Wombat Sports: American Champion Judoka Marina Shafir Makes MMA Debut Sunday

Shafir in 2006

Another international champion judoka will be making the move to MMA.
USA Judo Junior National champion Marina Shafir will take on Denise Goddard Sunday May 20 at Premier FC 9 in Holyoke, MA in what will be Shafir’s MMA debut.
Shafir is originally from Moldova, and immigrated to the U.S. at age five. Making Lathem, NY her home, she won the USA Judo Junior Olympic National title in 2005, and a U.S. Judo Federation Junior National Champion in 2006. She was teammates with Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey, and they are still very close.
Goodard will also be making her debut, fighting out of Guardian Self Defense in Webster, MA.
This will be an amateur contest.
Thanks to Aaron Pegson for contributing to this report.