Saturday, October 2nd, Absolute Action MMA presented “Battle Against Breast Cancer.” This was the first all-female MMA card in Kentucky, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting the Pink Ribbon Girls breast cancer awareness organization. There was also a raffle and other merchandise being sold, all of the money went straight to the Pink Ribbon Girls. The promoter for the card was Parag Patel, matchmaking by Billy Donovan, and was sanctioned by the Kentucky Boxing & Wrestling Authority. CageCraze.com was on-site reporting LIVE RESULTS from Turfway Park in Florence, KY. With it being the first card of its kind in Kentucky, well-known popular fighter Kim Couture in the main event, and a special guest appearance by Strikeforce Ladies Middleweight Champion Cris “Cyborg” Santos, history was in the making! The card had 10 bouts including 3 pro fights. The recap:

We have a mostly-female officiating crew tonight. The judges will be Vanessa Bohleber-Higdon of Hardrock MMA, Amy Evans of Second 2 None Cagefighting, and Brandy Dick of HB Dick Promotions. Timekeeping duties will be performed by Angela Robertson, inspector for the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority. I’ve learned that the powers-that-be tried to fly in a female referee from California but unfortunately that fell through. Even the doctor was seen wearing pink scrubs tonight for the occasion. Early word is they’ll try to make this an annual event which I think is a great idea.

Don’t forget that if you couldn’t be here live for the card, the event will be airing on Fox Sports Net later this month! Cameras and commentators were in attendance with every winner getting a post fight interview inside the cage.

RESULTS:

Samantha_Ress_vs_Jessica_Phillipus
Philippus tightens the choke

1. Samantha Ress (0-0) vs. Jessica Philippus (1-1)

And the first punches of the night are getting ready to be thrown as the ring announcer calls them in. The first round ring girls tonite are cancer survivors which is a great touch to this show.  Samantha looks tentative before we get going, while Jessica is jumping around and is obviously as ready as the fans to get this show started. Here we go… Jessica immediately clinches, but Samantha turns her around and puts her against the fence. Jessica transitions to her back and suplexes her to the delight of the crowd, landing in Samantha’s guard. Jessica moves to half guard and is pounding away. Samantha gives up her back while Jessica puts on a RNC. She has hooks in. Samantha doing a good job of keeping her chin down to prevent the choke but Jessica is being patient in waiting while maintaining position. Jessica lands a few punches and slips in the choke tighter. Samantha tries to escape but is ultimately forced to tap.

Jessica Philippus defeats Samantha Ress via RNC in Round 1

2. Amy Lack (0-0) vs. Katherine Joplin (0-0)

Big support for local Florence fighter Amy. The fight starts and Amy attacking wildly, swinging away. Katherine puts her against the fence to slow her down. Katherine executes a takedown but Amy gets right back up. Katherine has her against the fence again and takes her down again. Amy gets a front headlock and uses it to standup again.  She’s having trouble with the third takedown but gets it. She goes to mount. Crowd is getting restless for Amy. Amy trying to buck but is eating solid punches. Katherine may be expending her energy here however and is slowing down. Amy is patient but she can’t be too patient as the ref is taking a close look. Amy still bucking and nearly gets up as the crowd goes wild but Katherine keeps her down. The bell sounds and the crowd is relieved. Yours truly scores it 10-9 for Katherine.

Amy_Lack_vs_Katherine_Joplin

Lack backs up Joplin with a kick

Round 2… Amy swinging hard again, loading up punches. Katherine goes to clinch again and tries for the double leg. Amy appears much stronger but Katherine’s technique is too good. Katherine gets the takedown but Amy uses a headlock to get up again. The crowd is really into this one. Katherine double legs her again. This round is looking like the same story as the first, with Katherine applying pressure and takedowns and Amy, while arguably doing more damage, is unable to prevent the trips. There’s a short stoppage by the referee as he warns Amy not to grab the fence. The crowd starts chanting Amy’s name during the pause. Now Katherine is throwing good punches of her own and Amy shows a helluva chin. Amy applies a school bully headlock again but doesn’t do much damage. Katherine has her against the fence again and is trying for double leg again. Amy not doing a good job of sprawling to prevent these as Katherine takes her down again but Amy stands up again. Another stoppage by the referee as he deducts a point from Amy for grabbing the fence. Reset to standup battle and Amy is landing good shots, maybe best of round. Par for the course as Katherine gets her against the cage again. The bell sounds. This is a great fight! Although Katherine is controlling the cage, she’s not able to do anything with her takedowns, and Amy is landing the most significant damage, thus after the point I see this 9-9, a draw round.

3rd round… Amy unleashing bombs, I don’t see how Katherine remains standing. Crowd is going nuts wanting a finish. Katherine gets her against the fence again and again Amy can’t prevent a takedown. Now Katherine transitions to side control. But Amy flips her over and is on top firing away. Katherine rolls again and now is on top with Amy sitting up against the fence. Amy gets a headlock and uses it to standup. Katherine keeps her close against the fence though but Amy is landing good knees. Amy tries for an arm-in guillotine but is unable to seal the deal. Katherine looks exhausted but Amy unable to take much advantage. Amy turns her around against the fence with the guillotine and is landing more good knees. Amy is landing good shots but needs a little more distance for the knockout power. Katherine is too tired to get any more takedowns it looks like. The bell sounds. I score this round 10-9 Amy, for a 28-28 draw. However this is definitely a difficult fight to score. Katherine was effective at cage control and takedowns, but was unable to do anything with the takedowns. Amy was the better striker and did more damage I believe. The decision comes in. Judge 1 scores it 29-29 draw.  Judges 2 and 3 score it 29-27 for Katherine and she wins a majority decision.

Katherine Joplin defeats Amy Lack via majority decision (29-29, 29-27, 29-27)

3. Diane Hooper (3-0) vs. Norma Rueda (0-0)

Diane connects early with a hook then two stiff jabs and Norma goes in for the takedown. Diane sprawling well. However Norma gets her down and moves to sidemount. Diane fighting to get a knee in for half guard or guard. Norma recognizes this and moves temporarily to north-south to evade. Norma gets to mount and starts unleashing solid punches. Diane bucking and protecting herself as well as she can anyway. Norma landing short hammerfists. Now straighter punches and Diane is forced to give up her back. Norma was working on an arm as the bell sounds. Cagecraze.com scores it 10-9 for Norma, nearly a 10-8 round if more damage had been done.

Diane_Hooper_vs_Norma_Rueda

A determined Rueda works for side control

Round 2… Diane is breathing heavy with her mouth open. Norma using good feints and head movement to keep Diane off balance. Norma lands a good right hook while coming in for a takedown but can’t get the trip. She has her against the fence but Diane uses a headlock to prevent the fall. Diane’s face is showing signs of wear from round 1, maybe that was a 10-8 round by the looks of her. Back to circling and Norma is stalking her down but Diane landing good counter strikes. Norma not throwing much in the standup game much less landing anything. She gets Diane against the fence though and gets her down. Diane pulls guard and has wrist control. Both being patient. Diane landing more shots from the bottom than Norma from the top. Diane opening her guard and is controlling Norma well. The bell sounds and its a tough round to score. I’ll give it 10-9 to Diane for the effective striking, the most significant fighting of the round.

Round 3… Another great fight and we’re all psyched for round 3. Diane again breathing with mouth open. Diane winning the striking battle you wouldn’t tell it by her face from Norma’s ground and pound she suffered in round 1. Norma tries for double legs as Diane is now bleeding from her mouth. Diane looks gassed as Norma controls all the action. Goes from a double leg to single but looks too tired herself to get Diane down. Diane now going for a one-armed darce choke, don’t think that’s gonna work as Norma controls her other wrist. Referee restarts them. Norma coming in but Diane’s effective counter striking is back, keeping her at bay. She doesn’t have long enough to steal the round though as it comes to a close and I score it 10-9 for Norma. I see it 29-28 for Norma. One judge agrees with me (very smart guy) while the other two score it 30-27 and Norma has it. The blue corner is 3-0.

Norma Rueda defeats Diane Hooper via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

4. Kalilah Baker (2-3) vs, Brittany Johnson (0-0)

Kalilah looking relaxed before the fight while Brittany is a little more hyper. Brittany immediately goes to grapple. She tries to get Kalilah down but can’t. She has her against the fence but Kalilah spins her and starts throwing knees. Referee stops it for some reason. She’s slightly bleeding from the nose but I don’t see anything else. It’s not a dark red heavy flow like you would see in a broken nose typically and I don’t see anything obviously wrong with her anyway. Referee calls the doctor in? I’m assuming a broken nose but I’m surprised the referee stopped the action, much more that he called the doctor in. Doctor calls it off.

Kalilah Baker defeats Brittany Johnson via doctor stoppage in Round 1

Jessamyn_Duke_vs_Alexandria_Stobbe
Duke pummels her opponent

5. Jessamyn Duke (0-0) vs. Alexandria Stobbe (2-4)

Jessamyn appears to have a good size and reach advantage, she looks like an American Gladiator. Announcer says Alexandria’s record is 5-5, so my win-loss for her may be incorrect. They touch gloves and Jessamyn sticks to the center of the ring, I assume she’s a striker. Alex bull-rushes her for a takedown but Jessamyn rolls her over and winds up in a high mount position with one of Alexandria’s arms trapped. Jessamyn pounding away. Alexandria spins and gives up her back. Jessamyn has good position control, and gets a solid backmount with hooks. Trying for the RNC. This fight all Jessamyn so far. Alexandria’s cornermen yelling for her to protect her neck and she’s doing a good job of it. Jessamyn throwing a couple punches to soften her up for the choke. The referee stops it and Alex protests to no avail.

Jessamyn Duke defeats Alexandria Stobbe via referee stoppage in Round 1

6. Mackenzie Boggs (0-0) vs, Vanessa Denham (1-1)

Mackenzie  the local Florence girl but Vanessa is from Corbin so plenty of fans for both. I was right! As they touch gloves Mackenzie throws a kick! Vanessa eats a couple punches but gets her against a post, from there secures a take-down. Vanessa takes mount and pounds her out for a referee stoppage. Vanessa has a great, funny post fight interview as she seems star struck at the cameras.

Vanessa Denham defeats Mackenzie Boggs via referee stoppage in Round 1

Erica_Ellington_vs_Sarah_Cook
Ellington and Cook engage early on

7. Erica Ellington (0-2) vs. Sarah Cook (0-0)

Erica is fighting out of Cincinnati and gets huge applause. Sarah from Hamilton, OH herself and has plenty of fans in attendance too. Erica is smiling and appears very confident. They tussle. Clinch and both jockey for position, exchanging knees. Erica gets her against the fence. Sarah is preventing the takedown while throwing knees. It’s quite obvious from the start Sarah is no cupcake. Sarah trying for a guillotine. Erica switches from takedown mode to protect-my-neck mode. She escapes. They go back to clinching and Erica trips her and lands in mount. Sarah eating punches and gives up her back. She takes a couple more shots and referee calls it. Okay. That’s it for me. Here I go. Because I wasn’t going to say anything earlier, but as a writer I gotta write what everyone is thinking. This referee may be babying these women. I don’t understand why he stopped Brittany earlier for nothing but a bloody nose, nor did I understand Alexandria’s early stoppage, nor do I understand this early stoppage. This has been a eventful card, can’t wait to see it on Fox Sports Net, can’t wait to see another Absolute Action MMA card, but I believe this referee may be treating these women differently than he would men.

Erica Ellington defeats Sarah Cook via referee stoppage in Round 1

8. Adrienne Seiber (0-0) vs, Heather Corder (1-1) PRO

Adrienne comes out first and looks like dynamite. She’s compact and ripped and has tree trunks of muscle for legs. Corder comes out second. Heather lands a kick early. Adrienne takes her down and tries for an anaconda. Corder is protecting well but gives up her back. Adrienne puts hooks in and stretches her out cleanly. Heather is turtling her head but is unable to do anything but defend. She spins and starts bucking. Adrienne landing shots. Heather spinning and defending but not doing anything else as Adrienne is landing unanswered blows. The referee stops it.

Adrienne Seiber defeats Heather Corder via referee stoppage in Round 1

Patti_Lee_vs_Amanda_LaVoy
Patti Lee submits LaVoy via armbar

9. Patti Lee (2-3) vs. Amanda LaVoy (0-1) PRO

Lee gets my vote for best tats of the night. Amanda looks skinny and fragile, but has the length I suppose. Lee is shorter and looks to pack some power. They start and Amanda is switching stances often. Lee gets her against the fence, double leg and they’re down. Amanda has butterfly guard but Lee is able to pass a leg. Lee is struggling to get past second leg but does so, now in mount. Has yet to do any damage but now has position to do so. Amanda trying to hold her close. She’s heel kicking/stopping Lee’s feet from the bottom, ouch. Lee is able to posture and throws punches. Amanda nearly slips out the back door but Lee keeps position. Lee puts on an arm triangle and moves to sidemount to finish it. Amanda punching Lee’s ribs, so she’s still okay. Amanda rolls backwards to escape but Lee is controlling her head still. Amanda finds a way to her feet but Lee rolls for a kimura. Lee fails with the kimura but transitions to an armbar and its over.

Patti Lee defeats Amanda LaVoy via submission (armbar) in Round 1

Jorge_Gurgel_Cyborg

Jorge Gurgel translates for Cris "Cyborg" Santos

10. Kim Couture (2-3) vs. Felicia Wells (0-0) PRO

Cris “Cyborg” Santos is interviewed before the main event with Jorge Gurgel translating. Well, interviewed may be a strong word, the announcer asked a single question and that was it. Well, anyway, main event is up! Felicia comes in and she looks confident and relaxed. Big opportunity for her for sure.  Lots of cheers for the local girl Felicia. Kim comes out. Felicia has a 1000 yard stare. They start. Felicia isn’t afraid to trade! She’s throwing good punches and landing some! They clinch. Kim has her against the fence. Felicia latches on a tight guillotine and pulls guard. It looks tight! This may be close! Kim is trying desperately to pull an arm off and finally succeeds. She postures up. Felicia double upkicks her away and they stand again. Gotta be a confidence booster for Felicia so far! They stand. Now Felicia has her against the fence. Kim throwing dangerous looking elbows but Felicia not afraid to bang. Wild swinging! Kneeing! Elbows! Referee is raising the roof and crowd is going nuts. They clinch again. Felicia may be fading. Kim gets her against the cage. They trade knees. Kim has wrist control and is patient. She goes for a single leg and a big slam! But she winds up in Felicia’s guillotine again. Felicia sits up against the cage and thinks about wall walking but Kim is controlling her well. Kim has a dominant position but isn’t doing much, could she be gassed? Felicia is active, not just laying there, but can’t threaten much from her back. She kicks Kim away and we go back to the standup. Kim may be tired, her mouth is wide open and the look in her eyes as Felicia stood right back up and immediately started stalking her is priceless! Felicia came to win! They clinch and go down and Felicia is on top! Kim works rubber guard. Felicia needs to be careful, Kim’s guard looks dangerous. The round comes to a close. Felicia slow to stand now, but Kim even slower. I’m not sure Kim expected the awesome fight Felicia is putting out there.

Kim_Couture_vs_Felicia_Wells

Couture locks on the standing choke

Round 2. Between rounds Cris Cyborg came to corner Kim and offer advice, but someone warns her that’s not allowed if she’s not her corner and she’s escorted away. They start again. Felicia comes in and starts stalking again. Kim has a wild eyed grin on her face, everyone is enjoying this including her. They clinch, Kim goes to her back and gets a standing reverse arm-triangle choke. Felicia sits down. The referee is taking a close look. Felicia looks very limp. Felicia isn’t moving at all and looks like dead weight. The referee checks again, and Felicia is, in fact, unconscious, and probably was so for some time. Doc rushes in. Takes her a couple minutes to regain her bearings but she’s okay at my relief. Fantastic fight for Felicia, I’m sure everyone is extremely proud of her, but Couture takes this one tonight.

Kim Couture defeats Felicia Wells via submission (reverse arm-triangle choke) in Round 2