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Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodríguez II Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, June 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodríguez II. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, June 7, with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the flyweight contender tournament will come to a close as UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (10-4-1) rematches Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (7-3). The pair met previously at Invicta FC 28, with Bennett edging Rodríguez by decision. The pair meet again with a flyweight title shot on the line. Bennett defeated Missouri’s Miranda Maverick and Rodriguez topped UFC veteran Milana Dudieva in the tournament semifinals at Invicta FC 34 in February. The winner will be the next to challenge Brazilian champion Vanessa Porto.

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

Flyweight Contender Bout: DeAnna Bennett (125.3) vs. Karina Rodríguez (125.4)
Atomweight: Alesha Zappitella (106) vs. Viviane Pereira (106.7)*
Strawweight: Kanako Murata (116) vs. Liana Pirosin (115.8)
Bantamweight: Katharina Lehner (135.4) vs. Lisa Spangler (135.4)
Featherweight: Kaitlin Young (145.8) vs. Faith McMah (146.4)#
Bantamweight: Chelsea Chandler (136) vs. Brittney Victoria (134)
Atomweight: Kelly D’Angelo (108.8)* vs. Jillian DeCoursey (105.4)
Atomweight: Loma Lookboonmee (105.5) vs. Monique Adriane (105.6)
Strawweight: Valerie Wong (114.5) vs. Genia Goodin (114.3)

* – Pereira and D’Angelo missed the atomweight limit of 106 pounds and were fined 25 percent of their respective fight purses

# – McMah missed the featherweight limit of 146 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse

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 35 Features DeAnna Bennett vs. Karina Rodríguez II

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 35 has been finalized.

On Friday, June 7, the promotion again touches down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the flyweight contender tournament will come to a close as UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (10-4-1) rematches Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (7-3). The pair met previously at Invicta FC 28, with Bennett edging Rodríguez by decision. The pair meet again with a flyweight title shot on the line. Bennett defeated Missouri’s Miranda Maverick and Rodriguez topped UFC veteran Milana Dudieva in the tournament semifinals at Invicta FC 34 in February. The winner will be the next to challenge Brazilian champion Vanessa Porto.

The co-main event will take place in the atomweight division as undefeated wrestling stalwart Alesha Zappitella (5-0) takes on four-fight UFC alum Viviane Pereira (13-3), who makes her debut in the 105-pound division. Zappitella bested former title challenger Amber Brown in her last outing, while Pereira took on top strawweight MIZUKI in her promotional debut.

Joining the top two match-ups will be seven additional bouts. Japan’s Kanako Murata (9-1) meets fellow strawweight newcomer Liana Pirosin (7-2), former bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner (7-1) returns to take on undefeated Lisa Spangler (3-0), featherweight Kaitlin Young (9-9-1) clashes with New Zealand’s Faith McMah (6-3), California bantamweights collide as Stockton’s Chelsea Chandler (1-1) meets undefeated Los Angeles fighter Brittney Victoria (3-0), Missouri’s Kelly D’Angelo (3-2) takes on New York’s Jillian DeCoursey (2-1) in an atomweight affair, Thailand’s Loma Lookboonmee (2-1) welcomes Brazilian atomweight Monique Adriane (4-1) to the Invicta cage, and strawweights Valerie Wong (0-0) and Genia Goodin (0-0) make their professional debuts.

The current Invicta FC 35 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight Contender Bout: DeAnna Bennett (10-4-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (7-3)
Atomweight: Alesha Zappitella (5-0) vs. Viviane Pereira (13-3)
Strawweight: Kanako Murata (9-1) vs. Liana Pirosin (7-2)
Bantamweight: Katharina Lehner (7-1) vs. Lisa Spangler (3-0)
Featherweight: Kaitlin Young (9-9-1) vs. Faith McMah (6-3)
Bantamweight: Chelsea Chandler (1-1) vs. Brittney Victoria (3-0)
Atomweight: Kelly D’Angelo (3-2) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (2-1)
Atomweight: Loma Lookboonmee (2-1) vs. Monique Adriane (4-1)
Strawweight: Valerie Wong (0-0) vs. Genia Goodin (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 35 are on sale now through Eventbrite.

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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Phoenix Series Results: Brianna Van Buren Crowned New Strawweight Champion

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, May 3, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted its inaugural Phoenix Series tournament from Memorial Hall. The event aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

There’s a new strawweight champion as Brianna Van Buren won three fights in one night, submitting Kailin Curran in the Phoenix Series tournament final. The opening stanza featured Van Buren scoring with inside leg kicks. Curran tried to keep the fight at range, but Van Buren changed levels and slammed her to the mat. Once on top, Van Buren was dominant. She controlled the Hawaiian with short shots, but could not find a finish. In the second frame, Van Buren again secured a takedown and immediately passed to mount. She delivered heavy shots, forcing Curran to give up her back along the fence. Curran defended briefly, but it wasn’t enough, as Van Buren locked in the choke and claimed the title.

The evening’s lone non-tournament bout featured Kay Hansen vs. Magdaléna Šormová. Hansen was relentless in the first round, putting the Czech newcomer on the mat and pounding on her with elbows. Šormová was undeterred, looking for armbars from her back and throwing upkicks. In round two, Šormová was able to gain the top position for the first time and she did not relinquish it until just before the horn sounded at the end of the round. She patiently attacked Hansen and nearly passed to mount. The final round saw Hansen look for a throw, but Šormová countered it and took her back. She worked hard for a choke, but Hansen was able to escape and gain top position late in the frame. Hansen went for an armbar with just seconds remaining in the fight, but Šormová was able to survive to the final bell. When the scorecards were read, the judges again dissented, but Šormová scored the split decision win in her promotional debut.

The second half of the semifinals saw Kailin Curran go to war with Sharon Jacobson. After a brief feeling-out process, Jacobson looked for a takedown. Curran countered with a big throw that put her in top position. Jacobson was able to work back to her feet and land big knees along the fence. When the pair separated, Curran was able to land her jab and bloody the nose of Jacobson. The Colorado fighter was able to execute a throw of her own and put Curran on the ground. She passed to side control and landed short shots. Curran powered back to her feet late in the fight and the fight was sent to the judges. All three judges rewarded Curran for her efforts, giving her the second spot in the tournament final.

In the night’s first semifinal match-up, California’s Brianna Van Buren called her shot, selecting Juliana Lima as her opponent with the only finish in the quarterfinals. Lima used her length to stay on the outside early. Van Buren scored with heavy punches before ducking under and scooping up the Brazilian for a huge slam. She worked from the top position, keeping Lima on her back. Lima used an armbar attempt to get back to her feet, but it was short lived as Van Buren slammed her violently to the mat yet again. There was little doubt on the scorecards as Van Buren advanced to the finals.

The tournament’s reserve match-up featured newcomers Alyssa Krahn and Itzel Esquivel. It was the Texas fighter Esquivel who started with heavy kicks, prompting Krahn to work for a takedown. The Canadian Krahn had to work hard to bring the fight to the ground, but she got it there midway through the round. Once in top position, she was able to control Esquivel and score with punches. When it was over, the judges again rendered a split decision, with Krahn edging Esquivel.

The final tournament quarterfinal featured high-powered wrestler Sharon Jacobson against former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown. Jacobson grabbed a single and took the fight to the ground, but Brown used a heel hook attempt to gain the top position. Jacobson scrambled to her feet and the pair traded clinch knees. An arm-drag takedown from Jacobson turned the tide, as she overwhelmed Brown with punches and secured the mount. She delivered elbows and took Brown’s back late to secure the unanimous decision victory and move to the semifinal round.

Brianna Van Buren scored the night’s first finish as she submitted India’s Manjit Kolekar with an armbar. Van Buren scooped up Kolekar and slammed her to the canvas in the opening minute of the fight. She passed to mount and then looked to take Kolekar’s back. A series of punches from Van Buren forced Kolekar to cover up and expose an arm. Van Buren latched on and coerced the tap at the 3:20 mark to move on to the semifinals.

A pair of UFC veterans squared off as Brazil’s Juliana Lima took on Danielle Taylor. Taylor quickly closed the distance and put Lima against the fence. The taller Lima reversed the position and attacked with knees from the clinch. The pair jostled for position as the round progressed. Taylor briefly scored a takedown, but she couldn’t hold Lima on the mat. Lima powered back to the clinch and the fight went the distance. The judges were again split, but Lima moved on to the semifinals.

The tournament action kicked off with a battle between UFC veteran Kailin Curran and Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir. Curran dropped Davíðsdóttir with a massive right hand early in the fight and looked to secure a choke. Davíðsdóttir fought out of the submission attempt and mounted Curran. She rained punches and elbows, but Curran was able to work back to her feet. Once back to the feet, Curran scored another knockdown. Davíðsdóttir worked back to the top position late in the fight, but the judges were called upon to decide the outcome. They were split in their verdict, but it was Curran who advanced to the semifinals.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Brianna Van Buren def. Kailin Curran by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 3:49 – strawweight tournament final
Magdaléna Šormová def. Kay Hansen by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Kailin Curran def. Sharon Jacobson by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – strawweight tournament semifinal
Brianna Van Buren def. Juliana Lima by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – strawweight tournament semifinal
Alyssa Krahn def. Itzel Esquivel by split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9) – strawweight tournament reserve bout
Sharon Jacobson def. Amber Brown by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Brianna Van Buren def. Manjit Kolekar by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:20 – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Juliana Lima def. Danielle Taylor by split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Kailin Curran def. Sunna Davíðsdóttir by split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal

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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Phoenix Series 1 Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Thursday, May 2, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for its inaugural Phoenix Series tournament. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, May 3, with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

The one-night, eight-woman tournament will crown a new 115-pound champion. The single-elimination tournament will feature one-round fights in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the tournament final being a three-round affair to determine the tournament champion.

The tournament participants were matched up during a random draw prior to the event. UFC veterans square off as Danielle Taylor (10-4) clashes with Juliana Lima (9-5) and Hawaii’s Kailin Curran (4-6) faces Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir (3-0).

Former title challenger MIZUKI (13-5) was scheduled to face wrestling stalwart Sharon Jacobson (5-4), but due to complications with her weight cut, MIZUKI was forced to withdraw for safety reasons. Reserve bout combatant Amber Brown (7-5) has been elevated to face Jacobson.

Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (10-2) missed weight for her bout with California’s Brianna Van Buren (5-2) and was pulled from the tournament. India’s Manjit Kolekar (11-2) will replace Morandin in the tournament quarterfinals.

The quarterfinal fighters will have incentive to finish their fights for multiple reasons. First, each finish will earn the winning fighter a monetary bonus, but more importantly, the fastest finisher in the quarterfinal round will have the luxury of picking their opponent for the semifinals based on the remaining three combatants. If there are no finishes in the quarterfinals, the semifinal match-ups will again be determined by random draw.

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

Strawweight Co-Main Event: Kay Hansen (115.4) vs. Magdaléna Šormová (115.4)
Strawweight Tournament Reserve Bout: Alyssa Krahn (115.8) vs. Itzel Esquivel (115.7)
Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Amber Brown (115.7) vs. Sharon Jacobson (115.7)
Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Manjit Kolekar (115.7) vs. Brianna Van Buren (115.8)
Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Danielle Taylor (115.7) vs. Juliana Lima (115.5)
Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Kailin Curran (116) vs. Sunna Davíðsdóttir (115.9)

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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Phoenix Series 1 Will Crown New Strawweight Champion

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Kansas City, Mo. – The stakes have been raised for the first installment of the Invicta Fighting Championships Phoenix Series.

The promotion’s first one-night, eight-woman tournament will crown a new 115-pound champion as Brazilian Virna Jandiroba has vacated the strawweight title to sign with the UFC.

In addition to the new prize awaiting the night’s winner, the quarterfinal match-ups — determined by random draw — have been revealed.

Former title challenger MIZUKI (13-5) will take on with wrestling stalwart Sharon Jacobson (5-4), Brazilian contender Janaisa Morandin (10-2) meets California’s Brianna Van Buren (5-2), UFC veterans square off as Danielle Taylor (10-4) clashes with Juliana Lima (9-5), and Hawaii’s Kailin Curran (4-6) faces Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir (3-0).

Joining the tournament bouts will be one non-tournament bout and two tournament reserve match-ups.

In the non-tournament fight, 19-year-old Kay Hansen (4-2) collides with promotional newcomer Magdaléna Šormová (7-1) of the Czech Republic. The bout will serve as the night’s co-main event between the tournament semifinals and championship headliner.

The two tournament reserve bouts will be one-round affairs and be considered exhibition fights. However, should any of the fighters be tabbed as injury replacements in the tournament, any subsequent fights will count on the fighter’s professional record. In the first reserve match-up, former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown (7-5) returns to 115 pounds to face off with India’s Manjit Kolekar (11-2). The other pairing features Invicta newcomers as Canada’s Alyssa “Pumpkin Spice” Krahn (5-2) meets Texas fighter Itzel Esquivel (4-2).

Finally, joining play-by-play announcer Laura Sanko and color analyst Jimmy Smith, the third member of the Phoenix Rising broadcast team will be Taryn Tempel, who will handle in-cage interviews for the event.

Phoenix Series 1 takes place from Kansas City’s Memorial Hall on Friday, May 3. The event streams exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event are on sale now through Eventbrite.

TBD vs. TBD – strawweight tournament final
Kay Hansen (4-2) vs. Magdaléna Šormová (7-1)
TBD vs. TBD – strawweight tournament semifinal
TBD vs. TBD – strawweight tournament semifinal
Amber Brown (7-5) vs. Manjit Kolekar (11-2) – strawweight tournament reserve bout
MIZUKI (13-5) vs. Sharon Jacobson (5-4) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Janaisa Morandin (10-2) vs. Brianna Van Buren (5-2) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Danielle Taylor (10-4) vs. Juliana Lima (9-5) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Kailin Curran (4-6) vs. Sunna Davidsdottir (3-0) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Alyssa Krahn (5-2) vs. Itzel Esquivel (4-2) – strawweight tournament reserve bout

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 Reveals the Phoenix Series

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Kansas City, Mo. – Invicta Fighting Championships is starting a new chapter.

Today, the world’s most decorated fighting promotion for women revealed the Phoenix Series; a one-night, eight-woman tournament format that brings the sport of MMA back to its roots.

The single-elimination tournament will feature one-round fights in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the tournament final being a three-round affair to determine the tournament champion.

The eight tournament participants will be matched up during a random draw prior to the event.

The quarterfinal fighters will have incentive to finish their fights for multiple reasons. First, each finish will earn the winning fighter a monetary bonus, but more importantly, the fastest finisher in the quarterfinal round will have the luxury of picking their opponent for the semifinals based on the remaining three combatants. If there are no finishes in the quarterfinals, the semifinal match-ups will again be determined by random draw.

The first event of the Phoenix Rising Series will take place from Kansas City’s Memorial Hall on Friday, May 3 and stream exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. The inaugural tournament will take place in the strawweight division and the field of eight fighters features numerous title challengers and UFC veterans.

Japan’s MIZUKI (13-5) and Brazil’s Janaisa Morandin (10-2) have previously challenged for Invicta gold and will be out prove they are ready for another shot at the title. MIZUKI was last in the cage at Invicta FC 32, topping UFC veteran Viviane Pereira. Morandin is coming off a title challenge against Virna Jandiroba in September.

They are joined by UFC veterans Danielle Taylor (10-4), Juliana Lima (9-5) and Kailin Curran (4-6). Taylor’s first fight under the Invicta banner came in December, where she defeated Montserrat Ruiz. Lima returns to the promotion for the first time since Invicta FC 5 in 2013. Hawaii’s Curran will be making her Invicta debut.

Rounding out the participants will be Invicta veterans Brianna van Buren (5-2), Sharon Jacobson (5-4) and Sunna Davidsdottir (3-0). Van Buren dispatched of UFC veteran Jamie Moyle in her most recent appearance. Jacobson has been a staple of the Invicta cage, winning multiple post-fight bonuses for her aggressive wrestling style. Finally, Iceland’s Davidsdottir enters the tournament with an undefeated record.

The Phoenix Series will also feature a new look for the broadcast team. Invicta FC post-fight correspondent and former Invicta fighter Laura Sanko will become the first woman to call play-by-play for a major promotion. Joining Sanko on the call will be veteran cageside analyst Jimmy Smith, who has called fights for many of the sport’s biggest promotions.

A tournament reserve match-up, as well as one, non-tournament bout—also in the 115-pound division—will be added to the fight card in the coming weeks.

Phoenix Series 
MIZUKI (13-5)
Janaisa Morandin (10-2)
Danielle Taylor (10-4)
Juliana Lima (9-5)
Kailin Curran (4-6)
Brianna van Buren (5-2)
Sharon Jacobson (5-4)
Sunna Davidsdottir (3-0)

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 34 Results: Porto Tops Gonzalez, Captures Vacant Flyweight Title

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Feb. 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez from the Memorial Hall. The night’s first three bouts streamed live on Facebook and UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT, with the remainder of the event airing exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Vanessa Porto is now the Invicta FC flyweight champion after defeating Pearl Gonzalez by technical decision. The first round saw Gonzalez use her length to kick. Porto countered with punches, leading to a takedown. Gonzalez worked back to her feet, but ate three right hands in the process. Porto again took the fight to the ground. Round two featured a variety of kicks from both fighters until Porto again showcased her strength, picking up Gonzalez and slamming her to the mat. She passed to the mount and slapped on an arm-triangle choke. Gonzalez waited it out and eventually returned to her feet before the round came to an end. It was more kicks from both fighters early in round three, but Porto initiated the clinch and pinned Gonzalez to the cage. She scooped up a single and put Gonzalez on her back. Porto passed to side control where she remained until the round concluded. Porto controlled the range early in round four, but Gonzalez inadvertently poked her in the left eye to pause the action. The doctors came in to check on the Brazilian, but there was a cut to her eyelid that forced the fight to be waved off. That sent the fight to the scorecards, where Porto was ahead from all three judges at cageside.

Mexico’s Karina Rodriguez engaged in a three-round war with UFC veteran Milana Dudieva, punching her ticket to the flyweight tournament final with a split-decision victory. Rodriguez was crisp with her striking early, peppering Dudieva with kicks. Dudieva changed the tides with a well-timed takedown and a barrage of punches from top position. Late in the round, Dudieva rocked Rodriguez with a right hand as the bell sounded. The second round began similarly, with Dudieva scoring a takedown. Rodriguez was able to work back to her feet and she pushed the pace. She came forward hard, nearly overwhelming Dudieva late in the round with punches. The last stanza was razor-close as both fighters looked for openings. The judges were called upon to decide the result and two of the three rewarded Rodriguez for her efforts.

The first half of the flyweight contender tournament pitted UFC veteran and former strawweight title challenger DeAnna Bennett against rising prospect Miranda Maverick. Maverick scored early with leg kicks. Bennett marched forward, changing levels and putting Maverick on her back with a double-leg takedown. Maverick locked up her guard, but Bennett scored with right hands. In round two, the pair traded positions in the clinch, but again, it was Bennett’s double-leg takedown that helped her gain an advantageous position. She was able to move to Maverick’s back and threaten with a rear-naked choke, but the Missouri fighter defended and escaped. The final frame saw Maverick push the action. She gained the clinch, only to have Bennett reverse and position and work for a single. Maverick threw knees and short elbows, but it wasn’t enough, as Bennett claimed the decision and the first spot in the flyweight tournament final.

In the flyweight tournament reserve bout, Tracy Cortez used her solid wrestling and submission defense to edge grappler Erin Blanchfield by split decision. Cortez threw with reckless abandon early, before changing levels and taking Blanchfield to the ground. Blanchfield latched onto Cortez’s right arm, looking for an armbar. Cortez was able to defend, but Blanchfield held the position until the end of the round, absorbing short punches and knees from Cortez. The second frame was a back-and-forth affair, with Cortez getting the better of the clinch work. Blanchfield had a strong third round, securing a takedown and attacking with submissions. Cortez survived a deep arm-triangle choke attempt, returning to the feet in the fight’s final minute. When the judges were called upon, it was Cortez who walked away victorious.

Flyweights Victoria Leonardo and Jamie Milanowski put on a show for the brief time they were in the cage. Milanowski quickly dragged Leonardo to the ground, but Leonardo looked for an armbar and got back to her feet. She then put Milanowki on her back and dropped heavy ground and pound. The fight returned to the feet briefly and Milanowski again looked to gain top position. Leonardo stuffed a head-and-arm throw and took the back of the newcomer. She locked onto a rear-naked choke, forcing Milanowski to tap midway through the first round.

Featherweight Courtney King picked up her first win in the Invicta cage, stopping fellow Coloradan Holli Logan by second-round submission. Logan scored with repeated counter right hands in the opening stanza, as King pressed forward. King eventually earned the clinch and brought the fight to the ground with a trip takedown. In the second frame, King flurried hard to get the clinch. This time, however, it was Logan who looked for a trip. King reversed the position and landed on top, locking in a D’arce choke. Logan was able to defend, but gave up the mount. King rained punches and forced Logan to give up her back. Once there, King attacked the neck and coerced a tap by rear-naked choke.

The night’s action kicked off with a flyweight match-up between newcomers Caitlin Sammons and Christina Ricker. Sammons used her teep kick to gauge range, before scoring with a counter uppercut. She then took Ricker to the mat and control her from the back, but trapping Ricker’s left arm. Late in the first round, Sammons looked for an armbar, but Ricker was able to survive the round. In round two, Sammons hurt Ricker with a kick to the body and followed her to the ground. Sammons unleashed a series of punches and elbows that forced the referee to halt the bout and save Ricker from further damage.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Vanessa Porto def. Pearl Gonzalez by unanimous technical decision (40-36, 39-37, 39-37). Round 4, 2:34 – for flyweight title
Karina Rodriguez def. Milana Dudieva by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – flyweight tournament semifinal
DeAnna Bennett def. Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) – flyweight tournament semifinal
Tracy Cortez def. Erin Blanchfield by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Victoria Leonardo def. Jamie Milanowski by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:45
Courtney King def. Holli Logan by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:46
Caitlin Sammons def. Christina Ricker by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:02

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 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, Feb. 14, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, Feb. 15, with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT. The night’s first three bouts will also stream live and free on Facebook.

In the night’s main event, the vacant flyweight title will be on the line between Brazilian veteran Vanessa Porto (20-8) and surging contender Pearl Gonzalez (9-3).

Also on the card, a four-woman flyweight tournament will kick off to determine the next No. 1 contender. On one side of the bracket, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (12-7) takes on Mexico’s Karina Rodriguez (6-3). In the other half of the ladder, UFC veteran and former Invicta FC strawweight title challenger DeAnna Bennett (9-4-1) meets Missouri’s Miranda Maverick (4-1).

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

Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto (124.7) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (124)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Milana Dudieva (126) vs. Karina Rodriguez (125.4)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: DeAnna Bennett (126) vs. Miranda Maverick (125.4)
Flyweight:  Tracy Cortez (126) vs. Erin Blanchfield (125.5)
Featherweight: Helena Kolesnyk (156.3)* vs. Faith McMah (145.7)
Flyweight: Victoria Leonardo (125.7) vs. Jamie Milanowski (125.4)
Featherweight: Courtney King (145.4) vs. Holli Logan (149.9)#
Flyweight: Caitlin Sammons (124) vs. Christina Ricker (125.5)

* – The fight between Kolesnyk and McMah has been removed from the card, after Kolesnyk missed weight

# – Logan was fined 25 percent of her 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.

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Three Additional Bouts Complete Invicta FC 34 Fight Card

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 34 is now complete.

The upcoming flyweight tournament has undergone some changes and the previously announced lineup will be joined by three additional bouts.

Undefeated Brogan Walker-Sanchez (6-0) has been forced out of the flyweight tournament and Mexico’s Karina Rodriguez (6-3) will move from the reserve bout to take on UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (12-7) in the semifinals.

Rodriguez’s original opponent, Tracy Cortez (4-1), will now clash with undefeated New Yorker Erin Blanchfield (3-0). Blanchfield is fresh off a decision victory over Kay Hansen at Invicta FC 32 in November.

In the flyweight division, Invicta veteran Victoria Leonardo (3-1) welcomes Alabama’s Jamie Milanowski (2-2) to the promotion. Louisiana’s Leonardo picked up her third career win in October, scoring a second-round submission win over Monica Medina. Both of Milanowski’s victories have come via armbar and she has shared the cage with Invicta veteran Cheri Muraski and former UFC champion Nicco Montaño.

Also joining the card will be a pair of Colorado featherweights as Courtney King (1-1) meets Holli Logan (1-0-1). King battled Yaya Rincón in her promotional debut at Invicta FC 25 in 2017, while Salazar fought to a draw with Audrey Wolfe at Invicta FC 31.

Finally, a pair of flyweight newcomers will kick off the night’s action as Florida’s Caitlin Sammons (0-0) makes her professional debut against Tennessee’s Christina Ricker (1-1).

Invicta FC 34 takes place Friday, Feb. 15, from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event is headlined by a flyweight title bout between Brazilian veteran Vanessa Porto (20-8) and surging contender Pearl Gonzalez (9-3). The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

The complete Invicta FC 34 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto (20-8) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (9-3)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Milana Dudieva (12-7) vs. Karina Rodriguez (6-3)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: DeAnna Bennett (9-4-1) vs. Miranda Maverick (4-1)
Flyweight:  Tracy Cortez (4-1) vs. Erin Blanchfield (3-0)
Featherweight: Helena Kolesnyk (5-2, 1 NC) vs. Faith McMah (6-3)
Flyweight: Victoria Leonardo (3-1) vs. Jamie Milanowski (2-2)
Featherweight: Courtney King (1-1) vs. Holli Logan (1-0-1)
Flyweight: Caitlin Sammons (0-0) vs. Christina Ricker (1-1)

Tickets for Invicta FC 34 are available for purchase at invictafc34.eventbrite.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.

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Vanessa Porto vs. Pearl Gonzalez Flyweight Title Fight Headlines Invicta FC 34

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is returning to where it all began.

On Friday, Feb. 15, the promotion touches down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. — the host of the first four Invicta FC events — for its 34th fight card. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the vacant flyweight title will be on the line between Brazilian veteran Vanessa Porto (20-8) and surging contender Pearl Gonzalez (9-3).

Porto is riding the momentum of back-to-back wins, having earned a stoppage win at Invicta FC 26, before submitting Mariana Morais at Invicta FC 27. The 34-year-old will fight for Invicta gold for third time after coming up short on the scorecards in two prior attempts.

The Chicago native Gonzalez has been on a tear since joining the Invicta roster. After defeating Kali Robbins at strawweight in her promotional debut, the Team Hurricane Awesome product moved up to 125 pounds and has continued to find success. She submitted Brazilian Bárbara Acioly last March and then topped Daiane Firmino on the scorecards at Invicta FC 29.

Also on the card, a four-woman flyweight tournament will kick off to determine the next No. 1 contender. On one side of the bracket, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (12-7) takes on undefeated Brogan Walker-Sanchez (6-0) of Guam. In the other half of the ladder, UFC veteran and former Invicta FC strawweight title challenger DeAnna Bennett (9-4-1) meets Missouri’s Miranda Maverick (4-1). The two winners will meet later this year for a shot at Invicta gold. A bout between Tracy Cortez (4-1) and Mexico’s Karina Rodriguez (6-3) will serve as the tournament’s reserve match-up.

The card also includes a featherweight match-up between former title challenger Faith McMah (6-3) and Helena Kolesnyk (5-2, 1 NC).

The current Invicta FC 34 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto (20-8) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (9-3)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: Milana Dudieva (12-7) vs. Brogan Walker-Sanchez (6-0)
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal: DeAnna Bennett (9-4-1) vs. Miranda Maverick (4-1)
Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (4-1) vs. Karina Rodriguez (6-3)
Featherweight: Faith McMah (6-3) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (5-2, 1 NC).

Tickets for Invicta FC 34 go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 16, and are available for purchase at invictafc34.eventbrite.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.