Invicta FC 60 Results: Cantuária Batters Rubin, Lehner Bests Young
ATLANTA – On Friday, Feb. 7, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to Georgia, hosting Invicta FC 60: Rubin vs. Cantuária from Center Stage in Atlanta.
The next bantamweight contender is Brazil’s Mayra Cantuária after a hard-fought battle with former title challenger Olga Rubin. The two southpaws wasted little time turning the arena on its head. First Cantuária caught Rubin with a clean left, but Rubin quickly answered with a heavy shot of her own. As she pressed forward, Cantuária countered with massive shots, sending Rubin crashing across the cage. She recovered for a moment, only for Cantuária to batter her with more punches. Rubin stumbled to the mat and pulled guard. The fight returned to the feet and the Brazilian again stunned Rubin with punches, prompting her to clinch. Rubin appeared recovered in round two and looked to navigate the defense of Cantuária. A lead uppercut from the Brazilian stunned Rubin and Cantuária followed it with a body shot. Another heavy left hand had Rubin on rubber legs. Cantuária changed levels and took the fight to the ground, where she would maintain top position for the remainder of the round. Round three began with a series of low kicks from Rubin. Cantuária sat back and looked to counter. Rubin landed a heavy body kick before the pair traded left hands. Rubin delivered a head kick and Cantuária quickly took her down and controlled from top position. The scorecards were read in favor of the Brazilian, who will look to avenge a previous loss to current champion Jennifer Maia.
The co-main featured a bantamweight showdown between veterans Katharina Lehner and Shanna Young. There was no feeling out process between the experienced fighters. A crisp right hand from Lehner popped the head of Young. Young resorted to her kicking arsenal to keep the German out of range. Lehner repeatedly found openings for her punches, cracking Young with boxing combinations from close range. The overhand right of Lehner became a piston, finding the nose of Young over and over again. A powerful push kick from Young greeted Lehner in round two. She answered with a combination of punches to back up Young. A heavy body kick from Young connected, as she looked to draw counterstrikes from Lehner. Lehner was effective by changing the level of her attack, scoring with low kicks. Young worked into the pocket to start the last stanza. She scored with short shots before Lehner circled away. A left hook from the German caught Young clean on the exit of an exchange. Young tried to increase her output, only to get countered with regularity by Lehner. The fight would go the distance and it was Lehner who took home the decision.
The promotional debut of Brazil’s Rayla Nascimento was a successful one, as she knocked off veteran flyweight Victoria Leonardo. Leonardo fired a variety of kicks to open the bout and find her striking range. Nascimento was patient, marching forward and cutting off the cage. A series of right hands from the Brazilian wobbled Leonardo. The veteran recovered and threw a wheel kick that Nascimento evaded. Another combination from Nascimento rocked Leonardo again. She desperately shot for a takedown, but Nascimento shrugged her off. Leonardo looked for another spinning attack but to no avail. The forward advance of Nascimento was undeterred to start round two, despite the flashy attacks from the American. The output from Nascimento was more measured as the round progressed. Leonardo changed levels for a takedown and even tried to pull guard, but Nascimento remained upright. Both fighters landed with left hooks in the third, but neither backed down. A front-leg side kick from Leonardo found the chin of Nascimento, who responded with a straight right hand. A spinning backfist by Leonardo was countered with a left hook. Nascimento increased her output in the final minute and both fighters flung wildly to the final bell. The judges were unanimous in their scorecards, rewarding Nascimento for her efforts.
Kicking off the main card, Brazil’s Liana Pirosin welcomed Shino VanHoose back to the promotion in a strawweight contest. A crisp left hook clipped VanHoose in the fight’s first exchange. Pirosin was able to double up on the punch before VanHoose answered with a pair of right straights. After a wild flurry, VanHoose secured a body lock and looked for a takedown. Pirosin was wise to it and spun her to the fence. VanHoose delivered knees to the head of the Brazilian. A counter right hand from VanHoose wobbled Pirosin late in the round. VanHoose looked for a trip late in the round, but Pirosin tossed her to the mat with an outside trip. Round two features more heavy strikes and both athletes wore damage. Pirosin landed a series of right hands and her confidence grew. A head kick from the Brazilian was partially blocked and VanHoose answered with a hook of her own. VanHoose connected with a thunderous body kick to open the final frame. Pirosin returned the strike, cracking VanHoose’s midsection. Another left hook from Pirosin found its mark and she just missed with a head kick. Both fighters threw caution to the wind in the fight’s final seconds and the judges were called upon to decide the result. In the end, it was Pirosin who walked away with unanimous decision win.
Wrapping up the preliminary-card action, Brazilian atomweight Giulliany Perêa took on American Hope Holmes. The speed of both fighters was on display from the opening bell as they traded combinations. Perêa caught a kick from Holmes and powered her to the ground. The Brazilian was patient from inside the guard of Holmes, posturing up for heavy punches. Holmes attacked with an armbar from the bottom, forcing a scramble. She repeated the attempt, but allowed Perêa to pass to side control in the process. A knee from Perêa connected with the head of Holmes on the ground, prompting a pause to the action and a return to the feet. Holmes was greeted by a massive overhand left from Perêa to start round two. Holmes clinched, but it was Perêa who earned the takedown and top position. Perêa was methodical from inside the guard, landing heavy strikes. The striking onslaught from Perêa continued in round three. Holmes absorbed repeated punishment, but kept active with her counterstrikes. A head kick from Perêa was caught by Holmes and she briefly held top position. Perêa swept from the bottom and landed in the full guard of Holmes. The fight was sent to the judges for a verdict and it was Perêa who remained undefeated with the decision.
Featherweights Joy Pendell and Julia Dorny collided looking to move up the 145-pound ranks. Pendell quickly ducked under a spinning strike and secured both hooks. She clung to Dorny, but the German was able to break free and land a crisp left hand. Dorny initiated the clinch and secured a trip takedown. Pendell pushed Dorny off of her and fired upkicks from the mat. Dorny remained aggressive, refusing to allow Pendell to get to her feet and punishing her legs with kicks. Pendell sprung for a late takedown as the round expired. Dorny peppered Pendell with punches to start the second frame, prompting Pendell to clinch and move to the cage. A takedown attempt from Pendell was thwarted by the judo of Dorny. The pair exchanged punches from range before Dorny closed the distance. Pendell changed levels and secured a double-leg takedown. She passed to mount, then took Dorny’s back. Dorny fought the choke for a moment, but eventually succumbed to the submission to give Pendell her first Invicta win.
The night began in the strawweight division as the debuting Amber Medina met Chicago’s Anna Somers. The fight immediately found the clinch and Medina pressed Somers to the fence. The pair traded knees as they jostled for position. Somers finished the grueling round with control against the cage. Medina’s dedication to her wrestling paid off in round two, as she put Somers on her back. Medina moved to mount and rained heavy shots. Somers gave up her back and was flattened out. She weathered the storm briefly, but Medina pinned her against the cage and battered her with left hands. The referee eventually intervened to hand Medina her first victory via TKO.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Mayra Cantuária def. Olga Rubin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Katharina Lehner def. Shanna Young by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Rayla Nascimento def. Victoria Leonardo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Liana Pirosin def. Shino VanHoose by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Giulliany Perêa def. Hope Holmes by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Joy Pendell def. Julia Dorny by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:46
Amber Medina def. Anna Somers by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:00
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.
