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Invicta FC 58 Headlined By Strawweight Showdown on November 6 in Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A familiar face returns to Invicta Fighting Championships on Wednesday, Nov. 6, as former strawweight champion Emily “Gordinha” Ducote (13-9) collides with Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova (9-3-1) in a main event match-up, live from Memorial Hall in Kansas City.

Oklahoma’s Ducote returns to the division she once reigned following a five-fight stint with the UFC. The 30-year-old will quickly look to get back into the title picture — for the belt she gave up voluntarily — and build on the momentum of four wins in her five Invicta appearances. Ostroverkhova will present a stern challenge for the former champion, fresh off a three-round battle with another former titleholder, Valesca Machado, at Invicta FC 56 in August. The Ducote-Ostroverkhova bout replaces the previously announced headliner between Alejandra Lara and Viviane “Sucuri” Pereira, which has been canceled due to illness.

In the night’s co-main event, England’s “Queen of the South” Kate Bacik (5-1) faces the toughest test of her young career when she squares off with Invicta FC staple DeAnna “Vitamin D” Bennett (14-9-1) in a flyweight contest. Bacik debuted with the promotion in August, edging out Brazilian Paula Bittencourt on the scorecards and extending her winning streak to five straight. The UFC and Bellator veteran Bennett returned to the Invicta cage in September, putting on a dominant display in a victory over Liz Tracy.

Also on the card, Japan’s Saori “Little Giant” Oshima (14-5) collides with fellow atomweight contender Ana “Guerrera” Palacios (9-3-1), UFC and PFL veteran Shanna “The Shanimal” Young (9-7) returns to the Invicta cage to take on flyweight newcomer Amanda “Sardinha” Torres (9-7) of Brazil, rising featherweights Zurina “Mayhem” Turrey (4-1) and Joy “Killjoy” Pendell (3-1) aim to make their mark on the division, and Polish atomweight Magdalena “Atomówka” Czaban (1-0) collides with Texas-based Hope “Hummingbird” Holmes (1-0). Additional bouts for the event will be announced in the coming weeks.

Invicta FC 58: Ducote vs. Ostroverkhova will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 2 for members of the Invicta Insiders Club, with the public sale beginning Thursday, Oct. 3 through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Strawweight: Emily Ducote vs. Yulia Ostroverkhova
Flyweight: Kate Bacik vs. DeAnna Bennett
Atomweight: Saori Oshima vs. Ana Palacios
Flyweight: Shanna Young vs. Amanda Torres
Featherweight: Zurina Turrey vs. Joy Pendell
Atomweight: Magdalena Czaban vs. Hope Holmes

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 57 Results: Ferreira Outduels Romero To Capture Atomweight Title

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Friday, Sept. 20, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero from Memorial Hall. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

In the night’s main event, a new atomweight champion was crowned as Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira bested fellow Brazilian Andressa Romero. Ferreira cracked Romero with multiple low kicks and then a big right hand. She followed it with a massive slam. Romero got back to her feet but was forced to defend a choke attempt. Romero clinched and tried to take Ferreira to the mat. Ferreira punished her with knees and punches to the body. A beautiful foot sweep by Ferreira sent Romero crashing into a right hand then a massive left hook. Ferreira scrambled to take Romero’s back, but ended up on her back in the ensuing transition. A straight right hand from Romero greeted Ferreira to start round two. She fired back and quickly clinched. Romero landed knees and elbows on her own. Ferreira tried to power into a takedown and Romero locked her hands for a guillotine attempt. There was no panic from Ferreira, who maintained her takedown attempt and eventually earned it. She looked to take Romero’s back, but found herself with her back to the mat once more. Ferreira’s jab found a home to start the third frame. A counter right hand from Romero also landed as the two Brazilians traded punches in the center of the cage. Romero pressed hard for a single, even lifting Ferreira off the canvas, but could not finish the takedown. Ferreira connected with a punch-knee combination as the round expired. The fourth round featured both fighters throwing with reckless abandon. They repeatedly landed power strikes from inside boxing range. Ferreira scored with an outside trip, but gave up the advantageous position to attempt a guillotine. Romero worked from the top, grapevining the legs of Ferreira, but could not pass the guard. Ferreira used a heel hook attempt to get back to the feet. Much like round four, the final round opened with a wild exchange with both fighters landing heavy punches. Ferreira delivered a takedown along the fence, but Romero sprung back to her feet. There was no quit in either fighter as they battered one another until the final bell. The judges were called upon for a final time of the night and it was Ferreira who left with gold around her waist.

The co-main event featured a flyweight clash between former title challenger Kristina Williams and Brazilian newcomer Nayara Maia. Williams went straight to work with a flurry of punches. An awkward exchange saw Maia buckle to the canvas holding her knee. The Brazilian tried to power through the pain, but could not continue, handing Williams the 31-second win.

In the 500th bout in promotional history, veteran flyweights DeAnna Bennett and Liz Tracy renewed a rivalry that began at Phoenix Tournament 2. Tracy fired quick combinations, but allowed Bennett to catch a kick and dump her to the ground. Tracy used the cage to regain her footing to no avail, as Bennett took her down again. When Tracy rolled, Bennett moved to her back. The wrestling transitions from Bennett kept Tracy guessing. Tracy separated late in the round and then changed levels for a takedown attempt. Bennett stuffed it and turned her to the cage. Round two opened with the two veterans trading punching combinations. Bennett delivered an uppercut as Tracy ducked her jab. Another kick from Tracy was caught by Bennett and she took her down momentarily. Tracy continued to march forward and mix in low kicks. Bennett circled at range, getting in and out of the pocket at will. The pair jostled for position to close the frame. The right hand of Bennett suddenly became a piston to start the third. She cracked Tracy multiple times. Tracy drove into a takedown attempt and she looked to lace the legs of Bennett. Bennett swung with backwards elbows that jarred the head of Tracy. Tracy expended a ton of energy trying to get Bennett down but was unable to do so. The pair smiled at one another in the waning seconds and they traded to the final bell. Much like the first meeting, Bennett took home the decision victory.

Veteran flyweights Milana Dudieva and Sandra Lavado kicked off the night’s main card with a back-and-forth affair. Both fighters kept a high guard early, as each looked for an opening. Lavado found success with her outside leg kick, which prevented Dudieva from stepping into her punches. Midway through the first round, Dudieva changed levels and looked for a takedown. Lavado defended initially, but succumbed to a throw from the judoka. Dudieva first worked from the scarf hold position, then switched to side control, and then back mount. She sunk in a choke and squeezed hard for a finish, but Lavado managed to escape and get back to her feet. Lavado was patient to start round two, finding a home for her right hand through the defense of Dudieva. The Russian fighter clinched to work her grappling game only for Lavado to shrug her off. After trading overhand rights, Dudieva powered into the clinch and looked for a takedown. A sweeping leg kick from Dudieva greeted Lavado in round three, nearly sending her to the ground. The pair resumed their chess match on the feet, with each struggling to land through the other’s defense. Dudieva tried to clinch but failed to get the Peruvian down initially. After transitioning to a single and lifting high, Dudieva put Lavado on her back. Lavado worked hard to stand, only for Dudieva to score with another throw and land in the scarf hold again. The fight went the distance, with Dudieva claiming the hard-fought decision victory.

Australian featherweight Jamie Edenden ruined the night of her fellow debutant Abby Montes, claiming victory after three grueling rounds. The bout began with series of inside leg kicks from both fighters to gauge the distance. Edenden was the first to sit down on a punch, cracking Montes with a right hand. The countering ability of the Aussie was on display as she peppered the head of Montes with power shots. Montes opted to clinch to slow Edenden’s attack. In round two, the pair bit down on their mouthpieces and openly traded in the center of the cage. Montes again initiated a clinch, but it was Edenden who looked to change levels. When they separated, Montes marched down Edenden relentlessly, absorbing punches along the way. Montes threw leg kicks with a purpose in round three and delivered heavy punches of her own. Edenden scored with a right hand to the midsection of Montes. The Australian mixed up her levels with her punches, keeping Montes guessing. When the fight returned to the clinch, Edenden looked for a single, but was unable to finish it. Montes sought a late takedown of her own and Edenden punished her with elbows. The judges were called upon to render a verdict and it was Edenden who claimed the decision nod.

In a battle of bantamweights, Canada’s Maria Djukic squared off with Mexico’s Maria Favela. After a brief feeling-out period to find range, Djukic took control with a big combination that stunned Favela. A devastating right hand from the Canadian found the jaw of Favela, sending her to the ground. The referee quickly stepped in to hand Djukic the 57-second TKO win.

Chilean strawweight Fernanda Orellana spoiled the Invicta return of Meaghan Penning with a lopsided decision victory. Penning pinned Orellana to the cage and worked for underhooks. Orellana fired short knees to the midsection of Penning. She spun Penning to the fence and scored with elbow strikes. Penning worked tirelessly for a takedown, but it did not come. Late in the round, Orellana scored with a beautiful hip toss and finished the round in top position. A counter right hand from Orellana greeted Penning to start round two, but she quickly answered with a front kick that caught the Chilean off balance. Penning returned to the clinch and stuck to Orellana like glue. She eventually pulled guard and Orellana wasted little time posturing up to rain strikes. Penning fished for an armbar and then a triangle choke from her back, but Orellana was wise to the submission attempts. Orellana dropped heavy strikes to Penning’s face to close the stanza. Penning came out firing an onslaught of kicks in the third round. When that proved ineffective, Penning clinched and pulled guard in the center of the cage. Penning desperately sought an armbar from the bottom, but Orellana escaped. Orellana continued to punish Penning with punches and elbows from the top. There was no doubt on the scorecards as all three judges rewarded Orellana for her efforts.

The event opened with a strawweight match-up between Quinn Williams and Brazilian Ana Vitória. Williams connected a heavy right hand as Vitória barreled forward, then drove Vitória to the mat. Vitória showed an active guard and Williams let her stand. Vitória delivered a punch combination before diving for a single-leg takedown. Williams kept herself upright, spinning Vitória to the cage. A heavy right from Williams created a massive hematoma on the forehead of the Brazilian. Williams again brought the fight to the ground and worked from side control. A submission attempt from Williams allowed Vitória to gain top position, but only briefly as Williams powered back to side control as the first round closed. A jumping knee from Williams backed Vitória to the fence early in round two. She responded quickly, dumping Williams to the canvas. Williams again displayed her strength, reversing the position. A choke attempts from Williams was defended well by Vitória, but she could not escape the top control of the American. The final frame featured a grueling battle for position along the cage, as both fighters jostled for position. Williams scored with clinch knees, prompting Vitória to pull the action the mat. The confidence of Williams grew with every strike and she cruised to the clear-cut decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Andressa Romero by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Kristina Williams def. Nayara Maia by TKO (injury). Round 1, 0:31
DeAnna Bennett def. Liz Tracy by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Milana Dudieva def. Sandra Lavado by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jamie Edenden def. Abby Montes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Maria Djukic def. Maria Favela by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:57
Fernanda Orellana def. Meaghan Penning by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Quinn Williams def. Ana Vitória by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero Official Weigh-in Results

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Thursday, Sept. 19, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero, which takes place Friday, Sept. 20 from Memorial Hall.

In the night’s headliner, Brazilians Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (7-2) and Andressa “Gauchinha” Romero (7-4-1) collide for 105-pound gold. Both athletes picked up victories at Invicta FC 55 in July to set up the title showdown. Ferreira reeled off her third straight win inside the Invicta cage over veteran Katie Saull, while Romero spoiled the U.S. debut of Japan’s Saori Oshima to establish herself as a top contender.

The co-main event features the return of former flyweight title challenger Kristina “Warhorse” Williams (7-4) opposite Brazilian newcomer Nayara Maia (7-1-1). Williams has won four of her last five bouts, with the only defeat coming after five hard-fought rounds with Ketlen Souza for Invicta gold. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Maia joins the organization having finished five of her seven career victories.

Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins:

Atomweight Title: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (104.7) vs. Andressa Romero (104.9)
Flyweight: Kristina Williams (125.4) vs. Nayara Maia (126)
Flyweight: Liz Tracy (124) vs. DeAnna Bennett (125.6)
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (126) vs. Sandra Lavado (125.6)
Featherweight: Jamie Edenden (145.8) vs. Abby Montes (148.8)*
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic (135.3) vs. Maria Favela (135.6)
Strawweight: Meaghan Penning (115.5) vs. Fernanda Orellana (113.7)
Strawweight: Ana Vitória (115.4) vs. Quinn Williams (115.9)

* – Montes missed the featherweight limit of 146 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her purse.

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Bantamweight Maria Favela Returns to Action at Invicta FC 57 in First Bout Since Beating Lymphatic Cancer

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LAS VEGAS — Invicta Fighting Championships’ bantamweight Maria Favela will enter the cage at Invicta FC 57 for the first time since successfully beating lymphatic cancer in December of 2023.

At just 30 years old, Favela was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma in July of 2023. She began to notice a change in her health in May of that year, as she was frequently feeling ill and experiencing a marked loss of weight and energy. Thought to be suffering from side effects of COVID, Favela underwent MRI testing in Mexico City, where she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma and given a 50 percent chance of survival. With help from a GoFundMe campaign generously supported by the MMA community — including Cynthia Calvillo and Dana White — Favela was able to receive quality private care that included three surgeries and 12 rounds of chemotherapy every 15 days. Favela was declared cancer-free in December of 2023, and will return to action at Invicta FC 57 on Friday, Sept. 20.

As Favela looks ahead to her fight against Maria Djukic, she reflects on the road that brought her to this moment and how she overcame the fight of her life.

On Her Upcoming Bout at Invicta 57

“I was feeling I had to do it at least one more time for me. I wanted to fight before my PET scan in June, but it was impossible. My coaches were like, ‘No, you’re crazy. You need more time.’ But if I’m gonna fight, I’m gonna fight. And I’m gonna enjoy every single second, no matter what happens.”

On We Can Expect to See from Her at Invicta 57

“You’re going to see a Maria who won’t have any fear. You’re going to see a more aggressive Maria, one who is more technical. For six months, I endured surgeries, chemotherapies, weekly blood tests, and losing my hair. I’m not scared of being out of the comfort zone.”

On Her Experience with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma

“They told me that I had a 50% chance of living. They treated me as if I was Stage four, because I had lymphomas in my liver, in my hips, in my heart, and my lungs. Every gland becomes like a tumor. The doctors told me if I’m still pushing, I’ll be passing out with a heart attack. My lungs were doing 90% of the work, and my heart was taking most of the oxygen.”

On How Fighting Prepared Her for the Most Important Battle of Her Life

When I was doing treatments, I was in the fight mode. You don’t think about fear, you do what you have to do. It doesn’t matter how uncomfortable you are in a situation, you keep pushing. The fight game was keeping me motivated, because I was really determined that I wanted to make my dream come true. My body was becoming like a cage or a trap… I was fighting against my own body.”

On the Incredible Support She Received from Her Family and the MMA Community

“My friend helped me make a GoFundMe, and the whole MMA community came to support. Even Cynthia Calvillo and Dana White donated money. When you’re fighting cancer, the last thing that you have is time. Thanks to the MMA community and my family, I was able to pay for private treatment.”

Advice for Others Going Through Cancer

“Don’t give up. No matter what doctors say, no matter what people say. Believe in yourself, and don’t let anybody treat you differently. It doesn’t mean that your life is ending. You’re actually going to realize how beautiful life is afterwards.”

Don’t miss the chance to see Favela in action when Invicta FC 57 comes to Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas on Friday, September 20. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite.

Favela’s Social Media Channels: Facebook, Instagram, X

The complete Invicta FC 57 fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Andressa Romero
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Nayara Maia
Flyweight: Liz Tracy vs. DeAnna Bennett
Featherweight: Jamie Edenden vs. Abby Montes
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva vs. Sandra Lavado
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Maria Favela
Strawweight: Meaghan Penning vs. Fernanda Orellana
Strawweight: Ana Vitória vs. Quinn Williams

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

Press Inquiries: press@invictafc.com or Cindy Ronzoni, Anthem cronzoni@anthemse.com

Credential Requests: https://invictafc.com/press-credential-application/

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Invicta FC 57 To Crown New Atomweight Champion on September 20 in Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A new atomweight champion will be crowned when Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier combat sports organization for women, touches down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City on Friday, Sept. 20 with Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero.

In the night’s headliner, Brazilians Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (7-2) and Andressa “Gauchinha” Romero (7-4-1) collide for 105-pound gold. Both athletes picked up victories at Invicta FC 55 in July to set up the title showdown. Ferreira reeled off her third straight win inside the Invicta cage over veteran Katie Saull, while Romero spoiled the U.S. debut of Japan’s Saori Oshima to establish herself as a top contender.

The co-main event features the return of former flyweight title challenger Kristina “Warhorse” Williams (7-4) opposite Brazilian newcomer Nayara Maia (7-1-1). Williams has won four of her last five bouts, with the only defeat coming after five hard-fought rounds with Ketlen Souza for Invicta gold. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Maia joins the organization having finished five of her seven career victories.

Also on the card, flyweight Liz “The Titan” Tracy (7-5) seeks revenge against UFC and Bellator veteran DeAnna “Vitamin D” Bennett (13-9-1) after the pair’s Phoenix Tournament 2 thriller, flyweight finisher Milana Dudieva (12-9) meets Sandra “The Peruvian Zombie” Lavado (12-5), Australia’s Jamie “Snickers” Edenden (4-2-1) clashes with fellow featherweight “Brave” Abby Montes (4-3) of Mexico, Canada’s “Sweet” Maria Djukic (3-1) faces off with Mexico’s Maria “Leona” Favela (3-2) in a bantamweight contest, returning veteran Meaghan Penning (2-1) squares off with Chilean strawweight Fernanda Orellana (1-0), and two-time IMMAF Pan American champion Ana “Aninha” Vitória (debut) makes her professional debut against strawweight newcomer Quinn Williams (1-1).

Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event will be available on Thursday, Aug. 22 for members of the Invicta Insiders Club, with the public sale beginning Friday, Aug. 23 through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Andressa Romero
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Nayara Maia
Flyweight: Liz Tracy vs. DeAnna Bennett
Featherweight: Jamie Edenden vs. Abby Montes
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva vs. Sandra Lavado
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Maria Favela
Strawweight: Meaghan Penning vs. Fernanda Orellana
Strawweight: Ana Vitória vs. Quinn Williams

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 56 Results: Maia Bests Cantuária to Earn Bantamweight Title Shot

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DENVER – On Friday, Aug. 9, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City for Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária. The event took place from Stockyards Event Center and the night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

In the main event, former flyweight champion Jennifer Maia made a successful return to the organization, besting fellow Brazilian Mayra Cantuária in a bantamweight contest. Cantuária fired combinations from her southpaw stance that the veteran Maia evaded. Maia ducked under a punch and Cantuária clinched. The pair exchanged heavy punches inside the pocket with a crisp left hook from Maia having the most impact. Cantuária found the mark with a straight left. Maia stayed inside range and answered with punches of her own. A body kick from Maia surprised Cantuária. She delivered a short right hook that caught Maia clean. Maia stumbled, then clinched as the frame ended. Round two opened with a flurry of punches from Maia and a head-kick attempt. Cantuária nodded with respect after just moving out of the way. A short right hand from Cantuária greeted Maia as she moved into range. Cantuária began to showboat from the success she found on the feet. Maia landed a crisp combo and Cantuária powered forward with reckless abandon. Another head kick from Maia was blocked by Cantuária. Maia landed with volume late in the round and fended off a takedown attempt from Cantuária. With the fight in the balance, Maia dug deep and pressured her less experienced opponent. She regularly slipped the punches of Cantuária and connected with counters. The pair exchanged wildly along the fence after Cantuária briefly slipped. The Brazilians never stopped trading in the bout’s final minute and the judges were called upon for a final time. The veteran Maia had her hand raised to set up a future bout with current bantamweight champion Talita Bernardo.

Former strawweight champion Valesca Machado gave Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova a rude welcome to the Invicta cage in the evening’s co-main event. Machado clipped Ostroverkhova with a left hook in the fight’s first striking exchange. She followed it with a long jab to keep Ostroverkhova at range. Ostroverkhova answered with a low kick and clinch knee. Machado connected with a massive right hand that wobbled the legs of the Russian. She flurried with punches along the fence, but did not get overanxious. Machado peppered Ostroverkhova with single shots while Ostroverkhova recovered from the early trouble. She missed with a superman punch and Machado landed an overhand right in response. Another left hook from the Brazilian wobbled Ostroverkhova again late in the round. Machado landed a heavy shot to open round two but continued to be patient with her offense. She countered an Ostroverkhova jab with a perfect right hand. The pair clinched and Machado muscled the newcomer to the ground. Machado mixed in left hands and right elbows from the half guard. Ostroverkhova tried to tie up the former champion from the bottom, but Machado stayed busy until the round expired. Ostroverkhova came forward with purpose to start the final stanza. That aggression worked against her though, as Machado put her on her back. After a lengthy time on the ground, the fight returned to the feet and both fighters scored with punches. A body kick from Ostroverkhova was caught by Machado and she pinned her against the fence. A head-and-arm throw from Machado saw Ostroverkhova stuck in a scarf hold as the fight concluded. There were no doubts on the scorecards as Machado swept every round.

Jackie Cataline put the first blemish on the record of Brazilian featherweight Kelly Ottoni with a third-round TKO finish. Cataline scored with a hook and Ottoni smiled at her. Cataline followed with more punches before securing underhooks and then a takedown. The wrestling stalwart stayed heavy on top, preventing Ottoni from generating offense. Cataline worked for a D’arce, but Ottoni was wise to it and escaped. Cataline finished the round on top. Round two featured an immediate takedown from Cataline. Ottoni fished for a leg from bottom position, but Cataline firmly maintained control. The fight returned to the feet and Cataline connected with a crisp right hand. She pushed Ottoni to the cage and sliced her open with an elbow. Cataline earned another takedown, passed to mount and dropped heavy shots. She looked for a late armbar as the horn sounded. The doctor checked on Ottoni between rounds, but the fight was allowed to continue. Cataline opened up with her hands, battering the face of the Brazilian. Ottoni showed heart, answering with punches of her own. When Cataline had enough, she lifted Ottoni high in the air and slammed her violently to the mat. The American locked on an arm-triangle but could not find the finish from the choke. A flurry of punches, however, were too much for Ottoni and the referee rewarded Cataline with the stoppage victory.

Promotional newcomers Paula Bittencourt and Kate Bacik wasted little time feeling each other out in their bantamweight bout as both rushed to the center of the cage. Bacik delivered a heavy body kick that Bittencourt caught and answered with a straight right that sent Bacik to the canvas. Bittencourt allowed the Brit to stand and the pair continued their wild exchange. Bittencourt clinched for a moment before Bacik broke free and scored with front kicks. Bittencourt’s pace slowed as the round progressed, and she again looked to clinch. Bacik’s leg kicks took a toll on the right leg of Bittencourt, but the Brazilian was still able to land a heavy right hand as the round came to a close. Bacik marched forward recklessly in round two and was dumped to the ground by Bittencourt. The Brazilian could not keep Bacik on her back and when the pair returned to standing, it was Bacik who earned a takedown. Bacik pressed Bittencourt against the cage and landed with knees. Bittencourt spun free and unleashed a string of punishing right hands. She powered into a late takedown and finished the round in top position. With the fight still up for grabs in the third round, it was Bacik who stayed busy on the feet initially. Bittencourt responded with a takedown along the fence. Bacik attacked from the bottom with short elbows, but Bittencourt stayed heavy on top. The Brazilian spammed left hands. Bacik worked back to her feet late and the fight was sent to the scorecards. The judges were split in their verdict, with Bacik walking away with a hard-earned victory.

The main card opened with a match-up between Mexican atomweights as Flor Hernandez welcomed Ana Palacios to the organization. It was a tentative start for the countrywomen, as they looked to find their range and exploit an opening in the other’s defense. Palacios showcased a speed advantage, evading the strikes of her taller counterpart. Hernandez was undeterred by the misses, marching forward and maintaining the center of the cage. Late in the frame, Palacios ducked under a punch from Hernandez and initiated the clinch. The pair exchanged short knees and jostled for head position in a grueling battle. The second round began with an onslaught of kicks from Palacios. She entered the pocket and traded punches with Hernandez, who used her size to score a pair of powerful shots. Palacios briefly clinched once more and fired off a series of punches as she exited to the center of the cage. Despite her smaller stature, Palacios managed distance well, connecting with heavy body kicks and avoiding the front kicks of Hernandez. A great level change from Palacios led to the fight’s first takedown and she postured up from the full guard to score with punches as the round expired. The effective kicking game of Palacios continued in the final frame. Hernandez’s frustration was apparent as she struggled to land strikes. Palacios took her down midway through the round and took her back. Hernandez powered out of the vicarious position and took the back of Palacios. A late armbar attempt from Palacios was the fight’s final action before the judges were asked to decide a winner. All three scored the bout in favor of Palacios.

Brazilian atomweight Giulliany Perêa impressed in her first Invicta appearance, outworking Mexico’s Ailed Zubieta. Zubieta landed a combination in the fight’s first exchange, leading to Perêa to shoot for a takedown. Zubieta stuffed the initial attempt, but Perêa powered the pair to the ground and gained top position. The Mexican remained calm and scrambled to her feet, only for Perêa to secure a single-leg and drag her back to the ground. Perêa was patient from the top, delivering heavy punches from inside the guard. Zubieta again tried to scramble back to her feet, but Perêa took her back with both hooks. Zubieta recovered her half guard momentarily, as Perêa dropped back for a kneebar. Zubieta defended well and the Brazilian abandoned the submission as the round came to a close. Zubieta crushed the body of Perêa with a kick to open round two, but Perêa drove into another takedown. She moved to the back and applied a body-triangle. Zubieta escaped and took the back of Perêa in the ensuing scramble. Perêa wore Zubieta like a backpack against the fence for quite some time before escaping and driving Zubieta back to the mat. Round three began similarly to the second, as Perêa found top position in the opening seconds. She fired elbows to the legs of Zubieta to open the Mexican’s guard. Perêa offered Zubieta a steady diet of left hands and knees to the rib. She used the strikes to set up a kimura attempt, but could not coerce a tap. The judges were called upon for the first time and they rendered a unanimous verdict for Perêa.

Featherweights collided when Ali Pellegrini met Marissa Ellis. Pellegrini went straight to work with kicks, using her length to frustrate Ellis. Ellis remained aggressive with her advance, which allowed Pellegrini to score a takedown and move to her back. The Washington-based fighter transitioned to a body-triangle and then went to work on a rear-naked choke. The veteran Ellis remained calm to survive the choke attempt and the round. In the second stanza, Ellis marched forward and willingly exchanged with the taller Pellegrini. Ellis ripped a thundering kick to the midsection of Pellegrini, who quickly drove into a takedown. Pellegrini moved to mount and rained elbows. Ellis again gave up her back and Pellegrini searched for a choke along the cage. Pellegrini put Ellis’s back to the mat and dropped more elbows from mount, but could not find the finish. Pellegrini capitalized on the desperation of Ellis early in round three, using a body lock to drop her to the canvas and take the back. This time, Ellis could not defend and Pellegrini claimed victory in her professional debut.

The night’s action kicked off with a flyweight contest between professional debutants Ashley Barrett and Tatiana Salazar. Salazar found range quickly, landing a sharp jab and crisp hook. That prompted Barrett to clinch, push the Nicaraguan to the cage and take her to the mat. Barrett immediately moved to mount and unleashed a flurry of punches. The onslaught was too much for Salazar and the referee stepped in to save her just 94 seconds into the bout.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jennifer Maia def. Mayra Cantuária by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Valesca Machado def. Yulia Ostroverkhova by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jackie Cataline def. Kelly Ottoni by TKO (punches). Round 3, 3:15
Kate Bacik def. Paula Bittencourt by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ana Palacios def. Flor Hernandez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Giulliany Perêa def. Ailed Zubieta by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ali Pellegrini def. Marissa Ellis by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 1:14
Ashley Barrett def. Tatiana Salazar by TKO (punches). Round 1, 1:34

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária Official Weigh-in Results

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DENVER — On Thursday, Aug. 8, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária, which takes place Friday, Aug. 9 from Stockyards Event Center.

In the night’s headliner, Brazilian Jennifer Maia (21-10-1) returns to the organization that launched her into stardom to take on her countrywoman, Mayra Cantuária (10-5-1). Maia, the former Invicta FC flyweight champion and UFC title challenger, will move up in weight for a non-title bantamweight clash, marking her seventh appearance in the Invicta cage. Cantuária aims to build on the momentum of her second-round submission win over Calie Cutler in her promotional debut at Invicta FC 52 last year.

The event will also feature the return of former strawweight titleholder Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (13-4), who welcomes Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova (9-2-1) to North America.

Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins:

Bantamweight: Jennifer Maia (132.6) vs. Mayra Cantuária (135.8)
Strawweight: Valesca Machado (115.8) vs. Yulia Ostroverkhova (115.6)
Featherweight: Kelly Ottoni (146) vs. Jackie Cataline (144.8)
Bantamweight: Kate Bacik (133.6) vs. Paula “Bittencourt” Cristina (135.4)
Atomweight: Flor Hernandez (105.8) vs. Ana Palacios (105.4)
Atomweight: Ailed Zubieta (104.6) vs. Giulliany Perêa (105.8)
Featherweight: Ali Pellegrini (144.2) vs. Marissa Ellis (145.4)
Flyweight: Ashley Barrett (124) vs. Tatiana Salazar (125.8)

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 56 Main Event Breakdown

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Original article by Drew Zuhosky, courtesy of mmasucka.com

Friday is a busy night in the world of sports. You’ll have the business end of many competitions in this year’s Summer Olympics, a full day and evening of action in MLB, including a day-night doubleheader in Minneapolis between the visiting Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins and some NFL preseason games as week one of the three-week exhibition slate continues.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Unless you’re a fan of the teams playing on Friday’s preseason schedule, you’re probably not going to be tuning in to the gridiron action that night. Aside from everything else going on this Friday. you’ll have the back-end of a day-night doubleheader in MMA to watch.

After Brave CF 84 gets the day of competitive violence started off in the morning, the fights head stateside in primetime.  Denver, CO holds its second MMA event in as many months when Invicta Fighting Championships heads to Stockyards Events Center for Invicta FC 56.

Bantamweights Go to Battle in Invicta FC 56 Main Event

Live coverage begins with the undercard at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on the promotion’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page before moving onto main card action at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on CBS Sports Network. Make no mistake: Even though CBS Sports Network is accessible on cable/ satellite/ telco providers in Canada, the live telecast of Invicta FC 56 will be available on the channel for its United States viewers only.

For those viewers looking for Invicta FC 56 in Canada, tune into Fight Network. If there are no late adjustments to the bout order ahead of fight night, the final version of Invicta FC 56 will feature eight contests.

Highlighting the night’s itinerary is a bantamweight contest in the Invicta FC 56 main event. Immediately following the co-main event, the headliner sees Jennifer Maia (21-10-1 MMA, 4-2 Invicta FC) taking on Mayra Cantuaria (10-5-1, 1 NC MMA, 1-0 Invicta FC) in the bantamweight division. This is a three-round fight at five minutes per round to close the show.

Invicta FC 56 Main Event Fighter Comparison

Heading into the Invicta FC 56 main event on Friday night, Mayra Cantuaria stands as the taller fighter at 5-foot-7, compared to the 5-foot-4 frame of Jennifer Maia. Cantuaria owns a three-inch reach advantage (67 inches to 64 inches) over Maia.

Currently, the oddsmakers have yet to release any money lines for this card. If you plan on betting on this or any other card happening this weekend in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.

Maia Readies for First MMA Appearance in Over Nine Months

Jennifer Maia, who formerly competed in the UFC, enters her Invicta promotional return with a record of 2-3 in her last five MMA fights. At the moment, she’s on a two-fight losing streak.

Last time out in the cage, she dropped a unanimous decision to Viviane Araujo (12-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in October of last year. Not long after that, she was dropped by the promotion. She turned to grappling earlier in 2024, but that fight, too, ended in defeat (first-round submission: rear-naked choke) against Beatriz Mesquita.

She hasn’t competed in an MMA fight in almost 10 months’ time and there are bragging rights on the line as Maia represents Curitiba, Brazil. Will she able to get back to the win column? Tune in and find out.

Cantuaria Looking for Second Straight Victory Amid String of Long Layoffs

In the other corner, Mayra Cantuaria has posted a mark of 3-2 in her last five appearances. Most recently, she made good on her Invicta FC promotional debut with a second-round submission (rear-naked choke) of Callie Cutler (7-8 MMA, 0-1 Invicta FC) right before St. Patrick’s Day last year in Invicta FC 52 on AXS TV and YouTube.

It’s been over 14 months since that fight. Unfortunately for Mayra Cantuaria and her camp, long hiatuses between contests have become commonplace of late.

She hasn’t fought more than once in a calendar year since 2021. Lengthy interregnums like the one Cantuaria has encountered in the past are detrimental toward a fighter’s maturation. Can she go 2-for-2 in Shannon Knapp‘s promotion during the Invicta FC 56 main event and bring glory back to Anapolis, Brazil?

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

While both fighters can do damage when the cage door closes in the Invicta FC 56 main event, the edge is given to Jennifer Maia due to her black belts in both Muay-Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Maia Slick With Submissions

Statistically speaking, Jennifer Maia has recorded six wins by way of submission. Even if she finds herself on the bottom of a ground exchange, as was the case versus Joanne Wood in 2020 at the UFC Apex, it could be a done deal.

During the first round of a scheduled three, Maia peppered the former Joanne Calderwood  with a two-punch combination while she absorbed some kicks to the leg before returning fire by landing a right-handed shot. Upon Calderwood catching Maia’s kick, she took top mount and wouldn’t let Maia rise to her feet.

After landing ground and pound shots from the bottom position, Maia assumed full guard and eventually applied the torque to lock up an armbar with 31 seconds left on the clock. She’s got the skills to flip the script if the fight goes to the ground.

Cantuaria Equally Adept on the Ground

In the other corner. Mayra Cantuaria sings the classic refrain “Anything you can do, I can do better, I can do anything better than you.” She’s also got a good ground game, and it showed in the second round of her fight versus Callie Cutler from March of last year.

That frame saw Cantuaria trapping her leg and arm on Cutler’s body, giving her the opening to go to work on a rear-naked choke. While Cutler gestured to the official that she was still in the fight, it wouldn’t stay that way for much longer after that in round two.

She was forced to tap due to the deep choke a few seconds later. If Cantuaria can take Maia down in the Invicta FC 56 main event, it’s her world and we’re all living in it.

Final Thoughts

While this fight will take place in the USA, this fight is for supremacy in Brazil. Even without a championship up for the taking, the stakes will be high on Friday night in the Invicta FC 56 main event.

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Denver to Host Invicta FC 56 on August 9, Featuring Maia-Cantuária Showdown

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DENVER — Fresh off one of the most successful events in Invicta Fighting Championships history, the phoenix is rising to a Mile High once more. The world’s premier combat sports organization for women touches down at the Stockyards Event Center in Denver on Friday, Aug. 9 with another star-studded lineup.

In the night’s headliner, Brazilian Jennifer Maia (21-10-1) returns to the organization that launched her into stardom to take on her countrywoman, Mayra Cantuária (10-5-1). Maia, the former Invicta FC flyweight champion and UFC title challenger, will move up in weight for a non-title bantamweight clash, marking her seventh appearance in the Invicta cage. Cantuária aims to build on the momentum of her second-round submission win over Calie Cutler in her promotional debut at Invicta FC 52 last year.

Invicta FC 56 will also feature the return of former strawweight titleholder Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (13-4), who welcomes Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova (9-2-1) to North America. Machado rebounded from her title defeat at Invicta FC 52 with a 49-second stoppage victory in February and looks to quickly get back into title contention. Ostroverkhova is a product of the Alexander Shlemenko “STORM” fight team and is an Open Fighting Championship strawweight champion.

The card also includes Brazilian Kelly Ottoni (5-0) against Jackie “The Hybrid” Cataline (4-3) in a featherweight bout, English bantamweight Kate “Queen of the South” Bacik (4-1) takes on Brazilian Paula “Bittencourt” Cristina (6-2), Mexican atomweight Flor “Compean” Hernandez (4-1) clashes with Ana “Guerrera” Palacios (8-3-1), Ailed Zubieta (3-2), also of Mexico, faces off with fellow atomweight Giulliany “Giu” Perêa (1-0) of Brazil, featherweight Ali Pellegrini (debut) makes her first professional appearance opposite Missouri native Marissa “Mo” Ellis (1-1), and Ashley Barrett (debut) and Nicaragua’s Tatiana Salazar (debut) kick off the night’s action in a flyweight contest.

Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT. Tickets to the event are on sale now through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight: Jennifer Maia vs. Mayra Cantuária
Strawweight: Valesca Machado vs. Yulia Ostroverkhova
Featherweight: Kelly Ottoni vs. Jackie Cataline
Bantamweight: Kate Bacik vs. Paula “Bittencourt” Cristina
Atomweight: Flor Hernandez vs. Ana Palacios
Atomweight: Ailed Zubieta vs. Giulliany Perêa
Featherweight: Ali Pellegrini vs. Marissa Ellis
Flyweight: Ashley Barrett vs. Tatiana Salazar

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 55 Results: Bernardo Submits Rubin to Retain Bantamweight Title

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – On Friday, June 28, Invicta Fighting Championships touched down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City for Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

The Invicta bantamweight belt remains around the waist of Brazilian Talita Bernardo, who submitted challenger Olga Rubin in the second round of their title bout. Rubin stalked Bernardo early as the bantamweights exchanged range-finding kicks. Bernardo ducked under a right hand from Rubin and took the fight to the ground. Rubin applied a buggy choke from the bottom, but Bernardo patiently worked her way free and to top position. A series of right hands from Bernardo forced Rubin to scramble. Bernardo used a body lock to drag Rubin to the mat. She quickly moved to back mount and began to work for a rear-naked choke. Rubin arched her back to defend the submission and eventually spun into the guard of the Brazilian. Late in the round, it was Rubin who took the back of Bernardo and opened a large cut near the right eye. A left head kick from Rubin greeted Bernardo to start the second round. Bernardo absorbed it and took Rubin to the mat. Rubin landed an upkick but gave up her back in the ensuing scramble. Bernardo again went to work on a rear-naked choke, eventually locking it in and coercing the tap from the challenger.

Returning to where her career started, Californian strawweight Kay Hansen looked to get back into contention when she faced off with undefeated Colombian Sayury Cañon. Hansen scored with a quick right hand and immediately launched into a big takedown. She climbed on the back of Cañon and looked for a choke. Cañon used the cage to her advantage and escaped the position. Hansen shot for another takedown but went for a ride as Cañon slammed her to the mat. When the pair returned to striking, Hansen set up another takedown and again moved to Cañon’s back. The Colombian did well to avoid letting Hansen secure her hooks for a moment, but eventually succumbed to the UFC veteran’s pressure. Hansen rained right hands and worked to flatten out Cañon, but could not find a finish before the bell. A spinning backfist attempt from Cañon opened the second frame and turned it into a takedown. Hansen scrambled to a dominant position and again looked to set up a submission. Cañon escaped to her feet and peppered Hansen with her jab. A big flurry from Cañon prompted Hansen to tie her up and slam her back to the canvas. It was short-lived as Cañon bounced back to her feet. In the final frame, Hansen wasted little time closing the distance and pushing Cañon against the fence. Cañon looked for heavy punches at range, forcing Hansen to clinch again. Hansen fired a step-in, upward elbow that surprised Cañon. The Colombian responded with a massive slam in the center of the cage. Hansen worked hard in the clinch before unleashing a late onslaught of kicks. The competitive affair went to the scorecards and it was Hansen who eked out the split-decision victory after three, hard-fought rounds.

Promotional newcomer Andressa Romero of Brazil spoiled the Invicta and North American debut of Japanese atomweight Saori Oshima. Oshima flurried forward to initiate the clinch in the opening moments of the bout, but it was Romero who spun her to the cage. She looked for a body lock which allowed Oshima to briefly attack her neck. Oshima used the choke attempt to transition to a kimura and flip Romero to the mat. Romero did not panic in the precarious position, but Oshima again rolled her to move to top position. She quickly transitioned to the back with both hooks. Romero looked to spin into top position but was forced to defend an armbar attempt from the Japanese fighter. Romero worked her way free momentarily, only for Oshima to attack her other arm. Romero opened up with her hands in round two to try and slow Oshima’s advance. Oshima marched forward absorbing punches before changing levels and pulling Romero on top of her. After a short grappling exchange, Romero opted to return to her feet and stay out of Oshima’s guard. The pair willingly traded power shots in the pocket before Oshima again pulled Romero on top of her. The Brazilian dropped heavy right hands from the top until the round closed. Oshima looked for an immediate takedown to open the last round. Romero tried to set up an arm-triangle from the top before Oshima recovered her guard. As the fight returned to the feet, Oshima chased Romero around the cage to secure a short clinch. Romero teed off with right hands late in the bout. A late takedown from Oshima had little effect, as she was unable to mount any offense. When the scorecards were read, it was Romero who walked away with the victory to move into contention at 105 pounds.

Kicking off the action on the CBS Sports main card, Taylor Guardado made her Invicta FC return opposite Japan’s Yoko Hagashi in a bantamweight affair. Higashi scored with a quick right hand before barreling forward for a takedown attempt. Guardado side-stepped the attempt and delivered a thundering right hand of her own. Higashi changed levels, but Guardado stuffed her and jumped on her back. She secured both hooks and sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke in just 83 seconds.

Closing out the preliminary-card action, Brazilian atomweight Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira took on Canada’s Katie Saull. Ferreira quickly caught a kick from Saull and forced her to the mat. She postured up along the fence to deliver heavy left hands. Saull was active with her guard, but allowed Ferreira to move to her back and lace in one hook. The left hands from Ferreira continue to rain down on Saull. Ferreira quickly jumped on the back and looked for a rear-naked choke, but Saull was able to spin out of the submission and into top position. Ferreira was aggressive from her back, frequently threatening to lock up Saull’s arm. The second stanza opened with a more measured pace on the feet. Saull shot for a takedown, but Ferreira stuffed it and reversed position. A left elbow from Saull connected clean to the temple of Ferreira. The Brazilian stuck to Saull like glue along the fence. Saull broke free late in the round. Ferreira opened round three with a heavy right hook to Saull’s midsection. Saull returned fire with a teep kick to Ferreira’s stomach. The pair traded more kicks, with neither truly taking control of the range. A crisp right from Ferreira got through Saull’s guard with a minute left in the fight. A left hand from Saull found its mark late, but the judges were called upon for a verdict. All three rendered a win for Ferreira, who called for a title shot in her post-fight interview.

In a battle of amateur world champions, American Zoe Nowicki collided with Brazilian Josiane Oliveira in a flyweight bout. Oliveira popped the head of Nowicki early with a jab as she looked to find her range. Nowicki was undeterred, marching forward and scoring with a heavy right hand. A level change from the American led to a wild scramble. Oliveira delivered a spinning heel kick that wowed the crowd, but Nowicki absorbed the strike well. Nowicki fired a booming overhand right that landed clean to the left eye of Oliveira. Late in the round, Nowicki utilized her wresting pedigree to score the fight’s first takedown. In round two, Oliveira used her length to keep Nowicki on the outside. Another overhand from Nowicki missed the mark as Oliveira was able to evade. A takedown from Nowicki was stuffed by the Brazilian, who followed with a wheel kick attempt. The final frame began slowly, as both fighters looked for openings. Nowicki was the first to find one, cracking Oliveira with another right hand. She powered into a single-leg and earned a brief takedown. The pressure of Nowicki took its toll as the fight progressed. Oliveira’s offensive output waned in the closing moments. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Nowicki claimed the unanimous decision nod.

The night opened with a flyweight match-up between Mexico’s Violeta Mendoza and the debuting Fallon Johnson. The pair exchanged heavy low kicks before Mendoza started to open up with punches. Johnson looked for the clinch, but it was Mendoza who gained top position on the ground. The Mexican moved to half guard, but was unable to mount any significant offense. The fight returned to the feet and Mendoza again landed heavy punches. Mendoza caught a kick and delivered a massive right hand that dropped Johnson. She flurried with punches to get the first-round TKO victory and move to 2-0.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Talita Bernardo def. Olga Rubin by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:53 – for bantamweight title
Kay Hansen def. Sayury Cañon by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andressa Romero def. Saori Oshima by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Taylor Guardado def. Yoko Higashi by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:23
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Zoe Nowicki def. Josiane Oliveira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Violeta Mendoza def. Fallon Johnson by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:16

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.