MMA News: Fighter Gets Sent to the Shadow Realm in Women's Title Fight

Originally posted on FanNation MMA Knockout | Last updated 2/23/24

Valesca Machado scored a highlight-reel finish and claimed strawweight gold in her headlining fight at Urijah Faber’s A-1 Combat 18.

“Tina Black” first established herself as a violent knockout artist in her native Brazil before she came up short against Piera Rodriguez in a Dana White’s Contender Series fight in 2021.

The 28-year-old went on to find considerable success in top women’s promotion Invicta FC until she lost her strawweight title to Danni McCormack last year, but following a pair of canceled bouts, the Brazilian returned at A-1 Combat 18 and brutally knocked out Taylor Mauldin in the night’s main event.

OUT........ COLD!!!!!

TINA BLACK IS YOUR NEW CHAMPION!!#A1Combat18 pic.twitter.com/jdl2CqJN0L
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 23, 2024

Already well-known for her dangerous striking, “Tina Black” pressured her opponent right from the opening bell and landed some huge punches before a thunderous right hand ended things in less than a minute.

The victory was Machado’s first knockout since she stopped four-straight opponents to get her Contender Series opportunity, and she also handed Mauldin her first loss after “Machine Gun” began her professional MMA career with four wins.

The newly-crowned A-1 Combat strawweight champion was likely still on the UFC’s radar following her success in Invicta FC and previous Contender Series fight, and after a highlight-reel knockout like that it would be no surprise to see Machado competing in the Octagon at some point soon.

This article first appeared on FanNation MMA Knockout and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: