Invicta FC Signs Peggy Morgan and Roxanne Modafferi

All-female MMA promotion, Invicta FC, has added two TUF 18 contestants to its roster as they have signed MMA vet, Roxanne Modafferi and MMA newcomer, Peggy Morgan. Modafferi is known for her overwhelming grappling skills despite starting her martial arts training in karate as a youth. Peggy Morgan is a crisp kickboxer with impressive stand up. Both women made it into the TUF 18 house, but fell short in  their first fights inside the house.

I feel that the addition of these two females will make for some interesting matchups in the Invicta Bantamweight Division.  It is interesting how in recent months the UFC and Invicta have seen fighters leave one organization for the other.  Dana White has great respect for Invicta FC and believes that the two organizations are beneficial to each other and I 100% agree with him. Invicta gives up-and-coming fighters a place to hone their skills while the UFC gives them the spotlight and the opportunity to fight as a career.

UFC 172: Jessamyn Duke to be Featured at UFC 172

According to Brazilian MMA outlet, Combate, TUF 18 Muay Thai standout, Jessamyn Duke is being scheduled to face Bethe Correia at UFC 172.  Jessamyn Duke is coming off of a decision victory over Peggy Morgan who was also featured on the Ultimate Fighter 18 as well at the TUF 18 Finale.  Bethe Correia made her UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 33 in Australia where she defeated MMA veteran Julie Kedzie by split decision.

UFC 171: Raquel Pennington Meets Jessica Andrade

TUF 18 Alumni, Raquel Pennington has now be slated to face Jessica Andrade in place of Julianna Pena.  It was reported earlier this week that TUF 18 winner, Julianna Pena has suffered a serious knee injury that has forced her to pull out of her post-TUF debut at UFC 171.  There are mixed messages about how the injury occurred, but Pena will not be fully recovered by UFC 171.  Pennington made it all the way to the semifinals of the Ultimate Fighter Season 18 in the first ever TUF to feature female fighters.

Pennington is an excellent replacement for Pena.  Pennington already has an impressive resume despite only having seven professional fights in MMA.  She has faced top level competition already such as Kim Couture, Sarah Moras, Cat Zingano, Leslie Smith and most recently a victory over WMMA vet and TUF cast mate, Roxanne Modafferi in her UFC debut.  Pennington matches up well with Jessica Andrade.  Before the UFC announced Pennington as Pena's replacement, both Sarah Kaufman and Shana Baszler wanted the fight with Andrade.

UFC 171: Julianna Pena Out of Jessica Andrade Fight

Female Bantamweight Ultimate Fighter, Julianna Pena has suffered a serious knee injury and will no longer be able to face her first UFC opponent, Jessica Andrade, at UFC 171.  Both Sarah Kaufman and Shana Baszler have shown an interest in filling in for Pena to face Andrade.

Who would you rather see fight Jessica Andrade in place of Julianna Pena?--Tough Spar MMA

Sarah Kaufman

Shana Baszler

Other

Please Specify:

Poll Maker

UFC 171: Julianna Pena faces Jessica Andrade

On November 30, 2013 the UFC made history by crowning its first female Ultimate Fighter, Julianna Pena.  Pena (5-2) fought her way through many tough women in the Ultimate Fighter house and trained for 6 weeks before facing dangerous striker, Jessica Rakoczsy in the finals.  Pena was able to defeat Rakoczy by way of TKO due to ground strikes.  Pena easily walked through Rakoczy who just couldn't improve on her grappling enough to contend with Pena's superior skills.  Pena will now get to finally step into the Octagon after becoming the TUF Season 18 crown.

Jessica Andrade has been tapped as the TUF queen's first opponent since winning the crown.  Andrade (10-3) will be no cake walk for Pena as Andrade is even more dangerous than Rakoczy, as Andrade can strike and grapple.  Andrade lost her UFC debut against the fierce Liz Carmouche by TKO but then devastated Rosi Sexton in her most recent fight in October.  This will be a tough fight for Pena and I don't believe that she will win this one against Andrade.  I just don't believe that Pena has the skill set to dismantle Andrade.  The two women will face each other at UFC 171 which is being headlined by a clash between Johnny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler for the vacant UFC Welterweight Title.

After winning TUF 18, will Julianna Pena make a successful UFC debut against Jessica Andrade?--Tough Spar MMA

Yes

No

free online polls

Davey Grant Joins the UFC Roster

Despite losing an entertaining fight to the Chris Holdsworth, Davey Grant has been added as a fighter in the UFC's Mens' Bantamweight Division.  He confirmed the news via Twitter stating that he was getting a contract with the UFC.

I think that it was a wise decision for them to go ahead and and bring Grant to the UFC  considering how unexciting the UFC's Bantamweight Division is. The division has a champion who has stood on top of the division without even fighting in it for two years. The Bantamweight division is the only division that the word 'blah' comes to mind and doing TUF for that division was the best move for the company to bring in some great talent and Grant is one of those great talents.

TUF 18 Finale Weigh-in Results

MAIN CARD:

Nate Diaz (156) vs. Gray Maynard (156)
Julianna Pena (134) vs. Jessica Rakoczy (132)
Davey Grant (135) vs. Chris Holdsworth (136)
Jessamyn Duke (135.5) vs. Peggy Morgan (136)
Roxanne Modafferi (134) vs. Raquel Pennington (135)

PRELIMINARY CARD:

Maximo Blanco (146) vs. Akira Corassani (146)
Tom Niinimaki (145) vs. Rani Yahya (145.5)
Walter Harris (244) vs. Jared Rosholt (240)
Drew Dober (170) vs. Sean Spencer (171)
Ryan Benoit (126) vs. Joshua Sampo (127.5)

Anthony Pettis Injured, Henderson Returns to the Octogon

With Anthony Pettis suffering with an injured knee, Anthony Pettis is being pulled out of his title fight with Josh Thomson at UFC on Fox 9.  That fight is being entirely pulled from that card and will instead be headlined by Demetrius Johnson versus Joseph Benavidez II.  Since that fight was originally scheduled to be the headlining fight for the TUF 18 finale, Nate Diaz's fight with Gray Maynard will be headlining the TUF 18 finale.  Also with Pettis out of his title fight, the UFC has decided to put Thomson in a fight with former UFC Lightweight Champion, Benson Henderson in January 2014. This will be Henderson's first fight since losing the title in late August. 

Former Title Challengers Fight Again

It has been announced that former UFC Lightweight title challengers, Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard will meet again at the Ultimate Fighter Finale.  The two gentlemen have both fought recent Lightweight Champions, Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson.  The two originally fought in the TUF house with Nate Diaz beating him in the semifinals and eventually winning the whole tournament.

They later fought in the UFC as the main event of a UFC Fight Night card with Gray Maynard winning a decision over Diaz.  Maynard is coming off of a loss to UFC Title contender T.J. Grant whikle Diaz is coming off of a loss to Josh Thomson.