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Invicta FC 55 Main Event Breakdown

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Original article can be found here courtesy of MMA Sucka

Article by Drew Zuhosky

It’s the last weekend in June. Where does the time go these days? The last weekend before the Independence Day holiday in America next Thursday is a jam-packed one, with no fewer than four cards happening on Friday night, three of them being MMA shows.

While the PFL holds its last show of its regular season, an anticipated return takes place in The Sunflower State of Kansas. Friday evening, women’s promotion Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta FC) begins its 2024 schedule of events, and it does so on a new television home.

All five of Invicta’s events from June 28 to Dec. 13 will be seen on CBS Sports Network. The cabler is available on various providers throughout the United States. For those subscribed to DIRECTV, CBS Sports Network is airing its programming on channel 221, while Dish Network subscribers can tune into channel 158 for the action.

With the exception of Invicta’s Nov. 5 show, its cards this year will be live on Friday nights. It starts with Invicta FC 55. Live coverage begins at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on CBS Sports Network.

Invicta FC 55 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

Heading into the Invicta FC 55 main event on Friday night, challenger Olga Rubin stands as the taller combatant at 5-foot-9, compared to the 5-foot-4 frame of champion Talita Bernardo. Rubin also owns a one-inch reach advantage (69 inches to 68 inches) over Bernardo.

Currently, the oddsmakers have Talita Bernardo installed as a -163 favorite on the money line, with Olga Rubin countering as a +120 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA or combat sports, please wager responsibly.

Bernardo Seeks to Make Initial Defense of Title A Successful One

Talita Bernardo enters Friday’s title fight having posted a record of 4-1 over her last five fights. Most recently, she captured the 135-lb. strap with a unanimous decision victory over Taneisha Tennant (5-2 MMA, 4-1 Invicta) during Invicta FC 51 on Jan. 18, 2023 on AXS TV.

She’s on a four-fight winning streak since being released by the UFC after her defeat in May of 2019, with a stopover in Oktagon MMA, based out of the Czech Republic. Talita Bernardo hasn’t looked back in the three-plus years’ worth of fights following her departure from MMA’s top promotion.

Bernardo now has a title to show for it. Can she run her current winning streak to five? Tune into Invicta FC 55’s main event for the answer.

Olga Rubin Looks to Build Off Submission Win

In the other corner, Olga Rubin has gone 3-2 in her last five appearances. Like Bernardo, Rubin also fought in Oktagon before joining Invicta.

Last time out, she stopped Claire Guthrie (5-3 MMA, 4-2 Invicta) with a second-round submission (buggy choke) on May 3 of last year during Invicta FC 53. Rubin’s win that night resulted in her being nominated in the Submission of the Year category at the 15th Annual World MMA Awards last December.

Rubin discussed her effort with Cageside Press in Vegas during red carpet arrivals the night of the ceremony.

“Basically, I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu since at least 2013, and I’ve been doing that buggy choke, at least trying to get the buggy choke in a fight, for at least three fights before I got it,” the challenger began. “So for me, it was like my moment, because I was really working on the choke.”

What does the future hold for Olga Rubin this Friday? Only time will tell.

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Stylistically, the Invicta FC 55 main event looks to be a toss-up. Both the champion and the challenger are adept in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Bernardo Can Flip the Script

Talita Bernardo is able to create offense of her own when she’s absorbing strikes. Look at the tape of the third round of her fight against Taneisha Tennant from January of 2023.

Less than two minutes into the round, Bernardo ate a slew of left-handed punches before rising up and securing a takedown of her own from the bodylock. At that point, her ground game told the story as she assumed top position and stayed there for the better part of the third period.

If Bernardo is on the receiving end of some strikes, she knows how to improve her situation. It’s something to look out for in the Invicta FC 55 main event.

Olga Rubin Does the Same

In the other corner, once Olga Rubin says “Two can play that game.” Late in the second round of her fight versus Claire Guthrie, she was on the receiving end of a takedown but quickly moved into apply the torque to get Guthrie to tap out.

All Olga Rubin needs is one opening to do some damage.

Final Thoughts

Even though the Fourth of July isn’t for another week, you can expect some fireworks on Friday night in Invicta FC 55’s main event as International Fight Week continues.

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Invicta FC 55’s Kay Hansen Believes Time Off “Critical For Some Self-Development”

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Original article can be found here courtesy of Cageside Press.

Article by Gabriel Gonzalez and Jay Anderson

Kay Hansen finally makes her comeback at Invicta FC 55 on Friday, June 28, and it’s been a long road to get back to the cage for the now-24 year-old UFC alum.

Finally making her return after just over two years in a fight with Sayury Canon, strawweight Hansen feels she’s developed significantly as a person since she was last seen in the cage. Not to mention as a fighter.

“It’s been awesome. I’ve had some time off, but I’m also really young and I feel like that was critical for some self-development,” Hansen (7-6) told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview. “And I think that’s definitely going to translate to my performance in the cage.”

A clearly upbeat Hansen noted that she’s been asked about her time off for a while, and admitted that she’s experiencing the emotions of Fight Week again- but is happy to be doing so.

In her time since exiting the UFC, where she last competed in 2022, Hansen dealt with a hand injury, a shattered knuckle that she initially didn’t seek treatment for, thinking she had sprained her hand.

“I definitely probably prolonged it by not getting it checked out right away,” said Hansen. Then, the injury didn’t heal correctly. “It took time to kind of work around that, because it was either re-break it, or let it to its thing. So I just let it do its thing, had to work through some uncomfortable feelings when I punch.”

“I for sure was training one handed for a few months. That was rough, next time I’m definitely going straight to the ER and figure that out.”

“Either way, taking that time off really did help me develop as a person,” Hansen added. And, she noted, she’s remained active in training. “Don’t get me wrong, I was still training. In these two years, I have still been training. It’s not like I took two years off and just jumped back into a camp, and wasn’t active in the gym and wasn’t progressing in the gym. I was still making strides in the gym, I was still showing up to practice. It’s not like I’ve had two years of no training, and then I’m jumping back into a fight.”

To be fair to Hansen, with Invicta FC on hiatus, she looked elsewhere to find fights, only for a handful to fall through. “I had a agreed to three fights this year, and this is the first one that actually came to fruition,” she revealed.

Hansen opened up during her time away about a traumatic upbringing, including allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, which she called a “very weird and taboo topic” that people should feel comfortable speaking up about. Coming forward “was definitely a very intense feeling,” admitted Hansen, especially when a documentary about her experience went live.

“I remember refreshing comments, and being nervous. But I’m very happy I did it, and I’m definitely going to speak about it more in the future,” said Hansen, adding how important it would have been to herself as a young woman to have that sort of voice available to her.

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Invicta FC founder Shannon Knapp scoffs at rumors promotion was allegedly going out of business

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Original article can be found here courtesy of mmafighting.com

Article by Damon Martin | @DamonMartin

 

Invicta FC founder Shannon Knapp admits it was tough to bite her tongue and not fire back at rumors that the all-women’s promotion was going out of business.

Just weeks before announcing a broadcast rights deal teaming up Invicta FC with CBS Sports Network, a report surfaced on Twitter that the organization was allegedly done, with no events since October 2023. In truth, Knapp says the extended break was intentional as the promotion made some necessary changes internally while working tirelessly on getting a new TV deal done.

Once she was finally able to announce the partnership with CBS Sports Network, Knapp was more than happy to take a victory lap.

“Let me tell you how hard it was to read that stuff,” Knapp told MMA Fighting. “To read it and just know that I knew something different. Sometimes you just have to stay quiet and let people put their own foot in their mouth, so to speak.

“No, do you think I’m going down without a fight? True to the phoenix, we always rise and find a way. It certainly was not the case nor would I sit back and let that be the case. If Invicta doesn’t exist, it creates a huge hole in the industry. Invicta is super important to this sport, not just because of the women’s side of it but just we keep people honest. I love that’s what Invicta means to the combat space. Yeah, no, not going down that easily.”

As a well-respected industry veteran who’s been around combat sports longer than many organizations have even existed, Knapp didn’t really feel the need to get into a mud slinging contest publicly.

Instead, she just sat back and waited for the chance to announce the deal with CBS Sports Network along with a busy schedule filled with events for the rest of 2024 to cement her win.

“The thing is I’m so approachable, if you have doubts, call me up,” Knapp said. “I’m not going to lie. I’m not known to be untruthful in the industry or a liar. So it’s certainly easy enough to pick up the phone and ask me instead of assuming.

“But sensationalism and spreading non-truths, that happens a lot on this side of the sport.”

As far as the CBS Sports deal, Knapp revealed that talks with the Paramount owned network started several months ago but broadcast rights deals don’t happen overnight. There was a lot of ground to cover before contracts could be inked along with a plan to launch the next Invicta FC card, which goes down Friday in Kansas City.

“It’s been a really exciting time and hard to keep it quiet,” Knapp said. “You sit back and you know what’s coming and you’ve been working on it but you have to announce when it’s time to announce. It’s been a whirlwind since we announced [the deal].

“I think back just before the last event, we started doing the courting process as we’ll call it. A good six or seven months now, something in that vicinity. For me, you can’t share that information. I have a lot of athletes that have questions and stuff. I’m really blessed that they trust me when I tell them I’m working on something that will be a game changer for us and will be great for you, that they trust in that. It’s tough to keep that quiet.”

Knapp says ultimately going with CBS Sports Network was a no brainer when she contemplated the future for Invicta FC, which has sent dozens of athletes off to promotions like the UFC ever since first launching back in 2012.

“They’re a very respected sports network, which I love,” Knapp said. “Just being on a sports network was very important. I think outside of the deal points and things like that, that always make a difference, it just feels like a good fit. They’re good people. I’ve had a really good experience dealing with them and the representatives I’ve dealt with so far. It just felt right at this moment in time.

“Who knows what the future brings but certainly very invested in this and they’re invested in it and want to be part of this family, the CBS Sports Network family.”

With the first event under the CBS Sports banner on Friday, Invicta FC already has future cards set for August, September, November and December.

After working on the broadcast rights deal and a nine month layoff between events, Knapp can’t wait to hit the ground running with a very busy 2024 ahead of her.

“I love it,” Knapp said. “That’s the thing that’s so important is consistency. If you don’t have consistency, then how do you build a brand? I just think it’s hugely important. To have a partnership that provides that consistency is great. We’re excited.

“An opportunity for Invicta to shine and to connect with a potential fanbase that wasn’t available to us and reach new fans. We’re excited about it.”

 

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Invicta Fighting Championships Signs Exclusive U.S. Television Rights Deal with CBS Sports

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LOS ANGELES — Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion, announced today an exclusive U.S. television rights deal with CBS Sports, marking another significant milestone in women’s sports.

Starting with the highly-anticipated Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin on June 28, Invicta FC will air live on CBS Sports Network. This agreement underscores Invicta FC’s continued growth and essential position in the MMA landscape, bringing top-tier women’s MMA action to a broader audience both on television and online.

CBS Sports Network will air five upcoming Invicta events throughout 2024 — kicking off with the highly-anticipated Invicta FC 55 on Friday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET. Broadcast live from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, the evening is headlined by a bantamweight championship showdown as UFC veteran Talita Bernardo defends her title for the first time against submission specialist “Big Bad” Olga Rubin, whose history-making performance at Invicta FC 53 earned her “Submission of the Year” accolades. The night also includes a co-main event strawweight showdown, pitting the undefeated Sayury Cañon against California native Kay Hansen.

Invicta FC was founded in 2012 by trailblazing combat sports executive Shannon Knapp, who continues to make history as the only female head of a major combat sports promotion. Over the last 12 years, Invicta has changed the face of MMA — providing a vital platform for top female athletes from around the globe. Invicta FC has long been a pivotal platform for showcasing female MMA talent, providing a stage where some of the sport’s most remarkable athletes first made their mark. The promotion’s impressive alumni roster features legends such as Amanda Nunes, Rose Namajunas, Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino and Paige VanZant, among many others. Through Invicta, these athletes have announced their presence to the world, demonstrating their exceptional skills and cementing their place in MMA history.

“CBS Sports is the perfect partner for Invicta FC,” said Knapp. “By joining forces with their global platform, we’re set to bring our world-class events to an even larger audience. 2024 will be a landmark year for us, packed with unparalleled matchups and title fights exclusive to Invicta. We are excited to showcase our world-class events and demonstrate why Invicta FC is the leading brand in women’s MMA, giving fans around the world a front-row seat to the action.”

CBS Sports Network is available on DIRECTV (channel 221) and Dish Network (channel 158). CBS Sports Network’s programming can also be viewed live online at CBSSports.com.

CBS Sports’ Complete 2024 Invicta FC Schedule (9-11 p.m. ET):

Friday, June 28 – Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin – Memorial Hall in Kansas City
Friday, August 9 – Invicta FC 56
Friday, September TBD – Invicta FC 57
Wednesday, November 6 – Invicta FC 58
Friday, December 13 – Invicta FC 59

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

About CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports, is widely available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors as well as via OTT streaming service providers YouTube TV, Fubo, DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV. Additionally, a live CBS Sports Network stream is available through CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App by authenticating with select providers. For more information, including a full programming schedule, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

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Invicta FC 55 Features Talita Bernardo vs. Olga Rubin Title Clash on June 28 in Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier combat sports organization for women, is returning to Kansas City on June 28 with an action-packed fight card.

Invicta FC 55 will feature the first title defense for Brazilian bantamweight Talita Bernardo (10-4). The UFC veteran captured the 135-pound title at Invicta FC 51, dethroning then-champion Taneisha Tennant via unanimous decision. Challenging for gold will be “Big Bad” Olga Rubin (9-3). The England-based fighter is fresh off a “Submission of the Year” performance at Invicta FC 53, where she scored the first buggy choke finish in promotion history.

The card also features the promotional return of strawweight Kay Hansen (7-6). The 24-year-old made her professional debut in the Invicta cage in 2017 and scored five wins with the organization. She will re-enter the 115-pound ranks fresh off a four-fight UFC stint. Hansen’s opponent will be undefeated Colombian sensation Sayury Cañon (3-0). Cañon most recently competed at Invicta FC 52, defeating Amanda Macioce.

Also on the card, 29-year-old RIZIN and DEEP Jewels veteran Saori “Little Giant” Oshima (13-4) makes her Invicta debut against Brazil’s Andressa “Gauchinha” Romero (6-4-1), Nevada’s Taylor Guardado (4-2) rejoins the promotion and the bantamweight division opposite Japanese veteran Yoko Higashi (8-4), Brazilian atomweight Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (6-2) collides with Canada’s “Queen of the North” Katie Saull (6-6), undefeated Michigan flyweight Zoe Nowicki (0-0) makes her professional debut against two-time IMMAF gold medalist Josiane Oliveira (0-0) of Brazil, and another Michigan flyweight, Fallon Johnson (0-0), meets Mexico’s Violeta “Violencia” Mendoza (1-0).

Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin will take place Friday, June 28 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City. Broadcast information for the event will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets to the event are on sale now through Eventbrite.

The full fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Talita Bernardo vs. Olga Rubin
Strawweight: Kay Hansen vs. Sayury Cañon
Atomweight: Saori Oshima vs. Andressa Romero
Bantamweight: Taylor Guardado vs. Yoko Higashi
Atomweight: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Katie Saull
Flyweight: Zoe Nowicki vs. Josiane Oliveira
Flyweight: Fallon Johnson vs. Violeta Mendoza

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 54 Results: McCormack Puts Wójcik to Sleep, Retains Strawweight Title

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BOSTON – On Friday, Oct. 27, Invicta Fighting Championships made its debut on the East Coast, hosting Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik from Citizens House of Blues.

In the night’s headliner, Ireland’s Danni McCormack retained her 115-pound strap after choking challenger Karolina Wójcik unconscious in the fight’s fourth round. Wójcik never tapped, but was finished for the first time in her career. The finish punctuated a dominant night for the champion, who controlled the action from the fight’s onset.

Former flyweight title challenger Kristina Williams got back in the win column after edging out Irish newcomer Dee Begley on the scorecards after three rounds.

Andrea Amaro spoiled the night of Massachusetts native Hilarie Rose by securing a first-round rear-naked choke.

In the featherweight division, Riley Martinez made quick work of Germany’s Julia Dorny, taking the back and coercing a tap less than two minutes into the fight.

Kicking off the night, bantamweight Maria Djukic picked up a decision nod over Brazilian Fernanda Araujo.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Danni McCormack def. Karolina Wojcik by technical submission (rear-naked choke). Round 4, 1:22– for strawweight title
Kristina Williams def. Dee Begley by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andrea Amaro def. Hilarie Rose by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:19
Riley Martinez def. Julia Dorny by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:48
Maria Djukic def. Fernanda Araujo by unanimous decision (30-37, 29-28, 29-28)

The planned strawweight bout between Valesca Machado and Kalindra Faria was removed from the event due to illness.

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

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Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik Official Weigh-in Results

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BOSTON — On Thursday, Oct. 26, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik, which takes place Friday, Oct. 27 from Citizens House of Blues.

The event will feature the first title defense for strawweight champion Danni “Mac” McCormack (7-2), who collides with Polish challenger Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (11-3). Both fighters were in action at Invicta FC 52 in March, with McCormack making history as the promotion’s first Irish champion by dethroning Brazilian Valesca Machado after five hard-fought rounds. Wójcik, meanwhile, edged out Brazilian Ediana Silva in the co-main event to claim No. 1 contender status.

In the co-main event, Brazilian Kalindra Faria (19-9-1) brings a wealth of combat sports experience as she squares off with her countrywoman, Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (12-4), in a strawweight collision.

Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik will kick off at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa.

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

Strawweight Title: Danni McCormack (114.6) vs. Karolina Wójcik (114.2)
Strawweight: Valesca Machado (115.9) vs. Kalindra Faria (116)
Flyweight: Kristina Williams (125.5) vs. Dee Begley (125.9)
Strawweight: Hilarie Rose (115.9) vs. Andrea Amaro (115)
Featherweight: Julia Dorny (145.8) vs. Riley Martinez (145.2)
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic (135) vs. Fernanda Araujo (134.9)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

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Invicta FC 54 Adds Strawweight Veteran Kalindra Faria to Fight Card

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BOSTON — The fight card Invicta Fighting Championships 54 has added more star power for the promotion’s debut in Boston on Friday, Oct. 27.

Brazilian Kalindra Faria (19-9-1) brings a wealth of combat sports experience into the night’s co-main event, as she squares off with her countrywoman Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (12-4) in a strawweight collision. Machado’s original opponent, Isis Verbeek, has been forced off the card, setting up the all-Brazil showdown. Faria, a three-fight UFC veteran, has faced a who’s who of competition during her 14-year career including former Invicta titleholders Jennifer Maia and Vanessa Porto, as well as strawweight contenders Cláudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Joanne Calderwood.

Also joining the card is a bantamweight match-up between Canadian “Sweet” Maria Djukic (2-1) and Massachusetts-based Brazilian “Ferocious” Fernanda Araujo (2-3). Djukic aims to rebound from a spirited battle at Invicta FC 48 opposite the hard-hitting Auttumn Norton. Araujo carries with her a judo black belt and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt into the bout in her own backyard.

Invicta FC 54 will take place from the Citizens House of Blues and features the first title defense for strawweight champion Danni “Mac” McCormack (7-2), who meets Polish challenger Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (11-3). Both fighters were in action at Invicta FC 52 in March, with McCormack making history as the promotion’s first Irish champion by dethroning the aforementioned Machado. After falling short in the Invicta FC 50 title tournament, Wójcik edged out Brazilian Ediana Silva in March to cement herself as the No. 1 contender for the 115-pound belt.

The night’s action kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa. Tickets to the event are available now through Ticketmaster.

The full fight card can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Danni McCormack vs. Karolina Wójcik
Strawweight: Valesca Machado vs. Kalindra Faria
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Dee Begley
Strawweight: Hilarie Rose vs. Andrea Amaro
Featherweight: Julia Dorny vs. Riley Martinez
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Fernanda Araujo

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC Makes East Coast Debut on Oct. 27 in Boston with McCormack-Wójcik Title Clash

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BOSTON — Invicta Fighting Championships is headed to Beantown. The world’s premier combat sports organization for women will make its East Coast debut on Friday, Oct. 27 at Citizens House of Blues.

The event will feature the first title defense for strawweight champion Danni “Mac” McCormack (7-2), who collides with Polish challenger Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (11-3). Both fighters were in action at Invicta FC 52 in March, with McCormack making history as the promotion’s first Irish champion by dethroning Brazilian Valesca Machado after five hard-fought rounds. Wójcik, meanwhile, edged out Brazilian Ediana Silva in the co-main event to claim No. 1 contender status.

In the night’s co-main event, the aforementioned former champion Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (12-4) will meet Isis “Fight Queen” Verbeek (4-2). Machado’s title defeat snapped a four-fight winning streak and the 28-year-old will be eager to get back into title contention. Holland’s Verbeek, who now calls Florida home, will make her third appearance under the Invicta banner and hopes to build off a decision win over Melissa Oddessa at Invicta FC 48.

Also on the card, recent flyweight title challenger Kristina “Warhorse” Williams (6-4) welcomes Ireland’s Dee Begley (4-2) to the organization, Massachusetts native Hilarie Rose (6-6) takes on fellow strawweight newcomer Andrea Amaro (3-2) of Texas, Germany’s Julia Dorny (2-1) collides with “Rad” Riley Martinez (2-0) of Idaho in a featherweight contest, and Canadian bantamweight “Sweet” Maria Djukic (2-1) returns to the Invicta cage opposite Massachusetts-based Brazilian “Ferocious” Fernanda Araujo (2-3).

Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik will kick off at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa. Tickets to the event will go on sale Thursday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. ET through Ticketmaster.

The full fight card can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Danni McCormack vs. Karolina Wójcik
Strawweight: Valesca Machado vs. Isis Verbeek
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Dee Begley
Strawweight: Hilarie Rose vs. Andrea Amaro
Featherweight: Julia Dorny vs. Riley Martinez
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Fernanda Araujo

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Opposite Corners | Invicta FC 53 Fight Week Documentary

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Take an intimate look behind the camps of Jillian DeCoursey and Rayanne dos Santos in the lead-up to their atomweight title fight that took place at Invicta FC 53.