Combatants take to the arena in a state of undress to slug it out in a UFC-style cage, with a clothed crowd cheering them on as they try to grapple their scantily-clad opponents into submission
Story by The Sun / Pictures by George Harrison
WELCOME to the mixed martial arts showdown where contestants leave their inhibitions at the door to brawl in their bras and kick-box in their knickers.
This is the “Naughty ‘n Nice” Lingerie Fighting Championship, the 21st instalment of the controversial female fighting tournament.
Jesse Santos [0-0] (top) gives it her all in a scantily-clad showdown
Shelly 'Aphrodite' DaSilva [9-7] (L) flings Roxy 'Roundhouse' Michaels [10-3] during an LFC bout
Combatants take to the arena in a state of undress to slug it out in a UFC-style cage, with a clothed crowd cheering them on as they try to grapple their scantily-clad opponents into submission.
This year all the action took place on June 18 in Nice, California, and it proved to be a fiery affair, with lingerie-modelling fighters giving it their all in an attempt to brawl their way through the high-adrenaline tournament.
Cali Cat [4-0] (L) and Lauren 'The Animal' Fogle [5-4] took grappling to a new level during their fight
Serina 'Honey Punch' Kyle [2-2] rocked a pink number at the controversial event
The event, which has been slammed for being sexist in the past, is described by organisers as “MMA like you’ve never seen it before.”
The tournament’s website claims that nearly 5 million people tuned in to the 20th edition of the championships, whilst this year’s showdown was billed as featuring “some of the most exciting match-ups in modern lingerie MMA history.”
Some headline fights this year saw MaiNe 'Main Event' Morgan [16-2] taking on Sheila 'Crash' Cardinal [9-10], and the biggest event of the tournament pitted reigning LFC Champion Feather 'The Hammer' Hadden [21-1] against Allie 'Babydoll' Parks [17-8].
The card also featured some local talent in the form Jessie 'El Toro' Santos [12-4], a fighter allegedly renowned for fighting dirty.
The “sport” features kick-boxing, alongside traditional boxing and wrestling fighting styles
Feather 'The Hammer' Hadden [21-1] is the current LFC champion
Promotion for the tournament described the event as featuring “16 of the most beautiful athletes in the world fighting in nothing but lingerie.”
And the championships didn’t disappoint, with stunning fighters really packing a punch in a series of fiery bouts.
Sheila 'Crash' Cardinal [9-10] (L) and MaiNe 'Main Event' Morgan [16-2] fling each other around the ring
Some of the fights see vicious blows being traded between the women
Reigning champion Feather 'The Hammer' Hadden [21-1] made her record 20-1 by holding on to her title against defeated challenger Allie 'Babydoll' Parks [17-8].
And MaiNe 'Main Event' Morgan [16-2] beat Sheila 'Crash' Cardinal [9-10] in the other high-profile fight on the night, prompting outrage from Cardinal after her loss was declared.
The fights are well attended, with millions of people watching LFC bouts
There was drama after some fights, as combatants argued with judges, refs and each other
She was pictured going after her opponent as referees restrained her, following a fiery showdown between the two.
Meanwhile, local fighter Jessie 'El Toro' Santos [12-4] grabbed the bull by the horns to claim victory in her bout with Natasha 'Rattlesnake' Rodriguez [1-2].
Some people have slammed the event for being sexist
A fiercely competitive bout ended in an argument for Sheila 'Crash' Cardinal [9-10] and MaiNe 'Main Event' Morgan [16-2]
But event organisers and contestants deny any allegations of sexism, claiming women are happy to partake in the event.
The CEO of LFC, Shaun Donnelly, commented on an article criticising his organisation last year.
He said: “While I don’t believe there’s anything sexist about LFC I always find it funny that these stories are always accompanied by as many of our photos as can fit.
“‘Oh, showing women in lingerie is sexist! Here’s a photo. Isn’t it awful? Here’s another.’”