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Wrestlers Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and Julianna Pena might be dominating the Octagon these days, but the next generation of MMA hopefuls is nipping at their heels -- even if they dont know it yet.We scoured the rankings and spoke with MMA insider and Invicta FC matchmaker Julie Kedzie about who could follow in the footsteps of these top women fighters, and these are the 5 young fighters we have our eye on.The Next Big (Little) Thing: Alexa Grasso, 22, MMAIf youve never seen Alexa Grasso in the cage, it can be hard to imagine the sweet-faced, soft-spoken girl from Guadalajara, Mexico, dominating in hand-to-hand combat. Then you look at her record (7-0) and watch her clips (the first-round TKO of Alida Gray at Invicta FC 11?is particularly impressive) and the incongruity starts to resolve.Grasso the fighter has a lurch to her step that puts her strawweight opponents on their back foot; its a little unsettling, for a number of reasons. Her flurries are merciless -- Grays TKO came after a particularly brutal ground-and-pound. Dana White himself has called her a badass.And then she gets on the phone, shy, careful about her English, and says: I know theres a lot of fighters who like to talk bad about their opponents and say nasty things, and I want to change that. I want to be the kind of fighter who can show the world and everybody that you dont have to be that kind of person.Initially scared off by the violence of martial arts, Grasso came around with the encouragement of her father. She began her training at age 15 in Muay Thai at her uncles gym. Thats also where she met her best friend, Invicta bantamweight Irene Aldana.A shoulder injury this past fall kept Grasso out of Invicta FC 14 and 15. She was close to fighting Stephanie Eggink in March at Invicta 16 but Grasso broke a finger. The inability to train left her down.Grasso says she didnt even really get a taste for the physical punishment of MMA until about three years ago, when she fought Karina Rodriguez at Xtreme Kombat 20 in Mexico. Grasso won, but she took a beating, ending the fight with a bloodied nose after sustaining kicks and knees to the face.That was a really, really hard fight for me and that was the one where I tested myself, Grasso said.While she makes no secret of the fact that shes gunning for the Invicta title and the UFC, shes aware of how much she still has left to learn. Everybody thinks that Im a veteran and Ive read comments about how I should be better in many ways, she said. But I only have seven fights. Im just a blue belt, and kind of want to say, Hey, Im just out here starting my career!Which is all to say, when she headlines Invicta 18 on July 29 against Jodie Esquibel, shell come in hungry and, as ever, cheerful.The Prodigy: Mizuki Inoue, 21, MMAWhen Japanese strawweight Mizuki Inoue was in fourth grade, she attended her brothers MMA class and was immediately drawn to the sport. Why? Because basically anything goes [in MMA], Mizuki said through a translator.By 16, Inoue, who goes by Mizuki in the cage, was fighting professionally -- and winning -- for a Japanese promotion company called Jewels. Within three years, Invicta FC came calling, and it was then that the teenager realized the industry had taken notice. Since then, I have set my goals to become an Invicta champion, she said.Not that the transition has come without a degree of culture shock. When I first started fighting for Invicta, I was very surprised about how big the stage production was, she said. Everything looked bright and shiny to me, so it was a really good experience. And also when I come to the U.S., the fans are very exciting. Theyre very loud -- it pushes me so much.While shes 11-4 overall as a pro, Mizuki has a split record of 2-2 in Invicta bouts, with decision losses to Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Alexa Grasso. For so young a fighter, however, that may not be such a bad thing.The truth of the matter is, those fights could have gone either way, said Kedzie. Its good to get those fights out of your system and understand they were close. Her last fight with Lacey Schuckman was insanely good. She destroyed her. She was really composed and much more aggressive than shes been.According to manager Shu Hirata, the UFC has already noticed the young phenom and offered her a spot in the strawweight division when it was first created. After discussing it with her trainer, Inoue decided to remain with Invicta to gain more experience -- at least for another year. Shell have her chance on July 29, when she faces off against Lynn Alvarez at Invicta FC 18.And while she does see herself as a champion-to-be at the all-female promotion, shes taking each step as it comes.When you look at my record, theres a lot of fights on my resume, but I still dont feel like a veteran yet, Mizuki said. Im still improving, and Im on my way to the title fight, but I still feel maybe its too early.The Double Threat: Tiffany van Soest, 27, Muay Thai and MMAIf I didnt fight I would surf a lot more, said kickboxer and newly minted MMA fighter Tiffany van Soest from her home in Bali. Theres a lot to do here -- volcanoes, hiking, waterfalls.The Torrance, California, native speaks with an intensity one wouldnt expect from someone living in paradise. Truth is, its hard to imagine shes ever quite still. Van Soest splits her time between Bali, where she trains, teaches muay Thai and volunteers as a martial arts coach at a local orphanage, and California, where she does pre-fight camp.The former Lion Fight super bantamweight and featherweight transitioned to Muay Thai in her teens after spending most of her childhood practicing karate. From then on, she was nearly unstoppable, amassing a 10-1 amateur record and going 15-2-1 as a pro with nine titles by the age of 27. She even squeezed in a little amateur MMA (1-1).But as good as her record was, it was difficult to support herself financially. Its part of the reason she moved to Bali, where the cost of living is lower.I felt good about my accomplishments, van Soest said. As long as Ive been doing it, and for how old I am, I thought I should be making a lot more.Shortly after Invicta FC began courting her, premier kickboxing promotion Glory reached out as well.?Faced with choosing between a new challenge and her longtime passion, she opted for both.Glory is, hands-down, the biggest, most prestigious kickboxing promotion in the world, she says. When they approached me, I felt like I was getting what I really deserved for the work I put in. It made me feel like a true professional athlete.Shes already made her Glory premiere, defeating Emma Hasshass by unanimous decision at Glory 30 in May. Her first pro MMA fight is expected in September. I think her transition [to MMA] is going to be very smooth and go over very well, Kedzie said.Asked about a timeline for making it to UFC, van Soest said: I want to make sure Im ready because those girls are the best in the world. I dont want to get there just to say I got there. When I get there Im going to be the champion, so I want to make sure Im fully ready, that my skills are fully developed to not only compete at that level, but to dominate.The Veteran: Ava Knight, 27, boxerThe Lady of Boxing started her journey to five championship belts as a quiet 13-year-old in Chico, California. Between the ages of 14 and 18, the flyweight racked up 28 amateur wins and only four losses -- impressive considering how few fights women were getting in the early 2000s.Going pro was easier at first; she took newbies and champs alike, often traveling to Mexico to do so. But the 14-2-4 champ learned something along the way that complicated her career trajectory.Beating the good girls, the undefeated girls, winning world championships -- it just started getting harder and harder because now you feel like youre worth something, Knight said. As a woman, nobody was treating me like I had that value. Ive spent the last few years trying to hold my value but still fight. Its hard.Shes turned down a number of low-paying fights and now has her eyes set on a new challenge: MMA, where she says women are valued. She recently caught the eye of UFC and NFL insider Jay Glazer, who invited her to train at his gym once she finishes up touring with Joe Jonas (who shes training, not singing with).Its not that Im done with boxing, she said, I would love to beat up all these prospects that they think are great. But what does that do for me? Im just beating up the girls that are trying to make it in the sport. Where in MMA its this whole new field of girls, but I know I can beat them.Only 27, shes considered a veteran, which may put her at an advantage against young MMA prospects who cant handle the limelight. As Kedzie put it, I like individuals in this sport who can stand on their own two feet and try to push their own boundaries. Someone with that much talent can go extremely far in MMA.The Olympian: Helen Maroulis, 24, wrestlerOkay, so technically we dont know if Helen Maroulis has given much thought to a possible MMA transition. She has a lot on her plate these days, after all -- shes representing the United States at the 2016 Olympics.The 116-pound wrestler has enough national championship medals to cover a wall, including the 2015 World Wrestling Championship title and two World Cup championships. Shes ranked No. 1 on Team USA in her weight category.Like a lot of female MMA fighters, Maroulis grew up fighting boys -- through elementary, middle and high school. Once in college, she took four Womens College Wrestling Association titles and barely missed making qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. She won this years qualifier in Mongolia to book a ticket to Rio.MMA and UFC in particular have a long history of welcoming former wrestlers into its ranks. Theres something about female wrestlers in particular that I think, God you must be so tough, says Kedzie. The sport grinds you up and spits you out.Theres something about how [Maroulis] competes that I just find fascinating, and I want to keep watching her. I think shed make a really good transition to MMA.Heres hoping Maroulis agrees. For now, we wish her the best in Rio. Discount Jerseys For Sale . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Fake Jerseys For Sale . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/ . PAUL, Minn. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Jerseys For Sale Outlet . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. LOS ANGELES -- Tim Tebow crushed a batting-practice fastball with a confident left-handed swing, sending it into the trees next to the scoreboard beyond right field.The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback only paused an instant to appreciate his shot, and then he went right back to work on the unlikely next chapter in his unique athletic story.Tebow took his first big swings at a baseball career Tuesday, showing off a powerful bat and other developing skills during a workout in front of dozens of major league scouts and reporters.The 29-year-old aspiring outfielder went through drills at the University of Southern Californias Dedeaux Field for over an hour, confidently chasing a dream deferred for 12 years. Declaring his football career essentially over, Tebow insists he is serious about becoming more than a baseball curiosity.The goal would be to have a career in the big leagues, Tebow said. I just want to be someone to pursue what I believe in, what Im passionate about. A lot of people will say, `But what if you fail? What if you dont make it? Guess what? I dont have to live with regret. I did everything I could. I pushed it. I would rather be someone that could live with peace and no regret than what-if, or being scared.Tebows heavily muscled, 255-pound physique and 6.70-ish time in the 60-yard dash were impressive to the scouts. He also showed undeniable hitting ability with a series of line drives and long homers during batting practice.But Tebow also showed he still needs baseball seasoning when he faced live pitching from former big-leaguers David Aardsma and Chad Smith, who repeatedly fooled him with off-speed pitches. Tebow could only grin in frustration after he fanned on a series of changeups and breaking balls.There is 100 percent nerves, no question about it, Tebow said. When youre at the combine or a pro day, you have your body of work for four years, everything that you did, so its not just that one day. Here, you might have seen me when I was 17, but you havent seen me since. A lot goes into it, so youd better show something. A lot of nerves, a lot of pressure, for sure.Tebow hasnt played baseball regularly since his junior year at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida. He left early to enroll at Florida, beginning a fabled college football career that led to the 2007 Heisman and two national titles for the Gators.But 12 years ago, Tebow was a .494-hitting, all-county outfielder who loved hitting a baseball everyy bit as much as he loved leading a huddle.ddddddddddddThe second-hardest decision I ever made was giving up baseball to go to the University of Florida and play football, said Tebow, whose choice of Florida over Alabama was the toughest. There wasnt a season that went by that it wasnt something that I thought about. When I felt like I had this opportunity, I wanted to take it and pursue it with everything I had.A few big-league teams talked privately with Tebow after the workout, and he seems unlikely to have trouble finding an organization willing to give a chance to a celebrity with clear baseball ability, however rudimentary.Tebow realizes he is still far from the big leagues, but he hopes to play in the instructional league in Arizona next month before heading into winter league ball, perhaps even in Latin America.Tebow decided to pursue his baseball aspirations in earnest three months ago. He began training at a baseball school in Arizona run by Chad Moeller. The former big-league catcher saw daily improvements in Tebow, from his bat speed to his mental game.If Im a team, Im signing him, Moeller said. Im taking him to instructional ball. Id get him to the Arizona Fall League and get him matched up against some good arms and see what happens. I dont think this is one youre going to take your time on, because hes not a young kid. So youre going to push him. For him and for the teams, I thought if he goes out and performs the way he could and is capable of, you could see it in a year, a year and a half, definitely in the big leagues.Tebow hasnt played in the NFL since 2012, becoming a broadcaster and resisting attempts to move him to another football position as his quarterback career evaporated. Even while he got an extended look last year from the Philadelphia Eagles, who cut him after the preseason, Tebow said his mind already had wandered back to baseball.Its not about publicity, Tebow said. Its definitely not about money. Its a pay cut to do this. Just pursue what you love, right? Regardless of what else happens. Regardless of if you fail, or if you fall on your face. If thats the worst thing that can happen, thats OK. When did that become such a bad thing? When did pursuing what you love become a bad thing, regardless of the result? For me, yeah, Ill make all the sacrifices to be the best I can. ' ' '