The Windy City Welcomes A Pair of Ladies UFC Bantamweight Fights Tomorrow

The UFC is back in our home town this weekend and we couldn't be more excited to see two ladies bantamweight fights on this great fight card. On the UFC on Fox 16 Fight Pass preliminaries which begin at 4:15pm ET Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke (3-2, 1 NC) will trade some leather with Elizabeth Phillips (4-3) and then in the co-main event on the Fox main card starting at 8pm ET Jessica "Evil" Eye (11-2, 1 NC) and Miesha "Cupcake" Tate (16-5) will battle it out for a potential title shot on the line. Good luck ladies!

Posted on July 24, 2015 by www.babesofmma.com

Jessamyn Duke & Leslie Smith Throw Down Tomorrow

Fighter babes Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke (3-1-0, 1 NC) and Leslie "The Peacemaker" Smith (6-5-1) throw down tomorrow night at UFC Fight Night 45 in Atlantic City, NJ at the Revel Casino. This fight is scheduled to be the third fight on the Fox Sports 1 preliminaries which kicks off at 7 pm ET. Don't miss this bantamweight battle tomorrow night!

Jessamyn Duke Returns to the Cage this Saturday

Fighter babe Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke (3-0, 1NC) returns to the cage this Saturday for UFC 172 where she will take on Beth Correia (7-0) at the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Tune into the Fox Sports 1 prelims starting at 8pm ET to catch this fight and send your shout outs to Jessamyn on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Invicta FC 5 Revisited

Last week we ventured back to Kansas City for another amazing Invicta FC event. It was great seeing old friends, making new ones and finally meeting others in person for the first time. After catching the weigh-in, fight day could not come soon enough with 26 female warriors ready to make a statement. Invicta FC 5 brought us two title fights, a former Strikeforce champion, a former Bellator champion and plenty of explosive action throughout the night. From a record timing flying armbar submission from Rose Namajunas, back and forth battles including Sarah Kaufmann and Leslie Smith, the smashing return of Cris Cyborg and new Invicta FC champions Barb Honchak and Michelle Waterson. Thanks again to our sponsored fighter Jessamyn Duke regardless of the outcome which is under review and can’t wait to see you back in action. I don’t know how they keep putting on these amazing fight cards but if you haven’t seen one yet don’t miss the next one from Invicta FC! Click here to see more pictures from weigh-in day and click here for more pictures from fight day. For complete Invicta FC 5 fight results see below.

Invicta FC 5 results:

MAIN CARD

• Michelle Waterson def. Jessica Penne via submission (armbar) - Round 4, 2:31 - to win atomweight title

• Barb Honchak def. Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) - to win inaugural flyweight title

• Cristiane Santos def. Fiona Muxlow vs. TKO (strikes) - Round 1, 3:46

• Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Jennifer Maia def. Zoila Frausto Gurgel via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

• Lauren Taylor def. Kaitlin Young via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

• Julia Budd def. Mollie Estes via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 3, 1:04

• Bec Hyatt def. Jasminka Cive via submission (armbar) - Round 1, 3:30

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Simona Soukupova def. Cassie Rodish via submission (guillotine choke) - Round 2, 3:20

• Miriam Nakamoto def. Jessamyn Duke via KO (knee) - Round 1, 2:20

• Katja Kankaanpaa def. Juliana Carnerio Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

• Rose Namajunas def. Kathina Catron via submission (flying armbar) - Round 1, 0:12

• Alexandra Chambers def. Jodie Esquibel via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 1:35

Babes of MMA Sponsored Fighter Jessamyn Duke Ready to Rumble at Invicta FC 5

Fighter babe Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke (2-0) returns to the Invicta FC cage this Friday to rumble with Miriam Nakamoto (1-0). Babes of MMA recently caught up with our newest sponsored fighter Jessamyn Duke prior to the cage doors shutting for the interview below.

How have you been and what's new since we last interviewed you?

-I certainly can’t complain. I’ve been living my dream to the fullest capacity since my last interview with you! My days are filled with training, teaching, and travelling to new places and new gyms getting incredible experiences that are helping me grow as an MMA fighter.

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

-I’ll be fighting on Invicta FC 5, April 5th, at the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City, MO. My opponent is Miriam Nakamoto who is 1-0 in MMA but is an extremely seasoned and dangerous Muay Thai fighter. I said it when my fight was announced and will say it again, but I don’t think the judges are going to be needed in this fight. We are both aggressively styled fighters who love finishing fights.

All the female fighters under the Invicta FC banner rave about it. How has your experience with Invicta been so far?

-Well, I can tell you that they are definitely worthy of all the praise. Not only have they provided an incredible platform for females MMA fighters to compete on and showcase their skills, they’ve truly made it possible for fighters like myself to treat this as a full time job and focus on fighting as a career. When you do that, the standard of training and expectations rise across the board and that is why Invicta has been so successful at developing the women’s divisions and the skill level of female fighters overall.

How was this training camp and did you get to train with anyone special?

-Since signing my contract to fight at IFC 5 I’ve travelled to Minnesota to train with Kaitlin Young, and just recently got back from L.A. to train at Glendale Fighting Club with Ronda Rousey and her team, as well as Eddie Bravo who’s currently teaching out of Tapout Gym. As far as the training out of my home base at the AFS Academy, it couldn’t have been going better. My team is super pumped about my fight as usual and the energy in training is second to none. Even since my last fight at IFC 3 I’ve made HUGE improvements to all aspects of my game!

How did you get your fight nickname “The Gun”?

-In our gym it’s tradition that our coach gives the fighters their nicknames. I ended up with the gun because of my last name. So, everyone knows that John Wayne is known as the Duke. But a lot of people don’t know that the boxer Tommy Morrison is the nephew of John Wayne. In Rocky IV he played Tommy “The Machine” Gunn. So, my coach felt that since my last name was Duke that it was appropriate that my nickname be “The Gun” because of this connection. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked it, but honestly it’s really grown on me. I feel like I’ve kind of embodied it a bit.

Do you have any fight day rituals or superstitions?

-I’m not very superstitious. I prefer to think that I’m the one in control of my fate rather than having it depend on certain things happening. Because anyone that fights will tell you those things very rarely go as smoothly as you hope. It’s important not to over complicate fight day. You are simply there to do what you’ve trained for. The environment changes, but the job doesn’t.

Any predictions on how you see your upcoming fight unfolding?

-One of the things that makes MMA so exciting is the fact that you just never know what’s going to happen once the fight actually starts. Game plans are great, and I certainly have one, but truthfully, it’s really hard to say just how things will unfold. However, I’ll say this; I plan on serving Miriam her first professional loss and walking out of the Invicta FC cage as 3-0.

If you could have one dream fight with anyone, who would it be and why?

-No one in particular. My goals in this sport are to one day be considered the very best on the planet. So, my dream fight would be the one that solidifies me as just that. Whoever, and whenever that may be.

What is your greatest achievement or proudest moment in your fighting career so far?

-Successfully making my pro debut at Invicta FC 2. Not only was I fortunate enough to debut with such an amazing organization, I had an exciting fight against a very tough opponent and came out victorious with a finish.

With the recent big announcement from UFC that TUF 18 will feature ladies bantamweights, will you be trying out?

-Right now, my focus is entirely on IFC 5 and what I need to do on April 5th. Just like every fighter that is eligible for tryouts, it’s definitely on my mind, but I’m not committing to any decisions about it until after my fight.

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-My coach, Scott Elliott, and all of my friends and teammates at the AFS Academy for helping me become the fighter I am today! My family for their support and devotion to helping me become the best fighter in the world. My manager Brett Atchley of ASMM and of course all my amazing sponsors who help make it possible for me to make this a full time job: Polanti Watches, VII AD, Babes of MMA, Outlaw Fight Gear, KLENCH Mouthguards, Horse Power Strength & Conditioning, Intimidation, Dr. Taverni, Hype X-treme, Combatives Gear, Fight Soap, and SWOLE Nutrition!

Thank you very much for your time, proud to be a sponsor and good luck on fight night Jessamyn! For the latest on Jessamyn Duke stop by her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Fighter Babe Jessamyn Duke Makes Her Pro Debut at Invicta FC 2 this Saturday

Fighter babe Jessamyn Duke (0-0) makes her highly anticipated pro MMA debut this Saturday at Invicta FC 2 against Suzie Montero (1-0). We recently caught up with this rising star for the interview below just prior to fight week.

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

-I've been training for six and a half years. I started when I was 19 years old. I joined a local MMA gym for kickboxing classes after I moved to Richmond, KY to go college here. At first I had no desire to compete, but I was totally obsessed with training. I competed in my first grappling tournament after I had only been training for three months. After that experience, I had been "bitten by the bug". I continued to compete in grappling and after a year and a half I had my very first Muay Thai fight. After that I knew that fighting in the ring was for me. Two years later, in 2010, I made my amateur MMA debut.

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

-I train at the AFS Academy in Richmond, KY. A typical training week for me consists of grappling, Muay Thai, and MMA classes on the weeknights, with extra sparring, drilling, and free rolling on the weekends. In between, I have conditioning circuits a couple times a week, weightlifting, sprints, and long runs for endurance. All of these areas of my training are adjusted depending on where I am in my camp at the moment though.

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

-My next fight is July 28th in Kansas City on the Invicta FC 2 card where I'll be making my professional debut. I'll be fighting Suzie Montero who is 1-0.

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

-While winning is an incredible feeling, and I maintain that there is NOTHING else like it, I have to say that my best and worst experiences as a fighter are actually the same thing. I have two losses as an amateur, and that experience did more for me as an athlete, fighter, and a person than anything else I've done in my career. Not only did it produce physical changes, but what was most beneficial were the mental changes. You cannot truly appreciate and understand victory and how to attain it without first experiencing defeat. I am grateful for the lessons I learned in my losses because they have made me ten times the fighter I was.

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

-Find a reputable gym, do your research, and build a solid foundation. Don't train just to fight. Fight as a result of your training.

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?

-There are many obstacles facing women in this sport. The biggest is depth. We need more women fighting so that more experience can be gained at the lower levels. Women struggle to get consistent fights and they often end up in deep waters without enough experience to perform at the fight level. When more and more women begin to fight, the bar will be raised because the competition level will be raised. It’s already happening and you can see the change in quality in female fighters. When that happens, then promotions everywhere start wanting female fights on their card. It all helps women's MMA grow and flourish.

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

-Soon. There is enough interest in female fighters now to have occasional female fights.

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-My coach, Scott Elliott, is the biggest driving force in my life and my career. He expects nothing but the best from me and demands it every day. He believes in me more than anyone else and is committed to helping me achieve my goals of one day becoming the number one ranked female fighter in the world. He was diagnosed with level 4 melanoma when I first joined the gym and I watched him fight it for over a year and win. After seeing that, it really does make you believe that anything is possible and no challenge is too great.

Who are your favorite MMA fighters?

-Kaitlin Young, Cyborg Santos, and GSP are definitely my top three.

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

-I love reading and video games. I'm kind of a nerd sometimes.

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

Are you single?

-Nope, sorry guys! I’ve been in a committed relationship for six years :)

What do you look for in a guy?

-Someone that is committed to being the best at whatever profession they choose, and a guy that isn't afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes in.

What are your turn-ons?

-Guys that are very good at whatever it is that they do

What are your turnoffs?

-Bad hygiene, laziness, and being all bark and no bite.

Any future plans or dreams?

-One day becoming the number one ranked female fighter in the world and then, after that, becoming a great teacher. Right behind my passion for fighting is my passion for teaching.

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-I want to thank all of my sponsors for my upcoming fight! Polanti Watches, Klench Kustome Mouthguards, Vii A.D., Intimidation Fightwear, Goodman Photography, Horsepower Strength and Conditioning, Splitlip Fightwear, Tussle Fightwear, Brawl Base, and Fight Soap.

Thank you very much for the great interview Jessamyn and will look forward to your pro debut this Saturday at Invicta FC 2. For more on Jessamyn please visit her website, Facebook and Twitter pages along with her highlight video on YouTube and her training academy AFS Academy.

Jessamyn Duke's Latest Sexy Photo Shoot

Fighter Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke is back with another sexy photo shoot captured by Paul Goodman Photography. It was also recently announced that Jessamyn will also be making her professional MMA debut against Suzie Montero at Invicta FC 2 on July 28th in Kansas City, KS. For the latest on Jessamyn check out her Facebook and Twitter pages.

Fighter Babes Elaina Maxwell and Jessamyn Duke Back in the Cage Tomorrow

Fighter babes Elaina Maxwell (top) and Jessamyn Duke (bottom) return to the cage tomorrow at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 2 at the Kearney Viaero Event Center in Kearney, NE. Catch Elaina Maxwell (6-4) take on Ashley Sanchez (4-2) and Jessamyn Duke (4-2) against Elizabeth Phillips (1-0) in Kearney or streamed live on Sherdog.com beginning at 8 p.m. EST. Say hello to the ladies on Twitter @elainamaxwell and @jessamynduke.

Fighter Babe Jessamyn Duke Back in Action Saturday

Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke (4-2) returns to the cage Saturday to take on Chandra Engel (7-7) at Absolute Action MMA: Resurrection at Sports of All Sorts in Florence, KY. If you can't make it in person catch it live on PPV here. Say hello to Jessamyn on Facebook and on Twitter @jessamynduke.

MMA30 Catches up with the Ladies of MMA

MMA30 and FightZone TV recently caught up with some of the ladies of MMA including Jessamyn Duke, Stephanie Ann Cook, Chandella Powell, Arianny Celeste and more.  This video is a little longer than we usually share but well worth the time spent with these beautiful ladies of MMA.

New Fighter Babe Champions Jessamyn Duke and Glena Avila

Yesterday two talented amateur fighter babes became title holders.  Jessamyn "The Gun" Duke (top) claimed her first title by defeating Sarah Cook at the Absolute Action MMA event in Florence, KY via rear naked choke at 0:52 of the first round.  Glena "Heartless" Avila (bottom) defeated Brittany Anic via unanimous decision to become the Shamrock MMA amateur champion.

Stephanie Squared Plus Jessamyn Equals MMA Babe Overload

Tuff-N-Uff MMA returns to the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Friday.  Both ring babes Stephanie Ann Cook and Stephanie Lee will be on hand gracing the ring and Muay Thai fighter Jessamyn Duke will be on the fight card.  Keep your eye on all three of these ladies in 2011 for big things to come.  Thanks to Joe Pic Photography for his work at these events including the middle picture above.