Zolia Frausto Replaces Rosi Sexton in Bellator Women's Tournament

The following was just received by BR MMA in an official press release from Bellator Fighting Championships:

Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto, who shocked the MMA world with her stunning KO of the world’s top-ranked and heavily favored Rosi Sexton at Bellator 23 last Thursday, has been added to Bellator’s upcoming Women’s Tournament.

Frausto, a 26-year-old Central California native who improved her pro MMA record to 7-1 with the highlight-reel knockout, replaces Sexton, who was forced out of the tournament due to a 60-day medical suspension from the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority.

Frausto joins seven other female fighters who are all ranked among the world’s 10 best in their respective weight classes.

The others are Japanese MMA sensation and the world’s No. 1 pound-for pound female fighter, Megumi Fujii, 12-5 Seattle submission artist Lisa Ward, 7-0 Southern California striker Jessica Pene, 8-4 New Mexico-based submission specialist Angela Magana, 5-1 Las Vegas-based powerhouse Lynn Alvarez, 9-0 Irish sensation Aisling Daly, and 8-4 American Top Team product Jessica Aguilar.

Overall, the eight women boast a career winning percentage of .835 (76 wins and 15 losses).

“With a highlight knockout that’s already generated over 70,000 YouTube views, Zoila stamped her ticket to our women’s tournament,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

“The purpose of our women’s tournament is simply to determine the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, and with such a dominant performance against the worlds’s No. 1-ranked 125 pound fighter, there was no way to not include Zoila in this lineup. She earned her place by beating the best.”

Frausto’s shocking knockout—which can be seen below—came roughly two minutes into Round One of her fight against Sexton.

The left knee to the chin knocked Sexton unconscious and dropped her to the canvas before the referee stopped the fight when Frausto delivered three right hands to the jaw. It was just the second career loss for Sexton in 12 pro MMA fights.
 
“I saw the opening and I just threw the knee up,” Frausto said after the fight, adding that she thinks she now deserves to be ranked No. 1 in the world at 125. “I've been shooting for No. 1 since I got into the sport. This is exactly why I got into MMA.”

In an interview with MMAjunkie.com on Friday, Frausto reiterated her desire to fight in the tournament.

“I've been doing this to fight the best, and I just beat one of the best,” she said. “So hell yeah, I want that spot.”