Invicta Visits Las Vegas on July 9, Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino Headlines

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is headed to Las Vegas.

The promotion will make its first trip to Nevada on Thursday, July 9, as part of International Fight Week. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. Headlining the event will be a featherweight title fight between champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino and a yet-to-be-determined challenger.

Cyborg successfully defended her 145-pound title at Invicta FC 11, stopping Canadian Charmaine Tweet in 46 seconds. The win marked the Brazilian’s third straight finish inside the Invicta cage.

Also slated for the July event is an atomweight title fight between Brazilian champion Herica Tiburcio and Japan’s Ayaka Hamasaki. The pair were originally expected to meet at Invicta FC 9 last fall, but after that fell through, Tiburcio submitted Michelle Waterson at Invicta FC 1o to capture the 105-pound strap.

Additional information about the event will be released in the coming months.


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Invicta FC 11 Results: Cyborg Stops Tweet to Retain Title, Grasso Edges Inoue

Los Angeles — Invicta Fighting Championships returned to action on Friday, Feb. 27, for Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet. The event took place from the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles. The eight-fight event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

In the headline bout, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino put her belt on the line against Canadian challenger Charmaine ‘Not So Sweet’ Tweet. Cyborg needed just 46 seconds to dispatch of the challenger with punches. The Brazilian connected with a massive left hook that sent Tweet crashing to the mat. Cyborg dropped heavy shots from the top that bloodied the face of Tweet. When Tweet tried to stand, Cyborg landed another heavy shot and referee Herb Dean stepped in to halt the contest.

Mexico’s Alexa Grasso and Japan’s Mizuki Inoue put on a show in the night’s co-main event. Grasso put together beautiful combinations on the feet, bloodying the nose of Inoue in round one. Grasso added kicks at the end of her flurries, turning the lead leg of Inoue red. When Inoue looked to take the fight to the ground in round two, Grasso attacked with an inverted triangle-kimura. Inoue went for a finish in round three, putting Grasso on her back and landing heavy shots. In the end, it wasn’t enough, as Grasso earned the decision win and kept her unbeaten record intact.

Making her strawweight debut, DeAnna Bennett remained undefeated with a hard-fought decision win over Norma Rueda Center. Bennett scored with combinations on the feet early, but used strong clinch work to control the action in the later rounds and claim victory.

Mexican bantamweight Irene Aldana picked up her second straight, first-round finish by rear-naked choke, submitting veteran Colleen Schneider. Aldana took advantage when Schneider tripped on the cage and immediately went for the finish. She took the back of Schneider and coerced the tap in just 65 seconds.

Jamie Moyle moved to 2-0 as a professional by choking opponent J.J. Aldrich unconscious with a first-round rear-naked choke. Moyle caught a kick from Aldrich and brought the fight to the ground. Once there, she took Aldrich’s back and secured the fight-finishing choke.

Strawweights Amy Montenegro and Brianna Van Buren battled hard for three rounds, with Montenegro emerging with a unanimous decision win. The pair traded dominant positions and submission attempts early, but it was Montenegro’s control from the clinch that proved to be the difference, as she earned the win on the scorecards.

Christine Stanley wasted little time in her Invicta debut, stopping late-notice opponent Laura Salazar by first-round TKO. Stanley rocked Salazar early, but Salazar showed heart and took the fight to the ground. Stanley scored with vicious elbows to earn the finish.

In a match-up between two flyweights making their pro debuts, Aspen Ladd bested Ana Carolina Vidal by first-round TKO. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vidal took the fight to the ground quickly, but Ladd reversed the position and scored with heavy punches from the top to earn the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino def. Charmaine Tweet by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:46 – for featherweight title
Alexa Grasso def. Mizuki Inoue by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
DeAnna Bennett def. Norma Rueda Center by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Irene Aldana def. Colleen Schneider by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:05
Jamie Moyle def. J.J. Aldrich by technical submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:20
Amy Montenegro def. Brianna Van Buren by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Christine Stanley def. Laura Salazar by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 2:59
Aspen Ladd def. Ana Carolina Vidal by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 4:21


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet Official Weigh-in Results

Los Angeles — On Thursday, Feb. 26, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet, which takes place Friday, Feb. 27 in Los Angeles.

The night’s main card will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from the Shrine Expo Hall. In the headline bout, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) will return to action and defend her title against Canadian challenger Charmaine ‘Not So Sweet’ Tweet (6-4).

The four-fight preliminary card will stream live and free, with the action kicking off at 10 p.m. ET.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins which were held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

MAIN CARD

Featherweight Title: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (144.5) vs. Charmaine Tweet (144.75)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (115) vs. Mizuki Inoue (115.25)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (116.2)+ vs. Norma Rueda Center (116.8)^
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (135) vs. Colleen Schneider (135.33)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Strawweight: Jamie Moyle (115.5) vs. J.J. Aldrich (115.7)
Strawweight: Brianna Van Buren (115.5) vs. Amy Montenegro (115.5)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (125.5) vs. Laura Salazar (128.9)*
Flyweight: Ana Carolina Vidal (125.75) vs. Aspen Ladd (125.5)

+ Bennett weighed in at 116 pounds on her second attempt and was fined 15 percent of her fight purse

^ Center elected not to cut any additional weight and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse

* Salazar was not allowed to cut any additional weight and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Laura Salazar Replaces Rachael Cummins at Invicta FC 11

Los Angeles — Invicta Fighting Championships today announced a change to the fight card for Invicta FC 11, which takes place Friday, Feb. 27, in Los Angeles.

Flyweight Rachael Cummins (2-2) has suffered an injury in training and is out of her preliminary card bout against Christine Stanley (3-1).

Replacing Cummins on just days’ notice will be undefeated Californian Laura Salazar (3-0). The 31-year-old fighter has finished all three of her fights via first-round TKO.

The Invicta FC 11 main card will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from the Shrine Expo Hall. In the headline bout, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) will return to action and defend her title against Canadian challenger Charmaine ‘Not So Sweet’ Tweet (6-4).

The four-fight preliminary card will stream live and free, with the action kicking off at 10 p.m. ET.

The updated fight card can be found below:

MAIN CARD

Featherweight Title: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Charmaine Tweet (6-4)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (6-0) vs. Mizuki Inoue (8-3)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (6-0) vs. Norma Rueda Center (3-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (4-1) vs. Colleen Schneider (6-5)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Strawweight: Jamie Moyle (1-0) vs. J.J. Aldrich (1-0)
Strawweight: Brianna Van Buren (3-1) vs. Amy Montenegro (5-1)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (3-1) vs. Laura Salazar (3-0)
Flyweight: Ana Carolina Vidal (0-0) vs. Aspen Ladd (0-0)


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet Prelims Stream Live and Free

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships today announced that the four-fight preliminary card for Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet, which takes place Friday, Feb. 27 in Los Angeles, will stream live and free on YouTube. The action kicks off live at 10 p.m. ET.

The night’s main card will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from the Shrine Expo Hall. In the headline bout, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) will return to action and defend her title against Canadian challenger Charmaine ‘Not So Sweet’ Tweet (6-4).

The full fight card can be found below:

MAIN CARD

Featherweight Title: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Charmaine Tweet (6-4)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (6-0) vs. Mizuki Inoue (8-3)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (6-0) vs. Norma Rueda Center (3-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (4-1) vs. Colleen Schneider (6-5)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Strawweight: Jamie Moyle (1-0) vs. J.J. Aldrich (1-0)
Strawweight: Brianna Van Buren (3-1) vs. Amy Montenegro (5-1)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (3-1) vs. Laura Salazar (3-0)
Flyweight: Ana Carolina Vidal (0-0) vs. Aspen Ladd (0-0)


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Charmaine Tweet: Things Happen for a Reason

No matter what your philosophical approach might be in life, there’s no denying that some things are simply beyond our control.

Whether it’s the unexpected traffic jam that makes you late for a meeting or the snow storm that delays your flight, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

Invicta featherweight Charmaine Tweet faced this reality recently.

As she prepared to take on Faith Van Duin at Invicta FC 10 in Houston in December, a medical concern identified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation led to the fight being scrapped at the last minute.

“That was so frustrating,” exclaimed Tweet. “There is nothing worse than knowing you are healthy and not being able to fight. I do say that everything happens for a reason though. The results of the electroencephalography (EEG) coming back as they did prompted me to get an MRI immediately after I returned from Texas. I am happy to say that the results of the MRI came back clean.”

The situation in Texas was difficult for Tweet, her opponent and the promotion. The 37-year-old Canadian, dubbed “No So Sweet,” was hoping to build on the momentum of her first-round TKO over Veronica Rothenhausler at Invicta FC 8 in September. Despite nearly a decade of Muay Thai competition, the win was her first finish by strikes in MMA.

“To be honest, at that moment, I wasn’t even thinking about the TKO,” recalled Tweet. “I was more focused on the fact that, even though some might consider me to be too old to be in this sport, I was able to pump the brakes on a young up-and-comer’s knockout streak!

“Later, however, it was interesting to take a look at what happened in the cage that night and see a switch in my brain flip and really notice the ‘not so sweet’ part of my personality take over and go for the KO rather than the submission.”

The win was Tweet’s sixth career victory in the cage, and her sixth inside the first round. Her knack for ending fights both quickly and emphatically helped earn the Saskatchewan native something she never expected when she was dealing with the issues in Texas: a shot at the Invicta 145-pound title. She’ll square off with Brazilian titleholder Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino in the main event of Invicta FC 11 on Friday, Feb. 27, in Los Angeles.

“I was shocked at first because so many people thought that there was already an opponent picked out for her and, since I hadn’t heard anything previously, I certainly didn’t think it was me,” admitted the challenger. “I was expecting to be offered a fight with her, but I thought it would be later in the year and was more prepared for that to happen. When I heard the details of the entire weekend, though, I knew that this was the time to reach out and grab the opportunity that was hovering in front of me. I said yes immediately and hit the gym a few hours later.”

Tweet’s journey to a title shot has been long, and although it might have been slightly unexpected, the timing couldn’t be better. As a mother of two boys, her commitment to both family and fighting has always required a level of sacrifice for everyone involved.

“The balancing act has gotten easier as my children and I have gotten older,” explained Tweet with a laugh. “My oldest son is 18 and has a driver’s license, so I can rely on him to ease some of the stress by taking my youngest son to the places he needs to go. I have been lucky in that my fighting career has become the most hectic in the last few years. If it had been like this from the beginning, when my children were small, I’m not sure I would have been able to balance working full-time, training full-time and being a mom.

“I have to give a huge shout out to both my children, Joshua and Christian, for the sacrifices they have made in order for me to pursue my dreams. I hope I have been able to inspire them to chase their own dreams!”

Although Tweet was an IFMA world champion in Muay Thai, the Invicta gold would mean much more to her.

“Being Invicta champion would add a legitimacy to everything I have been doing for the past four years,” declared the Canadian. “I have always strived to be the best, and winning a championship is a great way to prove that one is the best at something.”

Her opponent, Cyborg, has not tasted defeat since 2005 and has scored back-to-back TKO wins inside the Invicta cage. Despite the accolades of the Brazilian, Tweet isn’t intimidated.

“I have the size, the skill, the strength and the experience that is needed to beat her,” she proclaimed. “My team and I have been preparing for a year and a half for her. Everything we have been working on, while training for my other opponents, has been with her in mind.”

With that preparation, Tweet enters the title fight with a level of confidence that few of Justino’s challengers have had in the past. Tweet believes it will be the fans that will see the biggest reward come Friday night.

“Never underestimate me. Challengers have a hard time taking a decision win from the current champ, so I will be finishing this fight prior to the fifth round,” she boldly proclaimed.

“The fans should expect a war. It’s going to be dirty, vicious and bloody, and we will probably both leave the cage looking worse than we did going in. Only, I will be leaving with a golden glow shining off my face.”


Charmaine would like to thank her coaches: Jeff Wiley, Nolan Coller, Deryl Bangsund and Myke Yee, her sponsors: Stellar Gear, Virus International, London Jacks Authentic British Fish and Chips, Fight Chix, Night Vision Inspections, UFCW1400, X-Ion-X, Puget Sound Computer Repair, Dynamic Fastener, The Great Canadian Oil Change, Sports Food International, Jiffy Lube Weyburn, MMA Road Hog and Professional Events Sponsors, her husband/manager: Cord Crowthers, her children, family and friends, and last but not least, the fans.

DeAnna Bennett: The Tip of the Iceberg

Mixed martial arts is a serious sport.

It requires a level of focus and dedication beyond the limits of most athletes. With two combatants locked inside a cage aiming to separate each other from consciousness or twist each other’s limbs apart, the life of a fighter isn’t for the lighthearted.

And then there’s DeAnna Bennett.

“You know, I’m a little bit off,” declared the 30-year-old Utah fighter. “I’m okay with it. People are going to know it eventually if I keep fighting.

“I always tell people I want to hug them and it creeps them out apparently. Free hugs, all day, every day.

“But if I’m cutting weight and you want to keep all of your fingers, you should probably step back. I’ve got a snaggletooth and that thing is sharp. It’s a risk you take.”

If you manage to survive around Bennett long enough — with all of your digits — you’ll discover a level of honesty and directness unmatched by anyone in the sport. Although she’s already admitted a number of truths in the past, there are still more details to be unearthed.

“I’m like an iceberg,” she proclaimed. “You’re only seeing so much and there’s a lot more beneath the surface. I don’t think the world’s ready for it. No one can handle that. Brains would explode. Or people would run for their lives.”

Bennett’s demeanor is a stark contrast to most in the sport, but her journey to the cage is not. After her high school water polo coach convinced her to try wrestling, it wasn’t long before she was hooked on competition.

“If I hadn’t wrestled, I wouldn’t have made it into MMA,” explained the Pit Elevated product. “I wrestled for a few years during high school and absolutely loved it.

“[Later] I took a kickboxing class, liked it and figured I could do that for exercise — so I could not be a fat kid. I joined a gym, found jiu-jitsu and it reminded me of wrestling. It tied everything together.”

Now six fights into her professional career, Bennett has yet to taste defeat. With two straight wins under the Invicta banner, she was being mentioned as a potential threat to flyweight champion Barb Honchak.

“Honestly, that’s just crazy talk to me,” said Bennett. “The thought that things are going so great, I have to attribute that to my coaches. Jason Mertlich is amazing. I would never be where I’m at without his guidance and help in practice everyday and during fights. Without him, I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been.

“I just love the sport. It’s my happy place to go to the gym and train and work hard for it. To do something I love, it’s just amazing.”

Although the gym might be Bennett’s sanctuary from day-to-day life, being locked inside a cage is another story. As she stood across the cage from Michelle Ould at Invicta FC 8 in September, she was forced to fight nerves, as well as her opponent.

“The fact that it was going to be streamed online [via UFC Fight Pass] for people to watch was frightening,” admitted Bennett with a laugh. “But I’m kind of a stress case. I play through every angle in my head of what can happen. If you’re not nervous going into it, you’re probably a crazy person. It keeps you on edge and motivated to go out there.”

Bennett earned her fourth career finish that night against Ould and set up a clash with Brazil’s Jennifer Maia at Invicta FC 10 in December. After three grueling rounds with Maia, she walked away with a decision win. However, immediately following the bout, her attention turned elsewhere: the strawweight division.

“In my last fight camp, I found myself walking around at 130 pounds, which was five pounds less than what I would normally cut from to make 125,” explained the fighter. “I thought if I’m walking around that low, that’s a small 125er. I could make 115. I want to be in the weight class where I’ll be the most competitive.

“I never thought it was a possibility for me… until now. Take that, fat DeAnna.”

Unfortunately for Bennett (and her teammates), dropping an additional 10 pounds meant more days of being hungry… and angry… or, as Bennett has dubbed it, “hangry.”

“Oh, man. It’s bad,” she joked. “I have a teammate that always slaps me on the shoulder, and I yelled, ‘Don’t touch me!’ and started screaming at him. Then I realized it was exaggeration and I probably shouldn’t have done that. I find myself getting a little snappy. I’m about to start biting people if they touch me.

“It’s all part of the sport, right? Maybe?”

If Bennett (and her team) survives the weight cut, she’ll make her 115-pound debut at Invicta FC 11 in Los Angeles on Feb. 27 against Norma Rueda Center. With a tough match-up in front of her, don’t expect “The Argentine Assassin” to say anything negative about her opponent. After all, that’s how she ended up with her nickname in the first place.

In her second pro bout, she squared off with eventual The Ultimate Fighter winner Julianna Pena — also known as “The Venezuelan Vixen” — and Bennett jokingly told the promoter about her mother’s Argentine roots.

“It’s a cautionary tale,” she stated with a laugh. “It’s terrible, but it’s never going away.”

It could be much, much worse. Bennett could be stuck with a moniker like “Free Hugs” or, even more deplorable, the product of an online nickname generator. Yet, her nickname serves as a warning to anyone trying to nonchalantly talk trash to an opponent.

“I’m physically not capable of trash talking,” Bennett acknowledged. “I get into that and I start giggling. No one would ever take me seriously, let alone myself. I’ve tried to trash talk my teammates and it ends badly for me. You’re not going to see that from me anytime soon.”

Instead of intimidating her foes with her words, Bennett is happy to let her in-cage performances do the talking. Or, she’ll settle for making them slightly uncomfortable.

“I’d love to be know as an entertaining fighter,” said a suddenly serious Bennett. “But if you take two seconds to talk to me and realize that I’m just a giant weirdo that wants to hug everybody, it kind of outweighs that.

“Awkward and weird… I’m pretty sure those are the two top descriptors that anyone who knows me uses. My teammates and closest friends would say that sounds about right.”

No matter what words you use to describe DeAnna Bennett, it doesn’t change what she’s capable of in the cage. And in a sport filled with an aura of seriousness, her quirks are welcomed. Let’s just hope the world gets to see the rest of the iceberg.


DeAnna would like to thank her coach, Jason, her team, and all of the staff at Pit Elevated, including gym owner Will Farrar, her chiropractor, Dr. Russell, her strength and conditioning coach, Austin Carter, Quest Training, Warrior Fuel and her boyfriend, Trevor Mellen.

Decorated Grappler Sijara Eubanks Latest to Ink Invicta FC Contract

Kansas City, Mo. — Flyweight division be warned.

Invicta Fighting Championships has signed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Sijara Eubanks to its ever-expanding roster of 125-pound fighters.

The Team Lloyd Irvin product has amassed two submissions in her brief amateur career, but the multiple-time IBJJF champion is ready for her professional debut in 2015.

“It’s crazy, I’m so happy to be fighting for Invicta,” Eubanks. “I’ve been working my butt for the last six years, making sacrifices, training hard and it’s finally coming to fruition. I can’t wait to jump in there and fight.”

The experience Eubanks has earned on the grappling mats is something she expects to aid her in professional career.

“Grappling is a major component of MMA and jiu-jitsu is a very valuable skill set to have; control, scrambling ability, submissions, etc.  I believe I have some of the best jiu-jitsu in the game and my style will transition well,” she proclaimed.

The Springfield, Mass. native is anxious to put her stamp on the flyweight division.

“I’m here to bring it. It’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be aggressive, it’s gonna be fun to watch and I can’t wait to put on a show,” she declared. “I’m coming for that belt and whoever I need to fight to get it. ”


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Irene Aldana: Destined for Competition

Life’s journey is full of twists and turns. What lies ahead is not always expected.

Less than three years ago, Mexico’s Irene Aldana had never stepped into a cage as a professional mixed martial artist. Although she always had a passion for sports, the 26-year-old appeared destined for a career in photography and her own studio.

“I love photography,” declared Aldana. “I would love to continue with that plan in the future. If I’m good at something and if I really love it, I should do something with it.

“I set it aside to focus on fighting. Sometimes I take some shoots just for joy or I use my photography and design knowledge on gym work.”

Shooting photos and punching people in the face may seem like a contrast on the surface, but a deeper look at Aldana’s youth reveals someone destined for competition.

“I was very athletic since I was a little girl,” explained Aldana. “I always loved sports. I used to roller skate along Mazatlan’s Malecon for hours. I did gymnastics, ballet, karate, tennis, basketball, cheerleading. [I’d] spend hours in the gym.”

After moving to Guadalajara, Aldana discovered MMA and fell in love with the sport.

“The mix of all martial arts in one sport, I found fascinating; how distinct disciplines could be combined and how they complemented each other,” said the bantamweight. “Also the way you are able to connect your mind and body and go beyond your limits.

“After hours and hours of training, I started to feel well skilled for this sport. I competed for the first time in a national BJJ tournament and won first place. After that, I started to take it very seriously and was ready to try MMA.”

Her debut came in 2012 and lasted just 15 seconds. A year later, her second bout was over in 20 seconds and her third fight — which took place the same night as the second — ended with a violent wheel kick in just 43 seconds. Aldana’s career path was suddenly very clear.

Although she faced a setback in Brazil prior to signing with Invicta FC in 2014, Aldana and her Lobo Gym teammate, Alexa Grasso, have quickly become the faces of women’s MMA in their native Mexico. Now they’re out to set an example for their fans.

“[It is] very important and very satisfying,” proclaimed Aldana of representing her country. “It’s amazing that with such a short career, but so much work, we are now where we are. We love to share it with all Mexicans in or out of the sport. We’ve received messages from people asking our advice and sending us congratulations for our work. It’s great to motivate people to get up and work hard for what they want. The sport is relatively new in Mexico, but it’s getting bigger. Now is the perfect moment for Mexicans to accomplish their goals.”

With her country behind her, Aldana made her first appearance in the Invicta cage in September at Invicta FC 8, where she was pitted against UFC veteran Peggy Morgan. After rocking Morgan in the opening moments of the fight, Aldana coerced a tap via rear-naked choke in under three minutes. It’s a night that Aldana won’t forget anytime soon.

“I was really, really nervous,” admitted the fighter. “I tried to focus the best I could and channel that into my objectives.

“I knew Peggy is really strong and she is well known as a fighter almost impossible to knock out. I knew she always goes forward and resists damage. I was prepared for that and I didn’t get scared because she recovered. I knew that could happen.

“It was amazing. That was my first win by submission in MMA, and I was coming back after a defeat in Brazil. Professionally and personally, it was a big accomplishment.”

Aiding Aldana’s performance in Kansas City was the benefit of watching teammate Grasso earn a decision win just before Aldana stepped into the cage.

“I was prepared for whatever Alexa’s result would be,” said Aldana. “I went to do my job, but when I saw her winning, I felt so happy and full of good energy. Of course it motivated me. Then I thought, okay, one is done, it’s my turn so we get two victories.”

With four first-round finishes in her four career wins, Aldana was set to continue her early career momentum at Invicta FC 10 in December. However, a case of bronchitis forced her off the card at the last minute. Now, she’s slated to take on veteran Colleen Schneider at Invicta FC 11 on Feb. 27 in Los Angeles.

“I’m very excited. We always have something to improve. In every camp we get better than before, and being in the cage is the moment when we put in evidence all we have learned,” said Aldana. “It’s exciting to be growing up in the sport. After I needed to cancel my previous fight, I’m even more excited to return.”

Following her dominant promotional debut against Morgan, it would be easy to understand if Aldana felt obligated to repeat her performance when she goes up against Schneider, but she insists that’s not the case.

“[There’s] no pressure. I’m just going to do my job,” said the Lobo Gym product. “If the fight lasts a minute or three rounds, I’m prepared for anywhere the fight goes. I just hope it’s a great fight. None of my fights were planned to end in the first round, it just happened.”

Should Aldana get around Schneider in Los Angeles, the Mexican would be a prime candidate for a shot at the vacant 135-pound Invicta bantamweight championship. She’s confident she’d be ready if called upon and is anxious to share a title with her fans.

“I feel ready! I know I have a short career, but I always train like it’s for a title shot,” Aldana exclaimed.

“It would be a big deal! The honor to represent Mexico as Invicta champion would be great for Mexican MMA. I know Mexican fans are with me in my wins or losses. I’m really grateful for their love and support. I assure them I will always give my best and leave all my heart in the cage.”

If Aldana’s career to date is any indication, her aspirations of Invicta gold are likely right around the corner. It all starts on Friday, Feb. 27, in Los Angeles.


Irene would like to thank her MMA coach, Francisco Grasso, for who she is and who she will be in the sport, her physical conditioning coach, Fernando Quiroz, who knows how to train her effectively, her teammates for always being with her in good and bad times, her sponsors, they are like guardian angels for us in this sport, her family because she knows it’s hard for them to see her in the cage, but they have been very supportive with all their hearts, and all the fans for their support.

Colleen Schneider Joins Invicta FC, Faces Irene Aldana at Invicta FC 11

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships today announced a change to the fight card for Invicta FC 11, which takes place Friday, Feb. 27 in Los Angeles.

Bantamweight Melanie LaCroix (3-2) was forced out of her bout against Mexico’s Irene Aldana (4-1) due to injury.

Replacing LaCroix will be veteran Colleen Schneider (6-5). Schneider has faced some of the biggest names in the sport, including Invicta veterans DeAnna Bennett, Vanessa Mariscal, Liz Carmouche and Sarah D’Alelio. The 32-year-old has won five of her last six outings, with four finishes along the way.

Invicta FC 11 will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from the Shrine Auditorium. In the night’s headline bout, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) will return to action and defend her title against Canadian challenger Charmaine ‘Not So Sweet’ Tweet (6-4).

The updated fight card for can be found below:

Featherweight Title: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Charmaine Tweet (6-4)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (6-0) vs. Mizuki Inoue (8-3)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (6-0) vs. Norma Rueda Center (3-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (4-1) vs. Colleen Schneider (6-5)
Strawweight: Jamie Moyle (1-0) vs. J.J. Aldrich (1-0)
Strawweight: Brianna Van Buren (3-1) vs. Amy Montenegro (5-1)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (3-1) vs. Rachael Cummins (2-2)
Flyweight: Ana Carolina Vidal (0-0) vs. Aspen Ladd (0-0)


About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).