(No joke, this is the first Google image result you’ll get when you search “Valerie Letourneau marketable.”)
As much as the UFC has done for women in MMA in general, it’s kind of a shame that their stage to shine has been limited to just two weight classes for close to three years now. Invicta does a great job showcasing a few other divisions, sure, and their brand will (hopefully) only continue to grow now that they’re broadcasting all their events on Fight Pass, but the UFC could always stand to fill in the gap between strawweight and bantamweight. There’s a lot separating a Joanna Jedrzejczyk from a Ronda Rousey, after all, and I say that with the utmost respect and with no negative connotation whatsoever.
Luckily, it looks likes the promotion will be doing just that, or testing the waters at least, as it booked the first ever female flyweight fight in UFC history this afternoon.
Details after the jump.
Fox Sport’s Damon Martin passes along the word that former strawweight title challenger Valerie Letourneau is set to lock horns with fellow strawweight and TUF 20 contestant Joanne Calderwood at Fight Night 89 in June. While the promotion has not yet stated an intention to explore the weight class any further as of now, it is at least showing a willingness to try it out (likely before devoting the next season of TUF to it).
Currently 3-1 as a strawweight, Letourneau will be stepping into the octagon for the first time since suffering a unanimous decision loss to Jedrzejczyk back in November, the hematoma of which she suffered as a result easily ranks among the most gruesome in the sport’s history. (Seriously, click that link at your own caution.) Calderwood, on the other hand, will be looking to make it 2 straight and 3-1 overall following her recent win over Courtney Casey last July. The Scottish muay Thai champ was expected to face Paige Van Zant in December of last year until an injury saw her replaced by fellow TUF 20 alum (and friend of the Potato!) Rose Namajunas. Again, examine the end results of that fight with the contents of your stomach in mind.
Who do like for this first ever women’s flyweight fight, Nation? And how long before we’re demanding the winner to face Mighty Mouse Johnson next?
Fight Night 89: MacDonald vs. Thompson goes down on June 18th in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The post Valerie Letourneau to Meet Joanne Calderwood in UFC’s First Ever Women’s Flyweight Bout appeared first on Cagepotato.