It was a day of upsets and close matches as new ADCC World Champions where crowned.
Highlighting what was a spectacular year was Mackenzie Dern, who faced 2013 champion Michelle Nicolini in a hard fought match in the finals. They ended the match ties, but a penalty point for Nicolini sealed the win for Dern who wins her first under 60kg ADCC World title. This was the first time an American has won the title.
Dern defeated Beatriz Mesquita by points in the semi-finals. Nicolini defeated Tammy Musucemi in the other under 60kg semi-final.
Musucemi would get the rear naked choke over Mesquita to take the bronze.
Ana Laura Cordeiro became the new 2015 over 60kg champ defeating Jessica Oliveira by points in the finals.
2013 champion Gracia got upset in the semi-finals, losing to Oliveira. Garcia would gain the bronze via referee’s decision over Amanda Santana.
Here are the complete results:
Under 60kg
Finals
Mackenzie Dern def. Michelle Nicolini via points, 4-4 (1 penalty for Nicolini)
Bronze Medal Match
Tammy Musucemi def. Beatriz Mesquita via rear naked choke
Semi-finals
Michelle Nicolini def. Tammy Musucemi
Mackenzie Dern def. Beatriz Mesquita via points
Over 60kg
Finals
Ana Laura Cordeiro def. Jessica Oliveira via points
Bronze medal match
Gabi Garcia def. Amanda Santana via referee decision
Semi-finals
Jessica Oliveira def. Gabi Garcia via referee decision
Day one of the ADCC grappling championships saw both 2013 champions advance.
Michelle Nicolini is one step closer to a repeat as she got the tap over Japan’s Rikako Yuasa in the opening match of the under 60 kg tournament. Mackenzie Dern was able to get a tap via toehold over Norway’s Kethe Engen. Team USA’s Tammi Masumeci upset Brazil’s Ana Michelle Tavares by points to make her way to the semi-finals, while Brazil’s Beatriz Mesquita armbarred fellow Brazilian Mayra Mazza to complete the quarterfinals.
Two time champ Gabrielle Garcia made her way into the semi-finals, as did fellow Brazilian Ana Lauta Cordeiro. US phenom Amanda Santana got a decision win to make her way into the semi-finals. In an upset, 2013 runner up Marysia Malyjasiak was defeated by Brazilian Jessica Oliveira.
Day two will see the semi-finals and finals.
Day 1 Results
Under 60kg
Michelle Nicolini def. Rikako Yuasa via submission
Tammi Masumeci def. Ana Michelle Tavares via points
Mackenzie Dern def. Kethe Engen via toehold
Beatriz Mesquita def. Mayra Mazza via armbar
Over 60kg
Gabrielle Garcia def. Alison Tremblay by armbar
Jessica Oliveira def. Marysia Malyjasiak via points
In action Thursday at Circuito de Lutas Fight Night in Brazil, Arielle Souza submitted Graziele Ricotta by triangle choke 4:25 round 2.
Rakoczy Courtesy UFC
We have been getting a lot of questions about TUF 18 finalist Jessica Rakoczy and we got some answers for you.
Shannon Reid talked to her this week and gave us an update. She is back in Hamilton, Canada with family and is still training. She is hoping to be back in the cage soon.
She relayed a message to her fans that she thanks them for their support.
The Ultimate Fighter 20 finale has a date and location officially.
It was announced the card would be December 12 at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. The main event will crown the first ever UFC strawweight champion. It won’t be an all female card as they just booked a male bout for the card.
It will air on Fox Sports 1.
Nicollini
Multi-time world BJJ champion Michelle Nicolini will make her U.S. MMA debut against InvictaFC vet Norma Rueda Center at Legacy FC 36 in Allen, TX October 17.
Nicolini (2-0) won the ADCC Submission grappling world championships as well as a seven time BJJ world champion. She has finished both of her MMA opponents by first round armbars.
Center (2-1) was a collegiate wrestler and currently trains at the legendary Jackson/Winkeljohn’s MMA in Albuquerque, NM. Going undefeated as an amateur, she lost a decision at InvictaFC 6 to TUF 20 competitor Joanne Calderwood.
The fight is expected to air on AXS TV October 17.
Angelica Chavez versus Natalie Roy will also be on the card.
Coming off a win over Ana Julaton, Ann Osman will return to action at OneFC’s card in Kuala Lumpur against Egypt’s Aya Saeid Saber.
Malaysia’s Osmond (1-1) got her first win in a close split decision with Julaton last month. She started with a split decision loss.
Saber (2-4) lost to Julaton in both fighter’s promotional debuts.
Super Fight League’s US debut will be in Tacoma, WA October 4 and will feature a veteran of the promotion.
SFL flyweight champion Colleen Schneider will face Marion Reneau in a non-title bantamweight bout. Schneider (5-5) went 3-0 for the India based promotion, defeating Sanja Sucevic for the title. She was on a four fight win streak before losing to DeAnna Bennett in June.
Reneau (4-1) has finished in all of her wins and is one of the hot prospects in the bantamweight division.
Danielle Taylor is looking for her 4th straight win taking on Maria Andaverde October 2nd at King of the Cage in Highland, CA.
Taylor (3-0) went 5-1 as an amateur and has two finishes as a pro. She has wins over Jillian Lybarger and Nikki Lowe.
Andaverde (1-2) is looking to even her pro record after going 4-4 as an amateur.
The match will be taped for broadcast at a later date.
Fightstar MMA out of South Africa will have a female bout on their October 25th card.
Namibia’s Iris Rodrigues, who is coming off a win over Santa-Marie Venter, will take on MMA debuter Shana Power.
Four amateur strawweight prospects will be in action on November 8 at Conflict MMA.
Alexa Conners (4-1) will face Alyssa Vasquez (6-3) and Andy Nguyen (6-10) will battle Charity Walker (4-2).
No word on if the card will be streamed.
World Series of Fighting champion Jessica Aguilar will be back in action November 15. No word yet on an opponent or a location. The match will air on NBC Sports Net.
For those interested, it will be Aguilar’s third fight on her four fight contract with the promotion. Aguilar has the option of leaving WSOF if she is still champion after her contract expires.
Spaniard Minerva Montero has inked a five fight deal with Cage Warriors.
Montero (1-1) is expected to drop to bantamweight for her promotional debut. No word on when that will be.
Japanese standout Satoko Shinashi will return after a six year absence to fight at DEEP October 26 in Tokyo.
Shinashi (29-2-2) has 20 wins by armbar and 23 submissions overall. She took some time off to have a family, but with a growing atomweight division, which is more of a natural weight class for her, it is expected she will make an immediate impact with a win.
MMA Super Heroes will crown an atomweight champion on their next card. More info about participants, location, and date coming soon.
The International MMA Federation announced they inked a three year deal with the Fight Network to air their annual amateur tournaments. Their first was this year happened during the UFC Expo in Vegas and will be the first to air on the network.
The tournaments bring talent from all over the world to help establish an universal amateur circuit and to help get MMA into the Olympics.
The awarding winning documentary “Glena” that followed Portland’s Glena Avila through the trials and tribulations of being a single mom and a MMA fighter will air on Showtime this month. It will air September 25 and will be available on demand September 26.
The UFC did a great feature on Cat Zingano ahead of her match with Amanda Nunes. You can watch it here.
MMA Somnia is running a contest giving away pairs of boon boxing gloves. You can enter here.
Rumors
Word is Gina Carano wants to drop to 135 to fight Ronda Rousey.
Ronda Rousey told reporters in Brazil she wants to face Bethe Correia in Brazil. She also is leaning toward Cat Zingano as the next contender for her title, and wants to defend her title on the January 3 card in Vegas.
Scheduled Fights
Pro MMA
Japanese sensation Rin Nakai will make her UFC debut early Saturday morning ass she takes on fan favorite Miesha Tate in Tokyo, Japan. Both came in on weight for their battle.
Nakai (16-0-1) has wins over InvictaFC vets Tara LaRosa and Sarah D’alelio. She has six submissions to her credit and is trained in judo.
Tate (14-5) is coming off a win over Liz Carmouche earlier this year after back to back losses.
The fight will air on UFC Fight Pass starting at 12:30 a.m. pst/3:30 a.m. est on the the main card of the event. Follow us on twitter @WombatSports for updates.
In other pro bouts:
At Combat Xtreme in Las Lunas, New Mexico, Angelica Chavez takes on Stephanie Skinner
Jessy Miele battles Cassie Crisano at Premier FC 17 in Worcester, Massachusetts. In an amateur bout, Sarah Payant faces Sarah Click
At Circuito Talent 13 in Campinas, Brazil, Livia Renata Souza fights Camila Pitbull
Rachel Sazoff and Allison Haynes square off at PA Cage Fight 19 in Pennsylvania
At KOTC in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Leah Letson takes on Moriel Charneski
Suvi Salmimies will faces Roksana Prucnal at Lappeenranta Fight Night in Kuopio, Finland. In amateur bouts, Tinja Lesonen battles Heli Siltala and Johanna Toivanen squares off with Inka Auvinen
At the Hill Fighters 3 in Brazil, Elen Torres faces Chayani Mendes
Evva Johnson battles Priscilla Brownfield at Hardrock MMA in Somerset, Kentucky. In amateur action, Gina Begley takes on Ashley Rickard
At Prestige FC in Ft. McMurray, Canada, Sarah Mcrann battles Fairlynn Smallchild
Jenna Serio squares off with Jill Valenzuela at Ring of Combat in Atlantic City, NJ
At GFA Fights in Bossier City, Louisiana, Andrea Lee faces Kim Colbert. In an amteur bout, Candice Maricle battles Jessica Tidwell
Michelle Platenik takes on Nayara Hemily, Fatality Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ammy MMA
In amateur action:
At NAFC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jennifer D’Acquisto takes on Rashelle Cook
Jessica McNeil faces Gemma Sheeman at Heroes Combat League in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
At AFL in Atlantic City, New Jersey Charmaine Rosario battles Jillian Mulderig
Elizabeth Rodriguez squires off with Aiko Ewing Mosley MMA in Pomona, California
At Defiant FC in Midland, Texas, Sanaz Khamisi fights Megan Runnels and Yuri Medina faces Trinity Williams
Wombat Sports 