Felice Herrig controlled the cage and pushed the pace for the entirety of her XFC 17 fight with Paricia Vidonic. She not only beat Vidonic, but she took the fight to the ground and beat her own game. Herrig won via unanimous decision.

Here’s what she had to say after her win.

Felice Herrig takes on Patricia Vidonic this Friday at XFC 17 on HDNet. They put together this feature on the ‘L’il Bulldog’, which documents how she has marketed herself, how Jeff Curran and team have changed her as a fighter and how she wants to be remembered in the fight game.

This will be Herrig’s first fight in 2012, and she’s coming off a loss to Carla Esparza at XFC 15 last December. Vidonic lost in February to Jessica Aguilar, but took that fight to a decision. She had won five straight fights before that loss.

They have one common opponent, as both fighters have losses on their pro records from Valerie Coolbaugh.

Vidonic is a ground specialist and will be looking to submit Herrig. Herrig would love to stand and bang, but surely has become a much better ground fighter since her arrival at Team Curran.

You can catch all the live action of Herrig vs. Vidonic and XFC 17 on HDNet at 9pm CT.

About three years ago, we were excited to tell you about a new women’s MMA reality show that was to air nationally on NBC.

According to their press release, it was going to feature some of the big names in women’s MMA: Tara LaRosa, Rosi Sexton and Cris Cyborg as coaches, with Felice Herrig, Roxy Richardson, Kerry Vera, Michelle Vera, Marloes Coenen and Jessica Aguilar among the 16 fighters.

That show never made it to air, but it did make some news recently when Fox Chicago reported that a local politician was being sued by seven of the fighters.

Sean Morrison was an investor for the show, and he’s also a candidate for the Cook County Board of Review. He’s being sued by fighters that claim they were never paid for being on the show.

Here’s the clip from Fox Chicago:

7 Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Suing Cook County Board of Review Candidate: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

The L’il Bulldog is headed to Tennessee for another XFC fight. Felice Herrig has agreed to fight submission specialist Patricia Vidonic at XFC 17: Apocalypse in Jackson, TN at the Oman Arena.

Both fighters are coming off losses. Herrig dropped a decision to Carla Esparza at XFC 15, while Vidonic lost to Jessica Aguilar on February 17 at Fight Time 8. That loss broke Vidonic’s 5-fight win streak, and she holds a 5-2 professional record.

Herrig, 5-4 as a pro, will likely need to put her Team Curran training to use early and often in the bout against Vidonic, who had three straight submission wins before her loss to Aguilar.

The two fighters have a common opponent in Valerie Coolbaugh. Vidonic lost her first pro fight to Coolbaugh in 2010, while Herrig lost to Coolbaugh at XFO 29 back in 2009.

XFC president John Prisco is excited for the matchup. “Patricia and Felice is going to be a war,” said Prisco. “Both of these women are top of the food chain. Now, Patricia Vidonic isn’t a household name but she has quietly built a reputation around the country as one of the toughest women fighters around,” said Prisco. “Her last three wins were all by submission. She has held titles and taken all comers. Patricia isn’t one of these fighters that takes easy fights and pads her record. She just went toe to toe with Jessica Aguilar last week. She came up short when it went to the judges, but she almost caught Aguilar in a couple of submissions. Patricia is the real deal,  I know she’s hungry and sees Felice as someone who is in her way. This is a big fight for both ladies and Women’s MMA. I’m proud to have both of these women on the XFC card in Jackson.”

You can watch XFC 17: Apocalypse live on HDNet on April 13.

Remember those commercials where the guy gives the hair restoration pitch and then at the end reveals that, “I’m not only the president…I’m also a client”? It’s kind of like that for Suckerpunch president Brian Butler-Au.

No, I’m not talking about his hair — he has a thick, natural coif as far as we can tell from seeing him at events — but not only is he the president of Suckerpunch Entertainment, he’s also a fighter.

Butler-Au heads up Suckerpunch, and they represent some big name fighters, including Pat Barry, Jeff Curran, Pat Curran, Felice Herrig and many more. But watch him do work in the ring at CSC 32 Battleware Fighting Championships in Richmond, Virginia a few weeks ago.

A very impressive performance for the 40-year old Butler-Au. If you’d like to get repped by Suckerpunch, visit their website: suckerpunchent.com/

And since I mentioned the ‘Hair Club for Men’ guy, I suppose I should show you that vid too.

Felice Herrig had her winning streak stopped on Friday night in Florida, losing via unanimous decision to Carla Esparza.

In the first round, Herrig was repeatedly taken down by the powerful wrestler. Esparza had little trouble getting Herrig to the mat, scoring four takedowns and doing some damage on the ground.

Between rounds 1 and 2, the crowd groaned at the sight of the massive hematoma on Herrig’s forehead as she was tended to by trainer Jeff Curran.

Round 2 was much of the same for Herrig, as Esparza’s well-timed shots were once again able to get Herrig to ground, where she spent much of the round. Herrig’s guard was active, and she did not incur much damage at all in the round, but it was clear that Esparza had won the round.

Round 3 started with Herrig looking for a double-leg on Esparza, which was surprising. She did ultimately secure the takedown after a short battle against the cage, but Esparza reversed position and ended up on top.

Herrig was able to get some sub attempts in the round, at one point having Esparza in trouble with a triangle and reverse-side armbar. But Esparza was able to escape and re-establish top position. The fight was stood up by the referee with :30 seconds to go. Herrig landed a flurry of shots, including a hard kick to Esparza’s face, but time was short, and the bell sounded.

Esparza took the decision on all of the judges cards. She told Frank Trigg in a post-fight interview how she was able to dominate with her wrestling. “I’ve been on the mat for years,” Esparza said. “I put the work in, I put the time in, and it shows.”

Here’s a look at Chicago’s MMA this weekend…

- Cut Throat returns with Invasion 4 in Aurora tonight. Doors open at 6:30 and fights — 22 of them — begin at 8pm.

Tonight on HDNet, local fighters Jonatas Novaes and Felice Herrig will fight on the XFC 15 card in Florida.

A win tonight for Novaes and you’d have to think that the UFC will be giving him a call. He has won four straight fights, including the Illinois state championship, when he broke WEC vet Sherron “Rob Roy” Legget’s arm to take the title.

Novaes will fight Eric Reynolds, who fights out of American Top Team. Reynolds has fought in Bellator and has faced tough opponents like Jorge Masvidal and Eddie Alvarez. This will be Reynolds’ first fight in almost a year.

Felice “L’il Bulldog” Herrig will be back in action looking for her third straight win. We last saw Herrig at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates notching a unanimous decision win over Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc at XFO 39. Fans were treated to a great fight between the two, and Rivera-Calanoc’s “YES!!” walk-in was awesome.

Herrig will face Carla Esparza, who has fought some of the well-known names in women’s MMA. Esparza has fought Jessica Aguilar and Megumi Fujii in Bellator, and has a win over Karina Hallaran.

You can watch XFC 15: Tribute on HDNet.

The ageless wonder that is Shonie Carter will be back in the cage taking on Ryan Thomas. Carter got back in the win column with a unanimous decision win over Landon Showalter at Rumble on the Ridge XX in October, and he’ll hop right back into battle with just six weeks in between fights.

Thomas is a tough draw for Carter. He is a UFC vet that recently fought Jonatas Novaes in the seminfinal round of the Combat USA Illinois state tourney. Thomas has faced Novaes, Judo Jim Wallhead, Ben Saunders, Matt Brown and Ben Askren — twice. This will be Thomas’ first fight since his loss to Novaes.

Novaes will also fight on the card. A member of Team Brasa and a BJJ instructor under Comprido at FLO MMA in Palatine, Novaes’ star is on the rise. He has won four straight fights, including the Illinois state championship at 170 lbs, when he broke WEC vet Sherron “Rob Roy” Legget’s arm to take the title.

Novaes will fight Eric Reynolds, who fights out of American Top Team. Reynolds has fought in Bellator and has faced tough opponents like Jorge Masvidal and Eddie Alvarez. This will be Reynolds’ first fight in almost a year.

Felice “L’il Bulldog” Herrig will be back in action looking for her third straight win. We last saw Herrig at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates notching a unanimous decision win over Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc at XFO 39. Fans were treated to a great fight between the two, and Rivera-Calanoc’s “YES!!” walk-in was awesome.

Herrig will face Carla Esparza, who has fought some of the well-known names in women’s MMA. Esparza has fought Jessica Aguilar and Megumi Fujii in Bellator, and has a win over Karina Hallaran.

You can watch XFC 15: Tribute on HDNet.

Quick updates on Chicago area fighters…

- Miguel Torres is fighting Nick Pace at UFC 139. You may remember Pace from his insane flying knee KO of Collin Tebo back at Bellator 11. Torres will try to get back in the title picture after his loss to Demetrious Johnson. Pace is coming off a UFC 133 loss to Ivan Menjivar.

- Chicago’s Mike Russow is out of UFC 136 as his opponent Dave “Pee Wee” Herman tested positive for marijuana and steroids. No replacement was named so the fight was scratched.

It’s a tough break for Russow, who last fought at UFC Fight Night in March, when he beat Jon Madsen. Russow is 14-1 and has not lost since 2007, when he was submitted by Sergei Kharitonov at PRIDE 33.

- Dan “The Anvil” Stittgen will be fighting on October 8th at “King of the Cage: Interference” in Wisconsin. The MTC fighter recently won at Rockford Cage Fights and at XFO 39 in May. He is also a veteran of the TFC.

- The Supremacy MMA video game has hit stores, and it features local fighters Felice Herrig, Michele Gutierrez and Jens Pulver. Check out the game at their website.

Send any local fighter or school news to matt@chicagosmmna.com.

Here’s some video of Felice Herrig getting ready for her bout with Kelly Warren at Fight Tour in Rockford this Saturday. Warren fights out of Jackson’s MMA.

Curran talks about Felice’s strengths, and how he doesn’t think any fighter will be able to match her pace at 115 lbs.

Check out our Fight Tour Rockford preview.