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Four Fighters Join Invicta FC Roster, Including Isis Verbeek and Luanna Alzuguir

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has signed four new athletes to its roster.

Joining the atomweight division will be GLORY Kickboxing veteran Isis Verbeek (0-0). With more than 50 combined Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts, the 23-year-old Dutchwoman will make her professional MMA debut inside the Invicta cage. She’s faced many of the world’s best strikers, including current GLORY champion Anissa Meksen.

Bolstering the 125-pound division will be Brazil’s Luanna Alzuguir (0-0). A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, the 32-year-old is a five-time world champion and an ADCC gold medalist. She earned a third-round submission victory over Brittney Cloudy in her lone amateur MMA bout.

Lisa Spangler (0-0) is the latest addition to the bantamweight division. Dubbed “The Strangler,” she has amassed a record of 9-1 as an amateur, including five finishes by strikes. Fighting out of Gracie Barra in Portland, the 22-year-old Spangler has shared the cage with Invicta veteran Kal Schwartz.

Finally, Croatia’s Adriana Vuković (0-0) is the youngest fighter to sign with the promotion. At just 18 years of age, Vuković has already compiled an amateur record of 6-0-1. Training out of Tristar MMA, the flyweight has won numerous amateur titles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing and MMA.

Look for all four fighters to debut inside the Invicta FC cage in 2018.

Photo: Isis Verbeek (James Law/GLORY)

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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Nine-Fight Lineup For Invicta FC 28 Now Complete

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 28 is now complete.

The event, which takes place Saturday, March 24, from the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City, has added a flyweight bout, as well as an opponent for strawweight Kal Schwartz (1-1).

Taking on Schwartz will be California’s Kay Hansen (1-0). The 18-year-old Hansen impressed in her professional debut, submitting Emilee Prince in under two minutes at Invicta FC 26 in December.

In the flyweight division, Arizona’s Tracey Cortez (1-1) returns to the Invicta cage to take on promotional newcomer Kaytlin Neil (1-2) of Utah. Cortez engaged in a back-and-forth battle with Cheri Muraski at Invicta FC 25 in August. Like her opponent, Neil has also shared the cage with Muraski during her professional career.

Invicta FC 28 will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. MT. It will be headlined by a strawweight title fight between Brazilians Janaisa Morandin (10-1) and Virna Jandiroba (12-0).

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 28 can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Janaisa Morandin (10-1) vs. Virna Jandiroba (12-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-7)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (6-2)
Strawweight: Kali Robbins (5-0) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (6-3)
Atomweight: Minna Grusander (5-1) vs. Fernanda Priscila (3-1)
Strawweight: Kal Schwartz (1-1) vs. Kay Hansen (1-0)
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (2-0) vs. Chelsea Chandler (0-0)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) vs. Rebekah Levine (1-0)
Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (1-1) vs. Kaytlin Neil (1-2)

Tickets for Invicta FC 28 will go on sale Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. MT via 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.

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Janaisa Morandin vs. Virna Jandiroba Title Fight Headlines Invicta FC 28 on March 24

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is heading to Utah.

The promotion’s 28th event will take place Saturday, March 24 from the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City. The card will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. MT.

In the night’s main event, Brazilians Janaisa Morandin (10-1) and Virna Jandiroba (12-0) clash for the strawweight title. Morandin made her Invicta debut in a “Fight of the Night” battle against former champion Livia Renata Souza last August and followed it up with dominant win over Kinberly Novaes at Invicta FC 26 in December. Jandiroba also impressed in her first bout with the promotion, submitting veteran Amy Montenegro in the first round via armbar.

The co-main event features the return of Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) against UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-7). The 23-year-old MIZUKI enters the contest having won four straight, including a second-round armbar finish of Lynn Alvarez in her most recent Invicta appearance. Dudieva will be making her third appearance inside the Invicta cage, but this will be her first bout in the strawweight division.

UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) rejoins the promotion to take on Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (6-2). Bennett, a former strawweight title challenger, fought to a draw against Melinda Fabian in December. Rodríguez has earned back-to-back wins over Bárbara Acioly and Christine Ferea since joining the promotion last summer.

Also on the card, undefeated strawweight Kali Robbins (5-0) takes on UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (6-3), Finland’s Minna Grusander (5-1) meets fellow atomweight newcomer Fernanda Priscila (3-1) of Brazil, Kal Schwartz faces a yet-to-be-named opponent in a strawweight affair, undefeated bantamweight Kerri Kenneson (2-0) of New Hampshire takes on the debuting Chelsea Chandler (0-0), and Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) battles Rebekah Levine (1-0) at atomweight.

The fight card for Invicta FC 28 can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Janaisa Morandin (10-1) vs. Virna Jandiroba (12-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-7)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (6-2)
Strawweight: Kali Robbins (5-0) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (6-3)
Atomweight: Minna Grusander (5-1) vs. Fernanda Priscila (3-1)
Strawweight: Kal Schwartz (1-1) vs. TBA
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (2-0) vs. Chelsea Chandler (0-0)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) vs. Rebekah Levine (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 28 will go on sale Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. MT via 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.

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Invicta FC 27 Results: Kaufman Cruises Past Kianzad, Porto Chokes Morais

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, Jan. 13, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Sarah Kaufman’s return to the Invicta cage was a successful one as the former Strikeforce bantamweight champion and UFC veteran bested Pannie Kianzad by decision. Kaufman’s striking arsenal was on full display throughout the contest. She landed her right hand in the clinch throughout the bout, bloodying the nose of Kianzad early in the fight. Kianzad never backed down, firing spinning backfists and a variety of kicks. But Kaufman’s veteran savvy was too much, as she landed with more and more volume as the fight progressed. The Canadian swept the scorecards after three rounds.

Former flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto continued her march back towards title contention, dispatching of her fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais in the first round. Porto landed heavy leg kicks as the fight begin, prompting Morais to shoot for a takedown. Porto scrambled to the back of Morais, who desperately tried to defend Porto’s submission attack. Porto sunk in a rear-naked choke late in the round, coercing the tap from Morais.

In a classic striker vs. grappler affair, it was the wrestler, Sharon Jacobson, that came out on top of Canada’s Ashley Nichols. Jacobson initiated the clinch to start the fight and aimed to take the fight to the mat. Nichols countered with heavy knees and punches, dropping Jacobson in the opening round. Jacobson secured a takedown and was able to recover. The relentless wrestling of Jacobson was the story of the rest of the fight, as she was able to put Nichols on her back repeatedly. The final five minutes was all Jacobson, who used the knee-on-belly technique to pepper Nichols with punches and elbows and capture the win.

Atomweight Ashley Cummins completed dominated promotional debutant Stephanie Alba over three rounds. Cummins was able to take the fight to the mat in every round, where she meticulously delivered ground and pound. The first round was filled with short elbow from the half guard, as Alba could not get off her back. Cummins sought an arm-triangle choke in the second stanza, but Alba defended well. In the final frame, Cummins sought the finish, scoring with combinations before yet another takedown. She dropped punches to the final bell, but had to settle for decision victory.

Guam’s Brogan Walker-Sanchez handed Cheri Muraski her first professional defeat after a grueling, three-round contest. Muraski’s intentions were clear from the opening bell as she closed the distance and looked to take Walker-Sanchez to the mat. Walker-Sanchez was able to score with elbows from the clinch and use her underhooks to stay standing. Muraski did find herself inside the full guard at one point, but was unable to pass to a dominant position. The pair jostled for position along the fence for the majority of the fight, but two of the three judges rewarded Walker-Sanchez the decision.

Felicia Spencer kept her undefeated record intact, besting debuting featherweight Akeela Al-Hameed by decision. The fight featured a contrast of styles as Al-Hameed employed a boxing attack against Spencer’s taekwondo base. The pair traded head kicks in the opening frame after a grueling stint in the clinch. Al-Hameed’s best moment came in the form of a standing guillotine choke attempt against the fence, but Spencer showcased great flexibility to land knees from the vicarious position. Spencer would gain top control late in the fight, sealing the win on all the judges’ scorecards.

Strawweight Mallory Martin gave Tiffany Masters a rude welcome to the Invicta FC cage, earning a second-round stoppage due to strikes. Martin pressed forward in the opening round, scoring with her left hook inside the pocket. Masters countered with volume, but Martin took her down and rained elbows from the top. It was more of the same in round two as Martin mounted Masters along the fence and dropped heavy shots. The onslaught led the referee to intervene and give Martin the victory.

Making her professional MMA debut, Muay Thai stylist Loma Lookboonmee put on a striking clinic, battering Mellissa Wang over three rounds. Wang immediately looked to take the fight to the mat, but Loma countered with knees and elbows in the clinch. The shots took their toll on Wang, who bled from her nose and left eye. The fight was paused twice by the referee after the Thai fighter landed knees while Wang was a downed fighter. Despite a point deduction, Loma swept the scorecards with the impressive performance.

In a match-up of strawweight newcomers, Helen Peralta needed less than a round to dispatch of Jade Ripley with strikes. Peralta used her kicks to find her range and began to land her right hand at will. After buckling the knees of Ripley in the clinch, Peralta delivered a series of punches along the fence that forced the referee to halt the contest.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sarah Kaufman def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Vanessa Porto def. Mariana Morais by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:19
Sharon Jacobson def. Ashley Nichols by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ashley Cummins def. Stephanie Alba by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Brogan Walker-Sanchez def. Cheri Muraski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Felicia Spencer def. Akeela Al-Hameed by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mallory Martin def. Tiffany Masters by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:36
Loma Lookboonmee def. Mellissa Wang by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26)
Helen Peralta def. Jade Ripley by TKO (punches). Round 1, 2:22

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 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Jan. 12, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman. The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Jan. 13, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-2) takes on Canada’s Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC) in a bantamweight match-up. Kianzad aims to get back in the win column after falling against then-champion Tonya Evinger and recent title challenger Raquel Pa’aluhi. Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who previously competed in the Invicta cage in 2013. She holds victories over fellow Invicta veterans Shayna Baszler, Takayo Hashi, Roxanne Modafferi, Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith.

In the night’s co-main event, Vanessa Porto (19-8) quickly steps back into the cage to face fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais (12-5). Porto was in action at Invicta FC 26 in December, stopping UFC veteran Milana Dudieva by strikes. The 21-year-old Morais returns to the promotion for the first time since 2015, where she faced former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi.

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

Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (136.7)* vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.4)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (125.3) vs. Mariana Morais (124.6)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (115.7) vs. Ashley Nichols (115.3)
Atomweight: Ashley Cummins (105.6) vs. Stephanie Alba (106)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (125.4) vs. Brogan Walker-Sanchez (125.4)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Akeela Al-Hameed (144.7)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (115.3) vs. Tiffany Masters (117.4)*
Atomweight: Mellissa Wang (104.3) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (105.9)
Strawweight: Jade Ripley (115.9) vs. Helen Peralta (115.6)

* – Kianzad and Masters were each fined 25 percent of their fight purses 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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Amanda Nunes Joins Invicta FC Athlete Development Team

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Kansas City, Mo. – Invicta Fighting Championships today announced the addition of current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes to its athlete development team.

Nunes will join a team tasked with further solidifying the deepest roster in women’s MMA. The agreement’s core responsibilities will include assisting with the matchmaking process to create compelling fight cards and identifying the champions of tomorrow, specifically scouting talent in Brazil and the southeastern United States.

“I’ve known and worked with Amanda for a long time, going all the way back to our Strikeforce days,” said Invicta FC President Knapp. “She was already part of the Invicta family, but now it’s official; now it’s on paper.

“I can’t think of a better ambassador for the sport and our organization.”

After nearly a decade in the sport – including stints with Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and the UFC – Nunes captured gold in 2016, defeating Miesha Tate at UFC 200 to become UFC women’s bantamweight champion. Her career resume features wins over many of MMA’s best including Tate, Ronda Rousey, Valentina Shevchenko, Sara McMann, Germaine de Randamie, Vanessa Porto, Shayna Baszler, and Julia Budd.

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“I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career to fight for the best organizations in the world,” said Nunes. “In my new position, I hope to be able to use my experience as a fighter and a champion to help groom the next generation. I’m honored to be a part of their journey at Invicta.”

The appointment is effective immediately. In her first official duty, “The Lioness” will be front and center tomorrow, overseeing the athletes of Invicta FC 27 as they weigh in and square off.

She’ll also be in the house this Saturday, Saturday, Jan. 13, when Invicta returns to Scottish Rite Temple for Invicta FC 27, headlined by returning veteran Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC) taking on former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Pannie “Banzai” Kianzad (8-2).

Invicta FC 27 streams live and exclusively via UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 13.

Tickets for Invicta FC 27, priced at $50, $35, or $25, are on sale now via 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.

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Cheri Muraski Meets Brogan Walker-Sanchez at Invicta FC 27

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Kansas City, Mo. — The final slot on the Invicta Fighting Championships 27 fight card is now filled.

Undefeated Cheri Muraski (4-0) will face promotional newcomer Brogan Walker-Sanchez (4-0) in a flyweight contest.

Colorado’s Muraski made her Invicta debut at Invicta FC 25 in August, submitting Tracy Cortez in the second round. Guam’s Walker-Sanchez has also opened her career with four straight victories, including a decision win over Invicta veteran Gabby Romero.

Invicta FC 27 takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. It will feature a bantamweight headliner between Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-2) and Canada’s Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC).

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 27 can be found below:

Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-2) vs. Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (19-8) vs. Mariana Morais (12-5)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-2) vs. Ashley Nichols (3-1)
Atomweight: Ashley Cummins (5-4) vs. Stephanie Alba (3-1, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (4-0) vs. Brogan Walker-Sanchez (4-0)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (3-0) vs. Akeela Al-Hameed (0-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-2) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-1)
Atomweight: Mellissa Wang (1-0) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (0-0)
Strawweight: Jade Ripley (0-0) vs. Helen Peralta (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 27 are on sale now via Tickeyfly.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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Invicta FC 27 Features Pannie Kianzad vs. Sarah Kaufman Main Event

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 27 has taken shape.

The event, which takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. It will feature a bantamweight headliner between Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-2) and Canada’s Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC).

Kianzad aims to get back in the win column after falling against then-champion Tonya Evinger and recent title challenger Raquel Pa’aluhi. Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who previously competed in the Invicta cage in 2013. She holds victories over fellow Invicta veterans Shayna Baszler, Takayo Hashi, Roxanne Modafferi, Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith.

In the night’s co-main event, Vanessa Porto (19-8) quickly steps back into the cage to face fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais (12-5). Porto was in action at Invicta FC 26 in December, stopping UFC veteran Milana Dudieva by strikes. The 21-year-old Morais returns to the promotion for the first time since 2015, where she faced former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi.

Also announced for the event, wrestling stalwart Sharon Jacobson (4-2) takes on decorated striker Ashley Nichols (3-1) in a strawweight bout, Missouri native Ashley Cummins meets promotional newcomer Stephanie Alba (3-1, 1 NC) at atomweight, undefeated flyweight Brogan Walker-Sanchez (4-0) of Guam will debut against a to-be-announced opponent, featherweight finisher Felicia Spencer (3-0) welcomes Akeela Al-Hameed (0-0) to the professional ranks, strawweights Mallory Martin (1-2) and Tiffany Masters (2-1) clash in a bout that was originally slated for Invicta FC 24, atomweight Muay Thai standout Loma Lookboonmee (0-0) makes her professional MMA debut against Mellissa Wang (1-0), and Jade Ripley and Helen Peralta make both their Invicta and professional debuts in a strawweight match-up.

The fight card for Invicta FC 27 can be found below:

Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-2) vs. Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (19-8) vs. Mariana Morais (12-5)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-2) vs. Ashley Nichols (3-1)
Atomweight: Ashley Cummins (5-4) vs. Stephanie Alba (3-1, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Brogan Walker-Sanchez (4-0) vs. TBA
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (3-0) vs. Akeela Al-Hameed (0-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-2) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-1)
Atomweight: Mellissa Wang (1-0) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (0-0)
Strawweight: Jade Ripley (0-0) vs. Helen Peralta (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 27 are on sale now via Tickeyfly.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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Invicta FC 26 Results: Maia Outlasts Niedźwiedź, Dern Submits Medeiros

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Dec. 8, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedźwiedź from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Jennifer Maia is still the Invicta flyweight champion after a five-round war with Poland’s Aga Niedźwiedź. The Brazilian rocked Niedźwiedź early with a right hand that caused the right cheek of the challenger to swell. Niedźwiedź was able to get the fight to the canvas late in the opening round, but Maia was active from her back. It was Niedźwiedź who did the damage in round two, rocking Maia with punches. The champion survived and implemented her strong clinch game. Maia relentlessly pinned Niedźwiedź to the fence and weighed on her. The grueling action took its toll on Niedźwiedź, as Maia turned up her output in the championship rounds. Both fighters bled from their noses in the final round, but Maia’s volume was the difference as all three judges rewarded her efforts.

Mackenzie Dern stayed undefeated in her Invicta debut, submitting former strawweight title challenger Kaline Medeiros in the third round. Dern found success with her overhand right throughout the fight, rocking Medeiros on several occasions. A mouse formed under the left eye of Medeiros from the heavy shots. The fight found the ground in round two and Dern looked for a toe hold before passing to mount and scoring with ground and pound. Most of the third stanza took place on the feet, but Dern went for the finish in the bout’s final minute. She earned a trip takedown, passed to mount and then earned a tap from an armbar with just seconds remaining in the fight.

A pair of Brazilians delivered one of the bloodiest fights in Invicta history as Janaisa Morandin and Kinberly Novaes went to war for three rounds. The two immediately went to the clinch and began delivering elbows and knees. When they did separate, it was Morandin who scored with big punches. The second round saw Morandin severely damage the nose of Novaes and blood began to pour all over both fighters. The assault by Morandin continued throughout the remainder of the fight as she pressed forward and battered Novaes. Novaes survived to the final horn, but Morandin swept the scorecards.

Two-time flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto survived an early storm from UFC veteran Milana Dudieva to earn a third-round TKO victory. Porto’s kicking arsenal was on display in the opening stanza, until Dudieva caught her with a punch behind the ear. Porto looked for a takedown, but Dudieva was able to secure the scarf-hold position and eventually took her back. She rained punches, but Porto survived and moved to top position. Round two featured more of Porto’s stand-up attack, as she chewed up the lead leg of Dudieva with kicks. In the final frame, Porto shifted her strikes to the body of Dudieva, backing her against the fence. An onslaught of punches and kicks to the midsection sent Dudieva to the canvas, handing Porto the TKO win.

Brazil’s Virna Jandiroba remained undefeated and sent a message to the rest of the strawweight division, submitting Amy Montenegro inside the first round. Jandiroba peppered Montenegro with body kicks before changing levels and securing a takedown. She smoothly transitioned from side control to mount before locking up the arm of Montenegro and earning the victory.

Former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown got back in the win column with a lightning-fast submission win over Tessa Simpson. Brown looked to get the fight to the ground right off the bat, but Simpson was able to scramble to top position. Brown slapped on an armbar from her back, forcing Simpson to defend and eventually tap less than a minute into the fight.

In a battle of flyweight striking stalwarts, Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez used crisp boxing and volume to edge out Christine Ferea on the scorecards. Ferea’s kicking game was the story early in the fight, but Rodríguez used the clinch to score knees and settle into range. Rodríguez fired combination after combination, but Ferea marched forward throughout the three-round affair. The pair traded until the final bell, but it was Rodríguez who had her hand raised.

Kicking off the night, strawweight Kay Hansen was successful in her professional debut, submitting fellow newcomer Emilee Prince by armbar. Hansen initiated the clinch and took the fight to the mat. She passed to mount, attacked the left arm of Prince and coerced the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jennifer Maia def. Aga Niedźwiedź by unanimous decision (49-46 x3) – for flyweight title
Mackenzie Dern def. Kaline Medeiros by submission (armbar). Round 3, 4:45
Janaisa Morandin def. Kinberly Novaes by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Vanessa Porto def. Milana Dudieva by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 3:02
Virna Jandiroba def. Amy Montenegro by submission (armbar). Round 1, 2:50
Amber Brown def. Tessa Simpson by submission (armbar). Round 1, 0:50
Karina Rodríguez def. Christine Ferea by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Kay Hansen def. Emilee Prince by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:23

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 26: Maia vs. Niedźwiedź Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Thursday, Dec. 7, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedźwiedź. The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Dec. 8, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) will defend her 125-pound title against undefeated Polish fighter Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0). Brazil’s Maia is coming off back-to-back “Fight of the Year” contenders against Roxanne Modafferi and Vanessa Porto. Niedźwiedź, meanwhile, kept her perfect record intact in May, besting the aforementioned Porto in the Invicta FC 23 main event.

The co-main event features former strawweight title challenger Kaline Medeiros (8-5) and undefeated grappling stalwart Mackenzie Dern (4-0).

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

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (123.3) vs. Aga Niedźwiedź (124.6)
Strawweight: Kaline Medeiros (115.8) vs. Mackenzie Dern (115.9)
Strawweight: Janaisa Morandin (115.4) vs. Kinberly Novaes (121.8)*
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (127.6)* vs. Milana Dudieva (125.6)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (117.6)* vs. Virna Jandiroba (114.3)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (106.3)* vs. Tessa Simpson (105.4)
Flyweight: Christine Ferea (125.7) vs. Karina Rodríguez (124.7)
Strawweight: Kay Hansen (114.4) vs. Emilee Prince (115.5)

* – Novaes, Porto, Montenegro and Brown were each fined 25 percent of their fight purses 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.