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Invicta FC 19 Adds Six More Bouts

Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 19 has added six more bouts.

In addition to the previously announced pair of title fights, Mexico’s Irene Aldana (5-2) will take on former featherweight Faith Van Duin (6-2) of New Zealand, undefeated Indian strawweight Manjit Kolekar (9-0) meets veteran Kaline Medeiros (7-4), striking stalwart Tiffany Van Soest (0-0) makes her professional and promotional debut against a soon-to-be-announced strawweight opponent, atomweight Julia Jones (4-0) looks to keep her perfect record intact against Stephanie Skinner (4-5), Amber Leibrock (1-1) welcomes fellow featherweight Amy Coleman (2-0) to the Invicta cage, and Ashley Greenway (1-0) clashes with Icelandic newcomer Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (0-0).

Invicta FC 19 will be headlined by interim flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (13-4-1), who puts her belt on the line against veteran Roxanne Modafferi (19-12). The co-main event also features gold on the line as atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) aims to make her second title defense against Jinh Yu Frey (5-1). The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 23 and airs live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 19 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (13-4-1) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (19-12)
Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (5-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (5-2) vs. Faith Van Duin (6-2)
Strawweight: Manjit Kolekar (9-0) vs. Kaline Medeiros (7-4)
Strawweight: Tiffany Van Soest (0-0) vs. TBA
Atomweight: Julia Jones (4-0) vs. Stephanie Skinner (4-5)
Featherweight: Amber Leibrock (1-1) vs. Amy Coleman (2-0)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (1-0) vs. Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 19 go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. ET and will be available for $75, $50 and $35 at Ticketfly.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.


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.

Invicta FC 13 Results: Cyborg, Evinger and Hamasaki Leave Vegas with Belts

Las Vegas – On Thursday, July 9, Invicta Fighting Championships made its first trip to Nevada to host Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino celebrated her 30th birthday with yet another dominant title defense. The Brazilian needed just 45 seconds to put away New Zealand’s Faith Van Duin by TKO. Cyborg was the aggressor throughout, chasing Van Duin around the cage. She wobbled Van Duin with a left hand and followed with a knee that sent Van Duin crashing to the mat and end the fight.

The bantamweight belt is vacant no more as Tonya Evinger dominated Mexico’s Irene Aldana from the opening bell. Evinger caught a kick and brought the fight to the mat. After a scramble, she mounted Aldana and began raining punches. When Aldana tried to escape, Evinger locked up a deep armbar. Aldana showcased a ton of heart and refused to tap. The punishment from Evinger continued in the second and third rounds, as she battered the face of the Mexican fighter. The pace slowed in round four, but Evinger’s dominance continued. A series of heavy blows was enough to force the referee to intervene and hand Evinger the TKO win.

There’s a new champion in the atomweight division as Japan’s Ayaka Hamasaki used a strong grappling game to outwork Brazil’s Herica Tiburcio and earn a split decision win. Hamasaki attacked with flurries of punches before turning to her takedown game. Tiburcio rocked her with a body kick and looked for a guillotine choke, but Hamasaki survived. As the fight progressed, Hamasaki’s takedowns came with more and more ease. Tiburcio remained active from her back, but Hamasaki’s top control was simply too much. Hamasaki became the first Japanese champion in the promotion’s history.

Debuting bantamweights Pannie Kianzad and Jessica-Rose Clark went to war for three rounds, with Sweden’s Kianzad walking away with a clear-cut unanimous decision win. Kianzad was clearly the more technical striker throughout, landing her left hook at will. She mixed in takedowns and was forced to defend an armbar attempt from Clark in round two. As the fight progressed, Kianzad continue to pour it on with punches and kept her perfect record intact.

Amber Brown sent a big message to the atomweight division, becoming the first fighter to defeat Ireland’s Catherine Costigan. Brown marched forward and closed the distance immediately. She powered Costigan to the mat with a trip and landed in mount. Heavy elbows from Brown forced Costigan to give up her back and Brown sunk in a fight-finishing rear-naked choke.

Strawweights Jamie Moyle and Amy Montenegro battled back-and-forth for three rounds, with Moyle eking out a split decision win in her hometown. Moyle scored early with a takedown and took Montenegro’s back, but could not secure a submission. Montenegro answered back with counter shots and pushed the fight against the cage. Moyle’s combinations were the difference as she claimed the nod from the judges.

Making her professional debut, featherweight Amber Leibrock stopped decorated judoka Marina Shafir in just 37 seconds. Leibrock delivered a pair of right hands that dropped Shafir and she followed up with more punches on the ground to earn the TKO.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino def. Faith Van Duin by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:45 – for featherweight title
Tonya Evinger def. Irene Aldana by TKO (strikes). Round 4, 4:38 – for bantamweight title
Ayaka Hamasaki def. Herica Tiburcio by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46) – for atomweight title
Pannie Kianzad def. Jessica-Rose Clark by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Amber Brown def. Catherine Costigan by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:34
Jamie Moyle def. Amy Montenegro by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Amber Leibrock def. Marina Shafir by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:37


About Invicta FC:

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

Invicta FC 13 Official for Las Vegas on July 9

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is headed to Las Vegas with a championship tripleheader.

The promotion will make its first trip to Nevada on Thursday, July 9, as part of International Fight Week. The event takes place from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan and will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Headlining the event will be a featherweight title fight between champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (13-1, 1 NC) and New Zealand’s Faith Van Duin (5-1). Cyborg successfully defended her 145-pound title at Invicta FC 11, stopping Canadian Charmaine Tweet in 46 seconds. The win marked the Brazilian’s third straight finish inside the Invicta cage. Van Duin made her promotional debut at Invicta FC 12 in April and submitted Amanda Bell in the second round with a schoolyard choke.

In the night’s co-main event, a new bantamweight champion will be crowned as Tonya Evinger (15-5) locks horns with Mexico’s Irene Aldana (5-1). Evinger enters the title affair riding a six-fight winning streak, including three straight in the Invicta cage. Aldana, meanwhile, has scored back-to-back first-round stoppages over Peggy Morgan and Colleen Schneider under the Invicta banner.

Also slated for the July event is an atomweight title fight between Brazilian champion Herica Tiburcio (9-2) and Japan’s Ayaka Hamasaki (11-1). The pair were originally expected to meet at Invicta FC 9 last fall, but when that fell through, Tiburcio submitted Michelle Waterson at Invicta FC 1o to capture the 105-pound strap.

The full seven-fight card for Invicta FC 13 can be found below:

Featherweight Title: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (13-1, 1 NC) vs. Faith Van Duin (5-1)
Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (15-5) vs. Irene Aldana (5-1)
Atomweight Title: Herica Tiburcio (9-2) vs. Ayaka Hamasaki (11-1)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (7-0) vs. Jessica-Rose Clark (5-1)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (4-1) vs. Catherine Costigan (5-0)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (6-1) vs. Jamie Moyle (2-0)
Featherweight: Marina Shafir (1-1) vs. Amber Leibrock (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 13 will be available through Ticketmaster.


About Invicta FC:

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

Irene Aldana: Destined for Competition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Irene Aldana Out of Invicta FC 10, Bout With Marion Reneau Moved to 2015

Kansas City, Mo. – Due to a severe case of bronchitis that required hospitalization, Invicta Fighting Championships has announced that Mexican bantamweight Irene Aldana (4-1) has been forced out of a planned match-up with Marion Reneau (4-1) at Invicta FC 10 on Dec. 5 in Houston.

The bout has been rescheduled for early 2015.

Invicta FC 10 streams live on UFCFIGHTPASS.com from the Arena Theatre in Houston on Friday, Dec. 5 and is headlined by Invicta FC atomweight champion Michelle Waterson (12-3) taking on Brazilian challenger Herica Tiburcio (8-2). In the co-headline bout, red-hot bantamweight contender Tonya Evinger (14-5) meets Belgium’s Cindy Dandois (5-1).

Tickets for Invicta FC 10 are on sale now and can be purchased at the venue box office, via charge-by-phone by calling 713-772-5900 or online at arenahouston.com.

For more information, visit InvictaFC.com.


About Invicta FC:

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

Fighting Words: Irene Aldana

Mexican knockout artist Irene Aldana debuts for Invicta FC September 6th at Inivcta FC 8 when she takes on UFC Veteran, Peggy Morgan.

 

Corey Smith: What initially drew you to the world of mixed martial arts? What kept you coming back?
Irene Aldana: Curiosity. A few years ago I was looking for some sport to do in Guadalajara, because I just moved in to the city. While chatting with a good friend of mine, he told me stories about his MMA training experience.
IA: I got interested and really curious, so I went to take my test class, since then I fell in love with the sport and stayed.
IA: What keeps me coming back is the adrenaline, the beauty of the sport, love all techniques there are involved, the way you can always be learning something new, the challenge to improve professionally and personally every day.
IA: The goals I have to accomplish, the love and motivation of my team mates, the family we have made, and the journey we are doing together.

 

CS: You live and train in Mexico, which is somewhat rare in the MMA community. How would you describe the MMA community in Mexico?
IA: MMA in Mexico is growing fast; there are a lot of really MMA talented men and women. Mexicans are great warriors with a big heart. Now the UFC is coming to Mexico and just filmed TUF Latino-America. This is going to be big and great for the sport here.

 

CS: All of your wins thus far have come via knockout. Are you actively searching for the KO or do they just present themselves?
IA: I’m always looking for the win. I love to finish via knockout but I’m not really looking for it, all my knockouts had presented themselves. I’m prepared to win where the fight goes.

 

CS: After signing with Invicta FC, what goals do you have within the organization? How has your experience been like thus far with the company?
IA: Everyone working for Invicta has been so nice with us, so professional. Invicta is an excellent company, very well directed, and they really care about the wellness of their fighters.
IA: They make us feel so exited and confident we know we are in good hands and that it’s going to be a very exciting journey. My goal here is to give the best of me as a fighter and as a person. Keep improving and keep growing professionally and I hope someday to win a title shot.

 

CS: Your opponent on September 6th, Peggy Morgan, brings a similar level of experience with her into the cage. What are you expecting out of the bout?
IA: I think she has a little more experience, and she is a great fighter. I think its going to be a really good match up. I have been training so hard for my debut in Invicta. Like I said I’m always looking for the win but I also know how to lose. Most of all I hope this is a really exciting fight to watch.

 

CS: What is your mood on fight night? Do you have any routines or superstitions that you have to perform?
IA: I don’t have superstitions. I like to enjoy that moment with my team. Once we have recapped the game plan, I like to listen to music, and just be mentally focused.

 

CS: Who generally accompanies you to the cage? What type of feedback and coaching do you prefer from your corners?
IA: My head coach Francisco Grasso, his brother Luis Grasso, and my teammate Alexa. I like the way they motivate me, they know how to make realistic and clear instructions that are easy to understand without stressing me.

 

CS: Aside from fight preparation, how much MMA do you watch purely for enjoyment?
IA: Really often, I love to see K1 , BJJ tournaments, and of course UFC. All for learning and enjoyment.

 

CS: Outside of the gym and MMA, what types of activities do you enjoy for fun? What helps you to relax?
IA: Spending time at home relaxes me, I love to enjoy my house, spend time with my pets, read, play a good video game, watch a good movie, or spend time with friends and family. Also enjoy going to dinner at a good restaurant.

 

CS: Lastly, MMA takes a team to succeed alone inside the cage. Who would you like to thank?
IA: First my head coach Francisco Grasso, and my head coach at physical conditioning Fernando Quiroz.
IA: Also a big part of the team my coaches Tito Castro, Iuri Silva, and Roberto Ramirez.
IA:  All my team mates, Alexa Grasso, Hoodler, and Daniel Esquivel. Just to mention some, because they are much more names here.
IA:  To my family for their love and support, to our friends, sponsors and managers: Luis Grasso and the Alaniz brothers.
IA:  All the companies that have been supportive in my career.
IA: I can’t write all names but to all the people that have been with me in this amazing journey. Definitely I would not be here if not for them.

 

Invicta FC 8 takes place September 6th live from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The full card will air live via UFC Fight Pass. Click below for tickets, or to subscribe to UFC FightPass.

 

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