Damm Secures Visa, Spot in Strikeforce Women’s Tourney Set

Carina Damm has secured a visa to travel to the U.S. to compete in Strikeforce’s four-women 135-pound tournament on Aug. 13, the promotion confirmed with Sherdog.com on Saturday. The one-night tournament takes place at Strikeforce Challengers 10 at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.

The Brazilian fighter’s spot in the tournament had been shadowed in doubt last week, after Strikeforce confirmed that it was having problems getting Damm an appointment with the overflowed Rio de Janeiro office that handles the requests. However, Damm was granted an appointment on Friday.

“(The) visa is done and we booked her travel,” wrote Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker via text. “She will be fighting.”

Damm joins Strikeforce veterans Miesha Tate and Hitomi Akano, and Finnish newcomer Maiju Kujala in the field, which will produce a challenger for 135-pound champion Sarah Kaufman.

Strikeforce will draw the two semi-final matchups at the official day-before weigh-ins, while the three bouts will be shortened from five- to three-minute rounds.

Damm has won 10 straight bouts since February 2007. The Alliance Jiu-jitsu rep earned a first-round TKO over Aline Serio at Jungle Fight 17 last February in her hometown of Vila Velha, Brazil.