Future Star – Yanida Driscoll

Girls competing in combat sports isn’t only in the United States.

Europe continues to see more and more girls looking to make fighting a career. Great Britain’s Yanida Driscoll is no exception. The 11 year old has already won titles in kickboxing not only locally but in Europe. Her latest being WFMC British Ring Kickboxing Champion.

Training at Impact Karate just north of London, she is a black belt under Grant Nicholls.

Frausto vs. Graf Announced for Glory Kickboxing 33

The third quarterfinal match in the Glory Kickboxing Bantamweight (122 pound) tournament.

Bellator MMA tournament champion Zoila Frausto (4-0 kickboxing;) will face Germany’s Daniela Graf (23-5-1 kickboxing/Muay Thai) in Trenton New Jersey on the promotion’s 33rd card September 9th. Glory announced the match Friday night.

IMMAF Crowns 2016 World Champions

Aleksandra Toncheva

Four fighters took home gold medals at the IMMAF World Championships Sunday in Las Vegas.

Coming off her 2015 IMMAF European strawweight title, Bulgarian Aleksandra Toncheva adds the IMMAF World title to her resume defeating Poland’s Aleksandra Rola by armbar in round 1. She also remains undefeated at 6-0, having only started fighting in November of last year.

New Reserve Bout Announced for Glory Women’s Tournament

Vanessa De Waele

With Irina Mazepa taking Iman Barlow’s place in the Glory Grand Prix, a new reserve bout has been put together and will happen at Glory 32 in Norfolk, Virginia July 22.

Belgium’s Vanessa De Waele and Turkey’s Funda Alkayis (28-2, 12 KO) will square off to see who will replace an injured fighter in the tournament.

The second quarterfinal will take place at Glory 31 between Netherland’s Isis Verbeek and Russia’s Mazepa in Amsterdam June 25th.

Both fights will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.

Wombat Watercooler – Damm vs. Alpar; MacFarlane vs. Ruth Announced

Carina Damm has an opponent for her TitanFC debut.

Sarah Alpar has stepped up to take on the long time vet at the promotion’s June 10th event in Coral Gables, Florida. It will stream on UFC Fight Pass.

Watercooler: InvictaFC 17 Changes; UFC Gets Flyweight Bout

InvictaFC 17 loses a bout, but gains a new fighter.

Mizuki has dropped out of her match with Aline Serio due to injury, so Kaline Medeiros has stepped up to take her place. Medeiros (6-4) has a KO of the Year win over Stephanie Eggink, and has a kimura win over Sarah Payant in her Bellator bout last year. The fight is still announced at strawweight.

Julia Jones is out of her InvictaFC debut against Tessa Simpson due to injury, so the match has been scrapped.

We will have a primer for InvictaFC 17 shortly after weigh-ins on Friday.

Tiffany VanSoest Signs with Invicta; Glory Kickboxing

One of the top stars of Muay Thai will look to dominate two sports at once.

It was announced this week Lion Fights champion Tiffany Van Soest has signed contracts with two UFC Fight Pass staples, InvictaFC and Glory Kickboxing.

Lynn Le Updates us on Society Nine as it Makes its World TV debut

Over two years ago, Lynn Le had a vision: to make female fight gear that actual fit and was more reliable.

Le soon began her journey giving creation to Society Nine, a company that will change the combat sports world as a whole. Her kickstarter found huge support, garnered her some awards, and got needed funding to get started.

It wasn’t easy though. Pressure to deliver a completed and well working product is a monumental task. Le and the company had to deal with delays due to find more appropriate vendors for materials, dealing with factories that need to manufacture the products just right, and finally getting the gear in the hands of the individuals who paid good money for a high quality product. Society Nine was able to pull through the hurdles and deliver their product as promised.

Awakening Fighters Announce 2015 Nominees; Wombat Sports up for Three Awards

The Awakening Fighter Awards are entering its third year.

The website, which covers the female ends of Muay Thai and MMA, asked the community to recommend nominees the past few weeks and on Christmas Eve, they announced the official voting list.

Wombat Sports is up for two MMA Awards (Journalist and Website), and one Muay Thai (Website).

UFC champions Holly Holm and Joanna Jędrzejczyk and InvictaFC star Andrea Lee are tied for the most MMA nominations with six. 19 Awards will be given away total for MMA.

On the Muay Thai side, Lion Fights champion Tiffany Van Soest and Sammy-Jo Luxton are tied with five nominations. 13 Muay Thai Awards will be handed out.

You can vote for your favorites here:

MMA – http://www.awakeningfighters.com/awards/wmma-awards-2015/

Muay Thai –  http://www.awakeningfighters.com/awards/muay-thai-awards-2015/

Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez vs. Hadley Griffith Added to Dynamite

Griffith

Melendez

After signing with Bellator a few months ago, Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez was also announced to be on the GLORY portion of the upcoming Dynamtie Supercard. Tuesday they announced her opponent.

Pro debuter Hadley Griffith will step up to take on Melendez at the Bellator/GLORY co-promotion September 19th in San Jose. The fight will take place at 120 pounds.

Wife of UFC star Gilbert Melendez , Taylor (2-1) is returning to action after several year off in kickboixing. Griffin has had an extensive amateur background in MMA and kickboxing and looks to make an impact.

The fight will air on Spike TV September 19th.

2015 IFMA Women’s Muay Thai Tournament Results/Schedule

Antonina Shevchenko

Some of the world’s best Muay Thai specialists have converged in Bangkok, Thailand for the IFMA Royal Cup tournament. The 4th event sees over a hundred female fighters from a few dozen countries to see who will stand atop the world stage.

We are obtaining results as they become available, with the IFMA posting schedules on their site daily.

You can see day 1 and day 2 results here.

(Results are in green)

---

Day 3 

45kg/99 lbs.

• Yasemin Comert (Turkey) def. Ramesh Rashi (India)
•  Alena Liashkevich (Belarus) def. Vera Negodina (Russia) 
• Pia Urpulahti (Finland) def. Louise Fuller (New Zealand) by TKO round 3 
• Konklak Suphisara (Thailand) def. Wu Hoi Yan (Hong Kong) by points

54kg/119 lbs

• Aho Andra (Estonia)  def. Christy Demosthenous (Cyprus) by decision
• Hoi Lan Tsang (Hong Kong) def. Hailey Kallio by points (France)
•  Sofia Olofsson (Sweden) def. Sveva Melillo (Italy) 
•  Likittrakul Sopapan (Thailand)  def. Natalia Diachkova (Russia) by points

60kg/132 lbs. Quarterfinals

• Mariya Valent (Belarus) def. Ekaterina Vinnikova (Russia)
•  Sandra Bengtsson (Sweden) def. Jennifer Guerrero (USA) by decision
• Anke Van Gestel (Belgium) def. Sandra Brew (Australia)
• Valentina Shevchenko (Peru) def. Nili Block (Israel)

71kg/156.5 lbs

• Steph Glew (Australia) def. Helena Jurisic (Croatia) by decision
• Elina Nilsson (Sweden) def. Tas Ayse (Turkey) by TKO round 2
• Anna Tarasova (Russia) def. Pia Raita (Finland) by points
• Tana Te Huia Aroha Lee (New Zealand) def. Diana Rogozina (Estonia)  

---

Day 4 

48kg/106 lbs

• Akarsu Gizem (Turkey) def. Camilla Danielsson (Sweden)  
• Thanh Truc Nguyen Thi (Vietnam) def. Fanny Ramos (France) by TKO round 1
• Tessa Kakkonen (Finland) def. Diana Metzger (USA) by TKO round 1
• Hanphan Rattanaphon (Thailand) def. Renata Shvets (Ukraine)

57kg/126 lbs

• Miriam Tio (New Zealand) def. Marisa Pires (Portugal)
• Evelina Wikner (Sweden) def. Janice Lyn (Canada)
• Yolanda Schmidt (Australia) def. Alesia Klimavets (Belarus) by decision
• Katia Semail (France) def. Iana Dunaeva (Russia)  

63.5kg/140 lbs

• Aleide Lawant (Netherlands) def. Melissa Almeida (Canada) by forfeit
• Melissa Anderson (Australia) def. Nora Cornolle (France)
• Antonina Shevchenko (Peru) def. Naili Soukaina (Morocco) by TKO round 1
• Svetlana Vinnikova (Russia) def. Jarvenpaa Riikka (Finland) by points 

Junior 32kg/70.5 lbs Championship

• Hailey Delfs (Australia) vs. Suni Dangchaiyapoom (Thailand)

Junior 48kg/106 lbs. Quarterfinal

• Emily Curtain (Australia) def. Sobsoda Pakamart (Thailand) by decision

Junior 51kg/112.5 lbs Quarterfinal

• Dakota Ditcheva (England) def. Iong Kam Teng (Macau) by TKO round 1

Junior 54kg/119 lbs. Quarterfinals

• Ekaterina Popova (Russia) vs. Busra Korkut (Turkey)
• Nattana Tanawatpopat (Thailand) vs. Claudia Sendlak (Sweden)

---

Day 5

51kg/113 lbs

• Parita Padpho (Thailand) def. Valeriya Drozdova (Russia)  
• Kristan Armstrong (Australia) def. Janet Coakley Todd (USA)  
• Myriame Djedidi (France) def. Ranes Arlyn (Philippines)  
• Therese Gunnarsson (Sweden) def. Sanne Strabbing (Netherlands) 

67kg/148 lbs.

• Elena Kolesnik (Ukraine) def. Tacyildiz Bediha (Turkey)  
• Anastasia Nepianidi (Russia) def. Joana Neumann (Germany)
• Melody Downs (New Zealand) def. Angelique Pitiot (France)
•  Isa Tidblad Keskikangas (Sweden) def. Kayleigh McGregor (England) 

75kg/165 lbs.

• Anna Strandberg (Sweden) def. Christine  Doyle (Canada)  
• lvas Andreja (Croatia) def. Tess Haami (New Zealand) 
• Irina Larionova (Russia) def. Renata Tataharu (Brazil)  
• Laressa Van Emden (Finland) def. Melisa Melina Castillo (Argentina) 

---

Day 6 

Junior (11-12) 38 kg/84 lbs Finals

• Taosuwan Pattarawan (Thailand) vs. Nadya lndah Royani (Indonesia)

Junior 34 kg/75 lbs Finals 

• Plahova Lyubov (Russia) vs. Samphao Suwanna (Thailand)

Junior 36kg/79 lbs Finals

• Macharean Kewalin (Thailand) def. Sofia Bahtereva (Russia) 

Junior (12-13) 38kg/84lbs Finals

• Damplao Ketkanok (Thailand) vs. Alicia Smith (Australia)

 Junior 46kg/101.5 lbs Finals

• Lungphon Napat (Thailand) vs. Kristina Koksharova (Russia)

Junior 56kg/123.5 lbs Finals

• Crystal Cook (New Zealand) def. Guirey Chloe (England)

Junior 57kg/126lbs Finals

• Marja Paula Buzaglo (Peru) def. ????

45kg/99 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Alena Liashkevich (Belarus) def. Yasemin Comert (Turkey) 
• Konklak Suphisara (Thailand) def. Pia Urpulahti (Finland)  

48kg/106 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Thanh Truc Nguyen Thi (Vietnam) def. Akarsu Gizem (Turkey) 
• Hanphan Rattanaphc (Thailand) def. Tessa Kakkonen (Finland)

51kg/112.5 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Parista Padpho (Thailand) def. Kristan Armstrong (Australia)
• Myriame Djedidi (France) def. Therese Gunnarsson (Sweden)  

54kg/119 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Andra Aho (Estonia) def. Hoi Lan Tsang (Hong Kong)
• Sofia Olofsson (Sweden) def. Likittrakul Sopapan (Thailand)

57kg/ 126 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Evelina Wikner (Sweden) def. Miriam Tio (New Zealand)  
• Katia Semail (France) def. Yolanda Schmidt (Australia) 

60 kg/132 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Mariya Valent (Belarus) def. Sandra Bengtsson (Sweden)
• Valentina Shevchenko (Peru) def.  Anke Van Gestel (Belgium) by TKO round 1

63 kg/139 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Melissa Anderson (Australia) def. Aleide Lawant (Netherlands)  
• Antonina Shevchenko (Peru) def. Svetlana Vinnikova (Russia)

67 kg/148 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Anastasiia Nepianidi (Russia) def. Elenea Kolesnik (Ukraine)
• Isa Tidblad Keskikangas (Sweden) def. Melody Downs (New Zealand)

71 kg/156.5 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Steph Glew (Australia) def. Elina Nilsson (Sweden)
• Anna Tarasova (Russia) def. Tana Te Huia Aroha Lee (New Zealand)

75kg/165.5 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Andreja Ivas (Croatia) def. Anna Strandberg (Sweden) 
• Laressa Van Emden (Finland) def. Irina Larionova (Russia)

---

Day 7

45kg/99 lbs Finals 

• Konklak Suphisara (Thailand)  vs. Alena Liashkevich (Belarus)

45kg/99 lbs Consolation 

• Tessa Kakkonen (Finland) def. Akarsu Gizem (Turkey)

48kg/106 lbs Finals 

• Hanphan Rattanaphc (Thailand) vs. Thanh Truc Nguyen Thi (Vietnam)

48kg/106 lbs Consolation 

• Pia Urpulahti (Finland) def.asemin Comerty (Turkey)

51kg/112.5 lbs Finals 

• Parista Padpho (Thailand) def. Myriame Djedidi (France)  

51kg/112.5 lbs Consolation

• Therese Gunnarsson (Sweden) vs. Kristan Armstrong (Australia)

54kg/119 lbs Finals 

• Sofia Olofsson (Sweden) def. Andra Aho (Estonia) 

54kg/119 lbs Consolation 

• Hoi Lan Tsang (Hong Kong) vs. Likittrakul Sopapan (Thailand)

57kg/ 126 lbs Finals 

• Katia Semail (France) def. Evelina Wikner (Sweden) 

57kg/ 126 lbs Consolation

• Yolanda Schmidt (Australia) def. Miriam Tio (New Zealand)

60 kg/132 lbs Finals 

• Valentina Shevchenko (Peru) def. Mariya Valent (Belarus)

60 kg/132 lbs Consolation

• Anke Van Gestel (Belgium) vs. Sandra Bengtsson (Sweden)

63 kg/139 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Melissa Anderson (Australia) def. Antonina Shevchenko (Peru) (Doctors wuldn’t clear Shevchenko due to foot injury)

63 kg/139 lbs Consolation

• Aleide Lawant (Netherlands) vs. Svetlana Vinnikova (Russia)

67 kg/148 lbs Finals 

• Anastasiia Nepianidi (Russia) def. Isa Tidblad Keskikangas (Sweden) 

67 kg/148 lbs Consolation

• Melody Downs (New Zealand) vs. Elenea Kolesnik (Ukraine)

71 kg/156.5 lbs Finals 

• Steph Glew (Australia) def. Anna Tarasova (Russia) 

71 kg/156.5 lbs Consolation

• Elina Nilsson (Sweden) def. Tana Te Huia Aroha Lee (New Zealand)

75kg/165.5 lbs Semi-Finals 

• Laressa Van Emden (Finland) def. Andreja Ivas (Croatia)

75kg/165.5 lbs Consolation

• Irina Larionova (Russia) vs. Anna Strandberg (Sweden)

IFMA Women’s World Muay Thai Championships Day 1 and 2 Results

Shevchenko

Some of the world’s best Muay Thai specialists are in the home country of the sport to see who will stand atop the mountain.

The IFMA tournament will take place over the next two weeks with fighters from over a could dozen countries traveling to Thailand. Some big names in women’s Muay Thai including Valentina Shevchenko and Anke Van Getsel.

The first 2 days of the tournament has seen some great action, with some of the bouts being streamed live at Channel.theworldgames.org.

Below are the results so far. We will continue to get results posted as they become available. Tournament ends August 23rd.

---

Day 1 Results

48 kg/106 lbs

• Tessa Kakkonen (Finland) def. Jill Campart (Switzerland) by TKO Round 1
• Renata Shvets (Ukraine) def. Galina Popova (Russia) by decision
• Nongnaen (Hanphan Rattanaphon) (Thailand) def. Anastasiya Kalashnikava (Belarus) by TKO round 2

54kg/119 lbs

• Sveva Melillo (Italy) def. Mengjing Wang (China) by decision
• Sofia Olofsson (Sweden) def. Alena Mishchuk (Belarus) by TKO round 1
• Natalia Diachkova (Russia) def. Akar Dilek (Turkey) by decision
• Namtarn (Likittrakul Sopapan) (Thailand) def. Sarah Rankin (Australia) by decision

57kg/126 lbs

• Yolanda Schmidt (Australia) def. Chommanee (Teahiran Yadrung) (Thialand) by points

60kg/132 lbs.

• Mariya Valent (Belarus) def. Hong Nga Truong Thi (Vietnam) by TKO round 2
• Ekaterina Vinnikova (Russia) def. Jinin Li (China)  by decision
• Jennifer Guerrero (USA) def. Jade Taylor (England) by decision
• Sandra Bengtsson (Sweden) def. Nina Scheucher (Austria) by decision
• Anke Van Gestel (Belgium) def. Kaya Sumran (Turkey) by decision
• Sandra Brew (Australia) def. NongKiff (Tabtrai Kesinee) (Thailand) by decision
• Nili Block (Israel) def. Jacqueline De Beer (South Africa) by TKO round 3
• Valentina Shevchenko (Peru) def. Kaoutar Houkman (Morocco) by decision

75kg/165 lbs

• Laressa Van Emden (Finland) def.  Haddoubi Soukaina (Morocco) by decision

67kg/148 lbs

• Kayleigh Mcgregor (England) def. Duannapha Mor Rattana Bundit (Panumat Thanthawa) (Thailand) by points

---

Day 2 Results

51kg/113 lbs

• Kristan Armstrong (Australia) def. Phetsangkhat Mirka (Finland) by decision
• Janet Coakley Todd (USA)  def. Barbara Bontempi (Italy) by decision
• Ranes Arlyn (Philippines) def. Naryanaswamy Tejashwini (India) by TKO round 1
• Myriame Djedidi (France) def. Nina Schumacher (Germany) by decision
• Sanne Strabbing (Netherlands) def. Rinda Apti Masriani (Indonesia) round 2
•  Therese Gunnarsson (Sweden) def. Ashleigh Ahipene (New Zealand) by decision

57kg/126 lbs

• Alesia Klimavets (Belarus) def. Christin Fiedler (Austria) by decision
• Yolanda Schmidt (Australia) def. Teah Iran Yadrung (Thailand) by decision
• Iana Dunaeva (Russia) def. Luna Tobin Berger (Peru) by decision
• Katia Semail (France) def. Anastasiia Sharmonova (Ukraine)  by decision

63.5/140 lbs

• Riikka  Jarvenpaa (Finland) def. Aliaksandra Sitnikava (Belarus) by decision
•  Svetlana Vinnikova (Russia) def. Erica Bjornestrand (Sweden)  by decision

---

Day 3 Schedule

60kg/132 lbs. Quarterfinals

• Mariya Valent (Belarus) vs. Ekaterina Vinnikova (Russia)
• Jennifer Guerrero (USA) vs. Sandra Bengtsson (Sweden)
• Anke Van Gestel (Belgium) vs. Sandra Brew (Australia)
• Nili Block (Israel) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (Peru)

71kg/156.5 lbs

• Steph Glew (Australia) vs. Helena Jurisic (Croatia)
• Tas Ayse (Turkey) vs. Elina Nilsson (Sweden)
• Anna Tarasova (Russia) vs. Pia Raita (Finland)
• Diana Rogozina (Estonia) vs. Tana Te Huia Aroha Lee (New Zealand)