Vote

Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown Official Weigh-in Results

/in /by

Las Vegas — On Thursday, March 10, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown, which takes place Friday, March 10, from the Trinidad Pavilion at Tropicana Las Vegas. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The main event will see recently crowned atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (12-1) make her first title defense against the hard-charging Amber Brown (6-1). Japan’s Hamasaki captured gold last July with a decision win over Herica Tiburcio at Invicta FC 13. Brown, meanwhile, has won three straight in the Invicta cage, including back-to-back, first-round submission finishes. She topped Shino VanHoose at Invicta FC 15 in January via guillotine choke.

In the co-main event, the promotion will crown an interim flyweight champion as Brazilians Vanessa Porto (18-6) and Jennifer Maia (12-4-1) face off. Both fighters enter the match-up riding three-fight winning streaks. Porto was most recently in action against Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 12, while Maia will return to the Invicta cage after three bouts in her home country.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins, which were held at the Tropicana Hotel Lounge.

Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (104.9) vs. Amber Brown (104.7)
Interim Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto (124.4) vs. Jennifer Maia (124.6)
Strawweight: Stephanie Eggink (115) vs. Angela Hill (115)
Bantamweight:* Irene Aldana (136.6) vs. Jessamyn Duke (134.9)
Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi (125.1) vs. DeAnna Bennett (124.5)
Atomweight:* Herica Tiburcio (106.9) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (105.5)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (125.3) vs. Sarah D’Alelio (125.2)
Bantamweight: Kelly McGill (135.3) vs. Aspen Ladd (135.9)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (115.4) vs. Sarah Click (115.8)

* – these bouts were contracted at 136 and 106 pounds, respectively. With the commission’s one-pound allowance, both fights are official.

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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Invicta FC 16 Adds Angela Hill and Aspen Ladd

/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 16 has changed following injuries to two fighters.

Angela Hill (3-2) and Aspen Ladd (2-0) will step in as replacements for Alexa Grasso (7-0) and Amberlynn Orr (0-0), respectively.

Hill made her promotional debut earlier in 2016, knocking out Alida Gray at Invicta FC 15 in January. The UFC veteran will take on former title challenger Stephanie Eggink.

The unbeaten Ladd will move up from flyweight to take on fellow undefeated fighter Kelly McGill in a bantamweight match-up. Ladd has scored back-to-back finishes inside the Invicta cage, most recently submitting Amanda Bobby Cooper at Invicta FC 14 in September of last year.

Invicta FC 16 will see recently crowned atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (12-1) make her first title defense against the hard-charging Amber Brown (6-1). In the co-main event, the promotion will crown an interim flyweight champion as Brazilians Vanessa Porto (18-6) and Jennifer Maia (12-4-1) face off.

The event takes place from the Trinidad Pavilion at Tropicana Las Vegas on Friday, March 11. It will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 16 can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (12-1) vs. Amber Brown (6-1)
Interim Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto (18-6) vs. Jennifer Maia (12-4-1)
Strawweight: Stephanie Eggink (4-2) vs. Angela Hill (3-2)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (5-2) vs. Jessamyn Duke (3-3)
Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi (18-12) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-1)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (9-3) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (4-1)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (4-1) vs. Sarah D’Alelio (8-6)
Bantamweight: Kelly McGill (2-0) vs. Aspen Ladd (2-0)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (0-0) vs. Sarah Click (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 16 are available for purchase at the Tropicana Las Vegas Show Tickets desk, by calling 800-829-9034, or online at troplv.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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Invicta FC 16: A Deeper Look

/in /by

Invicta FC returns to Las Vegas on March 11 with a very exciting fight card. The two headlining bouts will crown an atomweight and interim flyweight champion.

The main event will be a bout to remember, as the current champion, Ayaka Hamasaki, will look to defend her belt and improve to 13-1 against prospect Amber Brown.

Hamasaki is one of the top female fighters on the planet. Having only one setback in her career against Claudia Gadelha, she has been dominant. Hamasaki holds notable wins over Herica Tiburcio, Emi Fujino and Lacey Schuckman.

Amber “The Bully” Brown (6-1) is unbeaten in Invicta FC, and has finished the majority of her opponents. Most recently, she submitted Shino VanHoose in the first round at Invicta FC 15 to become the top contender for the champion. In addition, she has defeated Catherine Costigan and Liz McCarthy all under the Invicta banner.

The co-main event is a rematch for the interim Invicta FC flyweight championship, as the current champion Barb Honchak needed some time off. Fighting for the belt will be Brazilians Vanessa Porto and Jennifer Maia.

Porto and Maia fought previously back in 2011 in Brazil. Porto won the match in the second round by an arm lock to become Maia’s first professional loss.

Porto is a veteran of 24 professional fights, with a combined record of 18-6. She earned the title shot after defeating Zoila Frausto and Roxanne Modafferi. Her last loss was in 2013 against Honchak by decision. In her career spanning back to 2005, she has fought some of the best; Carina Damm, Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, Tonya Evinger, Amanda Nunes and more.

Maia (12-4-1) has gone 1-2 in Invicta FC, holding a win over the aforementioned Frausto. She lost to title contender DeAnna Bennett in her last fight in Invicta. She has won her last three fights, two by TKO.

The next fight on the main card is a strawweight bout between Alexa Grasso and Stephanie Eggink.

Grasso is unbeaten as a professional mixed martial artist, holding a record of 7-0 (3-0 in Invicta). In her last fight against Mizuki Inoue, she was awarded fight of the night. She has also defeated Alida Gray and Ashley Cummins in Invicta.

Eggink (4-2) looks to get her first Invicta win. She made her debut for the organization in 2014, and lost to then-champion Katja Kankaanpaa by submission. Prior to joining Invicta FC, Eggink was the XFC strawweight champion, which she earned after submitting Angela Magana. She has defeated Brianna Van Buren and Heather Clark.

UFC veteran, Jessamyn Duke, will look to get back on the winning track against Invicta FC title contender Irene Aldana. Duke started her professional career in Invicta, finishing Suzie Montero and Marciea Allen. She appeared on The Ultimate Fighter and fought Peggy Morgan in her UFC debut. Duke won by decision, but is in the midst of a three-fight skid.

Aldana defeated Morgan and Colleen Schneider by a rear-naked choke in the Invicta cage, earning her a shot at the champion Tonya Evinger in July of 2015. She lost to the champion by TKO in the fourth round. This will be another tough test for the explosive prospect.

The main card is stacked, but the prelims will have a lot of exciting match ups as well. Strikeforce veteran Roxanne Modafferi will take on contender DeAnna Bennett, Jinh Yu Frey will fight former champion Herica Tiburcio, Sarah D’Alelio will fight fan favorite Andrea Lee, Kelly McGill will fight rising star Amberlynn Orr, and Sarah Click will fight Ashley Greenway.

The fights will be available to watch on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET, or you can catch them live at the Trinidad Pavilion at the Tropicana Las Vegas.

This article was authored by guest writer, Matthew Pearlman. You can find more of his work at TeensOnSports.com.

Vote

Invicta FC Returns to Las Vegas on March 11

/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is headed back to Sin City for its 16th event.

Today the promotion announced that it will visit the Trinidad Pavilion at Tropicana Las Vegas on Friday, March 11. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The main event will see recently crowned atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (12-1) make her first title defense against the hard-charging Amber Brown (6-1). Japan’s Hamasaki captured gold last July with a decision win over Herica Tiburcio at Invicta FC 13. Brown, meanwhile, has won three straight in the Invicta cage, including back-to-back, first-round submission finishes. She topped Shino VanHoose at Invicta FC 15 in January via guillotine choke.

In the co-main event, the promotion will crown an interim flyweight champion as Brazilians Vanessa Porto (18-6) and Jennifer Maia (12-4-1) face off. Both fighters enter the match-up riding three-fight winning streaks. Porto was most recently in action against Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 12, while Maia will return to the Invicta cage after three bouts in her home country.

The rest of the card is stacked with exciting match-ups. Unbeaten Mexican phenom Alexa Grasso (7-0) meets former title challenger Stephanie Eggink (4-2) at strawweight, recent bantamweight title combatant Irene Aldana (5-2) welcomes UFC veteran Jessamyn Duke (3-3) back to the promotion, veteran Roxanne Modafferi (18-12) will face DeAnna Bennett (8-1) in her return to the flyweight division, former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio (9-3) takes on Jinh Yu Frey (4-1), and Andrea Lee (4-1) will clash with Sarah D’Alelio (8-6) in her flyweight debut.

Rounding out the card, bantamweight Kelly McGill (2-0) returns from injury to meet newcomer Amberlynn Orr (0-0), while strawweights Ashley Greenway (0-0) and Sarah Click (0-0) make their professional debuts.

The fight card for Invicta FC 16 can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Ayaka Hamasaki (12-1) vs. Amber Brown (6-1)
Interim Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto (18-6) vs. Jennifer Maia (12-4-1)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (7-0) vs. Stephanie Eggink (4-2)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (5-2) vs. Jessamyn Duke (3-3)
Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi (18-12) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-1)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (9-3) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (4-1)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (4-1) vs. Sarah D’Alelio (8-6)
Bantamweight: Kelly McGill (2-0) vs. Amberlynn Orr (0-0)
Strawweight: Ashley Greenway (0-0) vs. Sarah Click (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 16 go on sale Friday, Feb. 19. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Tropicana Las Vegas Show Tickets desk, by calling 800-829-9034, or online at troplv.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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Invicta FC 15 Results: Cyborg, Souza Retain Belts With First-Round Finishes

/2 Comments/in , /by

Costa Mesa, Calif. — On Saturday, Jan. 16, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 15: Cyborg vs. Ibragimova from the The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET.

In a match-up that featured two dominant finishers, Brazilian Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino stopped Russia’s Daria Ibragimova with just two seconds left in the opening stanza to retain her featherweight title. Ibragimova swung for the fences from the opening bell, then changed levels for a takedown attempt. Cyborg showcased great balance, but the Russian was relentless. Cyborg delivered short punches and elbows that damaged the left eye of Ibragimova. Ibragimova continued to try to get the fight to the mat, but Cyborg’s punishment took its toll. Late in the round, a right hand from Cyborg dropped the Russian and a pair of follow-up punches halted the contest.

Invicta strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza wasted little time in her first title defense, ending the unbeaten run of challenger DeAnna Bennett with a violent, first-round TKO finish. Bennett came forward with flurries to open the bout, but Souza defended well. A body kick from Souza landed flush to Bennett’s liver and sent her falling the ground. Souza rained hammerfists, forcing the stoppage just 90 seconds into the fight.

Bantamweight Colleen Schneider put together the most complete performance of her Invicta tenure, edging the ever-tough Raquel Pa’aluhi by split decision. Schneider’s counter striking was on display throughout the affair, as she quickly opened a cut between the eyes of Pa’aluhi. Pa’aluhi tried to take the fight to the mat over and over, but Schneider showcased great balance and scrambling. An elbow from Schneider caused blood to leak from the nose of Pa’aluhi. Midway through the fight, the left eye of the Hawaiian swelled badly as Schneider began to target it with punches. Pa’aluhi never stopped coming forward and looking for takedowns, but in the end, it was Schneider who claimed the win on the scorecards.

Amber Brown continued to move up the atomweight ladder with quick finish of promotional newcomer Shino VanHoose. Brown landed a left hand early and backed the 20-year-old against the cage. VanHoose left her neck exposed and Brown latched onto it. VanHoose scored with a trip and landed on top, but Brown maintained her grip on the neck. As Brown recovered her full guard, VanHoose was forced to tap.

Strawweights Mizuki Inoue and Lacey Schuckman engaged in a back-and-forth affair, with Japan’s Mizuki claiming a third-round submission via armbar. Schuckman earned a big takedown in the first round and even briefly took Mizuki’s back. Mizuki escaped and gained top position. She attacked with an armbar, but Schuckman countered with an inverted triangle attempt from her back. In the second and third rounds, Mizuki took control, tossing Schuckman to the mat and delivering heavy ground and pound. She repeatedly looked for the armbar finish and late in the final frame, she coerced the tap from Schuckman.

In her Invicta FC debut, UFC veteran Angela Hill wasted little time sending a message to the rest of the division, stopping Alida Gray in under two minutes. The pair traded single shots early, but a right hand from Hill stunned Gray. She smelled blood in the water and went for the finish. A series of knees and punches connected, but it was a knee to the body that sent Gray crashing to the canvas.

Kicking off the action, featherweights Megan Anderson and Amber Leibrock went to war. Leibrock rocked Anderson early with a right hand, but the Australian responded by initiating the clinch and punishing Leibrock with knees and elbows. Anderson’s pressure along the cage took its toll on Leibrock, as did repeated kicks to her lead leg. Midway through the third round, Anderson delivered a big knee that dropped Leibrock and she swarmed with punches to earn the TKO.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino def. Daria Ibragimova by knockout (punches). Round 1, 4:58 – for featherweight title
Livia Renata Souza def. DeAnna Bennett by TKO (body kick and punches). Round 1, 1:30 – for strawweight title
Colleen Schneider def. Raquel Pa’aluhi by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Amber Brown def. Shino VanHoose by submission (guillotine choke). Round 1, 2:36
Mizuki Inoue def. Lacey Schuckman by submission (armbar). Round 3, 3:41
Angela Hill def. Alida Gray by knockout (knee to the body). Round 1, 1:39
Megan Anderson def. Amber Leibrock by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 2:33

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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Invicta FC 15: ‘Cyborg’ vs. Ibragimova Official Weigh-in Results

/in /by

Costa Mesa, Calif. — On Friday, Jan. 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 15: Cyborg vs. Ibragimova, which takes place Saturday, Jan. 16, from the The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET.

Headlining the event will be featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC), who will put her belt on the line against Russian newcomer Daria Ibragimova (9-1). Cyborg successfully defended her 145-pound title at Invicta FC 13 in July, stopping New Zealand’s Faith Van Duin in under a minute. Ibragimova will make her promotional debut riding a seven-fight winning streak. Seven of her nine career victories have come via submission and six of her wins have come inside the first round.

In the co-main event, the strawweight title will be up for grabs between champion Livia Renata Souza (8-0) and fellow unbeaten DeAnna Bennett (8-0). The Brazilian Souza captured the 115-pound title with a fourth-round finish of Katja Kankaanpää at Invicta FC 12. Seven of the 24-year-old’s wins have come via submission, including five in the first round. Utah’s Bennett has won four straight inside the Invicta cage. Since dropping to 115 pounds, she has topped Norma Rueda Center, as well as the aforementioned Kankaanpää, in her last two outings.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins, which were held at the Team Punishment Gym.

Featherweight Title: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (144.6) vs. Daria Ibragimova (143.7)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (113.9) vs. DeAnna Bennett (114.6)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (135.5) vs. Colleen Schneider (136.2)*
Atomweight: Amber Brown (105.7) vs. Shino VanHoose (105.3)
Strawweight: Lacey Schuckman (114.9) vs. Mizuki Inoue (114.3)
Strawweight: Angela Hill (115.1) vs. Alida Gray (115.9)
Featherweight: Megan Anderson (145.3) vs. Amber Leibrock (145.7)

* – Schneider weighed in at 136.4 pounds on her initial attempt. She 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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Ediane Gomes vs. Amanda Bell Pulled From Invicta FC 15

/4 Comments/in /by

Costa Mesa, Calif. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 15 has undergone a last-minute change.

The promotion has announced that featherweight Ediane Gomes (10-4) suffered complications during her weight cut and her bout with Amanda Bell (3-3) has been pulled from the card.

The event will now proceed with seven contests.

Invicta FC 15 will be headlined by featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC), who will put her belt on the line against Russian newcomer Daria Ibragimova (9-1). In the co-main event, the strawweight title will be up for grabs between champion Livia Renata Souza (8-0) and fellow unbeaten DeAnna Bennett (8-0).

The event will take place from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 16. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 15 can be found below:

Featherweight Title: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC) vs. Daria Ibragimova (9-1)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (8-0) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-0)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-4) vs. Colleen Schneider (9-6)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (5-1) vs. Shino VanHoose (4-3)
Strawweight: Lacey Schuckman (11-8) vs. Mizuki Inoue (9-4) 
Strawweight: Angela Hill (2-2) vs. Alida Gray (4-2)
Featherweight: Megan Anderson (4-2) vs. Amber Leibrock (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 15 are on sale now and can be purchased at fightcluboc.tix.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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Invicta FC 15 Loses Christine Stanley vs. Katy Collins

/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 15 has lost one of its bouts.

The promotion has announced that the flyweight contest between Christine Stanley (4-1) and Katy Collins (3-1) has been scratched from the event after Collins suffered an ankle injury in training. Collins, who fights out of Branson Fight Club in Missouri, was herself a late replacement for Shannon Sinn (2-2), who also succumbed to a pre-fight injury.

The event will now proceed with eight contests.

Invicta FC 15 will be headlined by featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC), who will put her belt on the line against Russian newcomer Daria Ibragimova (9-1). In the co-main event, the strawweight title will be up for grabs between champion Livia Renata Souza (8-0) and fellow unbeaten DeAnna Bennett (8-0).

The event will take place from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 16. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 15 can be found below:

Featherweight Title: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC) vs. Daria Ibragimova (9-1)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (8-0) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-0)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-4) vs. Colleen Schneider (9-6)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (5-1) vs. Shino VanHoose (4-3)
Strawweight: Angela Hill (2-2) vs. Alida Gray (4-2)
Strawweight: Lacey Schuckman (11-8) vs. Mizuki Inoue (9-4)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (3-3) vs. Ediane Gomes (10-4)
Featherweight: Megan Anderson (4-2) vs. Amber Leibrock (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 15 are on sale now and can be purchased at fightcluboc.tix.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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Invicta FC 15 Adds Katy Collins and Shino VanHoose

/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 15 has undergone some last-minute changes.

The promotion has announced that flyweight Katy Collins (3-1) and atomweight Shino VanHoose (4-3) will step in as replacements for Shannon Sinn (2-2) and Lisa Ellis (15-10), respectively.

Collins, who fights out of Branson Fight Club in Missouri, will face off with fellow knockout artist Christine Stanley (4-1) after Sinn suffered an injury in training. “Red Dragon” has stopped all three of her wins in the first round via TKO.

Japan’s VanHoose will replace the UFC veteran Ellis, who was forced out due to illness. The 20-year-old will continue her run against tough competition as she takes on Amber Brown (5-1). Three of VanHoose’s four wins have come by submission, including a 51-second Ezekiel choke finish in her professional debut.

Invicta FC 15 will be headlined by featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC), who will put her belt on the line against Russian newcomer Daria Ibragimova (9-1). In the co-main event, the strawweight title will be up for grabs between champion Livia Renata Souza (8-0) and fellow unbeaten DeAnna Bennett (8-0).

The event will take place from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Jan. 16. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 15 can be found below:

Featherweight Title: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC) vs. Daria Ibragimova (9-1)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (8-0) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-0)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-4) vs. Colleen Schneider (9-6)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (5-1) vs. Shino VanHoose (4-3)
Strawweight: Angela Hill (2-2) vs. Alida Gray (4-2)
Strawweight: Lacey Schuckman (11-8) vs. Mizuki Inoue (9-4)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (3-3) vs. Ediane Gomes (10-4)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (4-1) vs. Katy Collins (3-1)
Featherweight: Megan Anderson (4-2) vs. Amber Leibrock (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 15 are on sale now and can be purchased at fightcluboc.tix.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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Vote

Featherweight Yana Kunitskaya Added to Invicta FC Roster

/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has added another new face to its featherweight division.

Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya (8-1) has signed with the promotion. The 26-year-old will return to professional competition following a three-year absence from the sport. Prior to that, “Foxy” reeled off six straight wins, including five, first-round knockouts.

Of her eight career wins, Kunitskaya has stopped six by way of strikes, including a 34-second stoppage of current Invicta fighter Cindy Dandois. He lone career loss came against another Invicta veteran, Maria Hougaard Djursaa, in 2010. The former Bushido FC champion also has professional kickboxing experience.

Look for Kunitskaya to make her promotional debut in 2016.

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. For more information, visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta on Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).