Unique platforms for women in MMA continue to grow and now Canadian athletes have their own space to battle for exposure and glory. Pallas Athena Women’s Fighting Championship- known as PAWFC- promoted their first event last Saturday on tribal land outside Calgary, Alberta, Canada, electing their first strawweight champion in the process.
While the card was originally planned to be headlined to headlined by Canadian MMA great Sarah Kaufman against Brazilian prospect Claudia Leite for the inaugural bantamweight championship, the fight fell out due to travel issues on Leite’s side. Regardless, Sarah Kaufman was handed the 135lbs title, to defend it at a future PAWFC event. Promotion officials then bumped up the strawweight championship in the co-main event to the main attraction, as Laura Fontoura fought Andy Nguyen.
Fontoura (7-0) is a 21-year-old Brazilian with an undefeated record, finishing four of her six wins by armbar submission. Nguyen (6-10), on the other hand, is somewhat of a journeywoman, fighting in Bellator and Rizin in fifteen pro fights. Fontoura was right in her element, submitting Nguyen with an armbar in the fourth round, and making history in becoming the first PAW FC strawweight champion. Fontoura is now 7-0 with her whole career ahead of her.
In the co-main event, top British flyweight prospect Dakota Ditcheva (5-0) made easy work of late replacement Simone da Silva (8-4), taking her down and blasting her with punches to earn a second-round TKO finish. Ditcheva is undefeated in her amateur and pro career and moves to 5-0.
Maria Djukic vs. Clara Ricignuolo earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honours in a back and forth battle of attrition where Djukic barely won a split call from the judges. Djukic pulled off a strong opening round, dropping Ricignuolo twice. The final scorecards were 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28.
FULL PAWFC 1 RESULTS:
Laura Fontoura def. Andy Nguyen via Submission (Armbar) at 2:44 of round 4 to become the inaugural PAWFC Strawweight Champion
Dakota Ditcheva def. Simone da Silva via TKO (Strikes from Mount) at 3:43 of round 2
Melissa Croden def. Jackie MacLean via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:59 of round 1
Alana Cook def. Max Turcotte-Novosedlik via submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:23 of round 1
Maria Djukic def. Clara Ricignuolo via Split Decision
Manuela Marconetto def. Stephanie Essensa via Unanimous Decision
Featured Image courtesy of PAWCFC Twitter
