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Invicta FC 24 Fight Card Complete, Tonya Evinger Steps Into Main Event

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 24 has a new main event.

Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (19-5, 1 NC) will move up in weight to take on promotional newcomer Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC) in a three-round, non-title featherweight match-up.

Joining the new headliner will be seven additional bouts.

In the night’s co-main event, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-5) meets newly signed Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC) at flyweight. Both fighters will be making their Invicta debuts. Russia’s Dudieva joins the organization after battles in the UFC against top bantamweights Marion Reneau and Julianna Pena, while Italy’s Borella enters the bout winning four of her last five fights.

Rising bantamweight contender Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) returns to the Invicta cage against recent title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) of Russia. The Hawaii native Pa’aluhi has won four of her last five fights, most recently submitting Pannie Kianzad in the first round at Invicta FC 21 in January. Kunitskaya looks to rebound after back-to-back fights against Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger.

Missouri product Ashley Cummins (5-3) continues her run at atomweight as she meets former title challenger Jinh Yu Frey (5-2). Cummins nearly submitted Amber Brown in her previous outing but settled for a decision win, while Frey hopes to bounce back from defeat by doctor’s stoppage at Invicta FC 19 in September.

Two new additions to the roster collide when Karina Rodríguez (4-2) and Bárbara Acioly (4-0) throw down in the flyweight division. Rodríguez has battled tough competition in Mexico, including a bout with former Invicta FC strawweight contender Alexa Grasso. After early success in her native Brazil, Acioly has earned back-to-back wins on American soil.

Iceland’s Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) takes on Kelly D’Angelo (2-0) and Mallory Martin (1-1) welcomes Tiffany Masters (2-0) to the promotion, both at strawweight. Finally, Amy Coleman (2-1) of Tennessee meets Felicia Spencer (2-0) of Florida in a featherweight match-up.

Invicta FC 24 takes place Saturday, July 15, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

The updated Invicta FC 24 fight card can be found below:

Featherweight: Tonya Evinger (19-5, 1 NC) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (11-5) vs. Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5)  vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Ashley Cummins (5-3)
Flyweight: Karina Rodríguez (4-2) vs. Bárbara Acioly (4-0)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (2-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-1) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-0)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (2-0) vs. Amy Coleman (2-1)

Tickets for the event can be purchased through Ticketfly.com.


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.

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

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.

Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2 Official Weigh-in Results

Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, March 24, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, March 25 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) will once again put her title on the line against Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC). The match-up is rematch of the Invicta FC 20 main event which took place Nov. 18 and was initially ruled a first-round submission win for Kunitskaya. However, following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, the bout was overturned to a no-contest and Evinger retained her 135-pound championship.

The night’s co-main event will feature atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) moving up a weight class to take on former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-1).

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

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.8) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.8)
Strawweight: Ayaka Hamasaki (115.7) vs. Livia Renata Souza (115)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (117.6)* vs. Jodie Esquibel (115.5)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (105.9) vs. Ashley Cummins (105.6)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (115.8) vs. Mallory Martin (114.8)
Strawweight: Kal Holliday (115.9) vs. Miranda Maverick (120.5)*
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Madison McElhaney (146)

* – Bennett and Maverick were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse for missing weight. Both bouts will proceed as catchweights.

# – The bout between Jinh Yu Frey and Janaisa Morandin has been canceled. Frey weighed in at 106 pounds, while Morandin missed weight at 111.2 pounds.


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.

Tonya Evinger vs. Yana Kunitskaya Rematch Set For Invicta FC 22

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 22 has its headliner.

Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) will once again put her title on the line against Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC) on Saturday, March 25 from the the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The match-up is rematch of the Invicta FC 20 main event which took place Nov. 18 and was initially ruled a first-round submission win for Kunitskaya. However, following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, the bout was overturned to a no-contest and Evinger retained her 135-pound championship.

Evinger will enter the title defense riding a lengthy, 10-fight undefeated streak. Prior to the first meeting with Kunitskaya, Evinger had reeled off six consecutive wins inside the Invicta cage. The 27-year-old Kunitskaya, who made her promotional debut at the November event, has stopped seven of her nine wins by way of strikes.

The current Invicta FC 22 fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC)

Additional bouts for the event, as well as ticketing information, will be announced at a later date.


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.

Tonya Evinger Remains Invicta FC Champion After Missouri Commission Ruling

Kansas City, Mo. — Tonya Evinger is still the Invicta Fighting Championships bantamweight champion.

Following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, Evinger’s first-round submission loss to challenger Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 20 has been overturned to a no-contest.

The bout, which took place on Friday, Nov. 18, ended less than two minutes after it started, with Kunitskaya being ruled the winner via armbar. However, Evinger filed an appeal with the Missouri Office of Athletics and today the result of that appeal was decided.

As a result, the 135-pound title remains around the waist of Evinger.

Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp added that the promotion is “working on scheduling a potential rematch” of the bantamweight championship bout between Evinger and Kunitskaya as soon as possible.


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.

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

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.

Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya Official Weigh-in Results

Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, Nov. 17, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Friday, Nov. 18 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya has stopped seven of her nine wins by way of strikes.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. Medeiros carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

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

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.7) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.1)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (114.8) vs. Kaline Medeiros (114.1)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (105.9) vs. Simona Soukupova (106)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (117)* vs. Amber Brown (114.8)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (136) vs. Pam Sorenson (140.6)*
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (115.5) vs. J.J. Aldrich (115.9)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (135.7) vs. Alexa Conners (135.9)
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (118.4)* vs. Samantha Diaz (115.9)

* – Yoder, Sorenson and Maverick were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse for missing weight


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.

Invicta FC 20 Features Two Title Fights on Nov. 18

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 20 will feature two championship match-ups on Friday, Nov. 18.

The promotion once again returns to the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. She was most recently in action at Invicta FC 17 in May, retaining her title with a decision win over Colleen Schneider. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya returned to competition in 2016 after nearly four years away from the sport. In her last outing, she stopped Yanan Wu by second-round TKO. Seven of Kunitskaya’s nine wins have come via strikes, including a 34-second stoppage of Cindy Dandois.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. The win marked the UFC veteran’s third straight under the Invicta FC banner. Much like the champion, Medeiros has found nothing but success with the promotion, stopping Aline Serio in her promotional debut and handing Manjit Kolekar her first loss at Invicta FC 19 in September. The 37-year-old carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

Joining the two title match-ups will be six additional bouts. Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio (9-4) will take on Simona Soukupova (5-4-1), recent atomweight title challenger Amber Brown (6-2) moves up to strawweight to welcome The Ultimate Fighter veteran Ashley Yoder (4-1) to the Invicta cage, Australia’s Jessica-Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark (6-2) returns to face newcomer Pam Sorenson (4-1) in a bantamweight affair, veteran strawweight Lynn Alvarez (6-4) clashes with J.J. Aldrich (3-1), Switzerland’s Stephanie Egger (2-0) will make her Invicta debut against against a soon-to-be-announced bantamweight opponent, and strawweights Miranda Maverick (0-0) and Samantha Diaz (0-0) will make their professional debuts.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 20 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (5-2) vs. Kaline Medeiros (8-4)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (9-4) vs. Simona Soukupova (5-4-1)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (4-1) vs. Amber Brown (6-2)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (6-2) vs. Pam Sorenson (4-1)
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (6-4) vs. J.J. Aldrich (3-1)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (2-0) vs. TBA
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (0-0) vs. Samantha Diaz (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 20 will be available on Saturday, Oct. 15, 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 17 Results: Evinger Retains, Hill Unseats Souza

Costa Mesa, Calif. — On Saturday, May 7, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider from the The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET.

The night’s main event saw bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger endure a five-round, grueling battle with Colleen Schneider to retain her title. Evinger rocked Schneider in the opening frame before taking her down and moving to her back. She unleashed elbows and punches, but Schneider was game. Schneider’s takedown defense held up much better through the middle rounds, as she forced Evinger to work hard for every position. Evinger’s smothering wrestling attack prevented Schneider from mounting any offense. After five rounds, Evinger walked away with a unanimous decision.

In the co-main event of the evening, the strawweight champion changed hands as Angela Hill claimed a split decision win over Brazil’s Livia Renata Souza. Souza quickly brought the fight to the mat and looked for multiple submissions. Hill remained calmed and escaped to her feet. From there, Hill’s confidence grew with every passing second. She scored with combo after combo on the feet, as Souza continually marched forward. Souza was able to earn takedowns on multiple occasions, but Hill scrambled free time and time again. In the championship rounds, Hill’s pinpoint striking continued to land flush on Souza’s jaw. Souza went for broke in the final round, chaining a guillotine choke and an armbar attempt, but it was too little, too late as Hill was crowned the new champion.

Former featherweight title challenger Charmaine Tweet weathered an early storm against Latoya Walker before scoring a highlight-reel spinning back fist. The previously undefeated Walker battered Tweet with punches early, as she ignored her reach disadvantage. Walker took Tweet down and mounted her, but Tweet was able to return to her feet. Late in the round, Tweet saw an opening and connected with a devastating spinning back fist that sent Walker crashing to the canvas. A few follow-up punches and the fight was called off.

In a battle of Brazilians, Kaline Medeiros impressed with a second-round finish of fellow strawweight newcomer Aline Serio. Medeiros landed leg kicks early to set up a big takedown. Serio tried to counter with a guillotine attempt, but Medeiros was relentless. The second stanza opened with Medeiros slamming Serio on her head and raining ground and pound. The heavy shots took their toll and the referee was forced to intervene.

Australia’s Megan Anderson continued her recent winning ways, stopping fellow featherweight Amanda Bell inside the first round. Anderson rocked Bell immediately to start the fight, but Bell survived and powered the fight to the ground. Anderson was able to power to the top position, but Bell threatened with an armbar. When the fight returned to the feet, Anderson scored with knees and punches, dropping Bell as the first-round closed.

Christine Stanley and Shannon Sinn finally locked horns in a flyweight affair and Stanley left with a decision win. Stanley was aggressive from the opening bell, throttling Sinn with heavy punches and body kicks. Sinn showcased a granite chin and heart, never backing down. Stanley’s output slowed as the fight progressed, but Sinn could not mount enough offense to sway the fight in her favor.

Flyweights Rachael Ostovich and Ariel Beck put on a show in the night’s second bout. Beck’s striking was on point in the first round, as she kept Ostovich at range. Round two swung toward the Hawaiian as she earned a takedown and threatened to submit Beck with a rear-naked choke and an armbar. The final round was the most competitive of the fight, as Beck rocked Ostovich early, but Ostovich fought back with a takedown. When it went to the judges, it was Ostovich who claimed the split decision nod.

Kicking off the action, England’s Laura Howarth spoiled the professional debut of Alexa Conners by claiming a closely contested split decision. Howarth’s kicking arsenal was on display early and often, forcing Conners to chase her around the cage. Conners find her range as the fight progressed, but it wasn’t enough as the judges rewarded Howarth the victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Tonya Evinger def. Colleen Schneider by unanimous decision (49-45, 50-44, 50-44) – for bantamweight title
Angela Hill def. Livia Renata Souza by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Charmaine Tweet def. Latoya Walker by TKO (spinning back fist and punches). Round 1, 3:41
Kaline Medeiros def. Aline Serio by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 4:04
Megan Anderson def. Amanda Bell by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:59
Christine Stanley def. Shannon Sinn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Rachael Ostovich def. Ariel Beck by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Laura Howarth def. Alexa Conners 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.

Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider Official Weigh-in Results

Costa Mesa, Calif. — On Friday, May 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider, which takes place from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, May 7. It will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The eight-fight event will feature two title fights, as bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (17-5) meets California’s Colleen Schneider (10-6), and unbeaten strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-0) takes on UFC veteran Angela “Overkill” Hill (4-2).

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins, which were held at the Costa Mesa Marriott.

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.7) vs. Colleen Schneider (134.4)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (114.1) vs. Angela Hill (114.1)
Featherweight: Latoya Walker (144.4) vs. Charmaine Tweet (145.2)
Strawweight: Aline Serio (114.4) vs. Kaline Medeiros (115.3)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (145.7) vs. Megan Anderson (145.5)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (125.8) vs. Shannon Sinn (124.3)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (125.4) vs. Ariel Beck (125.2)
Bantamweight: Laura Howarth (134.4) vs. Alexa Conners (135.5)


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.