WEFF : Two Years In

[jesseewiak]

Catching up on WEFF

January 2nd, 2003

MMAKnowledge.com

 

If you're an MMA fan in the United States, you can be forgiven for getting about the existence of the WEFF. Even though it's the only female-only fighting organization on the planet, the fact you need to either live in Canada or have broadband cable means it can be difficult to access for many fighting fans.

 

So, in service to that, and because we need some content for 2003, here's a brief rundown of the stars, stalwarts, and slackers in the WEFF as it enters its third year under Roger Trint, who bought majority control of the company just before 2001, but has largely kept the previous regime in control of matchmaking.

 

 

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION

 

 

Hope Lehane, after winning the title in April of 2000, looked to be the kingpin of the division, easily Tabitha Cameron and Anna Thompson in the early part of 2001, before facing Rachel McGuinness at WEFF 29. In this fight however, to the shock of the crowd and Lehane, not only did McGuinness survive the fight, she battled Lehane to a split draw (48-47, 48-47, 47-47).

 

It seemed obvious that a rematch would be setup for as soon as possible, but unfortunately for the challenger, the champion had been more injured than the challenger during the fight. As a result, a few months later, at WEFF 31, Rachel was across the ring from the powerful wrestler Alisha Wood. Wood managed to grind her way to a unanimous decision victory that got boos from the crowd as the fight was less than impressive.

 

Then, Wood proceded to use the same strategy to take the Featherweight title off the waist of Lehane in another five round fight that mostly consisted of Wood trapping Lehane against the cage, the mat, or the corner. Now, Wood's first defense of her title against Alyson Arroway was slightly more exciting, but most of the attention went to the Lehane-McGuinness rematch that happened at the same card (WEFF 38), where Hope got her revenge, making McGuinness submit in the 1st round, setting up a rematch of Wood-Lehane for the spring.

 

Other important members of the top shelf of the division include Piper Evergood, the Canadian Sprawl 'n' Brawler who has 4-1 record under Trint's regime in the WEFF, only losing to the current Champion before she won the belt. Evergood is currently recuperating after KO-ing the spiraling former kingpin of the division Haley Croft, who has been unable to beat a top name in the division since losing the belt nearly three years ago.

 

The other top newcomer is Chere Laurent, a Jiu Jutsu practicioner from Winnipeg who turned pro in early 2001, and was quickly snapped up by WEFF after she attended an open gym and who in her short career has won three matches all by submission. She faces the toughest fight of her career this spring when she takes on former hot prospect Janinha.

 

Other members of the division include kickboxer Anna Thompson, Muay Thai fightrer Tabitha Cameron, whose upset of Haley Croft looks less impressive by the day, heavy Muay Thai striker Laura Adair, and newcomer Laura Boone.

 

 

BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION

 

 

The recent history of this division is a little more cluttered and messy than the relatively straight forward Featherweight division. The grizzled veteran Sarah Vaughan had an impressive victory over verstaile English fighter Pamela O'Neill in February of 2001. However, after the fight, she shocked her trainers, employers, and fans by announcing her retirement.

 

Three months later, at WEFF 24, former top-level female boxer Hester Maclean bested fan favorite Monica Masters in a fantastic three round slugfest that ended with a series of punches from the top contender.

 

But, Maclean's first title defense didn't happen until nearly ten months later due to injuries, contract wranglings, and the fact nobody outside of O'Neill showed themselves as a top contender. Then, when the actual fight happened, O'Neill largely dominated the fight, avoiding the educated hands of the champion, and took the title that many thought she should've won nearly 15 months previously.

 

After dispatching young wrestler Vicki Summers, O'Neill is scheduled to take on grappler Gina Dixon with the title on the line at WEFF 40 this March. The truth is, the Bantamweight division is in many ways, the weakest division of the three in WEFF. It's a mixture of older fighters on their way out (Monica Masters, kickboxer Olivia Sweet, and the 1st champ of the division Michelle Addams) and newcomers to the WEFF who have yet to totally prove themselves, such as ground 'n' pound specialist Leona Deschanel, who has leaped to the top of the division thanks to three straight wins, including one over Addams, BJJ practicioner Tracy Garcia, taekwondo phenom Rain Richards, who just lost her first pro MMA fight after fourteen straight wins, kickboxer Carmen Routhwaite, and English boxer Rose Nessa, who recently defeated Monica Masters.

 

Along with this diverse group of fighters, you have other competitors who could be termed members of O'Neill's 'generation', such as the previously mentioned Vicki Summers and seasoned wrestler Emma Birch, who could possibly parlay three straight wins in recent months to a title shot against the O'Neill-Dixon winner later on this year.

 

 

FLYWEIGHT DIVISION

 

 

After winning the title in the summer of 2000, many people assumed quick striker Daniela Sadorra would quickly drop the title. Maybe not against her first opponent as champion, kickboxer Jenny DeNeuve, but surely against the then undefeated submission artist Sandy Oliver, who had defeated the former champion, veteran wrestler Karen Curtis. Despite this, Sadorra KO'd Oliver in the 2nd round.

 

But in May of 2002, Sadorra faced an even more impressive opponent – the undefeated Katherine Williams. This is where Sadorra's title reign ended, as the Boston grappler with a background in judo made Sadorra submit in the 2nd round. Williams then proceedd to win her 1st title defense, taking out former top prospect April Watson, who had crawled back into contention, making her submit in the fifth round, after largely playing with her for most of the fight.

 

Now seen as the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world, William's next conquest to take on is Honey Due, the kickboxer from Cali with a varied array of skills who has been undefeated in the past two years in WEFF and KO'd Sandy Oliver to win the title shot.

 

Aside from the other women previously mentioned, the Flyweight division is likely the deepest division in the company, as along with all these competitors who could easily be competitive in a title shot, there's also shockingly talented English Kung-Fu artist Natalie Rogers, who has not lost since coming back from injury, talented wrestler Lisa Labone, and veteran competitor Alison Beattie.

 

Recent newcomers to the division include kickboxer Ramona Stivic, who has lost her first two fights in WEFF, but they were against former champion Sadorra and the undefeated Rogers, so she can be forgiven. There's also Darcia Taylor, another Kung Fu fighter who has won her 1st two fights in WEFF, that also happen to be her first two professional fights.

 

Finally, yet to debut in WEFF, but will in 2003, are Arizonian Judoka Charlotte DiSerra and exceptional Muay Thai fighter Lorraine Quiche who has a southern drawl but will kick you into next week.

[jesseewiak]

WEFF 39

Live from Hamilton, Ontario on Q-TV and streaming via SportTube - 10 PM EST/7 PM PST

 

MAIN EVENT - Flyweight Division

Daniella Sadora (9-1, 5-1 WEFF) vs. Lisa Labone (9-2, 7-2 WEFF)

 

Fighting for the 1st time since losing her title, Sadorra tries to get on back against talented wrestler Lisa Labone who has had an impressive year, only losing against Jenny DeNueve in a fight that many believed she might've on despite losing by unanimous decision.

 

SEMI-MAIN EVENT - Flyweight Division

Natalie Rogers (10-0, 7-0 WEFF) vs. Karen Curtis - (10-3, 7-3 WEFF)

 

After losing the Flyweight title, Karen Curtis had several shocking losses, including submitting to Sandy Oliver and losing a close split decision to Lisa Labone near the end of 2001. However, two impressive wins during 2002 has slid Curtis back up against the top contenders to Katherine Williams, but now she faces down Natalie Rogers, who has not lost yet in her MMA career, but now faces a top level competitor for the 1st time in the eyes of many fans.

 

UNDERCARD

Flyweight Division- Darcia Taylor (2-0, 2-0 WEFF) vs. Lorraine Quiche (9-1, 0-0 WEFF)

Bantamweight Division - Debra Everett (10-2, 2-1 WEFF) vs. Rose Nessa (11-1, 1-1 WEFF)

Flyweight Division - Charlotte DiSerra (9-1, 0-0 WEFF) vs. Jessica Herbig (8-1, 3-1 WEFF)

Flyweight Division - Alison Beattie (8-4, 4-3 WEFF) vs. Sandy Oliver (12-2, 8-2 WEFF)

Featherweight Division- Georgia Boone (2-0, 2-0 WEFF) vs. Laura Adair (6-3, 2-3 WEFF)

Featherweight Division - Anna Thompson (8-3, 6-3 WEFF) vs. Chelsea Lawson (5-4, 4-4 WEFF)