 |
| Megumi Fujii |
I've known about this for a couple of months and have mentioned it a couple of times but on Thursday Bellator finally announced that they have signed Megumi Fujii and she will debut on the June 10 show at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. Obviously Bellator's goal is to book a 115lb Women's Tournament for their third season. The third season begins in August but I believe they're running a different tournament first. I expect the women's tournament to begin in October. Despite the usual denials from people who should know better, Fujii acknowledged at the MIKU retirement show that she was in serious talks with Bellator and then Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said the tournament would be booked as soon as Fujii signs. Megumi posted on her blog that she underwent an MRI last month for what she thought was a hernia. It turned out to be a slipped disc. She says she's fine now and is ramping up her training for this fight. Of course Megumi Fujii is probably the most decorated female martial artist ever. She was an amateur champ before she turned pro and her 19-0 pro record speaks for itself. And 16 of those wins are by submission. This is a good move for Mega Megu. She has nothing left to prove in Japan and the fight game politics are ridiculous. So who will be her opponent on June 10? Though not announced yet, a little bird told me that it will be Jessica Aguilar. It makes sense because she lives in Florida and trains with America's Top Team. Her record is 7-3 and her last fight was a win over Valerie Coolbaugh at the Mar. 5 Action Fight League show in Hollywood, FL. She's a good fighter but isn't in Fujii's class. Rebney admitted that finding opponents for Fujii is difficult.
So who's gonna be in this tournament? Well, British fighter Rosi Sexton is under contract to Bellator. Her normal fighting weight is 125lb but she is dropping to 115 for this tournament. To prepare for this tournament, Rosi will fight Emi Fujino in a couple of weeks at a Cage Warriors show in England. Fujino is a very good test for Rosi. Her record is 8-4 and her last fight was a majority decision loss to Kyoko Takabayashi at the Apr. 11 VALKYRIE show. In fact, all four of her losses and five of her wins have gone the distance. So she's very tough and is always competitive. I expect a very good match. Fujino is no pushover. Who else? I expect Felice Herrig to be in the tournament as she has already fought for Bellator. And Lisa Ward should be in it. Maybe Iman Achhal from Northern Virginia. She already won over Felice. And they should look at Korean Ham Seo Hee who has done very well in Japan. The bottom line is the best 115lb female fighters are in Japan including former SMACKGIRL & VALKYRIE champ Yuka Tsuji, current VALKYRIE champ Mei "V1" Yamaguchi and JEWELS fighters Mika Nagano and Saori Yoshida. Those two have never fought in a cage but Nagano is a great grappler and Yoshida gave Fujii her most competitive match in several years last year. But Mega Megu and Rosi are clearly the marquee fighters in this tournament.
I think you're right about bringing Seo Hee, Nagano, and Ishioka to the tourney. I also heard Elena Reid might be in it. I would love to see Seo Hee fight Elena Reid. That has potential for female fight of the year.
ReplyDeleteFelice is not in the tournament although she is signed to bellator. Jessica is not on with bellator either
ReplyDeleteGood. Felice shouldn't be in the tournament. She doesn't have enough experience. Neither does Elena Reid and she lost her last fight anyway. I am aware that Jessica is just doing the one fight.
ReplyDeleteJessica Pene has also fought for Bellator, she should be in it. Slightly surprised they're not looking at Aguilar for the tourney too.
ReplyDeleteThough Jessica Pene is undefeated, she hasn't fought at a high enough level to be in this tournament. The only US fighter in this weight class who has fought at a high level with success is Lisa Ward. If they want to have an elite tournament, they have to get the best fighters. Most of them don't qualify.
ReplyDeleteAguilar is not signed to bellator i dont know what birdie you have been listening to
ReplyDeleteDidn't say that. She's just doing this match. And one more thing. Anonymous posts will no longer be approved for this post. Leave your name or shut up. Too many losers out there who use anonymity to spout BS.
ReplyDeleteI train with Lisa Ward, and she's telling all of us that she's signed with Bellator to fight in June, so she's definitely in.
ReplyDeleteThat could be for Rosi Sexton but not for this.
ReplyDeleteLisa Ward will be on the June 17 show. So they're doing three different matches; Fujii on the 10th, Ward on the 17th and Rosi Sexton on a third show. Then the tournament in the fall.
ReplyDelete