For the first time ever in Martial Combat history, female fighters were featured at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore.

By Claudia Wong

The ladies took to the stage to show some girl power for the most exhilarating fight of the Martial Combat 5.

English fighter, Claire Haigh and China's Sun Jiau gave each other too much respect at the start and measured each other with kicks and punches but veered away from the big moves.

It took awhile before Haigh took Sun to the mat as Sun attempted to use her legs to keep her opponent at bay. Haigh put her ground game to good use and the fight went all the way to three rounds and ended in a referee stoppage with one minute and 30 seconds left in the third. Haigh, a blue belt holder in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the No.3 ranked female Muay Thai fighter in Thailand, added another win to her illustrious career.

Haigh chirped:"I was really happy winning my second MMA fight, and I had total respect for my opponent as she put up a strong challenge. I could feel that she was starting to tire out towards the end of the second round, and she didn't seem to be strong on the ground.

"I was able to measure the timings of her attacks soon enough, and took advantage of her fatigue and finished the fight.

"Martial Combat has been great, the fighters who come to Singapore have been treated really well as compared to fights in Thailand, and I'll definitely wish to return."

Sun admitted that she lost out due to her lack of skill in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

"I managed a few strong blows and could match my opponent standing up, but when she took me down her upper body strength overpowered me." said Sun.

Martial Combat 6 had Yang ‘Fury' Xiao Nan from Liaoning, China take on Gina ‘Conviction' Iniong from the Philippines. Both fighters stepped into the ring boasting an undefeated record.

Yang wasted little time and made the first move with a vicious shin kick. She took the petite Filipino to the mat and attempted two submission moves but the stubborn Filipino refused to tap out.

The second round was similar to the first, but it was clearly visible to the chanting crowd that Iniong was bleeding from her nose but credit to the aggressive Filipino fighter, she held her ground and attempted to keep the fight off the ground.

Gina found herself on her feet and wild exchanges ensued between the two. Before the start of the third round, the two were visibly tired but continued the psychological battle, with Yang finally amassing a favourable 30-26, 29-28, 30-27 on the judges' scorecards.

Said Yang of her win:"My opponent was very strong but I trained hard for this fight every day. My strategy was to go in hard and to keep hitting her."

As a female fighter, she felt that females compete on the same level playing field as the men.

"I feel there are no major differences between the men's and women's game, we work just as hard in the fight. I would love to have the opportunity to return and fight again."

Another two nights of fantastic Mixed Martial Arts action to round off the month of July.

More exciting installments of Martial Combat will be held over the next three months, as Asian fans will once again get to feed their blood-lust on some of the best ring action in this part of the world.

To the fighters, keep fighting. And to the fantastic crowd, keep on cheering!