115lb to Debut at UFC Fight Night: 45

It seems that the 115ers will be making their way into the Octagon before the end of TUF 20. Number 3 in the division Claudia Gadelha (11-0), who I think should be ranked 1st, will be stepping into the cage opposite Finland's Tina Lahdemaki (5-0). The question many casual fans may have, is why is Claudia not competing on TUF if she is so good? The answer, is that Nova Uniao her gym was against it. The reason probably has something to do with the fact that Claudia cuts a lot of weight to make the 115lb limit. She has fought at heavier weights several times throughout her career and it would be very difficult for her to make weight on TUF due to the nature of the show. 

Putting Claudia and Tina on a non-PPV before the 115 TUF is a smart move by the UFC.  First off, it serves as a commercial and reminder of the upcoming show. Putting these women on national t.v will get casual fans excited and remind them to tune in in September. Second, it could potentially serve to build a challenger for the new Champion. Also, the fight will take place while the show is filming, so we might get to see the women watch the show or at the event during TUF.

A glance at their records to me shows that Claudia is the favorite going into the fight. Claudia is coming off of an impressive victory over Ayaka Hamasaki, trains at one of the best gyms in the world, and will probably have a significant size advantage going into the fight. However, I am not foolish enough to count Tina completely out as she is also undefeated. I just think that based off of what we have already seen, Claudia is more proven.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk

For those who didn't know, Cage Warriors put on a pretty good show over the weekend. One of the fighters that really stuck out was Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The 6-0 Polish fighter picked up the biggest win of her career. She looked impressive in the opening round, repeatedly hitting and stunning Sexton. The 2nd, saw her rock and knockout the tough as nails Sexton. What was impressive to me was how Joanna set it all up. She reminded me of the striking oriented fighters like Cro-Cop and Liddell. She showed a solid sprawl and defensive wrestling against a grappling oriented fighter, and once it was obvious the fight wasn't going to the ground it only became a manner of time.

Having looked into her a little bit, it is no surprise to see that Joanna competed in Muay Thai before MMA. She has a Muay Thai record of 27-2-1 with 8 KO's. She also won several championships and gold medals. Someone pointed out that her punching power reminded them of Hisae Watanabe. While she is a little bigger than Watanabe the analogy does fit. Every time she hit Sexton with a right I could hear it clearly. Even the commentators were talking about her power. There is some icing of the cake of seeing her fight so well. Turns out she is signed to Invicta FC and will be fighting on one of their upcoming events. At the age of 26, she still has time to develop her takedown defense and ground game. With punching power like she has she will always be a threat but if she can develop those skills, she could be a champion and a star.

Emi Tomimatsu Blog: Training Outline

A Translation of Emi Tomimatsu's Blog

Japanese to English

*Tomimatsu's sister is in a band called Rie a.k.a Suzaku

*Tomimatsu calls herself Ago sometimes which means "chin"

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Now! Today at 7:00, Rie a.k.a Suzaku's having a one-man live record release!

Alright! You still have time!! I've also been hurriedly waiting to participate! I will be hosting the Rie a.k.a Suzaku present rally! The guest vocalist, Tamura Naomi will also be making an appearance! So you should head over to Yostuya Outbreak! However, Ago-Sister, hurt her neck since she woke up on Monday, and it still hasn't gone away(´Д`) So I don't think I'll be able to headbang today (´Д`) and I forgot to put a compression on (´Д`)

So I usually only write about whatever I want to, but I've been practicing a lot! For the time being, I am the tentative Champion (lol) so yesterday! A new women's MMA team was formed!

Fujino Emi! Mei!! Ago!!! The habitual 3 (lol) actually, not at all! From this moment on we are increasing our members! The one who opened the new gym, Mei has filled the roll as the branch chief of the Karate Dojo and will also be starting a Pro Women's MMA practice on Saturday nights! Girls often suffer or worry about sparring partners, so let's all get together and boost our skills! Of course you we spar, research techniques, for women who use their body and their head, let's raise the standard of Women's MMA! If you want to come, please contact me!!

We are also taking suggestions for a team name!!! Since we are a bunch of cute girls that gathered together, we'd like a cute name please!! After practice…

We were all cute with out cheeks stuffed full of delicious French Toast!! Ah, let's us all   go forward with a fighting spirit! 

So, today I went to Jiu-Jitsu in the morning!

There were too many people, it was like we were enveloped in a smoke!! (lol) 

In the Jiu-Jitsu Dojo…

Tokoro-San! Kitada-San! There were a lot of MMA fighters!!!

Since I just wrote an earth-shattering amount, before the Rie a.k.a  Suzaku live…

Koooo and!!!

Koooo and!!!

Afterwards you won't be able to hear anything!! (lol)

Jessamyn Duke vs Leslie Smith

Photo Courtesy of Sherdog

The UFC announced that Jessamyn Duke (3-1-1) will be facing off against Leslie Smith (6-5-1) in a battle of Invicta graduates. This is an interesting match for several reasons. First off, don't let her record fool you. Smith is a very talented fighter that is known for striking output and pace during her fights. Not only has she fought some tough fighters, she has beaten Raquel Pennington (4-4). As many of you know, during the 135 women's season of TUF, Pennington and Duke fought in a back and forth brawl that saw Pennington emerge the victor. Having Duke fight Smith will allow us to see if and how much she has improved since TUF. With Smith being known for brawling, it may be safe to say that the UFC is hoping for a repeat of Pennington and Duke.

Coming off of a loss to Bethe Correia, Duke is in a tough spot going into this fight. In her fight with Correia, Duke seemed hesitant to use her reach advantage and or pull the trigger with her strikes. If she loses this fight, that will be 2 in a row and for someone who was on TUF but didn't win that might be all. Smith is in a similar boat as Duke but she accepted her last fight on short-notice against a tough opponent so that should not be held against her. However a win against Duke would do a lot for her exposure and would ensure her continuance in the UFC.

As we know, anything can happen during a fight, but having seen them both fight numerous times I find it hard to think that Smith won't win. She has fought tougher opponents, is aggressive, has the cardio and will get in Duke's face. In her past couple of fights Duke has seemed hesitant and doesn't seem to be improving at the rate that she needs to be. Smith is the better grappler and unless Duke starts using her reach and fighting like a tall fighter, Smith will also be the better striker.

Emi Fujino Blog: A lot of training at different gyms

From Emi Fujino's Blog

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Today around noon I went to Ozawa's gym, Hearts, and received some training.

I've been working on my terrible wrestling every time now.

Even though the picture shows different (lol)

After that, I went to V's new gym with Tomimatsu-chan and we three practiced together.

We are still recruiting members.

After training, we devoured some of Coach Tsuda's amazing French Toast that he dropped off.

It was perfection.

Gochisousama.

(A Japanese word used after eating/being treated to a meal)

After that I went to the sauna with V.

I think I'm going to sleep well tonight.

Mika Nagano Blog: Unexpected Happening

The following is from Mika Nagnao's blog. Translated from Japanese to English

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It's entering into the rainy season in Kanto

It's not that I dislike the rain, but it's been raining for several days so I've had trouble doing the laundry.(´・ω・`)

It's been a long time since I updated my blog.

How are things going with all of you? 

Concerning me, well I had a miscarriage about a month ago.

It was really unexpected.

Now, I've been able to calm down and compose my body and my mind and have turned myself towards being a housewife.

Since the miscarriage, my husband has been near my non-stop, doing the chores around the house time and time again, it made me think that I'm really happy I married him.

We will go forward as a couple.

Since I got pregnant, I gained 7 kg so I've started dieting and I'm thinking about going back to the gym with my husband.

Is the next one in August? Maybe I will go make an appearance at Deep Jewels

In the hot and in the cold, please take care of yourselves everyone. 

Ham Seo Hee Interview

Ham Seo Hee with Stun Gun

I recently read a Ham Seo Hee interview that I thought I would share. I got the interview off of LADY GO!. He translated the Korean from the video into Japanese which I am now translating into English. 

A crybaby at home, Rambo in the ring

When I was 20, I crossed over the Sea of Japan, now I've fought over there so many times. 

For about 7 years I was 2nd…2nd...2nd…then I was finally able to hold a championship.

I'm a female warrior that enjoys nail art. Sometimes when I watch T.V Dramas I cry, I also want to be a nail artist myself. I'm a fighter but I also have a kind heart, I have 4 dimensions, that's the kind of girl I am.

When I was in Junior High School, I got in a lot of fights, I really wanted to be a Talent Artist, but when I was in High School I went to a kick boxing tournament and my eyes were opened, it was a new world to me.

When someone messes up my face, I fight with an intensity/fury until the end, when it's over I can feel the blood pumping up my neck.

I fight with everything I have till the last second! If it's a fight that I feel content with, I don't care if I lose. My ultimate goal, is to travel to and fight on the American scene, till the end.

For those that Speak Korean

For those that Speak Japanese

ハムのインタビュー　日本語で