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Invicta FC 29 Results: Kaufman Submits Lehner, Claims Bantamweight Title

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, May 4, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

There’s a new champion in the bantamweight division as veteran Sarah Kaufman secured the first submission victory of her storied career, choking Germany’s Katharina Lehner in the third round. There was no feeling-out process as the pair exchanged punches in the center of the cage following the opening bell. Kaufman was fluid with her combinations, but Lehner responded with heavy right hands of her own. Round two saw Kaufman secure double underhooks and earn a takedown. She attacked with an arm-triangle choke, but Lehner was able to survive and escape. Kaufman again secured a takedown in the third round and opened up a large cut on Lehner with ground and pound. She sensed the finish was near and attacked the neck of the German fighter. Once the rear-naked choke was locked in, Lehner tapped and Kaufman claimed the title.

In the night’s co-main event, veteran Pannie Kianzad returned to the win column, defeating Brazilian newcomer Bianca Daimoni. The boxing skills of Kianzad were on display early and often, as she lit up Daimoni with combinations on the feet. Daimoni tried to answer with kicks, but Kianzad stayed out of range. A left hook from Kianzad dropped Daimoni in the second stanza. Kianzad was confident in the final five minutes, snapping the head of Daimoni frequently with her jab. There was no doubt on the scorecards as Kianzad earned every round from each of the judges.

The flyweight bout between Pearl Gonzalez and Brazil’s Bárbara Acioly did not last long as Gonzalez secured a first-round armbar finish. Gonzalez wobbled Acioly with a left hand in the first exchange, but the Brazilian was able to recover. The pair traded body kicks, but Gonzalez earned a takedown and moved to mount. She looked for an armbar, but Acioly scrambled to top position. Gonzalez threatened with a triangle choke before again switching to the armbar and coercing the tap from Acioly.

Marciea Allen made a successful return to the promotion, scoring a first-round TKO after opponent Julia Avila suffered an injury to her finger. Within the fight’s first minute, Allen fired a kick that caught Avila in the hand. She tried to shake it off, but the referee realized she was injured and waved off the contest.

Flyweight veterans Liz Tracy and Cheri Muraski went the distance, with Tracy capturing the decision nod. Tracy’s forward pressure was the story of the fight, as she closed the distance and forced Muraski to work in the clinch. Tracy was able to move to Muraski’s back on multiple occasions, scoring with short shots. Tracy used her wrestling to secure takedowns in each of the first two frames. Muraski’s face wore the damage of Tracy’s punches, but she fought back hard in the final round. It was too little, too late as Tracy left victorious.

Making her professional debut, Lisa Spangler edged Sarah Kleczka in a back-and-forth affair. Spangler did damage to the lead leg of Kleczka with leg kicks in the opening stanza. Kleczka answered with frequent overhand rights and kicks to the body of Spangler. As the fight wore on, Spangler capitalized on Kleczka’s takedown attempts, scoring with heavy hammerfists. When the scorecards were read, it was Spangler who walked away with the win.

In a battle of featherweights, Macy Chiasson topped Allison Schmidt after three, hard-fought rounds. Chiasson used her height and reach advantage, as well as switching stances, to puzzle Schmidt early. She repeatedly scored with punches from range, causing the face of Schmidt to swell. Schmidt looked to bring the fight to the mat often, but Chiasson’s takedown defense held up, as she continued to score on the feet. After three rounds, Chiasson swept the scorecards.

Strawweight Helen Peralta picked up her second straight win in the Invicta cage, handing newcomer Cheyanne Vlismas her first professional defeat. Peralta’s kicks were the story in round one, as Vlismas looked to counter. In round two, it was the hands of Peralta that did the damage, as she dropped Vlismas with a right straight-left hook combination. Vlismas was game, surviving the onslaught and pressing the action in the final frame. It wasn’t enough, however as Peralta claimed the decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sarah Kaufman def. Katharina Lehner by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 4:30 – for bantamweight title
Pannie Kianzad def. Bianca Daimoni by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Pearl Gonzalez def. Bárbara Acioly by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:30
Marciea Allen def. Julia Avila by TKO (finger injury). Round 1, 0:49
Liz Tracy def. Cheri Muraski by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Lisa Spangler def. Sarah Kleczka by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Macy Chiasson def. Allison Schmidt by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Helen Peralta def. Cheyanne Vlismas by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 28 Results: Jandiroba Tops MIZUKI, Captures Strawweight Gold

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Salt Lake City — On Saturday, March 24, Invicta Fighting Championships made its first trip to the state of Utah, hosting Invicta FC 28: MIZUKI vs. Jandiroba from the Union Event Center in the capital of the Beehive State. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba is the new Invicta FC strawweight champion after largely dominating Japan’s MIZUKI from bell to bell. Jandiroba took the fight to the mat effortlessly throughout the entire five-round affair. A right hand from Jandiroba damaged the left eye of MIZUKI early in the fight and it swelled badly. Jandiroba was methodical with her top pressure, smothering MIZUKI from generating offense or returning to her feet. The best chance for MIZUKI came in round four, as she scored with a beautiful hip toss, but Jandiroba quickly reversed the position and continued her dominance. When the scorecards were revealed, it was the Brazilian who left with the win and the belt.

Former title challenger DeAnna Bennett returned to the promotion and snapped the winning streak of Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez. Bennett surprised the Mexican fighter with a steady forward advance, landing punches and initiating the clinch. Bennett scored with a big takedown, but Rodríguez quickly bounced back to her feet. The second round was more of the same as Bennett’s frequent level changes and feints prevented Rodríguez from putting together her boxing combinations. Rodríguez increased her output in the final round, but Bennett’s wrestling and clinch game was too much. The judges were split, but it was Bennett who left with the win.

Veteran Milana Dudieva gave Christina Marks a rude welcome to the Invicta cage, earning a second-round TKO victory. The flyweights spent the first round in a feeling-out process, trading single strikes and gauging range. It was more of the same in round two, but late in the frame, Dudieva delivered a massive right hand that sent Marks crashing to the ground. Dudieva followed with a series of right hands to finish the fight.

Pearl Gonzalez outworked Kali Robbins in a three-round war to introduce herself to the strawweight division. The previously undefeated Robbins waded through the strikes of Gonzalez to impose her grappling attack in the opening round. Gonzalez was able to defend from her back and reverse position multiple times. As the fight progressed, Robbins began to give Gonzalez more openings for scrambles and Gonzalez capitalized. She spent the better part of the last two rounds in the top position, cruising to the decision win.

Finnish atomweight Minna Grusander impressed in her promotional debut, stopping her fellow newcomer Fernanda Barros by TKO. Barros was very aggressive to start, coming forward with looping punches and kicks. Grusander survived the onslaught and the pair traded guillotine attempts. In the second round, the Finn found her range on the feet, dropping Barros with a flurry midway through the round. She increased her output, pounding out the Brazilian along the cage to earn the TKO win.

Strawweight Kal Schwartz put on a wrestling clinic before violently finishing Kay Hansen in the second round. Schwartz controlled the clinch throughout the first round, scoring with short punches and knees. Hansen broke free for a moment, but was quickly slammed to the canvas. That was a precursor to what would come in round two as Schwartz opened a huge cut on Hansen’s face with an elbow before suplexing her to the ground. Schwartz sensed the finish was near and flurried hard to force the referee to intervene.

In a pairing of bantamweight newcomers, New Hampshire’s Kerri Kenneson edged Chelsea Chandler after three thrilling rounds. Chandler’s grappling arsenal was the story early in the fight as she repeatedly attacked Kenneson with choke attempts, but Kenneson turned the tide with a massive left hand to close the opening round. Chandler continued to attack the limbs of Kenneson, but she left herself exposed to ground and pound. Kenneson was forced to defend a deep triangle choke in the third round, but her offensive output was more than enough to secure the decision nod.

Jillian DeCoursey remained undefeated, handing Invicta newcomer Rebekah Levine her first defeat in their atomweight match-up. LeVine sought the takedown early in the fight, but quickly fell into the dangerous guard of DeCoursey. The BJJ brown belt attacked with numerous armbars from her back, forcing LeVine to defend. As the fight progressed, DeCoursey showcased her superior grappling game, frequently moving to mount and dropping punches. LeVine proved her toughness by making it to the final bell, but DeCoursey claimed the clear-cut decision victory.

Flyweights Tracy Cortez and Kaytlin Neil kicked off the action with a back-and-forth battle that went to the scorecards. Cortez was aggressive throughout, pressing forward and keeping Neil with her back to the fence. Neil was able to score with a hip toss in the middle stanza, but she struggled to maintain top position. The final frame was full of scrambles and submission attempts, but it was the relentless pressure of Cortez that was rewarded by the judges.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Virna Jandiroba def. MIZUKI by split decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46) – for strawweight title
DeAnna Bennett def. Karina Rodríguez by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)
Milana Dudieva def. Christina Marks by TKO (punches). Round 2, 3:57
Pearl Gonzalez def. Kali Robbins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)
Minna Grusander def. Fernanda Barros by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:26
Kal Schwartz def. Kay Hansen by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 4:27
Kerri Kenneson def. Chelsea Chandler by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jillian DeCoursey def. Rebekah Levine by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Tracy Cortez def. Kaytlin Neil by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 27 Results: Kaufman Cruises Past Kianzad, Porto Chokes Morais

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, Jan. 13, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Sarah Kaufman’s return to the Invicta cage was a successful one as the former Strikeforce bantamweight champion and UFC veteran bested Pannie Kianzad by decision. Kaufman’s striking arsenal was on full display throughout the contest. She landed her right hand in the clinch throughout the bout, bloodying the nose of Kianzad early in the fight. Kianzad never backed down, firing spinning backfists and a variety of kicks. But Kaufman’s veteran savvy was too much, as she landed with more and more volume as the fight progressed. The Canadian swept the scorecards after three rounds.

Former flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto continued her march back towards title contention, dispatching of her fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais in the first round. Porto landed heavy leg kicks as the fight begin, prompting Morais to shoot for a takedown. Porto scrambled to the back of Morais, who desperately tried to defend Porto’s submission attack. Porto sunk in a rear-naked choke late in the round, coercing the tap from Morais.

In a classic striker vs. grappler affair, it was the wrestler, Sharon Jacobson, that came out on top of Canada’s Ashley Nichols. Jacobson initiated the clinch to start the fight and aimed to take the fight to the mat. Nichols countered with heavy knees and punches, dropping Jacobson in the opening round. Jacobson secured a takedown and was able to recover. The relentless wrestling of Jacobson was the story of the rest of the fight, as she was able to put Nichols on her back repeatedly. The final five minutes was all Jacobson, who used the knee-on-belly technique to pepper Nichols with punches and elbows and capture the win.

Atomweight Ashley Cummins completed dominated promotional debutant Stephanie Alba over three rounds. Cummins was able to take the fight to the mat in every round, where she meticulously delivered ground and pound. The first round was filled with short elbow from the half guard, as Alba could not get off her back. Cummins sought an arm-triangle choke in the second stanza, but Alba defended well. In the final frame, Cummins sought the finish, scoring with combinations before yet another takedown. She dropped punches to the final bell, but had to settle for decision victory.

Guam’s Brogan Walker-Sanchez handed Cheri Muraski her first professional defeat after a grueling, three-round contest. Muraski’s intentions were clear from the opening bell as she closed the distance and looked to take Walker-Sanchez to the mat. Walker-Sanchez was able to score with elbows from the clinch and use her underhooks to stay standing. Muraski did find herself inside the full guard at one point, but was unable to pass to a dominant position. The pair jostled for position along the fence for the majority of the fight, but two of the three judges rewarded Walker-Sanchez the decision.

Felicia Spencer kept her undefeated record intact, besting debuting featherweight Akeela Al-Hameed by decision. The fight featured a contrast of styles as Al-Hameed employed a boxing attack against Spencer’s taekwondo base. The pair traded head kicks in the opening frame after a grueling stint in the clinch. Al-Hameed’s best moment came in the form of a standing guillotine choke attempt against the fence, but Spencer showcased great flexibility to land knees from the vicarious position. Spencer would gain top control late in the fight, sealing the win on all the judges’ scorecards.

Strawweight Mallory Martin gave Tiffany Masters a rude welcome to the Invicta FC cage, earning a second-round stoppage due to strikes. Martin pressed forward in the opening round, scoring with her left hook inside the pocket. Masters countered with volume, but Martin took her down and rained elbows from the top. It was more of the same in round two as Martin mounted Masters along the fence and dropped heavy shots. The onslaught led the referee to intervene and give Martin the victory.

Making her professional MMA debut, Muay Thai stylist Loma Lookboonmee put on a striking clinic, battering Mellissa Wang over three rounds. Wang immediately looked to take the fight to the mat, but Loma countered with knees and elbows in the clinch. The shots took their toll on Wang, who bled from her nose and left eye. The fight was paused twice by the referee after the Thai fighter landed knees while Wang was a downed fighter. Despite a point deduction, Loma swept the scorecards with the impressive performance.

In a match-up of strawweight newcomers, Helen Peralta needed less than a round to dispatch of Jade Ripley with strikes. Peralta used her kicks to find her range and began to land her right hand at will. After buckling the knees of Ripley in the clinch, Peralta delivered a series of punches along the fence that forced the referee to halt the contest.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sarah Kaufman def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Vanessa Porto def. Mariana Morais by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:19
Sharon Jacobson def. Ashley Nichols by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ashley Cummins def. Stephanie Alba by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Brogan Walker-Sanchez def. Cheri Muraski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Felicia Spencer def. Akeela Al-Hameed by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mallory Martin def. Tiffany Masters by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:36
Loma Lookboonmee def. Mellissa Wang by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26)
Helen Peralta def. Jade Ripley by TKO (punches). Round 1, 2:22

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 26 Results: Maia Outlasts Niedźwiedź, Dern Submits Medeiros

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Dec. 8, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedźwiedź from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Jennifer Maia is still the Invicta flyweight champion after a five-round war with Poland’s Aga Niedźwiedź. The Brazilian rocked Niedźwiedź early with a right hand that caused the right cheek of the challenger to swell. Niedźwiedź was able to get the fight to the canvas late in the opening round, but Maia was active from her back. It was Niedźwiedź who did the damage in round two, rocking Maia with punches. The champion survived and implemented her strong clinch game. Maia relentlessly pinned Niedźwiedź to the fence and weighed on her. The grueling action took its toll on Niedźwiedź, as Maia turned up her output in the championship rounds. Both fighters bled from their noses in the final round, but Maia’s volume was the difference as all three judges rewarded her efforts.

Mackenzie Dern stayed undefeated in her Invicta debut, submitting former strawweight title challenger Kaline Medeiros in the third round. Dern found success with her overhand right throughout the fight, rocking Medeiros on several occasions. A mouse formed under the left eye of Medeiros from the heavy shots. The fight found the ground in round two and Dern looked for a toe hold before passing to mount and scoring with ground and pound. Most of the third stanza took place on the feet, but Dern went for the finish in the bout’s final minute. She earned a trip takedown, passed to mount and then earned a tap from an armbar with just seconds remaining in the fight.

A pair of Brazilians delivered one of the bloodiest fights in Invicta history as Janaisa Morandin and Kinberly Novaes went to war for three rounds. The two immediately went to the clinch and began delivering elbows and knees. When they did separate, it was Morandin who scored with big punches. The second round saw Morandin severely damage the nose of Novaes and blood began to pour all over both fighters. The assault by Morandin continued throughout the remainder of the fight as she pressed forward and battered Novaes. Novaes survived to the final horn, but Morandin swept the scorecards.

Two-time flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto survived an early storm from UFC veteran Milana Dudieva to earn a third-round TKO victory. Porto’s kicking arsenal was on display in the opening stanza, until Dudieva caught her with a punch behind the ear. Porto looked for a takedown, but Dudieva was able to secure the scarf-hold position and eventually took her back. She rained punches, but Porto survived and moved to top position. Round two featured more of Porto’s stand-up attack, as she chewed up the lead leg of Dudieva with kicks. In the final frame, Porto shifted her strikes to the body of Dudieva, backing her against the fence. An onslaught of punches and kicks to the midsection sent Dudieva to the canvas, handing Porto the TKO win.

Brazil’s Virna Jandiroba remained undefeated and sent a message to the rest of the strawweight division, submitting Amy Montenegro inside the first round. Jandiroba peppered Montenegro with body kicks before changing levels and securing a takedown. She smoothly transitioned from side control to mount before locking up the arm of Montenegro and earning the victory.

Former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown got back in the win column with a lightning-fast submission win over Tessa Simpson. Brown looked to get the fight to the ground right off the bat, but Simpson was able to scramble to top position. Brown slapped on an armbar from her back, forcing Simpson to defend and eventually tap less than a minute into the fight.

In a battle of flyweight striking stalwarts, Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez used crisp boxing and volume to edge out Christine Ferea on the scorecards. Ferea’s kicking game was the story early in the fight, but Rodríguez used the clinch to score knees and settle into range. Rodríguez fired combination after combination, but Ferea marched forward throughout the three-round affair. The pair traded until the final bell, but it was Rodríguez who had her hand raised.

Kicking off the night, strawweight Kay Hansen was successful in her professional debut, submitting fellow newcomer Emilee Prince by armbar. Hansen initiated the clinch and took the fight to the mat. She passed to mount, attacked the left arm of Prince and coerced the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jennifer Maia def. Aga Niedźwiedź by unanimous decision (49-46 x3) – for flyweight title
Mackenzie Dern def. Kaline Medeiros by submission (armbar). Round 3, 4:45
Janaisa Morandin def. Kinberly Novaes by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Vanessa Porto def. Milana Dudieva by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 3:02
Virna Jandiroba def. Amy Montenegro by submission (armbar). Round 1, 2:50
Amber Brown def. Tessa Simpson by submission (armbar). Round 1, 0:50
Karina Rodríguez def. Christine Ferea by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Kay Hansen def. Emilee Prince by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:23

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 25 Results: Kunitskaya Too Much For Pa’aluhi, Souza Bests Morandin

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Lemoore, Calif. — On Thursday, Aug. 31, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 25: Pa’aluhi vs. Kunitskaya from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya captured Invicta gold, dominating fellow bantamweight Raquel Pa’aluhi over the course of five rounds. Kunitskaya utilized a strong clinch game in the opening rounds, hanging on Pa’aluhi along the fence. Pa’aluhi was able to score with a head-and-arm throw, but was unable to lock up a submission from top position. Kunitskaya continued her dominance in the clinch and at distance, delivering numerous front kicks to maintain range. Pa’aluhi’s nose bled from the constant flow of kicks and knees from the Russian. Late in the fight, Pa’aluhi was desperate to get the fight to the ground, but Kunitskaya showcased strong takedown defense to seal the victory. Kunitskaya swept the scorecards, earning the belt.

The night’s co-main event saw Brazilians Livia Renata Souza and Janaisa Morandin do battle for three rounds. Morandin landed heavy right hands to open the contest, but Souza earned takedowns and imposed her grappling prowess. Morandin absorbed heavy shots from her back, but remained active. In round two, it was Morandin who locked up a triangle choke attempt from her back, but Souza was able to wait it out to the bell. Morandin continued her onslaught with punches in the final frame, but Souza’s ground game was too much. Souza handed Morandin her first loss with the decision verdict.

Germany’s Katharina Lehner impressed in her promotional debut, pounding out Alexa Conners inside the first round. Lehner came forward relentlessly, forcing Conners to keep her back against the fence. Conners looked to counter, but was overwhelmed by Lehner’s pace. Lehner’s output took its toll as the round progressed, as Conners dropped to the canvas and the referee stopped the contest.

Kali Robbins kept her undefeated record intact, ruining the return of Sharon Jacobson in under a minute. Jacobson landed a barrage of strikes to open the bout, wobbling Robbins. A huge takedown followed from Jacobson, but Robbins locked onto an arm and Jacobson was forced to submit.

Atomweights Shino VanHoose and Alyse Anderson engaged in a back-and-forth match-up with VanHoose edging out the decision win. VanHoose used her jab and counter left hook to land on the feet, prompting Anderson to look for takedowns. Anderson frequently took the fight to the ground, but VanHoose was able to tie her up and force the referee to stand up the fight. The final frame saw VanHoose score with strikes and earn the mount as Anderson failed on a takedown. VanHoose’s effort was enough to convince two of the judges to give her the decision win.

Newcomer Sarah Kleczka outlasted Amberlynn Orr to earn a split decision in a grueling bantamweight affair. Kleczka was the aggressor, but Orr was able to close the distance and score from the clinch. Orr forced Kleczka to defend a guillotine attempt from the mount, but Kleczka countered with an armbar after recovering her guard. A majority of the fight was spent in the clinch, with Kleczka controlling the action and landing short knees. The judges were split, but Kleczka earned her first professional win.

Yaya Rincón remained undefeated, stopping opponent Courtney King in the second round. Rincón earned a quick takedown to start the fight, but King worked back to her feet. It would not last, as Rincón took the fight to the ground once more, but King reversed and took her back. Rincón fought off the submission attempts to see round two. The momentum swung heavily in her favor as she put King on her back and mounted her. A steady stream of strikes forced the referee to intervene and halt the bout.

Flyweight Cheri Muraski spoiled the pro debut of opponent Tracy Cortez, submitting her by guillotine choke. Cortez was aggressive early, pressing the action and bloodying the face of Muraski. Cortez looked to bring the fight to the ground repeatedly, but couldn’t get a takedown. Muraski took advantage, attacking the neck of Cortez and coercing the tap in round two.

Kicking off the night, atomweight Jillian DeCoursey edged out fellow newcomer Ashley Medina by split decision. Medina marched forward early, but DeCoursey scored with counter right hands. The pair exchanged through two rounds before DeCoursey took the fight to the ground in the final frame. She took Medina’s back and threatened with a choke, but ultimately settled for the decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Yana Kunitskaya def. Raquel Pa’aluhi by unanimous decision (50-45 x3) – for vacant bantamweight title
Livia Renata Souza def. Janaisa Morandin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Katharina Lehner def. Alexa Conners by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:21
Kali Robbins def. Sharon Jacobson by submission (armbar). Round 1, 0:42
Shino VanHoose def. Alyse Anderson by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Sarah Kleczka def. Amberlynn Orr by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Yaya Rincón def. Courtney King by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:41
Cheri Muraski def. Tracy Cortez by submission (guillotine choke). Round 2, 2:42
Jillian DeCoursey def. Ashley Medina by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 24 Results: Borella Tops Dudieva, Frey Bests Cummins

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, July 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The night’s main event featured a closely contested flyweight between Italy’s Mara Romero Borella and UFC veteran Milana Dudieva. Borella flurried forward to open the bout, allowing Dudieva to score with a judo throw. Borella looked for a leg lock, which allowed her to return to the feet. The pair traded punches before Borella looked for a takedown. Dudieva countered with a guillotine attempt to close the round. In the second round, Borella used her striking and length before putting Dudieva on her back. She scored with ground and pound from the top position along the fence. It was more of the same in round three, but Dudieva sought an armbar from her back. Borella defended and passed to mount. Dudieva powered to the top position in the fight’s waning moments, but landed in a triangle attempt from the Italian. The Russian would survive to the final bell, but it was Borella who walked away with the split decision win.

Former atomweight title challenger Jinh Yu Frey used her wrestling and top control to edge Ashley Cummins by decision. Frey capitalized on the forward pressure of Cummins, taking the fight to the mat. Cummins was active on her back, threatening with armbars. Frey opted to return to the feet in the first round, but as the fight progressed, she stayed in the guard of Cummins. That resulted in repeated armbar attempts from Cummins, which Frey was forced to defend. Every time Frey escaped, Cummins attacked with another. The final stanza was a showcase of the strength of Frey, who was able to keep Cummins on her back for the majority of the round and earn the victory on the judges’ scorecards.

Veteran Pam Sorenson gave featherweight newcomer Helena Kolesnyk a rude welcome to the Invicta cage, scoring a first-round submission victory. Kolesnyk threw kicks early, but Sorenson timed a takedown attempt and tripped her to the canvas. She methodically passed to side control and then the mount. Sorenson dropped heavy right hands from mount. She was patient from the top, passing to S-mount and setting up an armbar. Sorenson cranked on the arm and Kolesnyk was forced to submit.

The flyweight match-up between newcomers Karina Rodríguez and Bárbara Acioly was fast and violent. Mexico’s Rodríguez rocked Brazil’s Acioly early with a right hand and quickly looked for the finish. She chased Acioly to the mat and pounded away with strikes. Acioly did her best to survive and nearly worked back to her feet, but Rodríguez was relentless with her aggression. A swarm of hammerfists from Rodríguez was too much for referee Greg Franklin, who stepped in and saved Acioly from further damage.

Missouri’s Miranda Maverick remained unbeaten, topping promotional newcomer Gabby Romero on the scorecards. Maverick scored with left hands in the first frame. Romero answered with a head-and-arm throw attempt, but ended up on her back. She attacked with a leg lock attempt that allowed her to get on top of Maverick. Maverick was able to escape, but fell into a deep armbar attempt to close the round. In round two, a series of uppercuts from Maverick were the most significant strikes of the bout. The pair’s chess match on the mat later resumed as Maverick delivered heavy shots, while Romero searched for submissions. Maverick attacked the body in the final frame, slowing Romero’s output. A late armbar attempt from Maverick was reversed by Romero and Maverick was once again forced to ride out the round to the bell. When it was all said and done, it was Maverick who was victorious.

Strawweights Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir and Kelly D’Angelo engaged in a hard-fought battle over the course of three rounds, with Iceland’s Davíðsdóttir earning the decision victory. The pair came out firing, connecting with straight punches. Davíðsdóttir looked to bring the fight to the canvas, but D’Angelo responded with heavy punches. The nose of Davíðsdóttir poured blood as the opening stanza came to a close. The second and third rounds were a different story as Davíðsdóttir utilized her takedowns to neutralize D’Angelo’s offense. The Icelandic fighter was able to mount D’Angelo and rain heavy punches and elbows. The fight went the distance with Davíðsdóttir sweeping the scorecards.

The night kicked off with a dominant performance from undefeated featherweight Felicia Spencer. Spencer opened with a series of body kicks to opponent Amy Coleman, but was briefly taken down. She worked back to her feet and then put Coleman on her back. She wasn’t able to keep Coleman down for long, but later in the round, she scored with a big lift along the fence. Spencer quickly took Coleman’s back with both hooks. Once there, she worked for a rear-naked choke and coerced the tap from Coleman.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Mara Romero Borella def. Milana Dudieva by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Jinh Yu Frey def. Ashley Cummins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Pam Sorenson def. Helena Kolesnyk by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:12
Karina Rodríguez def. Bárbara Acioly by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 2:14
Miranda Maverick def. Gabby Romero by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir def. Kelly D’Angelo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Felicia Spencer def. Amy Coleman by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:17

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 23 Results: Niedźwiedź Edges Porto, Modafferi Batters D’Alelio

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, May 20, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 23: Porto vs. Niedźwiedź from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Agnieszka Niedźwiedź remained undefeated, besting Brazilian Vanessa Porto. The former title challenger Porto fired leg kick after leg kick to open the bout, but Niedźwiedź was able to take her to the ground. The Polish fighter could not maintain top position as Porto scrambled free. Niedźwiedź looked for a guillotine choke, but could not coerce the tap. Late in the round, Niedźwiedź looked for a D’arce choke, but time expired. Round two saw Porto again score with strikes, and she gained top position. She aggressively dove into the guard of Niedźwiedź and fell into a triangle choke. Porto did not panic, but she was forced to defend the choke and an armbar until the round closed. Porto’s striking was very effective in the final round, battering the lead leg of Niedźwiedź. The nose of Niedźwiedź bled heavily, but her early takedowns and submission attempts were the difference, as she earned the decision victory.

Roxanne Modafferi continued her march back toward title contention with the most complete performance of her Invicta career. “The Happy Warrior” was knocked down by opponent Sarah D’Alelio just seconds into the fight, but she was able to recover. Modafferi was able to clip D’Alelio later in the round. She took the back of D’Alelio and threatened with choke attempts, but D’Alelio was able to defend. In round two, Modafferi scored with a combinations, before taking the fight to the canvas. D’Alelio looked for a heel hook, but Modafferi defended and passed to her back. D’Alelio spun into the guard of Modafferi, but was forced to fend off a triangle choke attempt. Round three was all Modafferi, as she quickly put D’Alelio on her back and moved to mount. Modafferi landed a huge elbow that split open the forehead of D’Alelio, prompting the referee to halt the contest.

Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio survived a closely contested war with Tessa Simpson. Simpson caught a kick early and put the Brazilian on the ground. Tiburcio muscled her way on top, but was tied up inside the guard of Simpson. Simpson eventually worked her way back to the feet and the pair traded kicks. In round two, Simpson displayed her boxing prowess, but Tiburcio was able to earn a takedown. She looked for a guillotine choke and then a heel hook, but Simpson was able to escape. The third round was equally competitive, with Tiburcio scoring a takedown and Simpson attacking with a leg lock off her back. The back-and-forth bout resulted in a split verdict from the judges, with Tiburcio coming out with the win.

Making her Invicta debut, bantamweight Kelly Faszholz cruised past Elizabeth Phillips with fluid combinations. Faszholz marched forward from the opening bell, frequently landing her right hand. Phillips looked to clinch and score with throws, but Faszholz was able to avoid being put on her back. The cage work of Faszholz was grueling, as she scored with short punches and knees along the fence. Faszholz continued her assault in the second and third rounds, forcing Phillips to backpedal and counter. Late in the fight, Phillips scored with a takedown, but it was too little, too late, as Faszholz swept the judges’ scorecards.

Flyweight Andrea Lee faced a tough battle against newcomer Liz Tracy, eking out a split decision win. Lee’s striking was methodical at range in the first stanza, but Tracy’s wrestling game turned the tides. Every time Lee tried to open up, Tracy would shoot or initiate the clinch. When the fight hit the ground, the pair scrambled for position, with Tracy spending more time on top. The forward march of Tracy was relentless, but Lee was able to score with knees in the clinch and stuff multiple takedown attempts. Tracy’s hip toss was her most effective weapon, but she struggled to keep Lee on the mat. Lee twice looked to take the back of Tracy, and attacked with an armbar, but to no avail. The hard-fought bought went the distance, with Lee emerging victorious.

Returning to the featherweight division, Brazil’s Ediane Gomes edged out a very tough Pam Sorenson by split decision. Gomes pressured forward recklessly to open the bout, forcing Sorenson against the cage and then to the ground. From inside the guard, Gomes scored with short shots from top position. It was more of the same to open the second round, as Gomes battered Sorenson with punches before earning a takedown. Gomes was less active from the top, prompting the referee to stand up the fight. Back on the feet, Sorenson pushed the pace, clipping Gomes with counter right hands. In the final round, Sorenson’s striking was on display as the pace of Gomes dwindled. It wasn’t enough though, as Gomes earned the win.

Striking stalwarts Tiffany Van Soest and Christine Ferea put on a show in their strawweight affair. Van Soest was crisp with her kicks in the opening stanza as both fighters gauged their range. In the middle round, Ferea came forward aggressively and both fighters scored from the clinch with elbows and punches. The final frame was largely spent on the ground as Ferea looked for a takedown, but Van Soest initially landed on top. Ferea powered to top position and eventually moved to mount. She rained strikes from the top, but could not find the finish, as Van Soest claimed the victory on the scorecards.

Kicking off the night’s action, bantamweights Yaya Rincón and Brooksie Bayard engaged in a three-round battle. Rincón, who was making her professional debut, quickly took the fight to the ground and took the back of Bayard. Bayard defended the choke attempts and was able to get the fight back to the feet. The story of the fight was the crisp counter striking of Rincón. She peppered the face of Bayard with straight right hands. Bayard was game, coming forward and firing overhand rights. It wasn’t enough, however, as Rincón captured the decision win.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Agnieszka Niedźwiedź def. Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Roxanne Modafferi def. Sarah D’Alelio by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 1:37
Herica Tiburcio def. Tessa Simpson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Kelly Faszholz def. Elizabeth Phillips by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Andrea Lee def. Liz Tracy by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Ediane Gomes def. Pam Sorenson by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Tiffany Van Soest def. Christine Ferea by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Yaya Rincón def. Brooksie Bayard by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 22 Results: Evinger Submits Kunitskaya, Souza Stops Hamasaki

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, March 25, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger erased any doubt from her first meeting with Yana Kunitskaya, earning a second-round submission victory to retain her 135-pound title. The opening round featured Evinger earning a takedown, but was quickly forced to defense submission attempts. Kunitskaya attacked with a guillotine choke, then an armbar and finally, a myriad of leg lock attempts. Evinger defended and dropped heavy punches from the top position. In the second stanza, Evinger again worked hard to get the fight to the mat. She gained top position and methodically worked to dominant positions. She passed to side control and then took the back of Kunitskaya. Once there, Evinger slapped on the fight-finishing rear-naked choke and coerced the tap from the Russian challenger

Former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza needed less two minutes to remind the 115-pound division she’s still among the best. The Brazilian crushed current atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki with a right hand. Hamasaki crashed to the mat and Souza flurried hard to earn the first-round stoppage.

Veterans Jodie Esquibel and DeAnna Bennett engaged in a tactical, three-round fight that resulted in Esquibel taking home a narrow, split decision victory. Esquibel’s boxing on display early, but the first round swung toward Bennett’s favor after a deep armbar attempt. Esquibel survived the submission attempt and began to open up with her striking. She remained on the outside, scoring with punches to the body of Bennett and kicking the lead leg. The pair battled it out until the final bell, with Esquibel doing enough to convince two of the three judges at cageside to hand her the win.

After nearly three years away from the Invicta cage, atomweight Ashley Cummins returned and scored a big win over former title challenger Amber Brown. Cummins raced to the center of the cage and fired combination after combination. Brown answered with a takedown and moved to mount. Cummins recovered her guard and threatened with an inverted triangle choke. Brown countered with an inverted triangle choke of her own, but neither fighter found a finish. Round two was all Cummins as she earned a takedown and threatened to finish Brown with an arm-triangle choke. Brown gutted it out, but again found herself on her heels in round three. Cummins closed the fight by attacking with a rear-naked choke and cruising on the scorecards.

Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir survived a three-round war with newcomer Mallory Martin, scoring a unanimous decision win. Davíðsdóttir was active early with her punches, but Martin pressed forward. Martin ate a heavy shot and her left eye began to swell, but turned the tide in round two, rocking Davíðsdóttir with punches and opening a cut over her left eye. Both fighters dug deep in the final frame, but Davíðsdóttir was able to take’s Martin’s back for a moment, sealing the win with the judges.

Missouri’s Miranda Maverick remained undefeated, scoring a first-round submission of Kal Holliday. Holliday marched forward to open the contest, but Maverick fired strikes to keep the distance. Holliday closed the distance and scooped Maverick to the canvas. Once there, Maverick showcased an active guard, throwing up a triangle choke attempt before transitioning to an armbar. Holliday fought hard to escape, but Maverick coerced the tap, three minutes into the bout.

The night kicked off with a featherweight battle between Felicia Spencer and Madison McElhaney. The pair skipped the feeling out process and began trading heavy shots from the opening bell. Spencer’s pressure and clinch work were the story early, as she was able to put McElhaney on her back multiple times. She attacked with armbar attempts, but McElhaney was able to defend. The hard-fought bout went the distance, with Spencer remaining unbeaten with the unanimous decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Tonya Evinger def. Yana Kunitskaya by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:32 – for bantamweight title
Livia Renata Souza def. Ayaka Hamasaki by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 1:41
Jodie Esquibel def. DeAnna Bennett by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ashley Cummins def. Amber Brown by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Sunna Davíðsdóttir def. Mallory Martin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Kal Holliday by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:01
Felicia Spencer def. Madison McElhaney by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 21 Results: Anderson Stops Tweet, Claims Interim Featherweight Title

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, Jan. 14, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Australia’s Megan Anderson is the interim featherweight champion after her second-round TKO finish of veteran Charmaine Tweet. The two towering fighters wasted little time throwing heavy punches. Tweet clipped Anderson with a right hand that saw the Aussie wobble briefly. Anderson remained calm and continued her forward pressure. Tweet found herself with her back against the fence and Anderson scored with combinations. Late in the opening round, Anderson scored with a big slam. Round two began with a big exchange and Anderson took the fight to the fence. She unloaded on her Canadian foe, forcing Tweet to retreat. Anderson delivered a head kick and Tweet covered up, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the title tilt.

Hawaii’s Raquel Pa’aluhi made short work of former No. 1 contender Pannie Kianzad, earning a first-round submission win. After both fighters landed kicks, Pa’aluhi latched onto a single-leg takedown to put Kianzad on her back. Pa’aluhi worked patiently from the top before taking Kianzad’s back. Once there, she softened up the Swede with punches to lock in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke.

Newcomer Leah Letson gave UFC veteran Elizabeth Phillips a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Phillips scored with an overhand right early, but as she circled along the fence, Letson unleashed a left head kick that caught her flush on the chin. Phillips crashed to the mat and Letson finished her off with punches.

Two of the bantamweight division’s most promising fighters went to battle for three rounds with Aspen Ladd remaining undefeated by unanimous decision over Sijara Eubanks. Ladd fired jab-cross combinations throughout the opening round, but Eubanks was able to score with a late slam. The middle stanza saw both fighters score on the feet, but Ladd’s volume outpaced Eubanks. Ladd opened round three with a takedown, but Eubanks was able to reverse the position late. It was too little, too late for Eubanks, however as Ladd claimed victory.

Andrea Lee got back in the win column, needing just 74 seconds to stop fellow flyweight Jenny Liou. Lee pressured Liou from the opening bell, backing her up with punches. Liou tried to circle away, but Lee got her against the cage and delivered a heavy body shot that sent Liou to the canvas. Lee flurried and forced the referee to halt the contest.

Strawweights Amy Montenegro and Celine Haga put on one of the greatest fights in Invicta history with a back-and-forth battle. Haga was able to threaten Montenegro with multiple submissions in the opening round, but Montenegro countered with an armbar late in the round. Haga tapped, but it was after the bell had sounded. Round two saw Montenegro quickly gain top position and pound on Haga with elbows. Montenegro worked to top position again in round three, but it was Haga who attacked aggressively from her back. As time expired, Haga applied a schoolyard choke and Montenegro went unconscious, but it was after time expired. When the scorecards were read, Montenegro walked away with the decision win.

In her professional MMA debut, Muay Thai specialist Christine Ferea showcased her striking prowess against Hawaii’s Rachael Ostovich. Ferea scored at range early in the fight, but Ostovich turned the tide in round two by scoring a takedown and threatening to submit Ferea. In the final round, Ferea caught Ostovich with a clean head kick. Ostovich dove for another takedown, but Ferea smelled blood and flurried for the finish.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Megan Anderson def. Charmaine Tweet by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 2:05 – for interim featherweight title
Raquel Pa’aluhi def. Pannie Kianzad by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:40
Leah Letson def. Elizabeth Phillips by knockout (head kick and punches). Round 1, 1:18
Aspen Ladd def. Sijara Eubanks by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Andrea Lee def. Jenny Liou by TKO (punches). Round 1, 1:14
Amy Montenegro def. Celine Haga by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Christine Ferea def. Rachael Ostovich by TKO (head kick and punches). Round 3, 1:29

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

 

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Invicta FC 20 Results: Kunitskaya Unseats Evinger, Hill Bests Medeiros

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Nov. 18, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya stunned the bantamweight division by submitting champion Tonya Evinger in the first round to become the new titleholder. Evinger immediately took Kunitskaya to the ground as the fight began and she started to work from side control. Kunitskaya recovered her full guard and attacked with an armbar. Evinger tried to stand and escape, but Kunitskaya locked on and forced Evinger to submit less than two minutes into the fight.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Dec. 1, the Evinger-Kunitskaya fight was overturned to a no-contest by the Missouri Office of Athletics.

The strawweight title stayed around the waist of Angela Hill after five hard-fought rounds against challenger Kaline Medeiros. Medeiros came out looking to bring the fight to the ground, but once there, she was forced to defend a deep triangle attempt from the champion, as well as numerous elbows. The takedowns of Medeiros were the story of the second round, as she was able to keep Hill down on the mat. As the fight turned toward the championship rounds, it was Hill’s footwork and efficiency in her striking that were the story. She was patient and selective with her offense, frustrating Medeiros from the outside. Medeiros showed heart, coming forward until the final bell, but it wasn’t enough, as all three judges gave Hill the decision.

Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio showcased an improved striking attack to get the best of Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision. The Brazilian Tiburcio’s speed advantage was evident from the opening bell as she fired combination after combination. She then took Soukupova to the ground and punished her with ground and pound. It was more of the same in the middle frame as Tiburcio peppered Soukupova with punches and outside leg kicks. Soukupova found her range late in round two and carried it into round three. She pinned Tiburcio to the fence and scored with knees. It was too little, too late, however, as Tiburcio claimed victory.

Making her Invicta debut, strawweight Ashley Yoder ruined the 115-pound debut of former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown. Brown lived up to her “Bully” moniker early in the fight, powering Yoder to the canvas and moving to the mount. Yoder stayed composed, recovering her half guard and then using an omoplata to sweep to the top position. Once on top, Yoder turned the tide of the fight. The second stanza saw Yoder score with a beautiful hip toss along the cage. Brown tried to escape out the back, but Yoder used her hips to pin Brown to the mat and rained punches. Brown left her arm exposed and Yoder slapped on a deep armbar to coerce the tap.

The match-up between Pam Sorenson and Australia’s Jessica-Rose Clark was a grueling affair, with Sorenson earning a split decision win in her Invicta debut. The pair jostled for position along the fence throughout the first round as both fighters tried to wrestle the other to the ground. In round two, Clark muscled Sorenson to the mat, but it was Sorenson that went on the offensive. She repeatedly threatened with armbar attempts, preventing Clark from attacking. Sorenson’s striking was on point in the final round, as Clark’s output waned. When it was all said and done, Sorenson walked away victorious.

In her return to the promotion, strawweight J.J. Aldrich put on a boxing clinic against veteran Lynn Alvarez. Alvarez did her best to control the distance with kicks, but Aldrich was patient with her counter striking. Once Aldrich found her range with her left hand, she peppered the face of Alvarez with straight punches. Midway through the fight, the left eye of Alvarez was heavily bruised. Aldrich never slowed down; delivering a steady stream of strikes that further damaged the face of Alvarez. There was never any doubt on the scorecards as Aldrich swept the scorecards.

Bantamweight Alexa Conners got in the win column, spoiling the promotional debut of Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger. The pair spent the majority of the fight on the feet, with Conners pressing the action. Egger frequently found herself with her back to the cage, but she used her reach to keep Conners at range. As the fight progressed, Conners began attacking the body and nearly earned a stoppage in the final frame. On the scorecards, two of the three judges rewarded Conners with the split decision verdict.

Kicking off the action, strawweight Miranda Maverick submitted fellow newcomer Samantha Diaz by rear-naked choke in the first round. The pair tried to gauge their range on the feet, but Maverick eventually took the fight to the mat. She was forced to defend an armbar attempt from Diaz, but she eventually took Diaz’s back and locked in the fight-finishing choke.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Yana Kunitskaya def. Tonya Evinger by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:59 – for bantamweight title
Angela Hill def. Kaline Medeiros by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Herica Tiburcio def. Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ashley Yoder def. Amber Brown by submission (armbar). Round 2, 2:31
Pam Sorenson def. Jessica-Rose Clark by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
J.J. Aldrich def. Lynn Alvarez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alexa Conners def. Stephanie Egger by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Samantha Diaz by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:26

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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.