And the choices? Big bucks if you fight to the death in MMA or you could win a Beauty Contest Crown
They say the first official female MMA fight in the United States took place in 1997 and ever since that time it’s been gaining in popularity. Since the sport is still in it’s infancy, perhaps which should be instituting more and more safeguards to protect these ladies. At the very first sign that those eyes go shut, that referee needs to ready to yell or pounce on that opposing fighter to stop the onslaught of further blows. With so many ladies now wanting to make their mark in the sport, we just can not afford to end up with another serious injury or death as was the case recently. Some people want to completely revolutionized this world of female fighting while others realize how popular it has become.
As we often do, we’ll begin our salute to the female standouts of MMA by first mentioning those fighters closest to home like Carla Esparsa from Redondo Beach.
MMA standout Carla Esparza (born October 10, 1987) record (18-6) now competes in the Straw-weight division of the UFC. After being the first Invicta Straw Weight Title holder she moved on to be the first UFC Champion. She earned the title by winning a 16-woman tournament which aired on the reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter. She’s also competed in Bellator. As of this date she’s #2 in the UFC Straw Weight Rankings and #8 in their Pound for Pound Rankings.
You talk about people who need no introduction, this is that lady, movie star Rhonda Rousey who’s domination in the sport had a lot to do with her many Armbar submissions. One Armbar submission over Cat Zingano took only 14 seconds.
The now 35-year-old Miesha Tate (19-8, 4 KOs) of Tacoma, Washington fought for the UFC in Las Vegas, Nevada. She’s another of the young ladies who made her name battling Rhonda Rousey. Tate was the first fighter to escape Ronda Rousey’s armbar on multiple occasions. Tate and her MMA fighter mate Johnny Nunez had two adorable children, the daughter Amaia first, on June 4, 2018 followed by a son, Daxton Wylder Nunez on June 14, 2020.
The one of a kind Amanda Nunes
The 33-year-old Nunes, born on May 30, 1988 in Pojuca, Brazil, as of March 6, 2021 has a total of 21 wins, 13 of those wins were won by either KO or TKO, four by submission and four by decision. Her list of UFC victims includes: Holly Holm, Cristiane Justino Cyborg, Raquel Pennington, Rhonda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Germaine de Randamie, and Sheila Gaff. Nunes has four other victories by submission and four more by decision.
Nunes last experienced a defeat, a TKO loss to Cat Zingano at UFC 178 on September 27, 2014. And as far as sub-minute stoppages on the Nunes resume, she has two of which took place inside the Octagon. She struck down Rhonda Rousey with punches in 48 seconds at UFC 207 on Dec. 30, 2016 and punched out Cristiane Justino Cyborg in just 51 seconds at UFC 232 on Dec. 29, 2018. Nunes was also successful in racking up first-round victories over every women’s bantamweight and featherweight champion.
(beginning, top left) The Undisputed Champion with her family celebrating Halloween, and then a photo with her marvelous mates at the home gym, (below) Family treat at Disneyland followed by (bottom right) a climb up this hill with one of the many Championship Belts.
Amanda Nunes (21-4) competed both as a Bantamweight and a Featherweight
Exceptional accomplishments: Third Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Double-Champion and the First Fighter in UFC History to defend two belts at the same time. She currently has the most wins in UFC History amongst the women, plus she’s a five time winner of the UFC’s highly regarded “Performance of the Night” accomodation.
The Belts she presently holds: Women’s Bantamweight & Featherweight UFC Titles
Title Defenses made: 7
Nunes has simply demolished the ladies within those two weight divisions. How long will her reign last? Not one person has ventured a guess.
