And about the girls:
USCS Fight of the Week: LaRosa vs. Damm is a Landmark Fight for Women's MMA
By
ominic Velando09 March 2011 (0) Email Print Most promotions not called "the UFC" often pick up declining "UFC-veterans" (a label that any former employee is branded with for life), as Shark Fights did when they booked Houston Alexander vs. James Irvin for the Shark Fights 14 co-main event. Though it was a compelling rematch, the bout fell apart less than two weeks out.
Enter Tara LaRosa and Carina Damm to provide a match up that may not have the same star power, but provides a more enduring storyline and is sure to satisfy hardcore fans.
The two 125 lb standouts did Shark Fights a huge favor by taking such a high-profile fight on such short notice. This match-up has been in the works for years. Not only is Tara LaRosa widely considered one of the best female fighters on the planet, but Carina Damm is a good, well-traveled fighter in her own right. She also has a highly recognizable body, thanks to a feature in the Japanese Playboy (no nudes). Damm may not be a household name like Gina Carano, but Damm's image has definitely been circulating around MMA forums (epicenters of sophistication and forward-thinking).
Also, the Amarillo-based promotion gets to replace one grudge match with another. Having engaged in a well-documented feud with Erin Toughill and a litle back-and-forth with Gina Carano as well, LaRosa seems to take things personally. Though LaRosa didn't go so far as to say that she dislikes Damm, she explained to Sergio Non with·USAToday·that she's not the only one who has a problem with the Brazilian "Barbie Girl".
"One of the things that I really didn't like -- the looks and the parading around and (crap), that's one thing -- but I don't like it when she showboats and dances around the ring. It's almost like gloating after a fight," LaRosa explained.
Drama and internet-beefing aside,·Shark Fights' stock would rise considerably with a legit female champion among their ranks. LaRosa sometimes draws comparisons to Fedor, having put together a winning streak that lasted seven years and spanned the globe. That run also saw the 33-year old take out the likes of Hitomi Akano, Kelly Kobold and Roxanne Modafferi. LaRosa's second loss came in May of last year when she lost a close rematch with Modafferi, but she has since bounced back with a victory over the extremely tough Takayo Hashi. If not for the terrifying existence of Strikeforce champ Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos, LaRosa would probably be regarded as the greatest female fighter alive.
That said, Damm, who has fought for Strikeforce and Bellator, would enjoy notoriety of defeating such a giant of women's MMA. She was an early favorite leading into Strikeforce's 135 lb. tournament last year, but was knocked out of the runnings in the first round by Akano. Damm then suffered a TKO loss to the surging Cat Zingano. It's a make-or-break situation for the Brazilian.
Either way, any 125 lb female (or even 115 or 135'ers) will be taking a good hard look at Shark Fights and their sparkling new network deal. LaRosa confirmed in her USAToday interview that Shark Fights intends to bring back the winner for an April appearance that would eventually lead to a championship in June. Such job security is rare in the MMA world and especially coveted for the girls.
With fifteen fights slated for Shark Fights 14, the runnings for "fight of the night" honors is competitive, but between LaRosa's evolved fight game and Damm's black belt-level grappling skills, there's a good chance of the only women on the card stealing the show.
Tags: Carina Damm | houston alexander | James Irvin | Shark Fights 14 | Tara LaRosa