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Boxing World Champion Heather Hardy Signs With Invicta FC

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has added a new face to its flyweight roster.

Two-division boxing world champion Heather Hardy has signed with the promotion and is expected to make her MMA debut at Invicta FC 21.

Hardy, 34, carries an undefeated record of 18-0 in the boxing ring. She currently holds the WBC international female featherweight and super bantamweight titles and has a background in kickboxing and Muay Thai. “The Heat” is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.

An opponent for Hardy’s debut has not been finalized at this time.

Invicta FC 21 will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

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 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, Nov. 17, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Friday, Nov. 18 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya has stopped seven of her nine wins by way of strikes.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. Medeiros carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

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

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.7) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.1)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (114.8) vs. Kaline Medeiros (114.1)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (105.9) vs. Simona Soukupova (106)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (117)* vs. Amber Brown (114.8)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (136) vs. Pam Sorenson (140.6)*
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (115.5) vs. J.J. Aldrich (115.9)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (135.7) vs. Alexa Conners (135.9)
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (118.4)* vs. Samantha Diaz (115.9)

* – Yoder, Sorenson and Maverick were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse for missing weight

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 20 Fight Card Complete With Addition of Alexa Conners

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 20 is complete.

Bantamweight Alexa Conners (0-1) is the final addition to the fight card. The 25-year-old South Carolina fighter made her professional debut at Invicta FC 17 in May, falling via split decision. She’ll square off with undefeated Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger (2-0).

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya has stopped seven of her nine wins by way of strikes.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. Medeiros carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

Invicta FC 20 takes place Friday, Nov. 18, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The fight card for Invicta FC 20 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (5-2) vs. Kaline Medeiros (8-4)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (9-4) vs. Simona Soukupova (5-4-1)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (4-1) vs. Amber Brown (6-2)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (6-2) vs. Pam Sorenson (4-1)
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (6-4) vs. J.J. Aldrich (3-1)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (2-0) vs. Alexa Conners (0-1)
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (0-0) vs. Samantha Diaz (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 20 are on sale now for $75, $50 and $35 at Ticketfly.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 20 Features Two Title Fights on Nov. 18

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 20 will feature two championship match-ups on Friday, Nov. 18.

The promotion once again returns to the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. She was most recently in action at Invicta FC 17 in May, retaining her title with a decision win over Colleen Schneider. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya returned to competition in 2016 after nearly four years away from the sport. In her last outing, she stopped Yanan Wu by second-round TKO. Seven of Kunitskaya’s nine wins have come via strikes, including a 34-second stoppage of Cindy Dandois.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. The win marked the UFC veteran’s third straight under the Invicta FC banner. Much like the champion, Medeiros has found nothing but success with the promotion, stopping Aline Serio in her promotional debut and handing Manjit Kolekar her first loss at Invicta FC 19 in September. The 37-year-old carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

Joining the two title match-ups will be six additional bouts. Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio (9-4) will take on Simona Soukupova (5-4-1), recent atomweight title challenger Amber Brown (6-2) moves up to strawweight to welcome The Ultimate Fighter veteran Ashley Yoder (4-1) to the Invicta cage, Australia’s Jessica-Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark (6-2) returns to face newcomer Pam Sorenson (4-1) in a bantamweight affair, veteran strawweight Lynn Alvarez (6-4) clashes with J.J. Aldrich (3-1), Switzerland’s Stephanie Egger (2-0) will make her Invicta debut against against a soon-to-be-announced bantamweight opponent, and strawweights Miranda Maverick (0-0) and Samantha Diaz (0-0) will make their professional debuts.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 20 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (5-2) vs. Kaline Medeiros (8-4)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (9-4) vs. Simona Soukupova (5-4-1)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (4-1) vs. Amber Brown (6-2)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (6-2) vs. Pam Sorenson (4-1)
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (6-4) vs. J.J. Aldrich (3-1)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (2-0) vs. TBA
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (0-0) vs. Samantha Diaz (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 20 will be available on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m. ET and will be available for $75, $50 and $35 at Ticketfly.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 19 Results: Maia, Hamasaki Retain Titles

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Sept. 23, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The flyweight title clash between Jennifer Maia and Roxanne Modafferi was a closely contested affair throughout. Modafferi opened with a jumping kick and pushed Maia against the fence. Maia separated and the pair traded combination after combination. Maia scored with knees from the clinch and an uppercut on the break.  The second round saw the fight hit the ground as Modafferi got a takedown, but ended up on her back. She attacked with an armbar, but Maia was able to escape. The fight again hit the mat in round three, but Maia looked for a guillotine choke. Modafferi’s pace slowed in rounds four and five, while Maia increased her volume on the feet. That was the difference on the scorecards as two of the three judges rewarded Maia with the decision, allowing her to retain her title.

Atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki retained her title with a second-round stoppage of challenger Jinh Yu Frey. Frey came out hungry, kicking Hamasaki’s lead leg. Hamasaki sought to take the fight to the mat, but Frey pummeled well. Late in the first round, Hamasaki attacked with an Americana while standing. Frey took the fight to the mat and escaped the submission attempt. From top position, Frey rained punches and took the back of Hamasaki as the round expired. Round two was all Frey for the first four minutes as she frequently countered with her left hand. In the final minute of the frame, Hamasaki came alive. She rocked Frey with a pair of right hands. The second punch opened a large cut over the left eye of Frey, prompting the referee to call in the doctor. The doctor quickly halted the contest, handing Hamasaki the win.

Former bantamweight title challenger Irene Aldana continued her march back toward contention with a first-round finish of New Zealand’s Faith Van Duin. Van Duin was aggressive to start the bout, backing Aldana against the cage. Aldana settled down and began to land her right hand. She frequently wobbled Van Duin along the cage, but Van Duin would not go down. Blood poured from both fighters as the fight progressed. Van Duin’s right hand found a home, but Aldana’s pressure was too much. Late in the frame, Aldana dropped Van Duin and flurried for the TKO finish.

Veteran Kaline Medeiros handed previously undefeated Indian fighter Manjit Kolekar her first loss by unanimous decision. Medeiros pressured Kolekar early, but absorbed multiple body kicks. That prompted Medeiros to seek the takedown. She slammed Kolekar to the mat over and over again, but the Indian fighter frequently scrambled free. The final frame was a war of attrition on the feet, but the pressure and volume of Medeiros were the difference with the judges.

The professional MMA debut of kickboxing star Tiffany Van Soest did not go as planned as fellow newcomer Kal Holliday used her superior wresting and grappling to submit Van Soest in round two. Holliday’s strategy was clear as she frequently took the fight to the ground. Van Soest demonstrated solid submission defense and frequently worked back to the feet. Holliday scored with a massive suplex midway through the opening stanza, but Van Soest later answered with a nasty right hand that buckled the knees of the Oregon fighter. The second round was more of the same, as Holliday took Van Soest down and worked to her back. This time, however, Holliday was able to coerce the tap.

In a battle of atomweight newcomers, Julia Jones kept her undefeated record intact with a first-round submission win over Stephanie Skinner. Jones fired kicks from the open bell. Skinner tried to answer, but Jones caught a kick and took her to the mat. After escaping an armbar attempt from Skinner, Jones passed to the mount and then took Skinner’s back. Once there, she sunk in the rear-naked choke to finish the fight.

Featherweight Amber Leibrock gave newcomer Amy Coleman a rude welcome to the Invicta cage, earning a first-round TKO finish. Coleman pressured forward into the clinch, but Leibrock scored with knees. The judo black belt Coleman scored with a hip toss, but Leibrock would not be held down. Back in the clinch, Leibrock delivered knees to the liver, dropping Coleman. She flurried with punches to earn the stoppage.

Making her professional debut, Iceland’s Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir showcased excellent range and slick grappling to take a decision over Ashley Greenway. It was Davidsdottir’s striking that was the story early, but she transitioned to the ground in round two. After putting Greenway on her back, she repeatedly threatened to end the fight with a rear-naked choke. Greenway survived to the final bell, but Davidsdottir swept the scorecards for her first victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jennifer Maia def. Roxanne Modafferi by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) – for flyweight title
Ayaka Hamasaki def. Jinh Yu Frey by TKO (doctor’s stoppage). Round 2, 4:38 – for atomweight title
Irene Aldana def. Faith Van Duin by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:57
Kaline Medeiros def. Manjit Kolekar by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Kal Holliday def. Tiffany Van Soest by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:08
Julia Jones def. Stephanie Skinner by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:38
Amber Leibrock def. Amy Coleman by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 3:15
Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir def. Ashley Greenway by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

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 19: Maia vs. Modafferi Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Thursday, Sept. 22, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Friday, Sept. 23 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Invicta FC 19 will be headlined by flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (13-4-1), who puts her belt on the line against veteran Roxanne Modafferi (19-12). The co-main event also features gold on the line as atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) aims to make her second title defense against Jinh Yu Frey (5-1).

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

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (124.7) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (124.8)
Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (104.5) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (104.6)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (135.8) vs. Faith Van Duin (138.5)*
Strawweight: Manjit Kolekar (115.5) vs. Kaline Medeiros (115.2)
Strawweight: Tiffany Van Soest (114.7) vs. Kal Holliday (115.9)
Atomweight: Julia Jones (104.5) vs. Stephanie Skinner (105.2)
Featherweight: Amber Leibrock (145.1) vs. Amy Coleman (144.7)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (115.3) vs. Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (115.3)

* – Van Duin was fined 25 percent of her fight purse for missing weight

About Invicta FC:

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

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Tiffany Van Soest Faces Kalyn Schwartz at Invicta FC 19

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Kansas City, Mo. — The last match-up for Invicta Fighting Championships 19 has been finalized.

The promotion announced last week that Muay Thai champion Tiffany Van Soest (0-0) will be making her professional and promotional debut at the event. Her opponent will be Oregon’s Kalyn Schwartz (0-0). Schwartz, dubbed “.50 Kal,” is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who will also be making her first professional appearance. The 27-year-old amassed six victories during her amateur career, including back-to-back wins under the King of the Cage promotion.

Invicta FC 19 will be headlined by interim flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (13-4-1), who puts her belt on the line against veteran Roxanne Modafferi (19-12). The co-main event also features gold on the line as atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) aims to make her second title defense against Jinh Yu Frey (5-1). The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 23 and airs live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 19 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (13-4-1) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (19-12)
Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (5-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (5-2) vs. Faith Van Duin (6-2)
Strawweight: Manjit Kolekar (9-0) vs. Kaline Medeiros (7-4)
Strawweight: Tiffany Van Soest (0-0) vs. Kalyn Schwartz (0-0)
Atomweight: Julia Jones (4-0) vs. Stephanie Skinner (4-5)
Featherweight: Amber Leibrock (1-1) vs. Amy Coleman (2-0)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (1-0) vs. Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 19 are on sale now for $75, $50 and $35 at Ticketfly.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 19 Adds Six More Bouts

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 19 has added six more bouts.

In addition to the previously announced pair of title fights, Mexico’s Irene Aldana (5-2) will take on former featherweight Faith Van Duin (6-2) of New Zealand, undefeated Indian strawweight Manjit Kolekar (9-0) meets veteran Kaline Medeiros (7-4), striking stalwart Tiffany Van Soest (0-0) makes her professional and promotional debut against a soon-to-be-announced strawweight opponent, atomweight Julia Jones (4-0) looks to keep her perfect record intact against Stephanie Skinner (4-5), Amber Leibrock (1-1) welcomes fellow featherweight Amy Coleman (2-0) to the Invicta cage, and Ashley Greenway (1-0) clashes with Icelandic newcomer Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (0-0).

Invicta FC 19 will be headlined by interim flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (13-4-1), who puts her belt on the line against veteran Roxanne Modafferi (19-12). The co-main event also features gold on the line as atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) aims to make her second title defense against Jinh Yu Frey (5-1). The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 23 and airs live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 19 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (13-4-1) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (19-12)
Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (5-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (5-2) vs. Faith Van Duin (6-2)
Strawweight: Manjit Kolekar (9-0) vs. Kaline Medeiros (7-4)
Strawweight: Tiffany Van Soest (0-0) vs. TBA
Atomweight: Julia Jones (4-0) vs. Stephanie Skinner (4-5)
Featherweight: Amber Leibrock (1-1) vs. Amy Coleman (2-0)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (1-0) vs. Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 19 go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. ET and will be available for $75, $50 and $35 at Ticketfly.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Two Title Bouts Headline Invicta FC 19 on Sept. 23 in Kansas City

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is staying in the Midwest for its 19th event. The promotion will return to the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 23. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

In the night’s main event, interim flyweight champion Jennifer Maia (13-4-1) will put her belt on the line against veteran Roxanne Modafferi (19-12). Brazil’s Maia captured gold at Invicta FC 16 in March in a “Fight of the Year” battle with countrywoman Vanessa Porto. The 27-year-old currently rides a four-fight winning streak. The UFC and Strikeforce veteran Modafferi has won four of her five appearances in the Invicta cage. The Las Vegas-based fighter has won back-to-back fights over DeAnna Bennett and Mariana Morais.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) aims to make her second title defense against Jinh Yu Frey (5-1). Japan’s Hamasaki was last in action in March, submitting challenger Amber Brown via third-round armbar to retain her 105-pound championship. Frey will enter the title match-up having won three straight fights under the Invicta FC banner, including a decision win over former champion Herica Tiburcio in her last outing.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 19 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (13-4-1) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (19-12)
Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (13-1) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (5-1)

Ticket information and additional bouts for Invicta FC 19 will be announced at a later date.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 18 Results: Grasso Dominates Esquibel, Niedźwiedź Edges Stanley

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, July 29, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 18: Grasso vs. Esquibel from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, Mexico’s Alexa Grasso moved to 8-0 after outstriking Jodie Esquibel for three rounds. Grasso controlled range in the opening frame, landing her right hand at will. Esquibel struggled to get inside as Grasso scored from distance. Esquibel marched forward in round two, but Grasso made her pay with well-placed counter shots. Grasso’s heavy hands took their toll in the final round, as Esquibel’s nose poured blood. Esquibel showed a lot of heart, lasting to the final bell, but it was Grasso’s fight on the scorecards.

Polish flyweight Agnieszka Niedźwiedź remained unbeaten, topping late-notice opponent Christine Stanley by unanimous decision. Niedźwiedź peppered Stanley with jabs to open the contest, but Stanley countered with overhand rights. Once Niedźwiedź found her range, she changed levels and put Stanley on the ground. Stanley fought hard to get back to her feet, but Niedźwiedź’s takedowns were relentless. The pair continued to trade in round two, with Stanley landing the heavier shots, but she couldn’t stop the takedowns of Niedźwiedź. It was more of the same in the final frame as Niedźwiedź sealed the win on the ground.

Japan’s MIZUKI scored another big win inside the Invicta cage, submitting Lynn Alvarez by armbar. The pair opened tentatively, but MIZUKI quickly took the fight to the ground and mounted Alvarez. She scored with hammerfists and elbows, but Alvarez was able to spin into top position as the round closed. The second stanza opened with a brief firefight, before MIZUKI used a hip toss to get Alvarez to the ground. She took Alvarez’s back and then transitioned to the armbar to coerce the tap.

Cindy Dandois earned a first-round submission win against UFC veteran Jessamyn Duke. Dandois earned a takedown in the opening seconds, but Duke was able to get back to her feet. It was short-lived as Dandois earned a head-and-arm throw into side control. She slapped on a scarf hold armlock and Duke quickly tapped.

Australia’s Megan Anderson continued her march through the featherweight division, stopping UFC veteran Peggy Morgan in round one. Anderson’s power punching was on display right off the bat. Morgan tried for a takedown, but Anderson was able to separate and land with heavy shots. Morgan crashed to the canvas after a left hand, but was able to survive. She worked back to her feet, but the damage was done as her cheek swelled badly. Anderson dropped Morgan again with a right hand, earning the TKO win.

Atomweight Tessa Simpson put on a striking clinic early and survived late, taking a decision win over veteran Simona Soukupova. Simpson scored with combinations in the first rounding, turning the face of Soukupova red. It was more of the same in round two as Simpson controlled the range and Soukupova struggled to get inside. The tables turned in round three, as Soukupova began landing her right hand at will. She dropped Simpson late in the fight and flurried, but it was too little, too late, as the judges handed Simpson the victory.

Aspen Ladd kept her undefeated record intact, stopping promotional newcomer Jessica Hoy by second-round TKO. Ladd was aggressive on the feet, landing jabs and hooks. Hoy took the action to the clinch, slowing Ladd’s offense. In round two, Ladd brought the fight to the ground with a beautiful toss, landing in side control. She moved to mount and delivered a series of punches and elbows to earn the stoppage.

Kicking off the action, bantamweight Sijara Eubanks earned her second win inside the Invicta cage, spoiling the professional debut of Amberlynn Orr. Orr scored on her feet early, landing with kicks and combinations. Eubanks responded with a takedown and she quickly took over. She unleashed a barrage of punches and elbows from the crucifix position, forcing the referee to intervene.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Alexa Grasso def. Jodie Esquibel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Agnieszka Niedźwiedź def. Christine Stanley by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
MIZUKI def. Lynn Alvarez by submission (armbar). Round 2, 3:00
Cindy Dandois def. Jessamyn Duke by submission (scarf hold armlock). Round 1, 1:33
Megan Anderson def. Peggy Morgan by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:09
Tessa Simpson def. Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Aspen Ladd def. Jessica Hoy by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:14
Sijara Eubanks def. Amberlynn Orr by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 4:41

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.