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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.

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Invicta FC Adds 15 Fighters, Including Sarah Kaufman and Pearl Gonzalez

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Kansas City, Mo. — The Invicta Fighting Championships roster has grown with the signings of 15 athletes.

The bantamweight division will see the biggest influx of combatants with six signings: Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC), Marciea Allen (6-2), Julia Avila Shumate (4-0), Kerri Kenneson (2-0), Allison Schmidt (1-0) and Chelsea Chandler (0-0).

  • Canada’s 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.
  • Allen, dubbed the “Black Widow,” returns to the promotion for the first time since Invicta FC 3. She currently rides a three-fight winning streak that includes victories over veterans Carina Damm and Jan Finney.
  • Entering the promotion with an unbeaten record, the Californian Avila Shumate, also known as “The Raging Panda,” hold victories over current UFC fighter Marion Reneau and current UFC flyweight champion Nicco Montaño.
  • Also undefeated through two professional outings, Kenneson competes out of New Hampshire.
  • A product of the American Kickboxing Academy, Schmidt won her MMA debut via rear-naked choke.
  • Hailing from Stockton, Calif., and training under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie, Chandler will make her professional debut in the Invicta cage.

Joining the flyweight ranks will be Bianca “Bibi” Daimoni (7-2), Brogan Sanchez (4-0), Monica “PhenomAmom” Medina (3-1) and Helen Peralta (0-0). Fighting out of Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, the 31-year-old Daimoni has stopped five of her seven victories with strikes. Sanchez (formerly Walker), is a Guam native and has opened her career with four straight victories. Medina, who trains out of Alan Belcher MMA in Mississippi, has scored two triangle-choke finishes in her three professional wins to go with seven finishes by strikes as an amateur. Iowa’s Peralta compiled a 7-1 record as an amateur.

The strawweight division gets a pair of new faces in UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (6-3) and Canada’s Ashley Nichols (3-1). Chicago’s Gonzalez joins the promotion following a two-fight Octagon stint. The 31-year-old is a former XFC titleholder. A decorated striker who earned the World Professional MuayThai Federation super bantamweight title, Nichols has been in the cage and ring with many top names, including Randa Markos, Tiffany van Soest and Anissa Meksen. She currently rides a three-fight winning streak in MMA competition.

Finally, three new athletes have been added to the atomweight division: Loma Lookboonmee (0-0), Fernanda Priscila (3-1) and Rebekah LeVine (1-0). A veteran of more than a hundred Muay Thai bouts, Thailand’s Lookboonmee will make her professional MMA debut for the promotion. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, Priscila trains out of the Academia Kimura Nova União. After going unbeaten as an amateur, California’s LeVine opened her professional career with a first-round armbar submission.

Look for many of the new athletes to compete inside the Invicta FC cage in 2018.

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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Kinberly Novaes Replaces MIZUKI, Invicta FC 26 Fight Card Complete

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 26 has undergone a change to its co-main event and added an eighth bout.

Japanese strawweight MIZUKI (12-4) has been forced off the card and Brazilian Kinberly Novaes (9-3) will step in to face her countrywoman Janaisa Morandin (9-1). The 26-year-old Novaes is a former Pancrase title challenger who competes out of Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Four of her nine career victories have come via strikes.

As a result of the change, the strawweight contest between former title challenger Kaline Medeiros (8-5) and undefeated grappling stalwart Mackenzie Dern (4-0) has been elevated to co-main event status.

Completing the fight card will be a strawweight match-up between promotional newcomers Kay Hansen (0-0) and Emilee Prince (0-0). Both fighters will be making their professional debuts.

Invicta FC 26 takes place Friday, Dec. 8, 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 be headlined by a flyweight title clash between champion Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) and undefeated Polish fighter Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0).

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 26 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) vs. Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0)
Strawweight: Kaline Medeiros (8-5) vs. Mackenzie Dern (4-0)
Strawweight: Janaisa Morandin (9-1) vs. Kinberly Novaes (9-3)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-8) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-6)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (8-2) vs. Virna Jandiroba (11-0)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (6-4) vs. Tessa Simpson (5-2)
Flyweight: Christine Ferea (1-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (5-2)
Strawweight: Kay Hansen (0-0) vs. Emilee Prince (0-0)

Tickets for the event 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 Adds Kaline Medeiros vs. Mackenzie Dern

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 26 has added another strawweight match-up.

Former title challenger Kaline “The Dark Angel” Medeiros (8-5) returns to the Invicta cage to welcome undefeated grappling ace Mackenzie Dern (4-0) to the promotion.

The Brazilian Medeiros — who now lives and trains in Massachusetts — will aim to rebound from a five-round, back-and-forth battle at Invicta FC 20 against then-champion Angela Hill. Prior to that, she had won five straight fights, including two under the Invicta banner.

Dern will enter the contest having won her first four professional bouts, with two coming via first-round submissions. The 24-year-old is one of the most decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to transition to MMA, having claimed an Abu Dhabi openweight championship as a black belt.

Invicta FC 26 takes place Friday, Dec. 8, 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 be headlined by a flyweight title clash between champion Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) and undefeated Polish fighter Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0).

The current fight card for Invicta FC 26 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) vs. Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-1)
Strawweight: Kaline Medeiros (8-5) vs. Mackenzie Dern (4-0)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-8) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-6)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (8-2) vs. Virna Jandiroba (11-0)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (6-4) vs. Tessa Simpson (5-2)
Flyweight: Christine Ferea (1-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (5-2)

Tickets for the event 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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Milana Dudieva Replaces Jessica-Rose Clark, Three Bouts Join Invicta FC 26 Fight Card

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 26 has undergone a change to one of the previously announced match-ups and added three new bouts.

Flyweight Jessica-Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark has been pulled from her match-up with former title challenger Vanessa Porto (18-8). Stepping in to face the Brazilian will be UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-6).

Undefeated Brazilian strawweight Virna Jandiroba (11-0) will make her promotional debut against returning veteran Amy Montenegro (8-2). Jandiroba enters the contest having won nine of her 11 career bouts via submission. Montenegro is coming off a “Fight of Year” contender against Celine Haga at Invicta FC 21 earlier this year.

In the atomweight division, former title challenger Amber Brown (6-4) tangles with Texan Tessa Simpson (5-2). Both fighters are eager to work back into title contention in the sport’s deepest 105-pound division.

Finally, flyweight knockout artists Karina Rodríguez (5-2) and Christine Ferea (1-1) will look to add to their respective highlight reels. Mexico’s Rodríguez put away Brazilian Bárbara Acioly at Invicta FC 24, while Ferea engaged in a three-round war with kickboxing champion Tiffany Van Soest at Invicta FC 23.

Invicta FC 26 takes place Friday, Dec. 8, 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 be headlined by a flyweight title clash between champion Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) and undefeated Polish fighter Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0).

The current fight card for Invicta FC 26 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) vs. Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-1)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-8) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-6)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (8-2) vs. Virna Jandiroba (11-0)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (6-4) vs. Tessa Simpson (5-2)
Flyweight: Christine Ferea (1-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (5-2)

Tickets for the event are on sale now via Tickeyfly.com. Additional bouts for the event will be announced at a later date.

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Jennifer Maia vs. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź Headlines Invicta FC 26

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships will return to action on Friday, Dec. 8, 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.

In the night’s main event, flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) will defend her 125-pound title against undefeated Polish fighter Agnieszka 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 the return of Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) against Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (9-1). 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. Morandin thrilled in an action-packed bout at Invicta FC 25, taking home “Fight of the Night” honors for her battle with former champion Livia Renata Souza.

Also on the card, former flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto (18-8) takes on Australia’s Jessica-Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark (7-4, 1 NC).

The current fight card for Invicta FC 26 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) vs. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź (10-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-1)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-8) vs. Jessica-Rose Clark (7-4, 1 NC)

Tickets for the event go on sale Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. CT via Tickeyfly.com. Additional bouts for the event will be announced at a later date.

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC and Pancrase Form Talent-Sharing Partnership

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has a new partner in the growth of women’s mixed martial arts.

Joining the world’s top women’s only-promotion in an exclusive talent-sharing partnership will be Japanese promotion Pancrase. Formed in 1993, Pancrase is one of the sport’s oldest promotions. The deal will provide fighters from both organizations with opportunities to fight in both Japan and the U.S. It will also help promote women’s MMA on a global scale.

“It’s an honor to be able to partner with Pancrase, one of MMA’s most storied promotions,” said Invicta President Shannon Knapp. “In addition to all past and present ‘Kings and Queens of Pancrase,’ pioneers and contemporary stars alike have passed through the Pancrase organization at one time or another. Through our talent-sharing agreement, we hope to be able to capitalize on the wealth of female fighters being developed by both Invicta and Pancrase in a mutually beneficial way.”

Pancrase President Masakazu Sakai also shared his thoughts on the agreement, “From this partnership, the world’s best fighters from Invicta will get an opportunity to fight in Pancrase, and at the same time, Japanese fighters will get to experience fighting Invicta fighters that are at the world level. In addition, Japanese fighters would get a chance to fight in Invicta. This might open the door for fans in Japan to see Japanese fighters under the Invicta contract, such as Mizuki and Takayo Hashi to fight in Japan as well. Both Invicta FC and Pancrase are currently on UFC Fight Pass and by exchanging fighters we are looking to increase opportunities for fighters to compete more often.”

Look for fighters from both organizations to compete against one another in the near future.

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 25 Results: Kunitskaya Too Much For Pa’aluhi, Souza Bests Morandin

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Lemoore, Calif. — On Thursday, Aug. 31, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 25: Pa’aluhi vs. Kunitskaya from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya captured Invicta gold, dominating fellow bantamweight Raquel Pa’aluhi over the course of five rounds. Kunitskaya utilized a strong clinch game in the opening rounds, hanging on Pa’aluhi along the fence. Pa’aluhi was able to score with a head-and-arm throw, but was unable to lock up a submission from top position. Kunitskaya continued her dominance in the clinch and at distance, delivering numerous front kicks to maintain range. Pa’aluhi’s nose bled from the constant flow of kicks and knees from the Russian. Late in the fight, Pa’aluhi was desperate to get the fight to the ground, but Kunitskaya showcased strong takedown defense to seal the victory. Kunitskaya swept the scorecards, earning the belt.

The night’s co-main event saw Brazilians Livia Renata Souza and Janaisa Morandin do battle for three rounds. Morandin landed heavy right hands to open the contest, but Souza earned takedowns and imposed her grappling prowess. Morandin absorbed heavy shots from her back, but remained active. In round two, it was Morandin who locked up a triangle choke attempt from her back, but Souza was able to wait it out to the bell. Morandin continued her onslaught with punches in the final frame, but Souza’s ground game was too much. Souza handed Morandin her first loss with the decision verdict.

Germany’s Katharina Lehner impressed in her promotional debut, pounding out Alexa Conners inside the first round. Lehner came forward relentlessly, forcing Conners to keep her back against the fence. Conners looked to counter, but was overwhelmed by Lehner’s pace. Lehner’s output took its toll as the round progressed, as Conners dropped to the canvas and the referee stopped the contest.

Kali Robbins kept her undefeated record intact, ruining the return of Sharon Jacobson in under a minute. Jacobson landed a barrage of strikes to open the bout, wobbling Robbins. A huge takedown followed from Jacobson, but Robbins locked onto an arm and Jacobson was forced to submit.

Atomweights Shino VanHoose and Alyse Anderson engaged in a back-and-forth match-up with VanHoose edging out the decision win. VanHoose used her jab and counter left hook to land on the feet, prompting Anderson to look for takedowns. Anderson frequently took the fight to the ground, but VanHoose was able to tie her up and force the referee to stand up the fight. The final frame saw VanHoose score with strikes and earn the mount as Anderson failed on a takedown. VanHoose’s effort was enough to convince two of the judges to give her the decision win.

Newcomer Sarah Kleczka outlasted Amberlynn Orr to earn a split decision in a grueling bantamweight affair. Kleczka was the aggressor, but Orr was able to close the distance and score from the clinch. Orr forced Kleczka to defend a guillotine attempt from the mount, but Kleczka countered with an armbar after recovering her guard. A majority of the fight was spent in the clinch, with Kleczka controlling the action and landing short knees. The judges were split, but Kleczka earned her first professional win.

Yaya Rincón remained undefeated, stopping opponent Courtney King in the second round. Rincón earned a quick takedown to start the fight, but King worked back to her feet. It would not last, as Rincón took the fight to the ground once more, but King reversed and took her back. Rincón fought off the submission attempts to see round two. The momentum swung heavily in her favor as she put King on her back and mounted her. A steady stream of strikes forced the referee to intervene and halt the bout.

Flyweight Cheri Muraski spoiled the pro debut of opponent Tracy Cortez, submitting her by guillotine choke. Cortez was aggressive early, pressing the action and bloodying the face of Muraski. Cortez looked to bring the fight to the ground repeatedly, but couldn’t get a takedown. Muraski took advantage, attacking the neck of Cortez and coercing the tap in round two.

Kicking off the night, atomweight Jillian DeCoursey edged out fellow newcomer Ashley Medina by split decision. Medina marched forward early, but DeCoursey scored with counter right hands. The pair exchanged through two rounds before DeCoursey took the fight to the ground in the final frame. She took Medina’s back and threatened with a choke, but ultimately settled for the decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Yana Kunitskaya def. Raquel Pa’aluhi by unanimous decision (50-45 x3) – for vacant bantamweight title
Livia Renata Souza def. Janaisa Morandin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Katharina Lehner def. Alexa Conners by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:21
Kali Robbins def. Sharon Jacobson by submission (armbar). Round 1, 0:42
Shino VanHoose def. Alyse Anderson by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Sarah Kleczka def. Amberlynn Orr by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Yaya Rincón def. Courtney King by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:41
Cheri Muraski def. Tracy Cortez by submission (guillotine choke). Round 2, 2:42
Jillian DeCoursey def. Ashley Medina by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 25: Pa’aluhi vs. Kunitskaya Official Weigh-in Results

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Lemoore, Calif. — On Wednesday, Aug. 30, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 25: Pa’aluhi vs. Kunitskaya. The event takes place from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 31, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

In the night’s main event, Hawaiian Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) will face off with former title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) of Russia for the vacant bantamweight championship. Pa’aluhi has won four of her last five fights, most recently submitting Pannie Kianzad in the first round at Invicta FC 21 in January. Kunitskaya once again looks to secure gold after a pair of bouts against long-reigning champion Tonya Evinger in her two prior Invicta appearances.

The co-main event features former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (10-1) against fellow Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (9-0).

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

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (133.8) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.5)
Strawweight: Livia Renata Souza (115) vs. Janaisa Morandin (115.3)
Bantamweight: Alexa Conners (136) vs. Katharina Lehner (140.5)*
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (115.1) vs. Kali Robbins (117.4)*
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose (105.7) vs. Alyse Anderson (104.9)
Bantamweight: Amberlynn Orr (135.7) vs. Sarah Kleczka (135.1)
Featherweight: Yaya Rincón (144.4) vs. Courtney King (146)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (125.5) vs. Tracy Cortez (125.3)
Atomweight: Ashley Medina (105.9) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (104.9)

* – Lehner and Robbins both missed weight and were fined 25 percent of their respective fight purses.

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.