This came up in a conversation with friends that don't watch mma, who are the first female mma fighters ever?
I've been googling but everything that comes up is gina carano, ronda rousey etc.
Now I know some of you are walking mma encyclopedia so was hoping that you could enlighten me
All I know is that Irma schreiber(verhoeff) is definately one of the pioneers.
Becky Levi & Zee Vjesalicu.
Hell,I watched Lisa Bjornstad kick ass in 1999.
Becky Levi was the pioneer as far as I know.
Trained Don Frye too.
Erin toughill.
Also she'll be on this season of stone cold steve austin's broken skull challenge.
Not alot of people remember Laura D Auguste.
first womens mma fight really that caught this forums attention ? According to my memory
Tara Larosa vs Shelbygirl (RIP)
Moist Gracie - Shayna BaszlerIs this Shayna or RVD's troll account?
/thread

Svetlana Goundarenko
Jennifer Howe was widely considered to be the best for a while. But then she ran into a monster...
not the first but Caroline vanek fought in 2001.
yabadaba - Jennifer Howe was widely considered to be the best for a while. But then she ran into a monster...
Twice! First time I told Roxy she wasn't ready. Second time I was in her corner :-)
Shows what I know. Seriously.
PrettyTonyGurgledMyGil -
Not alot of people remember Laura D Auguste.
I was a judge or glove runner or I forget what all at I think her first two fights. First one, vs. Shannon Logan I thought she was going to get crushed. I had reffed Shannon Logan vs. guys in NAGAs and she won, so I didn't think another female had a chance.
Again, shows what I know.
yabadaba - Jennifer Howe was widely considered to be the best for a while. But then she ran into a monster...
Came in here to mention her as well. She was widely regarded as the GOAT of pre-TUF era WMMA. The mantle was then taken up by Mega Megu and now resides with Ronda Rousey. Howe started her career in 1998, and while there were a few women who started earlier (Becky Levi, Yoko Takahashi, etc.) none of them achieved the sustained level of excellence that Howe did from 1998-2004.
IFC i think was in Baton Rouge back in the 90s Zee and Brandy Smith were the first women's tournament fight. oh i remember it well the "punch that bitch in the pussy" 's that rang through the arena
*edit in the US
As far as I can tell the U-top tournament in 96 was the first tournament. ...but I think that there must have been earlier matches before that
There were so many early on that don't get their due. GrappleGirl, Mega, Helsel, Purcell and Toughill among them. If you ever get a chance to watch any of the old hooknshoot shows, do it. There was WMMA before Gina and Ronda.
People can dog Shayna, but she fought Cyborg on CBS after winning a fight by twister on Showtime. There was a time where her and Tara were a clear 1/2
I remember the first Roxy/Howe fight. Everyone thought Roxy was a lamb being led to slaughter...
Osbourne put so much into WMMA. His all female shows were a money pit by his own admission, but he loved the athletes. When he went over to bodogFIGHT, they became the first "major" promotion to feature women and pay them respectably. Who could forget the Tara fucking LaRosa promo.
I'm a firm believer that bodogFIGHT is what paved the road for Strikeforce and ultimately ZUFFA. They showed it could be done.
Damn Kirik,
You were the cornerman of winners.
Kirik = great cornerman.