Saturday, July 29, 2017

Kailin Curran vs. Alexandra Albu at UFC 214 Today

UFC strawweight fighters Kailin Curran (4-4) and Alexandra "Stitch" Albu (6-0) will square off in the Octagon today for UFC 214 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California! Tune in early for the UFC Fight Pass preliminaries starting at 6:30 PM ET for this fight and more. A stacked fight card not to be missed. Good luck ladies!

Posted on July 29, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Cris Cyborg Finally Gets her Shot at UFC Gold Tonight

Will Cris "Cyborg" Justino (16-1, 1NC) finally take home the UFC gold or will Tonya "Triple Threat" Evinger (19-5) pull the upset? Two pioneers of women's MMA will throw down tonight for the UFC women's featherweight title! Catch all the action live at UFC 214 from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California or live on PPV starting at 10 PM ET.

Photo courtesy of the UFC.

Posted on July 29, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Fighter Babe Shinju Nozawa-Auclair Makes her Professional MMA Debut this Sunday

Fighter babe Shinju “Juju” Nozawa-Auclair makes her professional MMA debut this Sunday for Rizin Fighting World Grand Prix 2017 1st Round at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Fighting out of Scorpion Fighting System in Brighton, Michigan by way of San Francisco, California we recently caught up with Shinju prior to her big fight this Sunday for the interview below to learn a little more about her.

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

-I have been training for a year and half.

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

-I am currently in the middle of a training camp in Tokyo! I typically do 1-2 hours of technical work in the morning followed by an hour of conditioning. I return in the evening for a few more hours to get in solid technical work. When I return to the states, I will be moving from Michigan to San Francisco and plan to train at El Niño.

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

-I will fighting Sheena Starr at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan on July 30th.

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

-The best thing that has come from my experience as a fighter has been messages I get from other women on social media. I have had a few people tell me that they started martial arts or have gotten involved in fitness because they saw me do it, that's the coolest feeling ever. That's how I started this journey as well! I was watching some UFC fights and saw a couple girls go at it and decided to give it a go, so it's pretty sweet that I can do that for others.

-My worst experience has got to be getting disqualified for throwing a head kick in Ohio. I didn't know head kicks weren't allowed in Ohio until the rules meeting (totally my fault; but honestly, what a weird rule), and even though I knew I wasn't supposed to, it was just too late! I kept seeing my opponents hand slip and muscle memory and instinct took over. I pulled on the kick and it ended up barely tapping my opponent but I was still DQed.

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

-Just go for it! I pretty much jumped into the deep end right from the beginning. There wasn't a lot of easing into it as I immediately fell in love with the sport. Sure, there are scary moments and it took a lot of convincing from my coach for me to take my first fight but I am so grateful with how everything worked out.

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-My parents! My dad is a badass. He is in his fifties and he still surfs, skateboards, does Muay Thai and triathlons. I hope to be half as cool. My mom, despite all the naysayers, has always gone after her dreams and always encourages me to do the same. For that, I'm grateful.

Who are your favorite MMA fighters?

-Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Angela Lee.

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

-I love walking around Tokyo in between training sessions! When I'm back home in San Francisco, I love to take my dogs out to the beach.

Lastly before we let you go we would love to hear about your future plans and let you send some shout outs.

Any future plans or dreams?

-I hope to continue fighting in the Rizin ring and help encourage other women to get involved in the sport!

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-Thank you to the boss, Mr. Sakakibara for incredible opportunity and experience!

Thank you very much for your time Shinju and good luck on fight night! Click here for more event information including tickets and send your shout outs to Shinju on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Posted on July 26, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Friday, July 21, 2017

Foxy Friday from Mireika Edwards

Let's get this weekend started with some stunning images from MMA knockout Mireika Edwards. Here's hoping we see Mireika cageside again soon! Until then give her a follow and shout out on Instagram and Twitter. Have a great weekend!

Posted on July 21, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Invicta FC 24 Goes Down Tonight in Kansas City

Invicta FC 24 returns to the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Missouri tonight! Tickets are available via Ticketfly or you can watch all the action live on UFC Fight Pass starting at 8 PM ET. Check out the full fight card listed below and send a shout out to your favorite fighters via Twitter by clicking on their names.

FIGHT CARD

Milana Dudieva (11-5) vs. Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC)
Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Ashley Cummins (5-3)
Pam Sorenson (5-2) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC)
Karina Rodríguez (4-2) vs. Bárbara Acioly (4-0)
Miranda Maverick (2-0) vs. Gabby Romero (2-1)
Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (2-0)
Felicia Spencer (2-0) vs. Amy Coleman (2-1)
Mallory Martin (1-1) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-0)

Photos courtesy of Invicta FC.

Posted on July 15, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Fighter Babe Miranda Maverick Returns to the Cage this Saturday

Fighter babe Miranda “Fear The” Maverick (2-0) returns to the cage this Saturday for Invicta FC 24 in Kansas City, Missouri. A dedicated Christian, big sister of two wonderful kids, daughter of her biggest hero and puts 100% effort into everything she does. Currently a BJJ blue belt in the MMA flyweight division and fighting out of the Springfield Fight Club in Springfield, Missouri. We recently caught up with Miranda prior to her big fight this Saturday for the interview below to learn a little more about her.

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

-My father rough-housed with me and my sibling as I grew up, but I began learning jiu-jitsu as we started watching MMA on television. During the first female fight held in the UFC when Ronda Rousey fought, my dad mentioned that I could pursue a sport such as MMA, to which I scoffed. However, for purposes of seeing if I was good and to learn self-defense, as soon as I was old enough to drive, I began going to a gym to learn BJJ. Once I started excelling in the sport, I decided to begin competing, so I switched gyms and went to Springfield Fight Club at 16 years old, where I still train today. As soon as I turned 18, I began training MMA, not just BJJ, and had my first fight within weeks. The passion and rush I felt has stayed with me ever since!

What's a typical training week like for you?

-I basically live in my gym, which is Springfield Fight Club. I train about 3 times a day, 5 days a week during fight camp, train Saturday morning, and typically take Sunday off. Monday and Wednesday are focused more on nogi BJJ, while Tuesdays and Thursdays are more focused on kickboxing and traditional BJJ in the gi. Fridays are the hardest practices, where everything goes. It is more of a fighter-based class with everything mixed and transitioning together. Saturdays are more of a wrestling style. On the side I will do sprints, jog to the gym from college or ride my bicycle, lift weights, and do strength and cardio sessions before practice. The hot tub and sauna are regular visits as well!

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

-My next fight is this coming Saturday, July 15th at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Missouri on the Invicta FC 24 card. It will be against black belt and world champion in BJJ, Gabby Romero.

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

-Getting a call from Invicta to make my pro début with them and sign a contract after just turning 19 was by far one of the highlight moments of my life. My best experience during fighting though is the feeling I get every time I win but the most awesome experience was my most recent fight when my father grabbed the cage and I ran to him only to hear his cheers of excitement. As any onlooker could see, I got a little emotional. However, my worst experience as a fighter did not elicit the same emotion. With a high as good as getting your hand raised at the end and feeling all of your hard work accumulate into something great, the low of losing is just as impacting. My first, and only, loss thus far was when I was an amateur and was flown out to Colorado. The intention for me going up there was to give their local girl a step up before going pro. Unfortunately, I obliged. It was a horrible feeling after losing by decision, and I have worked on everything mentally and physically since to keep that from happening again.

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

-As a female myself, I find BJJ and MMA to be very important for self-defense and I would encourage any person, not just women, to at least learn basics. However, getting punched in the face is not for everyone, but knowing a ground game to fend off attackers or even the workout that comes with practicing a sport such as mixed martial arts is wholly beneficial. I say: try it, stick to it. You are always going to have someone better than you, just be better than yourself and grow every day! If you are a woman already interested in fighting, my advice is to do something that is different, be unique, if you want to be recognized. And get used to being the nail; in practice, I am typically the smallest, one of the weakest, and usually the only woman, which actually helps me. Don’t get discouraged by losses, especially in practice. Training with bigger stronger better people makes women your own size much easier to handle.

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-In life, my daddy is the biggest inspiration for me! My father has made a successful life for himself with the blessings God has granted him, despite the challenges he faced throughout. He is always there to guide me in the right direction and has always been my number one and my best friend and protector. However, in the MMA world, Georges St. Pierre has amazing technique and style, Brian Stann has my utmost respect for his devotion to the military, charities, and the Lord, along with any others who spread their Christianity by living right. Tecia Torres is also a great athlete in the women’s division, and I like Miesha Tate’s attitude and dynamic fighting style.

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

-What free time!? Actually...I currently attend Drury University, double-majoring in psychology and sociology while finishing my undergraduate studies within three years. I am on the Drury Honors Program, and am also a member of the Drury Men’s Wrestling Team. I work full time at Cracker Barrel currently as a waitress, but those are kind of required. The rare instances I do get free time, it is spent with my family on our farm, planning for the future, alone drawing for my business Art of the Maverick, writing, or reading a book, or with my head on my pillow taking advantage of sweet sleep. And I’m always up for participating in any kind of athletic outdoorsy activity too, especially one involving competition or hands-on combat.

Lastly before we let you go we would love to hear about your future plans and let you send some shout outs.

Any future plans or dreams?

-I am going straight to a doctorate program from my bachelor’s. I will study industrial psychology and the end game is to become a business consultant, become a lead in the marketing and advertising side of business, or perhaps even delve into human resources. In the MMA world, my life dream is to be the UFC world champion of the strawweight and/or flyweight division!

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-My dad is the most influential person to me at every turn, but to give credit where credit is due, my two main coaches and corners from Springfield Fight Club have helped mold this glob of clay. Nathan Stamburski is the man who has orchestrated the fine points of getting me into MMA, as well as trained me from rock bottom in standup, figuring out all my flaws and weaknesses, and capitalizing on them before my opponent does. Brett Welcome, my other coach, on the other end of the martial arts spectrum, in my mind anyway, is the person who critiques my ground game, and always plays the role of father-figure, trying to point out negatives and reality to keep me focused. All of my other coaches and training partners have shown me enormous amounts of support as I continue to climb the ladder, assisting me in pushing myself and improving my game in every aspect.

-I want to thank my sponsors: Hayabusa, GRRRL, Fighter Alias, Persuasive Apparel, Midtowne Dental, MMA Roadhog, Waldron Realty, Gillispie Concrete, and other friends who have donated time, funds, and gear to helping me move on in my MMA career!

-And as always, Glory to God!

Thank you very much for your time Miranda and good luck on fight night! Click here for more event information including tickets and send your shout outs to Miranda on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Posted on July 13, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 Tonight

The highly anticipated rematch between UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda "The Lioness" Nunes (14-4) and Valentina "Bullet" Shevchenko (14-2) goes down tonight at UFC 213! In their first match-up at UFC 196, Nunes won by unanimous decision. Will she win again or will there be a new champion crowned tonight? Catch this event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas or watch the PPV starting at 10 PM ET. Good luck ladies!

Photo courtesy of the UFC.

Posted on July 8, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Friday, July 7, 2017

TUF 25 Finale Stacked with Great Women's MMA Fights Today

Tune in early today for The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale preliminaries featuring a trio of explosive ladies fights live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tecia "The Tiny Tornado" Torres (8-1) and Juliana "Ju Thai" Lima (9-3) will kick off the UFC Fight Pass early preliminaries at 6 PM ET. Jessica "Evil" Eye (11-6, 1 NC) will welcome Aspen Ladd (5-0) to the Octagon in the Fox Sports 1 preliminaries starting at 7 PM ET followed by a scrap between Angela "Overkill" Hill (6-3) and Ashley "The Spider Monkey" Yoder (5-2). Good luck ladies!

Photos courtesy of WMMA Fight and Cage of Bones.

Posted on July 7, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com

Sunday, July 2, 2017

Sexy Sunday from Shelly Scarlet

It might be the end of the week so here's some motivation going into next week from MMA and boxing ring girl Shelly Scarlet! If this redheaded knockout doesn't perk you up we don't know what will. For the latest on Shelly give her a follow and shout out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Posted on July 2, 2017 by www.babesofmma.com