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FIGHT ODDS

Hashi-LaRosa Booked for Nov. 24 Title Bout

Oct 20, 2010

Strikeforce veteran Takayo Hashi will face top female fighter Tara LaRosa in a five-round 125-pound title bout at DaMMAge Fight League’s inaugural event, “The Big Bang,” on Nov. 24 at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Hashi’s manager, Shu Hirata, confirmed the match with Sherdog.com on Wednesday.

“I always believed 125 pounds is the best weight class for Takayo," Hirata said. "She was a Smackgirl champion at 128 pounds, and against Sarah Kaufman earlier this year, she had to actually gain weight to do the 135-pound title fight. So, I am very happy that Takayo is finally fighting at where she feels most comfortable, and to be able to fight Tara LaRosa, the number one-ranked fighter at this weight class, is a tremendous opportunity. I believe, on November 24th, Takayo will show to the world that she is indeed one of the best fighters in the world at 125 pounds and under.”

Hashi was also very excited about the opportunity, and had revenge on her mind.

“Ever since I lost to Tara in the [ADCC 2007 Submission Wrestling World Championships], I always wanted to get an opportunity for revenge in the MMA bout,” said Hashi. “I respect her tremendously as the world's top fighter, and I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long, long time. And, I really appreciate, and [am] honored, that the promoter decided to make this a title fight. To be able to fight Tara is a good motivation for me to begin with, and now I have the chance to get the belt, as well, so I am going to train hard and will take that belt home to Japan."

Hashi has not competed in MMA since February, when she had an eight-fight win streak snapped in a five-round unanimous decision loss to Kaufman in Strikeforce.

LaRosa will also look to rebound from a loss: at Moosin’s May 21 show in Worcester, Mass., the New Jersey native had her own 15-fight streak busted when she dropped a hotly-contested split decision to Roxanne Modafferi.

The rest of the DaMMAge Fight League card is still being filled out, though UFC veterans Kevin Jordan and Branden Lee Hinkle are scheduled to meet in a heavyweight matchup.