Miranda Granger is stepping back into the octagon.
The Glacier Peak High School graduate and mixed martial arts star will compete in her first fight in nearly two years when she faces Cory McKenna as part of UFC Fight Night on Aug. 6. The location is yet to be announced.
Granger, who fights out of Charlie’s Combat Club in Everett, is 7-2 as a professional and 1-2 since signing with UFC, the world’s premier MMA promotion. Her last fight was on Nov. 14, 2020 when she lost a unanimous decision to Ashley Yoder. Granger then stepped away from the sport to become a mother, giving birth to her daughter last August.
“Signing this time felt a little different,” Granger said in an Instagram post. “I am fighting for so much more now. My favorite new addition to the Danger Nation was the missing piece to my crazy puzzle.”
Granger and McKenna will be competing in a strawweight (115 pounds) bout scheduled for three five-minute rounds. McKenna, who hales from Wales, is 6-2 as a professional and 1-1 in UFC. She’s coming off a split-decision loss to Elise Reed during UFC Fight Night on March 19. McKenna is currently ranked No. 32 worldwide among women’s strawweights by Tapology.com, while Granger is ranked No. 41.
The Aug. 6 card is headlined by a men’s light heavyweight bout between Thiago Santos and Jamahal Hill.
Holloway, Kispert among Sports Star nominees
Snohomish County natives Katie Holloway and Corey Kispert are among the nominees for the 87th annual Sports Star of the Year Awards as presented by the Seattle Sports Commission. The awards celebrate the achievements of Washington sports.
Holloway, a graduate of Lake Stevens High School, was nominated for the Sports Star of the Year in Women’s Sport. Holloway was named the tournament MVP as the U.S. took home the gold medal in women’s sitting volleyball at the 2020 Summer Paralympic Games, which were held last summer in Tokyo.
Kispert, an Edmonds native who graduated from King’s High School, was nominated for the Sports Star of the Year in Men’s Sport. Kispert was named a first-team All-American in men’s basketball as he led Gonzaga University to a 31-1 record and a spot in the 2021 national championship game.
The banquet takes place May 26 at The Westin in Seattle.
White takes fourth at wrestling nationals
Marysville Pilchuck High School junior Alivia White placed fourth in her age group and weight class at the Women’s National Championships in wrestling, which took place last weekend in Fort Worth, Texas.
White, competing in the under-20 76-kilogram weight class, lost her opening match to two-time World Team member Tristan Kelly of Colorado 10-0, then won four straight matches by pin before losing the third-place match 12-9 to Utah’s Brooklyn Hays. Her fourth-place finish earned her All-American status.
Daugherty named GNAC Athlete of the Week
Lake Stevens High School graduate Lizzy Daugherty, now a sophomore on the Seattle Pacific University women’s track and field team, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for May 2-8.
Daugherty, competing in the pole vault, posted a personal best by nearly 14 inches in winning the event at the Linfield Open on Saturday. Her height of 12 feet, 4 inches moved her into a tie for the conference lead and tied her for eighth on GNAC’s all-time list.
EdC’s Andrade receives NWAC honor
Edmonds College’s Nanea Andrade was named the Northwest Athletic Conference’s Softball Hitter of the Week for April 25-May 1.
Andrade, a first-year infielder from Wailuku, Hawaii, went 9-for-15 over the course of three games, scoring seven runs and driving in four. Edmonds won all three games.
Andrade is batting .431 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 31 games for the Tritons, who are 14-8 in the North Region and 18-20 overall.
Local taekwondo instructor earns rare achievement
Cho Ki Seung, the owner of Master Cho’s Taekwondo in Lynnwood, was presented with his 9th degree black belt in the sport, a feat few achieve. Grand Master Cho traveled to Seoul, South Korea, in December to undergo testing at World Taekwondo’s headquarters, then received his certificate in April. Grand Master Cho has operated his taekwondo school for 28 years.
Three Silvertips listed for NHL draft
Three members of the Everett Silvertips were in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings for the 2022 NHL draft. Winger Ben Hemmerling was ranked No. 86 among North American skaters and winger Austin Roest was ranked No. 180. Goaltender Braden Holt was ranked No. 11 among North American goaltenders. Their rankings put them on the bubble for being drafted.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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