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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.

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Yaya Rincón Gets New Opponent, Faces Courtney King at Invicta FC 25

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 25 has undergone a last-minute change.

Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger (2-1) has withdrawn from her bantamweight match-up with undefeated Californian Yaya Rincón (1-0). Stepping in will be promotional newcomer Courtney King (1-0), and the bout will now be contested at featherweight.

King enters the promotion following a second-round TKO victory over Colbey Northcutt in June. Training at Z’s Training Gym, King fights out of Fort Collins, Colo.

Invicta FC 25 will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Hawaiian Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) and former title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) of Russia. The event takes place from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 31. All of the action streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. PT.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 25 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Strawweight: Livia Renata Souza (10-1) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-0)
Bantamweight: Alexa Conners (4-1) vs. Katharina Lehner (5-0)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-1) vs. Kali Robbins (4-0)
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose (5-5) vs. Alyse Anderson (3-0)
Bantamweight: Amberlynn Orr (0-1) vs. Sarah Kleczka (0-0)
Featherweight: Yaya Rincón (1-0) vs. Courtney King (1-0)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (3-0) vs. Tracy Cortez (0-0)
Atomweight: Ashley Medina (0-0) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (0-0)

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through the Tachi Palace website.

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 Replaces Jodie Esquibel Against Livia Renata Souza at Invicta FC 25

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 25 has changed.

Strawweight title challenger Jodie Esquibel (6-2) has suffered an injury in training and has been forced out of her co-headlining bout against former champion Livia Renata Souza (10-1). Replacing Esquibel will be undefeated Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (9-0). The bout will now be a three-round, non-title affair.

Morandin has reeled off nine straight wins in her home country to open her career, including five by way of strikes. Normally competing as an atomweight, she will move up in weight to take on her countrywoman Souza.

Also, bantamweight Sarah Kleczka (0-0) will make her Invicta and professional debut against Amberlynn Orr (0-1). Kleczka, dubbed “Chucky,” was unbeaten as an amateur and replaces Kelly McGill-Velasco (2-1).

Invicta FC 25 takes place from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 31. All of the action streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. PT.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 25 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Strawweight: Livia Renata Souza (10-1) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-0)
Bantamweight: Alexa Conners (4-1) vs. Katharina Lehner (5-0)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-1) vs. Kali Robbins (4-0)
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose (5-5) vs. Alyse Anderson (3-0)
Bantamweight: Amberlynn Orr (0-1) vs. Sarah Kleczka (0-0)
Bantamweight: Yaya Rincón (1-0) vs. Stephanie Egger (2-1)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (3-0) vs. Tracy Cortez (0-0)
Atomweight: Ashley Medina (0-0) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (0-0)

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through the Tachi Palace website.

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 Fight Card Complete With Seven New Bouts

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 25 is complete.

The event, which takes place from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino on Thursday, Aug. 31, marks the promotion’s return to California. All of the action streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. PT.

Joining the previously announced championship doubleheader in the bantamweight and strawweight divisions will be seven additional match-ups.

South Carolina’s Alexa Conners (4-1) returns to the Invicta FC cage to welcome undefeated German bantamweight Katharina Lehner (5-0) to the promotion. Conners has reeled off four straight wins leading into the bout, including a decision win at Invicta FC 20. Lehner will make her promotional debut after beginning her career with five straight wins in her home country of Germany and capturing the Respect FC championship.

In the strawweight division, wrestling stalwart Sharon Jacobson (4-1) returns from a two-year absence to take on undefeated Kali Robbins (4-0). Jacobson, a two-time national champion wrestler and member of the Army Reserves, is coming off back-to-back “Fight of the Night” performances over Jamie Moyle and Delaney Owen. Robbins, dubbed “Pop Tart,” has yet to taste defeat in her professional or amateur career and has finished all four of her professional victories.

Atomweight Shino VanHoose (5-5) will make her second Invicta appearance when she faces off with newcomer Alyse Anderson (3-0). VanHoose most recently earned a second-round TKO win over Sarah Lagerstrom, while Michigan’s Anderson is undefeated thus far in her mixed martial arts career.

The bantamweight division will hold two additional bouts on the card, each featuring a pair of returning veterans. Kelly McGill-Velasco (2-1) squares off with Amberlynn Orr (0-1) in one match-up and California’s Yaya Rincón (1-0) takes on Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger (2-1) in the other pairing.

Flyweight newcomers clash when Colorado’s Cheri Muraski (3-0) meets Tracy Cortez (0-0) of Arizona. Cortez will be making her professional debut after going 6-0 as an amateur.

Finally, accomplished atomweight amateurs Ashley Medina (0-0) and Jillian DeCoursey (0-0) will each compete as professionals for the first time in the night’s opening bout.

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 25 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (10-1) vs. Jodie Esquibel (6-2)
Bantamweight: Alexa Conners (4-1) vs. Katharina Lehner (5-0)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-1) vs. Kali Robbins (4-0)
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose (5-5) vs. Alyse Anderson (3-0)
Bantamweight: Kelly McGill-Velasco (2-1) vs. Amberlynn Orr (0-1)
Bantamweight: Yaya Rincón (1-0) vs. Stephanie Egger (2-1)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (3-0) vs. Tracy Cortez (0-0)
Atomweight: Ashley Medina (0-0) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (0-0)

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through the Tachi Palace website.

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 24 Results: Borella Tops Dudieva, Frey Bests Cummins

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, July 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The night’s main event featured a closely contested flyweight between Italy’s Mara Romero Borella and UFC veteran Milana Dudieva. Borella flurried forward to open the bout, allowing Dudieva to score with a judo throw. Borella looked for a leg lock, which allowed her to return to the feet. The pair traded punches before Borella looked for a takedown. Dudieva countered with a guillotine attempt to close the round. In the second round, Borella used her striking and length before putting Dudieva on her back. She scored with ground and pound from the top position along the fence. It was more of the same in round three, but Dudieva sought an armbar from her back. Borella defended and passed to mount. Dudieva powered to the top position in the fight’s waning moments, but landed in a triangle attempt from the Italian. The Russian would survive to the final bell, but it was Borella who walked away with the split decision win.

Former atomweight title challenger Jinh Yu Frey used her wrestling and top control to edge Ashley Cummins by decision. Frey capitalized on the forward pressure of Cummins, taking the fight to the mat. Cummins was active on her back, threatening with armbars. Frey opted to return to the feet in the first round, but as the fight progressed, she stayed in the guard of Cummins. That resulted in repeated armbar attempts from Cummins, which Frey was forced to defend. Every time Frey escaped, Cummins attacked with another. The final stanza was a showcase of the strength of Frey, who was able to keep Cummins on her back for the majority of the round and earn the victory on the judges’ scorecards.

Veteran Pam Sorenson gave featherweight newcomer Helena Kolesnyk a rude welcome to the Invicta cage, scoring a first-round submission victory. Kolesnyk threw kicks early, but Sorenson timed a takedown attempt and tripped her to the canvas. She methodically passed to side control and then the mount. Sorenson dropped heavy right hands from mount. She was patient from the top, passing to S-mount and setting up an armbar. Sorenson cranked on the arm and Kolesnyk was forced to submit.

The flyweight match-up between newcomers Karina Rodríguez and Bárbara Acioly was fast and violent. Mexico’s Rodríguez rocked Brazil’s Acioly early with a right hand and quickly looked for the finish. She chased Acioly to the mat and pounded away with strikes. Acioly did her best to survive and nearly worked back to her feet, but Rodríguez was relentless with her aggression. A swarm of hammerfists from Rodríguez was too much for referee Greg Franklin, who stepped in and saved Acioly from further damage.

Missouri’s Miranda Maverick remained unbeaten, topping promotional newcomer Gabby Romero on the scorecards. Maverick scored with left hands in the first frame. Romero answered with a head-and-arm throw attempt, but ended up on her back. She attacked with a leg lock attempt that allowed her to get on top of Maverick. Maverick was able to escape, but fell into a deep armbar attempt to close the round. In round two, a series of uppercuts from Maverick were the most significant strikes of the bout. The pair’s chess match on the mat later resumed as Maverick delivered heavy shots, while Romero searched for submissions. Maverick attacked the body in the final frame, slowing Romero’s output. A late armbar attempt from Maverick was reversed by Romero and Maverick was once again forced to ride out the round to the bell. When it was all said and done, it was Maverick who was victorious.

Strawweights Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir and Kelly D’Angelo engaged in a hard-fought battle over the course of three rounds, with Iceland’s Davíðsdóttir earning the decision victory. The pair came out firing, connecting with straight punches. Davíðsdóttir looked to bring the fight to the canvas, but D’Angelo responded with heavy punches. The nose of Davíðsdóttir poured blood as the opening stanza came to a close. The second and third rounds were a different story as Davíðsdóttir utilized her takedowns to neutralize D’Angelo’s offense. The Icelandic fighter was able to mount D’Angelo and rain heavy punches and elbows. The fight went the distance with Davíðsdóttir sweeping the scorecards.

The night kicked off with a dominant performance from undefeated featherweight Felicia Spencer. Spencer opened with a series of body kicks to opponent Amy Coleman, but was briefly taken down. She worked back to her feet and then put Coleman on her back. She wasn’t able to keep Coleman down for long, but later in the round, she scored with a big lift along the fence. Spencer quickly took Coleman’s back with both hooks. Once there, she worked for a rear-naked choke and coerced the tap from Coleman.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Mara Romero Borella def. Milana Dudieva by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Jinh Yu Frey def. Ashley Cummins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Pam Sorenson def. Helena Kolesnyk by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:12
Karina Rodríguez def. Bárbara Acioly by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 2:14
Miranda Maverick def. Gabby Romero by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir def. Kelly D’Angelo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Felicia Spencer def. Amy Coleman by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:17

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 24: Dudieva vs. Borella Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, July 14, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, July 15, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-5) drops to flyweight to take on newly signed Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC). Both fighters will be making their Invicta debuts. Russia’s Dudieva joins the organization after battles in the UFC against top bantamweights Marion Reneau and Julianna Pena, while Italy’s Borella enters the bout winning four of her last five fights.

The co-main event features an atomweight contest between Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) and Ashley Cummins (5-3). Frey looks to work her way back into title contention, while Cummins hopes to build off her decision win over Amber Brown in her most recent outing.

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

Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (125.8) vs. Mara Romero Borella (125.9)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (105.9) vs. Ashley Cummins (105.9)
Featherweight: Pam Sorenson (149.6)* vs. Helena Kolesnyk (145.9)
Flyweight: Karina Rodríguez (124.1) vs. Bárbara Acioly (125.9)
Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (125) vs. Gabby Romero (125.4)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (115) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (115.2)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Amy Coleman (149.5)*

*Sorenson and Coleman missed the featherweight limit of 146 pounds and were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse

A strawweight bout between Mallory Martin and Tiffany Masters has been removed from the card due to medical issues. The fight card will proceed with seven fights.

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 Heads to California With Two Title Fights

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is returning to California with a pair of title fights.

The promotion will make its inaugural visit to the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino on Thursday, Aug. 31.

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) 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.

Invicta gold is also on the line in the night’s co-main event as former champion Livia Renata Souza (10-1) aims to become a two-time champion against New Mexico’s Jodie Esquibel (6-2). The Brazilian Souza is coming off a first-round knockout finish of atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki at Invicta FC 22. Esquibel was also in action at the March event, besting former title challenger DeAnna Bennett by decision.

Invicta FC 25 will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. PT.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 25 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5)  vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (10-1) vs. Jodie Esquibel (6-2)

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through the Tachi Palace website. 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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Pam Sorenson vs. Helena Kolesnyk, Miranda Maverick vs. Gabby Romero Join Invicta FC 24

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Kansas City, Mo. — The line-up for Invicta Fighting Championships 24 is complete with eight total bouts.

Stepping up on short notice will be featherweight Pam Sorenson (5-2), who meets Ukranian newcomer Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC).

The atomweight contest between Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) and Ashley Cummins (5-3) has been elevated to the night’s co-main event after former bantamweight title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) suffered an injury and was forced off the card. Kunitskaya’s bout against Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) has been rescheduled for August.

Finally, 20-year-old Miranda Maverick (2-0) returns to the Invicta cage to take on Gabby Romero (2-1) in a flyweight match-up.

Invicta FC 24 is headlined by the promotional debut of UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-5) and fellow flyweight Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC). The event takes place Saturday, July 15, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

The eight-fight card for Invicta FC 24 can be found below:

Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (11-5) vs. Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Ashley Cummins (5-3)
Featherweight: Pam Sorenson (5-2) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Karina Rodríguez (4-2) vs. Bárbara Acioly (4-0)
Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (2-0) vs. Gabby Romero (2-1)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (2-0)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (2-0) vs. Amy Coleman (2-1)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-1) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-0)

Tickets for the event can be purchased through 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.