Jessica Aguilar meets Alida Gray for belt at World Series of Fighting 8
The first women’s strawweight champion in World Series of Fighting history will be crowned on Jan. 18 as Jessica Aguilar (16-4) meets Alida Gray (4-0) for the division’s inaugural belt at World Series of Fighting 8.
MMAjunkie today confirmed the booking with World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo.
World Series of Fighting 8 is scheduled for Jan. 18 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. In the evening’s main event, Justin Gaethje (10-0) will take on Lewis Gonzalez (9-0) for the company’s first lightweight belt.
Aguilar, the world’s top-ranked women’s 115-pounder, signed with World Series of Fighting in November and will make her promotional debut in the title fight.
She is currently 11-1 in her past 12 appearances, including a pair of high-profile wins over all-time great Megumi Fujii. The 31-year-old American Top Team fighter fought six times under the Bellator MMA banner but was recently released from the organization when they elected to stop promoting women’s fights. During that time, she was also a semifinalists in company’s Season 3 115-pound women’s tourney.
Meanwhile, Gray is an undefeated prospect who has rattled off four stoppage wins since turning pro just six months ago. Included in that run is a devastating one-punch knockout of Soannia Tiem. Check out the gif below, courtesy of The Nosebleeds, for the devastating finish.
The 36-year-old Gray was an Olympic judo alternate in 1996 and admits she looked up to former world champion AnnMaria de Mars, mother of current UFC champion and Olympian Ronda Rousey. Gray is currently ranked No. 10 in the world in the Unified Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Rankings.
With the addition to the card, World Series of Fighting 8 now includes:
Justin Gaethje vs. Lewis Gonzalez – for inaugural lightweight title
Anthony Johnson vs. Mike Kyle
Jessica Aguilar vs. Alida Gray – for inaugural women’s strawweight title
Cody Bollinger vs. Tyson Nam
