standards.

Thank you very much for your time Kaitlin and best of luck on fight night! Be sure to follow Kaitlin on Twitter and Facebook for all her latest news.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Fighter Babe Sofia Bagherdai Returns to the Cage this Saturday

After a long break from the MMA world fighter babe Sofia Bagherdai (4-1) returns to the cage to take on Ashley Cummins (2-0) at Invicta FC this Saturday in Kansas City. We recently caught up with Sofia for an interview about her background and upcoming fight.

How did you get involved in MMA and how long have you been training?

-I’ve been training for the last seven years. I’ve always been in some type of martial arts but I started training and I told myself if I’m going to train this hard I’m going to get something out of it.

Where are you currently training, and what's a typical training week like for you?

-I am training at Wanderlei Silva’s gym in Las Vegas. I also train at A-team when I’m in California. I normally train anywhere from 8-10 hours a day six days a week.

Tell us about your upcoming fight, who you're fighting and where?

-I am fighting Ashley "Smashley" Cummins at Invicta Fighting Championship One!

What is your best experience as a fighter? What is your worst?

-The best experience as a fighter is working with kids and being a role model to them. I have a lot of little girls that I work with and it’s the best feeling in the world when they run up to me and give me a big hug when they see me. The worst experience is when I lost to Carina Damm knowing that she was completely using steroids.

What advice would you give to other women who are reading this interview and want to get started in MMA?

-The best advice I can give to any women that wants to get involved in the sport is just keep pushing forward and never give up, you can do anything you set your mind to. You just have to really want it.

What are some of the hurdles that you think Women in MMA need to overcome before Women's MMA will be considered a top level sport like Men's MMA is today?

-Well obviously we get doubted because we are women and most people think we are not capable of being in a male dominated sport but we are all equal and if everyone would just give us a fare chance I think we can grow a lot!

When do you think we will see women divisions in the UFC?

-I’m not sure if we will ever be in the UFC but that’s ok. We can make it without the UFC and I’m sure of that if we just keep pushing forward and stick together. We can have a show of our own like Invicta and make it to the top!

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-Knowing that I can do something that most people don’t believe I can inspires me to keep going!

Who are your favorite MMA fighters?

-I love BJ Penn and Joseph Benavidez.

How do you enjoy your free time when not training or fighting?

-I love to be outdoors, hiking, the beach and spending time with my family and friends.

Of course we have a few questions for the male readership as well.

Are you single?

-No I am not. I'm happily taken.

What do you look for in a person?

-Personality, someone that can make me laugh always steels my heart!

What are your turn-ons?

-A hard working man. Someone who works hard and wants to be the best at everything he does.

What are your turnoffs?

-When a man thinks he's better then everyone! Lol, a stuck up guy is not a cute one.

What would you say is your best feature?

-I get the most compliments on my smile ;) I love to smile!

Any future plans or dreams?

-My dream is to use the sport to start a foundation to help troubled teens and give them a place to go to get all their anger and frustrations out. I want to give them something to look forward to rather than fighting on the streets or using drugs and alcohol.

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-I just want to thank everyone who believes in me! You guys give me the strength to continue fighting. I want to make sure and mention a few people who I appreciate more then they know, Kim Couture, Slade Bitler, Jeff Pineda, of course my teammates at Wand Fight Team, my coaches Ali from A-team in California, my family and last but not least my other half Chad Roy. Chad has been such an awesome part of my support team, thank you for putting up with me even when I'm emotional and being a brat. I love all of you guys and I will make you proud ;)

Thank you for your time Sofia and definitely looking forward to your fight this weekend. Say hello to Sofia on Twitter @sofinator08.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Meet MMA Babe Amanda Gail

Say hello to MMA babe Amanda Gail! This 29 year old beauty is 5'4", 130 lbs, measures 35-25-36 and calls Yuma, AZ home.

Amanda is represented by Star Chem Labs, an official ring girl for Desert Rage and also volunteers for many local charity events such as Battle of the Badges. She also represents her local fight gym Arizona Athletic Club. In addition she has done several sexy fighting themed model shoots some of which are seen above. Don't mess with this mother of two boys though as she was also a gym owner for three years and currently training to competitively box one day.

Aside from the MMA world Amanda is also a bikini and figure competitor in NPC, a Zumba instructor and also a model. She will be featured in the new Zumba Rush game for Xbox Kinect so keep your eyes open for that. On top of all that this supermom works full-time in a Surgeons office.

For more on MMA babe Amanda visit her website, Model Mayhem page, Youtube channel and say hello to her on Twitter @amandagailfit.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

New Sexiness from Brittany Elizabeth

MMA model Brittany Elizabeth is back with some sexy work with Yvettelene Fotographe. For more on Brittany read out first feature here, like her Facebook page and follow on Twitter so you don't miss a thing from this stunner.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Vanessa Hanson's Sexy New Photo Shoot

MMA stunner Vanessa Hanson is back with a sexy new photo shoot captured by Mission Photography. Follow them both on Twitter @vanessa_hanson and @RoadKingFL. For more on Vanessa check out our last feature on her here. You can also catch Vanessa next up at Strikeforce in San Jose, CA on May 19th and in an upcoming issue of Fight! Magazine.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Babes of MMA Sponsored Fighter Jordan McDonald at Tuff-N-Uff

Babes of MMA sponsored fighter Jordan Mcdonald (top three pictures) returned to the cage on April 7th to take on Paulina Granados (third picture at right) at Tuff-N-Uff in Las Vegas, NV. Paulina won by split decision and in other women's action Christine Ferea won by first round TKO over Jamie Herod, Jocelyn Lybarger (forth picture at right) won the 125 lb title by split decision over Ashley Yoder and Ashlee Evans-Smith (fifth picture at right) defeated Bridgette Batch (fifth picture at left) by unanimous decision to become the 140 lb champ. Check out more pictures from the weigh-in by Tracy Lee at Combat Lifestyle and the fights captured by Joe Pic Photography in album one and album two.