The Inside MMA crew announced that Fallon Fox (3-0) will take on Ashlee Evans-Smith (1-0) at CFA 12 on October 12 on AXS-TV. The event is expected to be held at BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla. Although neither the fight nor the full event has been officially announced, Inside MMA reported the winner of the featherweight tournament stands to earn $20,000.
Sherdog has more background on both fighters:
Known as “The Queen of Swords,” Fox’s status as a male-to-female transgender fighter became public earlier this year prior to her tournament semifinal victory over Allanna Jones this past May at CFA 11. The 37-year-old underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2006 and completed the subsequent hormone therapy before beginning her MMA career last year. Fox, who holds a perfect 3-0 record, initially saw her fight license placed under investigation in Florida but was later cleared to compete.
Evans-Smith, meanwhile, has competed just once as a professional, making her debut on March 2 at CFA 10 after losing four of her final five fights as an amateur. The 26-year-old halted that skid in her pro foray, however, taking a unanimous decision from Tori Adams in the opening round of the CFA tourney. Evans-Smith was then expected to fight in the round of four at CFA 11 but instead moved on to the finals by default after opponent Anna Barone could not make weight.
The controversy surrounding Fox has been a boon for CFA which secured its deal with AXS TV only after Fox became a cause celebe.
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