“SFT 22: The Return” for Breast Cancer Awareness Oct. 31 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
SFT MMA & Xtreme’s (Standout Fighting Tournament) rescheduled “SFT 22: The Return”, originally scheduled for August 1st but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been replaced by an all-female main card in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, to be held Halloween night (Saturday, Oct. 31) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
SFT 22: The Return will be aired live on network television in Brazil in English and Portuguese, as well as streamed live in the United States and worldwide on pay per view via the FITE app and website (www.FITE.tv), starting at 10:45 p.m. EST / 7:45 p.m. PST, for only $14.99.
“Two years ago,” SFT president David Hudson said, “we dedicated our card to Breast Cancer Awareness. It was an all-female card: fighters, referees, and cut-women. Even two of our ring-card girls brought their boyfriends to be ring-card boys. It was the first time in Brazil’s long MMA history that featured an all-female event. The first year I had joined SFT less than three months earlier and we weren’t able to get enough women fighters, so the main card was all-females.
“Earlier this year, prior to the pandemic, we were going to promote a card for International Women’s Day. We’re promoting SFT: 22 for Breast Cancer Awareness with a six-fight all-female card.”
The main event will pit undefeated Andreia “Thai” Serafim (4-0-0, SFT: 2-0-0) against Pamela Mara Assis (4-2-1, SFT: 2-0-0) for the vacant SFT Strawweight Championship. Undefeated Sarafim is an assistant “hodman,” a laborer for a bricklayer or mason who carries bricks, mortar, and cement. Both title challengers are undefeated in SFT action with identical 2-0-0 records. Assis is riding a 4-fight win streak.
In the co-featured event, Karina “Killer” Silva (12-4-0, SFT: 1-0-0) takes on Sidy Rocha (12-7-2, SFT: 9-0-0) in a battle of Brazilian bantamweights, and strawweight Julia Polastri (7-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0) puts her 5-fight win streak on the line against Jessica “So Na Manha” Evelyn Cunha (8-2-0, SFT: 0-0-0).
Brazil vs. Argentina is always a fierce rivalry in any sport and Brazilian strawweight Bianca Sattelmayer meets her Argentinian opponent, Florencia Greco, in an SFT Xtreme match (SFT Xtreme allows striking, kicking and knees with 4-ounce gloves; clinching and fighting on the mat is prohibited).
Brazilian bantamweights Thalita Diniz (2-1-0, SFT: 0-1-0) and Claudia Leite (4-2-0, SFT: 2-1-0) square off, while Isabela “Belinha” de Padua (5-2-0, SFT: 4-0-0 MMA) and Patricia Barbosa de Sousa MMA) will fight at a 128-pound catchweight.
“We’re really excited about this unique event,” Hudson concluded. “It’s a nice coincidence that we return to Brazil promoting a special event like this for Breast Cancer Awareness, in addition to showcasing the strength of Brazilian women MMA fighters. There’s still some bias against female fighters, but women always give their best in fights.
“The main event has the recipe to be one of the best female fights in years. Our Xtreme fight is Brazil versus Argentina and this is the ultimate rivalry. I’m sure fans will be talking about this night for a long time.”
