World boxing champion Heather Hardy is heading to MMA.
Hardy decided to crossover and has inked a deal with InvictaFC. She announced the signing via Ring TV. Ironically it was the new insurance plan for fighters under MMA legalization in home state of New York that drove her to the decision. She is still expecting to box along with her MMA career.
Hardy (18-0; 1NC) is the current WBC International Featherweight champion, with her match with Shelly Vincent airing on NBC Sports Net this past fall to rave reviews. Similar to fellow boxing champ Holly Holm, she comes from a kickboxing background. She was spotted training her ground and MMA game at Serra/Long’s gym on Long Island this past summer.
The single mom will make her MMA debut at invictaFC 21 tentatively set for January 14th. Her opponent is yet to be determined. She fights at 126 pounds in boxing, but no word on what weight class he will fight at in MMA.
Also making her InvictaFC debut January 14th is Celine Haga. The atomweight vet has signed a 4-fight contract with Invicta FC.
Haga went from a 1-12 record to go on a 8-2 run, which includes a current four fight win streak.
No word on who will face the Jackson/Winkeljohn fighter.
You can read more about Haga here.
Colleen Schneider has signed with Bellator. The former InvictaFC title challenger announced Tuesday she signed a multi-fight deal with the promotion.
Schenider (10-7) went on a four fight run at bantamweight to challenge champion Tonya Evinger for the InvictaFC bantamweight title this past May. She would lose a decision.
Bellator is developing their flyweight division, something the former Super Fight League champion is well familiar with. Fellow InvictaFC vet Sarah D’Aelio will be fighting for Bellator this Friday.
Schenider will be making her promotional debut January 21 at Bellator 170. No word on an opponent.
As we announced this past week, Miesha Tate won’t have much down time in her retirement as she takes on Jessica Eye at Submission Underground December 11th in Portland, Oregon. The grappling match will stream on FloGrappling.com.
The main event will be Jon Jones versus Dan Henderson.
After her win over Charlene Watt this past weekend, Rin Nakai has accepted the challenge of nation wrestling champion turned MMA fighter Kanako Murata on Rizin’s New Years Eve card in Tokyo, Japan.
This joins Miyuu Yamamoto taking on Legacy champion Andy Nguyen on the bill. Three more bouts are expected to be announce in the coming weeks whoch will feature Gabi Garcia, Rena Kubota, and Kanna Asakura.
After making waves at Invicta, Ariel Beck will return to action at Legacy’s last card as she faces Kathina Lowe in Tulsa, Oklahoma December 2nd, which will air on AXS TV.
Wombat Sports 