PXC female fighter Curran signs with UFC

Nissi Icasiano

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PXC female fighter Curran signs with UFC
Kailin Curran, 23, who has remained unbeaten in PXC, has now signed a contract to compete in the UFC

Kailin Curran, a 23-year-old female fighter who competes as a strawweight under the Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC) banner, has inked an exclusive contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The 5-foot-5 native of Ewa Beach, Hawaii announced the news on her official Facebook page last August 6, making her the first-ever woman from the state to be enlisted in the main UFC roster.

In addition, she became the first PXC female to join the ranks of the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.

PXC served as the footstool for MMA stalwarts like Jon Tuck, Hyun Gyu Lim, Dustin Kimura, Russell Doane, Louis Smolka and Michinori Tanaka to be noticed by the UFC.

The Guam-based organization has staged 12 of its last 21 PXC fight cards in Manila, and since its first Philippine venture in June 2011, it has turned into a household name as the company produced several top Filipino contenders such as Mark Striegl, Ale Cali, Crisanto Pitpitunge, Glen Ranillo and Rolando Gabriel Dy.

Training out of Mark Muñoz’s Reign MMA in Lake Forest, California, Curran (3-0) is unbeaten in her prizefighting career, winning all of her professional MMA outings by unanimous decision.

After holding a record of 4-1 with one no contest in the amateur MMA scene, Curran made her pro debut in March 2013 at PXC 36 with a three-round drubbing of former Invicta FC talent Kaiyana Rain.

Five months later, she pulled off another well-rounded performance when she thumped Japanese veteran Emi Tomimatsu at PXC 38.

In her last Terror Dome appearance at PXC 42 this past February, Curran schooled Korean Top Team’s Yoo Jin Jung the entire bout to claim the undivided verdict from the judges’ scorecards.

For her opening assignment as a UFC fighter, she takes on Paige VanZant on the undercard of UFC Fight Night 54, which takes place at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on October 4 (October 5 in PH).

VanZant (3-1) was originally slated to be part of The Ultimate Fighter season 20, but she had to be pulled out because she did not meet the minimum age requirement of 21 years old.

The reality television series will feature competitors from UFC’s new female strawweight division, where the winner will be crowned as the inaugural 115-pound champion.

Despite the age prerequisite of the show, VanZant essentially received a free pass into the official UFC fighter’s list as she is set to become the youngest female to ever step into the Octagon.

The fighter known as “12 Gauge” has not fought since submitting Courtney Himes with a first-round rear-naked choke at Bush Cree Promotions’ Cage Wars 15 in April 2013.

‘Korean Zombie’ returns to action at UFC Fight Night 53 

After more than a year on the sidelines, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung is scheduled to make his Octagon return against Akira Corassani in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 53 on October 4 (October 5 in PH).

Jung (13-4) was last seen in action when he suffered an excruciating loss in the hands of UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 163 in August 2013.

A fighter well known for his durability, Jung became easy prey for Aldo as an unexpected injury occurred in the fourth round of the 145-pound title clash.

The 26-year-old native of Pohang, South Korea separated his right shoulder while throwing a looping right hand at his pesky foe.

He attempted to pop his arm back into its joint, but Aldo swarmed with non-stop ground and pound to force referee Herb Dean’s intervention at the 2:00 mark of the aforementioned round.

Due to the unfortunate incident that happened inside the cage, Jung underwent an immediate surgery for a dislocated right shoulder and a broken orbital bone that kept him on the shelf for an extended period of time.

The 5-foot-9 Korean Top Team product owns notable victories over Dustin Poirier, Mark Hominick and Leonard Garcia under the UFC banner.

Like Jung, Corassani (12-4, 1 NC) is also coming off a disappointing setback as he succumbed to Poirier’s second-round technical knockout onslaught on the undercard of The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia finale this past April.

Corassani has won three of his last four bouts during his promotional tenure, thumping the likes of Andy Ogle, Robbie Peralta and Maximo Blanco.

UFC Fight Night 53, which takes place at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, is headlined by a welterweight showdown between Gunnar Nelson and Rick Story. – Rappler.com

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