Invicta FC 57 Results: Ferreira Outduels Romero To Capture Atomweight Title
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Friday, Sept. 20, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero from Memorial Hall. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.
In the night’s main event, a new atomweight champion was crowned as Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira bested fellow Brazilian Andressa Romero. Ferreira cracked Romero with multiple low kicks and then a big right hand. She followed it with a massive slam. Romero got back to her feet but was forced to defend a choke attempt. Romero clinched and tried to take Ferreira to the mat. Ferreira punished her with knees and punches to the body. A beautiful foot sweep by Ferreira sent Romero crashing into a right hand then a massive left hook. Ferreira scrambled to take Romero’s back, but ended up on her back in the ensuing transition. A straight right hand from Romero greeted Ferreira to start round two. She fired back and quickly clinched. Romero landed knees and elbows on her own. Ferreira tried to power into a takedown and Romero locked her hands for a guillotine attempt. There was no panic from Ferreira, who maintained her takedown attempt and eventually earned it. She looked to take Romero’s back, but found herself with her back to the mat once more. Ferreira’s jab found a home to start the third frame. A counter right hand from Romero also landed as the two Brazilians traded punches in the center of the cage. Romero pressed hard for a single, even lifting Ferreira off the canvas, but could not finish the takedown. Ferreira connected with a punch-knee combination as the round expired. The fourth round featured both fighters throwing with reckless abandon. They repeatedly landed power strikes from inside boxing range. Ferreira scored with an outside trip, but gave up the advantageous position to attempt a guillotine. Romero worked from the top, grapevining the legs of Ferreira, but could not pass the guard. Ferreira used a heel hook attempt to get back to the feet. Much like round four, the final round opened with a wild exchange with both fighters landing heavy punches. Ferreira delivered a takedown along the fence, but Romero sprung back to her feet. There was no quit in either fighter as they battered one another until the final bell. The judges were called upon for a final time of the night and it was Ferreira who left with gold around her waist.
The co-main event featured a flyweight clash between former title challenger Kristina Williams and Brazilian newcomer Nayara Maia. Williams went straight to work with a flurry of punches. An awkward exchange saw Maia buckle to the canvas holding her knee. The Brazilian tried to power through the pain, but could not continue, handing Williams the 31-second win.
In the 500th bout in promotional history, veteran flyweights DeAnna Bennett and Liz Tracy renewed a rivalry that began at Phoenix Tournament 2. Tracy fired quick combinations, but allowed Bennett to catch a kick and dump her to the ground. Tracy used the cage to regain her footing to no avail, as Bennett took her down again. When Tracy rolled, Bennett moved to her back. The wrestling transitions from Bennett kept Tracy guessing. Tracy separated late in the round and then changed levels for a takedown attempt. Bennett stuffed it and turned her to the cage. Round two opened with the two veterans trading punching combinations. Bennett delivered an uppercut as Tracy ducked her jab. Another kick from Tracy was caught by Bennett and she took her down momentarily. Tracy continued to march forward and mix in low kicks. Bennett circled at range, getting in and out of the pocket at will. The pair jostled for position to close the frame. The right hand of Bennett suddenly became a piston to start the third. She cracked Tracy multiple times. Tracy drove into a takedown attempt and she looked to lace the legs of Bennett. Bennett swung with backwards elbows that jarred the head of Tracy. Tracy expended a ton of energy trying to get Bennett down but was unable to do so. The pair smiled at one another in the waning seconds and they traded to the final bell. Much like the first meeting, Bennett took home the decision victory.
Veteran flyweights Milana Dudieva and Sandra Lavado kicked off the night’s main card with a back-and-forth affair. Both fighters kept a high guard early, as each looked for an opening. Lavado found success with her outside leg kick, which prevented Dudieva from stepping into her punches. Midway through the first round, Dudieva changed levels and looked for a takedown. Lavado defended initially, but succumbed to a throw from the judoka. Dudieva first worked from the scarf hold position, then switched to side control, and then back mount. She sunk in a choke and squeezed hard for a finish, but Lavado managed to escape and get back to her feet. Lavado was patient to start round two, finding a home for her right hand through the defense of Dudieva. The Russian fighter clinched to work her grappling game only for Lavado to shrug her off. After trading overhand rights, Dudieva powered into the clinch and looked for a takedown. A sweeping leg kick from Dudieva greeted Lavado in round three, nearly sending her to the ground. The pair resumed their chess match on the feet, with each struggling to land through the other’s defense. Dudieva tried to clinch but failed to get the Peruvian down initially. After transitioning to a single and lifting high, Dudieva put Lavado on her back. Lavado worked hard to stand, only for Dudieva to score with another throw and land in the scarf hold again. The fight went the distance, with Dudieva claiming the hard-fought decision victory.
Australian featherweight Jamie Edenden ruined the night of her fellow debutant Abby Montes, claiming victory after three grueling rounds. The bout began with series of inside leg kicks from both fighters to gauge the distance. Edenden was the first to sit down on a punch, cracking Montes with a right hand. The countering ability of the Aussie was on display as she peppered the head of Montes with power shots. Montes opted to clinch to slow Edenden’s attack. In round two, the pair bit down on their mouthpieces and openly traded in the center of the cage. Montes again initiated a clinch, but it was Edenden who looked to change levels. When they separated, Montes marched down Edenden relentlessly, absorbing punches along the way. Montes threw leg kicks with a purpose in round three and delivered heavy punches of her own. Edenden scored with a right hand to the midsection of Montes. The Australian mixed up her levels with her punches, keeping Montes guessing. When the fight returned to the clinch, Edenden looked for a single, but was unable to finish it. Montes sought a late takedown of her own and Edenden punished her with elbows. The judges were called upon to render a verdict and it was Edenden who claimed the decision nod.
In a battle of bantamweights, Canada’s Maria Djukic squared off with Mexico’s Maria Favela. After a brief feeling-out period to find range, Djukic took control with a big combination that stunned Favela. A devastating right hand from the Canadian found the jaw of Favela, sending her to the ground. The referee quickly stepped in to hand Djukic the 57-second TKO win.
Chilean strawweight Fernanda Orellana spoiled the Invicta return of Meaghan Penning with a lopsided decision victory. Penning pinned Orellana to the cage and worked for underhooks. Orellana fired short knees to the midsection of Penning. She spun Penning to the fence and scored with elbow strikes. Penning worked tirelessly for a takedown, but it did not come. Late in the round, Orellana scored with a beautiful hip toss and finished the round in top position. A counter right hand from Orellana greeted Penning to start round two, but she quickly answered with a front kick that caught the Chilean off balance. Penning returned to the clinch and stuck to Orellana like glue. She eventually pulled guard and Orellana wasted little time posturing up to rain strikes. Penning fished for an armbar and then a triangle choke from her back, but Orellana was wise to the submission attempts. Orellana dropped heavy strikes to Penning’s face to close the stanza. Penning came out firing an onslaught of kicks in the third round. When that proved ineffective, Penning clinched and pulled guard in the center of the cage. Penning desperately sought an armbar from the bottom, but Orellana escaped. Orellana continued to punish Penning with punches and elbows from the top. There was no doubt on the scorecards as all three judges rewarded Orellana for her efforts.
The event opened with a strawweight match-up between Quinn Williams and Brazilian Ana Vitória. Williams connected a heavy right hand as Vitória barreled forward, then drove Vitória to the mat. Vitória showed an active guard and Williams let her stand. Vitória delivered a punch combination before diving for a single-leg takedown. Williams kept herself upright, spinning Vitória to the cage. A heavy right from Williams created a massive hematoma on the forehead of the Brazilian. Williams again brought the fight to the ground and worked from side control. A submission attempt from Williams allowed Vitória to gain top position, but only briefly as Williams powered back to side control as the first round closed. A jumping knee from Williams backed Vitória to the fence early in round two. She responded quickly, dumping Williams to the canvas. Williams again displayed her strength, reversing the position. A choke attempts from Williams was defended well by Vitória, but she could not escape the top control of the American. The final frame featured a grueling battle for position along the cage, as both fighters jostled for position. Williams scored with clinch knees, prompting Vitória to pull the action the mat. The confidence of Williams grew with every strike and she cruised to the clear-cut decision victory.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Andressa Romero by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Kristina Williams def. Nayara Maia by TKO (injury). Round 1, 0:31
DeAnna Bennett def. Liz Tracy by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Milana Dudieva def. Sandra Lavado by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jamie Edenden def. Abby Montes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Maria Djukic def. Maria Favela by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:57
Fernanda Orellana def. Meaghan Penning by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Quinn Williams def. Ana Vitória by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.
