Issue 121

November 2014

The history of mixed martial arts retold through the pages of FO’s archives. November 2005: Long before ‘Cyborg,’ Carano and Rousey on CBS and in the UFC, women’s MMA was fighting for recognition in SmackGirl.

Women’s mixed martial arts is exploding. Female fights populate main cards of UFC events, the next series of TUF will feature an all-female cast and Ronda Rousey is arguably the sport’s biggest star.

In contrast, around 10 years ago the sight of two ladies sharing a ring or cage was far less common. However, among the rising tide of MMA shows during a booming period for the sport there was a few pioneering promotions that helped the green shoots of combat competition emerge among the fairer sex.

Indiana-based HooknShoot was known to host the occasional all-female line-up, but a trip to the East was required to search out the Japanese organizations that were truly dedicated to stimulating interest in these emerging athletes. That’s exactly what Fighters Only did for the November 2005 issue.

The likes of G-Shooto and Cross-Section were among the events dedicated to women’s MMA in the Land of the Rising Sun, but the best known, most popular and home to some of the biggest names was SmackGirl. 

However, if you’re picturing a carbon-copy forerunner of modern-day female MMA then you might be surprised to read the impressions of FO, first on the scene as always. “Branded with cute and colorful graphics, SmackGirl doesn’t take itself too seriously, even featuring humorous comics on its website among the usual news and fighter profiles,” we wrote. “Fighters are even encouraged to wear costumes more commonly found in pro-wrestling so as to build upon their personalities and establish them with followers.”

Furthermore, there was a rule-set which included a strict 30-second time limit on the mat and a ban on head shots to grounded opponents. Don’t be fooled, though. This was still the standard mix of fighting styles resulting in the same knockouts, submissions and hard-fought decisions you would expect from any other competition. 

Indeed, some of the sport’s most well known and successful stars, like Marloes Coenen and Megumi Fujii, cut their teeth and carved out formidable reputations in the SmackGirl ring.

Another was UFC veteran Roxanne Modafferi, who made her pro debut at a SmackGirl show while studying in Japan. “I heard of SmackGirl just before I came to Japan for a one-year student exchange, and frankly laughed at the silly name,” she recalled to FO. “I didn’t know anything about it except that it was all-female. I told my sensei of my dojo that I wanted to fight. SmackGirl promptly offered me a fight and I accepted.”

‘The Happy Warrior’ won her bout via armbar inside two minutes and began a pro career now in its 12th year. Modaferri has fought in almost every promotion you could care to mention, including King of the Cage, Strikeforce and now Invicta FC. 

Though SmackGirl was the leading all-female promotion in Japan, it never took off in the same way as the most successful male organizations. It could normally only draw audiences of about 800 to 1,500 people, small-time compared to the likes of Shooto and Pancrase, which could pull in several thousand. While Pride attracted tens of thousands.

After experiencing financial difficulties throughout 2008 the SmackGirl brand was sold and ceased to exist. However, its legacy lives on through the rebranded Jewels promotion and the careers of the host of competitors it helped to launch.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NOVEMBER 2005 ISSUE

DOUBLE SHOT

The November ‘05 issue opened with a report that Joe Riggs would face Matt Hughes at UFC 56 and the unfortunate news Ryan Gracie hospitalized himself after accidentally shooting himself in the leg. Nine years and a spooky twist of fate later, Riggs took a trip to the hospital earlier this year when his gun went off while he was cleaning it. He injured his hand and thigh and had to pull out of his UFC comeback against Paulo Thiago in September.

TUF ENOUGH?

Times were tough for The Ultimate Fighter during the first weeks of its second season. Fighters Only suggested competition from WWE Raw on Monday nights and falling viewing figures did not bode well for the series. Fast-forward to 2014 and the show is currently in the middle of its 20th season. Well, we can’t be right all the time can we?

BUSHIDO SPIRIT

The biggest event report in this 2005 issue was Pride Bushido 9. The crowd at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo was treated to 14 contests as 20 men fought to advance to the lightweight and welterweight grand prix finals. Takanori Gomi and Dan Henderson eventually won the belts in their respective weight divisions and – unlike most of their tournament rivals – are still competing at the top level nearly a decade later.

NOSTRADAMMAUS

BEGINNINGS OF BISPING

We noted a young fighter called Michael Bisping was “on the verge of something special” following his 70-second KO of Jakob ‘The Striking Viking’ Løvstad at Cage Warriors: Strike Force 3. Sure enough, his UFC career began within the year and it’s been a successful eight years and counting in the Octagon so far for ‘The Count’.