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Invicta FC 51 Results: Bernardo Dethrones Tennant, Souza Outworks Williams

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DENVER — On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo from ReelWorks Denver.

Brazil’s Talita Bernardo earned her third straight win in the Invicta cage, dethroning titleholder Taneisha Tennant in the process. Tennant opened with a low kick and Bernardo answered with a calf kick of her own. The Brazilian again went to the calf to try and slow Tennant’s movement. Tennant pumped her jab before attempting a front kick. Bernardo caught the kick and chased her to the ground. She immediately moved to Tennant’s back and began working for a rear-naked choke. Tennant fought the hands as Bernardo tried to soften her up with punches. Bernardo transitioned to a body triangle and continued to search for a choke. Tennant sat up to break the body triangle, but she could not escape the grasp of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Bernardo fired short right hands to the body of Tennant and applied a face crank, but could not get the opening-round finish. Tennant flicked her jab in round two and pressured Bernardo to the cage. A stiff right from Tennant popped the head of Bernardo, prompting her to latch onto a leg and drag Tennant to the ground. It was brief as Tennant bounced back to her feet. Bernardo stuck with it, dragging Tennant to the mat with a body lock. She took the back and flattened out Tennant, but the American was able to escape. Despite the opportunity to stand, Tennant followed Bernardo back to the ground. She was able to control the position briefly and return to the feet. Bernardo scored with a late throw as the round expired. The bantamweight delivered calf kicks to one another’s lead legs in the third frame. Bernardo changed levels and dragged Tennant on top of her. She attacked with a leg lock, but absorbed an onslaught of punches from Tennant. The pair scrambled and Bernardo slammed Tennant to the ground. Bernardo passed from side control to mount and began to look for an arm-triangle choke. She abandoned the choke attempt to drop punches from the dominant position. Bernardo briefly attacked with a straight armbar, which Tennant quickly defended. Tennant again was saved by the round expiring. Bernardo’s assault on Tennant’s calf continued, but she largely sat back and waited for Tennant to come forward. Tennant fired kicks to the knee. Bernardo changed levels and secured a body lock. Tennant used the fence to stay upright. She leaned on Bernardo from the clinch and offered a series of knees to the Brazilian’s thigh. Tennant grabbed a single and Bernardo actually helped her bring the fight to the ground. Bernardo went for a kneebar, which Tennant defended with a fence grab. The fight was dead even heading to the final round. Bernardo put her mark on the round quickly, lifting Tennant above her head and slamming her violently to the ground. Tennant attempted to stop the takedown by grabbing the fence again and was deducted a point. The Brazilian passed to north-south and maintained top position. Bernardo tried to stay busy from the top as Tennant aimed to tie her up from the bottom. Tennant briefly caught Bernardo in a triangle, but the Brazilian was wise to it and delivered short body shots. The judges were called upon for the final time of the evening and Bernardo was announced as the new bantamweight champion. She is the first Brazilian to hold the 135-pound strap under the Invicta banner.

There’s a new flyweight champion as Brazilian Ketlen Souza proved to be too much for veteran Kristina Williams over five rounds. The two combatants traded kicks as they looked to find their range. A massive overhand right from Souza cracked Williams on the jaw, but the American took it well. Williams countered a kick from Souza and flurried forward into the clinch. Souza shrugged her off for a moment before Williams tied her up and tripped her to the ground. Williams stayed heavy on top, keeping the Brazilian with her back to the mat. She looked to pass to mount, but it allowed Souza to recover her guard. Souza scrambled hard and latched onto one of the legs of Williams to get back to her feet. They returned to the clinch late in the round and exchanged knees. A looping right from Souza again clipped Williams early in round two. Williams was unfazed and returned fire with kicks. A wheel kick from Souza was blocked by the American despite the oohs from the crowd. Souza’s aggression cost her as she was off balance and allowed Williams to gain top position against the cage. Williams postured up, but the Brazilian controlled her wrists from the bottom. Williams settled for the full guard and Souza tried to tie her up. After the referee stood the fight up, Williams caught a kick and dumped Souza to the ground again. Souza went for an armbar as the round expired. A calf kick from Williams sent Souza backpedaling to open the third stanza. A heavy right hand from Williams found the jaw of Souza and the Brazilian responded with a takedown. It was short-lived as Williams sprung to her feet. Another right from Souza landed clean, but Williams again acted as if nothing happened. Souza pinned Williams to the cage and fired short right hands. The pair jostled for position and Souza landed on top. She peppered right hands to the body of Williams. A big elbow from Souza found the mark and Williams leaked from a big cut above her right eye. The doctor’s inspected Williams between rounds and the fight was allowed to continue into the championship rounds. A front kick from Souza caught Williams in the mouth, but she still marched forward into the clinch. Souza missed with a spinning attack and was content to stay at range. Williams brought the fight to the clinch with a minute left in the round, but could not generate any offense. Williams changed levels with her punches in the fifth frame. She followed with low kicks and tried to cut off the cage as Souza bounced around the outside. Williams fired combinations against the fence and Souza showed off her speed and head movement to evade the punches. There was little doubt after 25 minutes as Souza claimed the decision victory and the 125-pound belt.

Former title challenger Olga Rubin got back in the win column after three rounds with Serena DeJesus. Rubin threw a variety of kicks to find her range. DeJesus walked through the strikes and fired heavy punches. A big flurry from DeJesus backed Rubin to the fence, but she responded with a combination of her own. Rubin shot for a takedown and then summersaulted when she missed the target. DeJesus’s aggression was used against her as Rubin countered through the hands of the Las Vegas fighter. A stiff jab from Rubin popped the head of DeJesus like a pez dispenser and drew a smile from DeJesus. Rubin secured a body lock, but DeJesus powered free late in the round. DeJesus just marched Rubin down with punches in round two. Rubin answered with another power jab that stunned DeJesus for a moment. DeJesus landed a clean uppercut, which allowed her to push Rubin against the fence. She exited with an elbow on the break and was quickly countered by a left hand from Rubin. DeJesus pinned Rubin to the fence before absorbing an elbow from Rubin. A spinning backfist from Rubin drew a reaction from the crowd. A left straight put DeJesus on rubber legs and Rubin flurried for a finish, but DeJesus was saved by the bell. DeJesus appeared to have recovered in the third frame, firing power punches and marching toward Rubin. The bantamweights exchanged uppercuts from the single-collar tie before separating. A counter left from Rubin stunned DeJesus yet again. The toughness of DeJesus was on full display as she absorbed the punishment from Rubin and never went down. The judges awarded Rubin the decision nod to snap the winning streak of DeJesus.

Denver bantamweight Claire Guthrie stayed in the win column, defeating a very tough Auttumn Norton after three, hard-fought rounds. Norton fired multiple kicks to start and Guthrie capitalized by catching one and driving her the canvas. After a brief scramble, Guthrie settled into half guard and stayed heavy on top. Norton was able to recover her guard, shrimp to the fence and return to the feet. The pair hung on one another against the cage before briefly separating and allowing Guthrie to slam Norton to the ground once more. Norton sprung back to her feet and the fight stayed upright for the remainder of the frame. A head kick from Guthrie greeted Norton to open round two. Guthrie used a right hand to set up a level change, but Norton shrugged her off. A cut opened under the right eye of Guthrie halfway through the round. Norton stalked Guthrie around the cage before being driven to the mat with a power double. Guthrie stuck to Norton like glue along the fence. The pair traded body kicks to close the stanza. In round three, Guthrie walked through a right hand to attempt a takedown, but Norton stuffed the shot. A big body kick from Guthrie found its mark to back up Norton and slow her advance. Guthrie landed a combination before slipping and falling to the mat. Norton could not take advantage as Guthrie got back to her feet and cracked Norton with a right hand. A slapping head kick from Guthrie landed late in the fight as the pace slowed. It was a clean sweep on the scorecards for Guthrie, who earned her fourth straight win.

More atomweights were in action as veteran Marisa Messer-Belenchia welcomed Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira to the Invicta cage. Ferreira cracked Messer-Belenchia with a series of right hands immediately to open the bout. Messer-Belenchia clinched and the two jockeyed for position along the cage. The American scored with short right hands and knees, but Ferreira was able to toss her to the ground. Even after Messer-Belenchia secured her full guard, Ferreira dropped heavy punches to the head and body. Messer-Belenchia looked for a butterfly sweep and then an armbar. Ferreira slammed free of the submission attempt and continued to batter the face of Messer-Belenchia until the round came to a conclusion. A crisp right from Ferreira stunned Messer-Belenchia and she followed with a head kick. Messer-Belenchia took the shots and returned the fight to the clinch. An onslaught of short punches from Messer-Belenchia connected against the fence. Ferreira tried to spin Messer-Belenchia to the cage and fired a big elbow. Messer-Belenchia stayed glued to the Brazilian, giving her no space to work. Ferreira broke free in the round’s final minute and she threw heavy strikes, again forcing Messer-Belenchia to clinch. A late takedown saw Ferreira take Messer-Belenchia’s back, but she did not have time to secure a rear-naked choke. Ferreira remained the aggressor in the third round, firing big punches from distance. Messer-Belenchia returned to the same strategy of clinching along the fence. She laced a leg and attempted to trip Ferreira, but the Brazilian defended to stay upright. Ferreira threw Messer-Belenchia to the ground and attempted an arm-in guillotine which Messer-Belenchia easily escaped. The grueling clinch work of Messer-Belenchia continued until moments before the final bell when both fighters threw with reckless abandon. Messer-Belenchia’s efforts were in vain as the judges scored the contest for Ferreira.

The second fight of the night featured Brazilian newcomer Rayanne dos Santos opposite Canadian Katie Saull in an atomweight contest. Dos Santos fired a variety of kicks against the southpaw Saull. A head kick from Saull was blocked late by the Brazilian. A counter right from dos Santos found the mark, but Saull was able to roll with it. The pair traded kicks from range and looked to draw the other into boxing range. Both fighters wore welts from the strikes that connected. Dos Santos looked for a late trip, but the round expired. In the middle frame, Saull changed levels with her kicks and attacked the midsection of dos Santos. Dos Santos was undeterred, assaulting the lead leg of Saull with low kicks. The Brazilian tried to flurry, but Saull used her footwork to evade the attack. Saull slipped on a head kick midway through the round and dos Santos pounced with hammerfists. Saull was able to secure her guard and then return to her feet. Saull shot for a late takedown and dos Santos sprawled. A right hand from dos Santos stunned Saull with seconds left in the round and she went for the finish, but the horn saved the Canadian. Round three opened with a body kick from Saull, which dos Santos turned into a takedown. Saull countered with an armbar attempt from the bottom and forced dos Santos to defend. Dos Santos calmly escaped and secured top position. She attempted to pass Saull’s guard, but it was largely a stalemate. An errant strike from dos Santos landed to the back of Saull’s head and the referee took the position away. Ultimately, the scorecards were needed and it was dos Santos who was rewarded the decision victory.

In the night’s opening match-up grappling ace Fatima Kline remained undefeated after outworking wrestling stalwart Laura Gallardo. A looping right hand from Kline caught Gallardo clean and sent her to the mat early in the contest. Gallardo recovered and the pair exchanged low kicks. Kline used her reach well to keep Gallardo at range. Gallardo entered the pocket and looked to clinch, but Kline was able to separate. The southpaw Gallardo capitalized on Kline switching stances and landed a slapping low kick. Kline countered with a heavy body kick. Gallardo fired a head kick, but Kline evaded the strike. Late in the round, Kline changed levels and secured a double. She lifted Gallardo above her head and slammed her to the ground. Kline tried to posture up as the round came to a close. Round two began with another stiff right hand from Kline and she immediately clinched. Gallardo broke free and shot for a takedown. She latched onto a single and dragged Kline to the mat, but could not keep her there. Kline delivered an overhand left as she continued to switch her stance. A heavy right from Kline wobbled Gallardo and Kline chased her to the canvas. Kline passed to mount and rained strikes. Gallardo scrambled hard and escaped to her feet. Kline transitioned to her back and peppered Gallardo with short knees. Gallardo desperately tried to get the fight to the ground, but Kline showcased great takedown defense to control the action until the round’s end. The final stanza saw Gallardo look for a takedown and Kline countered with a kimura attempt and sweep. Kline landed with regularity from distance, frustrating Gallardo with every strike. Gallardo countered a body kick by holding onto Kline’s leg, but it was Kline who threw The Ultimate Fighter veteran to the ground with a thunderous slam. A head kick from Kline connected late in the fight as she imposed her will on Gallardo. The fight went the distance and all three judges scored the fight for Kline.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Talita Bernardo def. Taneisha Tennant by unanimous decision (48-46 x3) – for bantamweight title
Ketlen Souza def. Kristina Williams by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for flyweight title
Olga Rubin def. Serena DeJesus by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Claire Guthrie def. Auttumn Norton by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Rayanne dos Santos def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Fatima Kline def. Laura Gallardo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

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 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo Official Weigh-in Results

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DENVER — On Tuesday, Jan. 17, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo, which takes place Wednesday, Jan. 18 from ReelWorks Denver.

In the night’s main event, bantamweight champion Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant (5-1) puts her 135-pound belt on the line opposite UFC veteran Talita Bernardo (9-4). New York’s Tennant has yet to taste defeat under the Invicta banner, including winning three fights in one night to capture the third Phoenix Tournament. Brazil’s Bernardo has quickly established herself as the No. 1 contender with back-to-back submission wins over Katharina Lehner and Yana Gadelha.

The co-feature also features gold up for grabs as Oklahoma’s Kristina “Warhorse” Williams (6-3) collides with Brazilian knockout artist Ketlen “Esquentadinha” Souza (12-3) for the vacant flyweight title. Williams rides the momentum of three straight victories, while Souza was successful in her promotional debut in September.

The event will be overseen by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission and will feature open scoring. The action will kick off at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT, airing on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page.

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

Bantamweight Title: Taneisha Tennant (134.4) vs. Talita Bernardo (135)
Flyweight Title: Kristina Williams (124.3) vs. Ketlen Souza (123.6)
Bantamweight: Serena DeJesus (137.3)* vs. Olga Rubin (136)
Bantamweight: Claire Guthrie (135.9) vs. Auttumn Norton (135.7)
Atomweight: Marisa Messer-Belenchia (105.6) vs. Elisandra Ferreira (105)
Atomweight: Katie Saull (105.6) vs. Rayanne dos Santos (105.8)
Strawweight: Fatima Kline (115.7) vs. Laura Gallardo (115.3)
Strawweight: Tanya Nijjar (118.1)# vs. Sayury Cañon (113.1)

* – DeJesus missed the bantamweight limit of 136 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse

# – Nijjar missed the strawweight limit of 116 pounds and the fight with Cañon was removed from the event

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 Events To Be Televised By Globo’s COMBATE Channel Throughout Brazil

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TORONTO —Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., a global, multi-platform media company, today announced an international partnership with Brazil’s leading television programmer, Globo TV, that will deliver Invicta Fighting Championships throughout Brazil.

The agreement will give Globo TV viewers in Brazil access to Invicta FC events via Globo TV’s COMBATE fight channel. Each event will be televised live and in Portuguese.

Globo TV’s COMBATE channel viewers will be able to enjoy Invicta FC’s thrilling return to Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 18, as the promotion proudly presents Invicta FC 51 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The loaded fight card is headlined by a highly anticipated main event matchup, as UFC veteran Talita Bernardo seeks to hand bantamweight champion Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant her first defeat in the Invicta cage. Other highlights include Kristina “Warhorse” Williams battling Brazilian knockout specialist Ketlen “Esquentadinha” Souza for the vacant flyweight title; Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus going toe-to-toe with “Big Bad” Olga Rubin; a hard-hitting bantamweight showdown between “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie and Auttumn “The Natural” Norton; an atomweight bout pitting Marisa “Spider Monkey” Messer-Belenchia against Brazilian newcomer Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira; and more.

“This distribution agreement is yet another significant step for Invicta FC,” said Shannon Knapp, founder and president of Invicta FC. “We continue to increase our visibility around the globe and partnering with Brazil’s No. 1 TV entity Globo — and its COMBATE channel — puts Invicta FC events in front of the passionate Brazilian audience.”

Said Rafael Gruenbaum, Head of COMBATE: “COMBATE continues to expand its portfolio with great quality. Partnerships with events with so much history and relevance to international MMA reinforce the channel’s excellent offer to MMA fans. So, it is with great joy that we announce Invicta FC as a new partner. Besides the excellent events with renowned athletes, we will be able to encourage even more the sport for the female gender.”

The Globo TV/COMBATE deal continues a string of recent media agreements that brings Invicta FC events to fans around world. In 2022 and early 2023, Anthem Sports & Entertainment reached deals to distribute Invicta FC events to:

  • Central America via Fox Sports Mexico
  • South America via DirecTV Latin America
  • Northern and Eastern Europe via Viaplay
  • Central Asia and Eastern Europe via Match TV
  • Sub-Saharan Africa via StarTimes

In addition to the aforementioned continents and regions, Invicta FC is televised in North America on Anthem properties AXS TV in the United States and Fight Network in Canada.

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 Events To Be Televised By DirecTV Latin America Throughout South America

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TORONTO — Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.,a global, multi-platform media company, today announced an international partnership with DirecTV Latin America that will deliver Anthem’s Invicta Fighting Championships to countries throughout South America.

The agreement will give DirecTV Latin America subscribers in South America – including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela — access to Invicta FC events. Each event will be shown on DirecTV Latin America’s dedicated fight channel, D-Fight, and broadcast live and in Spanish.

DirecTV Latin America viewers will be able to enjoy Invicta FC’s thrilling return to Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 18, as the promotion presents Invicta FC 51 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The loaded fight card is headlined by a highly anticipated main event matchup, as UFC veteran Talita Bernardo seeks to hand bantamweight champion Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant her first defeat in the Invicta cage.  Other highlights include Kristina “Warhorse” Williams battling Brazilian knockout specialist Ketlen “Esquentadinha” Souza for the vacant flyweight title; Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus going toe-to-toe with “Big Bad” Olga Rubin; a hard-hitting bantamweight showdown between “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie and Auttumn “The Natural” Norton; an atomweight bout pitting Marisa “Spider Monkey” Messer-Belenchia against Brazilian newcomer Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira; and more.

“Latin America has a long and rich history in mixed martial arts, producing some of the greatest fighters in the sport,” said Shannon Knapp, founder and president of Invicta FC. “This new partnership with DirecTV Latin America presents an exciting opportunity for Invicta to showcase our talented all-female athletes – many of which have Latin American roots themselves – to even more passionate MMA fans around the world, expanding our reach even further and giving us a major platform to demonstrate everything that makes Invicta FC a trailblazer in the industry and a true global force. We look forward to sharing all that Invicta FC has to offer with DirecTV Latin America’s audience when Invicta FC 51 premieres on January 18.”

The DirecTV Latin America deal continues a string of recent TV distribution agreements that brings Invicta FC events to fans around world. In 2022, Anthem Sports & Entertainment reached deals to distribute Invicta FC events to:

  • Central America via Fox Sports Mexico (Mexico)
  • Northern and Eastern Europe viawith Viaplay (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden)
  • Central Asia and Eastern Europe via Match TV (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa via StarTimes (Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros Islands, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Reunion, Rwanda, St. Helena and Ascension, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia (including Somaliland,) Socotra, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and adjacent islands)

In addition to the aforementioned countries, Invicta FC is televised on Anthem properties AXS TV in the United States and Fight Network in Canada.

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 51 Features Championship Doubleheader on January 18 in Denver

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DENVER — Get ready for another thrilling night of action in the Mile High City as Invicta Fighting Championships returns to Reelworks Denver with a championship doubleheader on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

In the night’s main event, bantamweight champion Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant (5-1) puts her 135-pound belt on the line opposite UFC veteran Talita Bernardo (9-4). New York’s Tennant has yet to taste defeat under the Invicta banner, including winning three fights in one night to capture the third Phoenix Tournament. She was most recently in action at Invicta FC 48, edging Olga Rubin after five, hard-fought rounds to retain her title. Brazil’s Bernardo has quickly established herself as the No. 1 contender with back-to-back submission wins over Katharina Lehner and Yana Gadelha.

The co-feature also features gold up for grabs as Oklahoma’s Kristina “Warhorse” Williams (6-3) collides with Brazilian knockout artist Ketlen “Esquentadinha” Souza (12-3) for the vacant flyweight title. Williams rides the momentum of three straight victories, including a first-round submission of Liana Pirosin at Invicta FC 48 in July. Souza was successful in her promotional debut in September, cruising past Strikeforce and Phoenix Tournament veteran Maiju Suotama.

Also on the card, bantamweight Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus (5-2) looks to make a statement with a victory over recent title challenger “Big Bad” Olga Rubin (7-3), Denver’s “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (4-1) aims for a fourth straight win against hard-hitting bantamweight Auttumn “The Natural” Norton (2-1), atomweight Marisa “Spider Monkey” Messer-Belenchia (5-1) welcomes Brazilian Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (4-2) to the Invicta cage, “The Queen of the North” Katie Saull (5-5) takes on Contender Series veteran Rayanne dos Santos (12-6) of Brazil at 105 pounds, strawweight submission ace Fatima “The Archangel” Kline (2-0) squares off with The Ultimate Fighter 30 alum Laura “La Jefa” Gallardo (4-1), and Canada’s Tanya Nijjar (1-0) meets fellow debutant Sayury Cañon (2-0) of Colombia.

Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo will be overseen by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission and will feature open scoring. The event will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. MT, with the main card airing on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. Tickets to the event go on sale Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Taneisha Tennant vs. Talita Bernardo
Flyweight Title: Kristina Williams vs. Ketlen Souza
Bantamweight: Serena DeJesus vs. Olga Rubin
Bantamweight: Claire Guthrie vs. Auttumn Norton
Atomweight: Marisa Messer-Belenchia vs. Elisandra Ferreira
Atomweight: Katie Saull vs. Rayanne dos Santos
Strawweight: Fatima Kline vs. Laura Gallardo
Strawweight: Tanya Nijjar vs. Sayury Cañon

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 50 Results: Machado Captures Strawweight Title Tournament

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DENVER — On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City, hosting Invicta FC 50 from ReelWorks Denver. The event featured a four-woman, one-night title tournament in the strawweight division.

There’s a new Invicta FC strawweight champion as Valesca Machado edged Karolina Wójcik for 115-pound supremacy. Machado opened the fight by delivering a counter right hand as both fighters looked to establish their striking range. Wójcik shook her head after it landed. The Polish fighter frequently switched stances, giving Machado a new puzzle to solve. The Brazilian again delivered a heavy right hand midway through the round. Both fighters implored one another to engage in a firefight, but neither took the bait. Machado began the middle frame with a pair of right straights. Wójcik barreled into the pocket, but the Brazilian showcased great footwork to avoid damage. Machado’s counter strikes began to land with more regularity as the frame progressed. Wójcik’s frustration was apparent in the fight’s last round. She could not find her way into range and Machado made her pay with punches every time she tried. Wójcik closed the distance late and secured a body lock along the fence. She tried to lace her leg for a trip, but Machado saw it coming and was able to separate. Machado turned up her output near the end of the fight, peppering the face of the Polish athlete. Wójcik’s late clinch work proved to be futile and the fight was sent to the judges. When the scorecards were revealed, it was Machado that claimed the decision, as well as the belt.

Making her second Invicta appearance, former UFC combatant Talita Bernardo took on former Invicta bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner. Lehner clipped Bernardo early and quickly invited her back to the feet. The Brazilian responded with a takedown and took Lehner’s back. The German did not panic, but Bernardo was patient in her rear-naked choke attempt. Lehner fought the hands of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt for most of the round, surviving until the bell. In round two, Lehner came forward with punches to back Bernardo against the fence. The grappler switched levels and put Lehner on the ground. She passed to side control and began to attack the right arm of Lehner. Lehner was wise to the submission attempt and was able to recover her half guard. Bernardo was reckless from the top position, eating a big upkick as she tried to pass to side control again. However, she recovered instantly and slapped on a kimura that forced Lehner to quickly tap before the round came to its conclusion.

Competing in her own backyard, Colorado’s Claire Guthrie welcomed karate stylist Brigid Chase to the Invicta cage. Chase immediately went on the offensive, firing multiple kicks. Guthrie grabbed ahold of Chase and powered her to the ground. Chase sprung back to her feet, only to be dragged back to the mat. Guthrie briefly mounted, but could not hold the position. She stuck to Chase like glue to prevent the striker from unleashing offense. Chase broke free and landed a spinning heel kick to Guthrie’s face. Guthrie wasted little time taking the fight back to the ground and mounting Chase. From the dominant position, Guthrie fired elbows and punches. Chase exploded to top position late in the frame. Round two opened with Guthrie dropping Chase with a massive right hand. She followed Chase to the canvas and leaned back for a heel hook. Chase countered with a leg attack of her own. Guthrie transitioned to a toe hold, but it allowed Chase to move to top position. She applied an arm-triangle from the mount which forced Guthrie to defend until the round expired. The right hand of Guthrie found its mark again to open round three and she muscled Chase to the ground. She quickly passed to mount. Guthrie climbed high while raining punches and took Chase’s back. She worked for a rear-naked choke, but Chase fought her hands well. Guthrie moved back to mount and dropped punches and elbows. The top pressure of Guthrie was relentless and she battered Chase along the fence. Guthrie flurried hard for a finish but ultimately settled for a decision win.

Ireland’s Danni McCormack took on Brazilian Maira Mazar in the tournament’s reserve bout. The southpaw McCormack was quick to enter boxing range and deliver a left hand. She rocked Mazar with more punches, dazing her and sending her to the mat. McCormack took Mazar’s back and looked for a choke along the fence. Mazar desperately tried to recover from the early onslaught. McCormack settled for half guard, but continued to deliver punches. Mazar kicked McCormack off and fired a series of upkicks to make it through the round. Mazar started round two with multiple kicks before latching onto McCormack and slamming her to the canvas. She quickly moved to the back of the Irish fighter. McCormack stood and looked to shake the Brazilian off. Mazar responded with a rear-naked choke attempt which McCormack successfully defended. McCormack tried to separate Mazar’s body triangle, but ate a series of punches in the process. She finally separated and absorbed a huge knee on the break. Once back at striking range, McCormack landed multiple left hands to close the middle stanza. In round three, McCormack briefly looked to change levels and keep Mazar guessing. She eventually powered into a takedown and landed in Mazar’s guard. Mazar escaped to her feet and the pair exchanged punches in the middle of the cage. McCormack lost her balance and Mazar turned it into a takedown. The Irish fighter worked backed to her feet and cracked Mazar with heavy punches late. The verdict was left in the hands of the judges, who rendered McCormack the winner.

The second strawweight title tournament semifinal match-up pitted returning Invicta veteran Valesca Machado against her 20-year-old countrywoman Ediana Silva. The two Brazilians gauged range early, looking for openings. A heavy low kick from Machado buckled the lead leg of Silva. Machado missed with a spinning backfist attempt, which allowed Silva to connect with a right hand. Silva charged forward with reckless abandon, throwing heavy punches. After absorbing a pair of rights, Machado closed the distance and pushed Silva to the fence. Machado connected with a series of uppercuts, but Silva just marched right through the strikes. Machado began to counter effectively as the round progressed, which set up a late takedown as the round closed. Machado opened round two with a variety of kicks and a stiff right hand that slowed Silva’s advance for the first time. Machado looked for another takedown, but Silva was able to shrug her off and stay on her feet. A second attempt was successful and Machado looked to take Silva’s back. The younger fighter was resilient, working back to her feet, only to be taken down again. Machado took Silva’s back and secured a rear-naked choke, but could not coerce the tap before the round expired. The last round began with Machado scoring a brief takedown. Silva’s forward march continued, but Machado landed with counters. Machado capitalized on Silva’s aggression, landing a late takedown. The judges were split, but Machado earned the victory and moved onto the final.

In the first half of the strawweight title tournament semifinals, Polish newcomer Karolina Wójcik squared off with UFC veteran Gloria de Paula. Wójcik walked straight into the pocket and fired looping punches when the fight began. De Paula clinched and pinned her to the fence. The pair separated and Wójcik again fired heavy punches before de Paula closed the distance and clinched. Wójcik latched onto a single and looked to drag de Paula to the ground. The Brazilian scrambled well to stay upright. Wójcik changed levels to look for a double, but de Paula was able to separate late in the round. De Paula was the aggressor to open the middle stanza, but it was short lived as Wójcik powered her to the fence. The fight turned into a striking match at range and both fighters connected with heavy shots. The right eyes of both fighters began to swell. Wójcik caught a body kick from de Paula and kicked out her back leg to bring the fight to the mat. De Paula quickly attacked from her guard, but Wójcik scrambled to take her back along the cage. The Polish fighter peppered de Paula with heavy punches from back mount. De Paula defended well to survive the round. Knowing she was down on the scorecards, de Paula came out firing in the third. Wójcik looked to answer, but the taller Brazilian delivered knees. The urgency from de Paula was apparent throughout the round, as she rocked Wójcik with a head kick and flurried hard for a finish. Wójcik displayed her durability to survive the barrage and make it to the scorecards. The early work was enough for Wójcik to advance in the tournament.

The night kicked off in the flyweight division as Elise Pone collided with boxing champion Melissa Oddessa. Pone looked to keep the fight at range by peppering Oddessa with kicks, but Oddessa marched forward undeterred initially. The fight found the fence and Pone delivered knees to the midsection. Oddessa secured a body lock, but it was Pone who drove the fight to the ground. A scramble saw Oddessa gain top position. Pone worked back to her feet and attacked with an arm-in guillotine attempt. She scored with knees before dropping to the mat. The bell saved Oddessa to close the first frame. In round two, Pone clinched Oddessa to the fence and the pair jostled for position. Pone was relentless with knees and elbows, preventing Oddessa from mounting any offense. Round three began with Pone cracking Oddessa with a heavy right hand. Much like the first two stanzas, Pone dominated the clinch. There was no doubt on the scorecards as Pone cruised to the decision win.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Valesca Machado def. Karolina Wójcik by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – strawweight title tournament final
Talita Bernardo def. Katharina Lehner by submission (kimura). Round 2, 4:26
Claire Guthrie def. Brigid Chase by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Danni McCormack def. Maira Mazar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) – strawweight title tournament reserve bout
Valesca Machado def. Ediana Silva by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) – strawweight title tournament semifinal
Karolina Wójcik def. Gloria de Paula by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) – strawweight title tournament semifinal
Elise Pone def. Melissa Oddessa by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

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 50 Official Weigh-in and Tournament Draw Results

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DENVER — On Tuesday, Nov. 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 50, which takes place Wednesday, Nov. 16 from ReelWorks Denver.

The event features a one-night, four-woman tournament to crown a new strawweight champion. The tournament match-ups were drawn during the weigh-ins. Brazilians Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (10-3) and 20-year-old Ediana “Mel Pitbull” Silva (12-2) collide in one half of the bracket, with UFC veteran Gloria “Glorinha” de Paula (6-5) facing off with Polish newcomer Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (9-2) in the other semifinal match-up. Both the semifinals and final bout will consist of three, five-minute rounds.

In the night’s co-feature, former bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner (7-3) of Germany meets UFC veteran Talita Bernardo (8-4). Also on the card, Denver’s own “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (3-1) takes on Brigid “Khan” Chase (3-1).

The event will be overseen by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission and will feature open scoring. The event will be broadcast on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, kicking off at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. Tickets to the event will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. MT through Eventbrite.

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

Strawweight Title Tournament
Valesca Machado (115.6) vs. Ediana Silva (115.2)
Gloria de Paula (115.4) vs. Karolina Wójcik (116)

Bantamweight: Katharina Lehner (136) vs. Talita Bernardo (135.7)
Bantamweight: Claire Guthrie (136) vs. Brigid Chase (133.9)
Strawweight Title Tournament Reserve: Danni McCormack (115.6) vs. Maira Mazar (115.4)
Flyweight: Melissa Oddessa (123.3) vs. Elise Pone (125.7)

Strawweight Title Tournament Reserve Fighter: Minna Grusander (114.6)

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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Strawweight Title Tournament Headlines Invicta FC 50 in Denver

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DENVER — Invicta Fighting Championships is returning to the Mile High City for its milestone 50th numbered event on Wednesday, Nov. 16. After an action-packed debut in Colorado in July, the world’s premier combat sports organization for women will once again visit Reelworks Denver with a stacked fight card.

The event will include a one-night, four-woman tournament to crown a new strawweight champion. The four athletes competing for 115-pound supremacy are recent Invicta winner Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (10-3), UFC veteran Gloria “Glorinha” de Paula (6-5), 20-year-old Brazilian Ediana “Mel Pitbull” Silva (12-2) and Polish newcomer Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (9-2). Both the semifinals and final bout will consist of three, five-minute rounds. Tournament match-ups will be drawn during the event’s weigh-ins on Nov. 15.

In the night’s co-feature, former bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner (7-3) of Germany meets UFC veteran Talita Bernardo (8-4). Lehner will be competing under the Invicta banner for the fourth time, while the Brazilian Bernardo looks to build on her successful Invicta debut in July. Also featured on the card will be a bantamweight bout between Denver’s own “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (3-1) and undefeated Brazilian Marilia “The Tigress” Morais (3-0).

Finally, the event will include two strawweight tournament reserve match-ups. Wrestling sensation Sharon “The Dream Catcher” Jacobson (6-5) takes on unbeaten boxer Melissa “La Bella Bestia” Oddessa (3-2) and sanda specialist Maira Mazar (8-4) collides with Ireland’s Danni McCormack (5-2).

The event will be overseen by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission and will feature open scoring. The event will be broadcast on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, kicking off at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. Tickets to the event will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. MT through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Strawweight Title Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Bantamweight: Katharina Lehner vs. Talita Bernardo
Bantamweight: Claire Guthrie vs. Marilia Morais
Strawweight Title Tournament Semifinal: TBD vs. TBD
Strawweight Title Tournament Semifinal: TBD vs. TBD
Strawweight Title Tournament Reserve: Sharon Jacobson vs. Melissa Oddessa
Strawweight Title Tournament Reserve: Maira Mazar vs. Danni McCormack

Strawweight Title Tournament Participants
Valesca Machado
Gloria de Paula
Ediana Silva
Karolina Wójcik

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 49 Results: DeCoursey Dethrones Delboni with First-Round Submission

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OKLAHOMA CITY — On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey from the Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, Okla.

There’s a new atomweight champion as Jillian DeCoursey dethroned Brazilian Jéssica Delboni in the first round. The two atomweights gauged one another’s timing and range in the fight’s opening minutes. Delboni ripped multiple low kicks to the lead leg of DeCoursey. The Brazilian flurried forward and pushed DeCoursey to the fence. When Delboni dropped down for a takedown, DeCoursey capitalized and moved to mount in the scramble. She quickly took Delboni’s back and sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke. With the victory, DeCoursey became the first atomweight fighter to have made her professional debut in the Invicta cage — at Invicta FC 25 in 2017 — and then capture an Invicta title.

Ketlen Souza made a case for a flyweight title shot with a decision win over veteran Maiju Suotama in the night’s co-feature. Souza aimed for Suotama’s chin early as the Finnish fighter kept her chin high. They traded leg kick before Suotama tried to clinch. Souza showcased great takedown defense to stay upright. She landed a spinning heel kick to the stomach of Suotama. Soon after, Suotama changed levels and latched onto a single leg. Souza again stayed on her feet. She closed the round with a flying knee attempt and a wheel kick from range. Souza was very aggressive in round two, firing a variety of strikes at range. Suotama ate the shots and timed another takedown attempt, but could not muscle the Brazilian to the floor. Souza’s speed and mix of attacks kept Suotama guessing. The left eye of Suotama swelled from the repeated shots of Souza. A heavy body kick from Souza found the liver of Suotama to begin the final round. Suotama dropped her arm to cover the spot and Souza followed up with power punches. Souza sought a finish, looking for flashy technique after technique. Suotama was game, absorbing the damage throughout. The judges were in unison, awarding Souza with a clear decision win.

Brazilian newcomer Valesca Machado made a statement in the strawweight division, outworking veteran Liz Tracy over the course of three rounds. Tracy came out with erratic movement, which allowed her to land some heavy low kicks. Machado remained patient and looked to find her timing. Tracy tried to clinch, but Machado shrugged her off. As the round progressed, Machado began to land with regularity. Tracy’s pace slowed and the power shots from Machado connected to the body and chin. In round two, Machado came forward more. The right hands from the Brazilian damaged the face of Tracy. Tracy was able to muscle Machado to the ground and tried to take her back. Machado scrambled to top position and returned to her feet. The last five minutes opened with an overhand right from Machado flush to Tracy’s chin. She then found a home for her right hand over and over before delivering an uppercut as Tracy marched into range. Tracy never stopped her advance, but Machado lit her up late in the fight with combinations. The judges were called upon and the newcomer snapped Tracy’s winning streak.

Utah flyweight Kaytlin Neil gave fellow Ultimate Fighter castmate Hannah Guy a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Neil utilized her reach advantage early and often, digging teep kicks to the body of Guy. Guy looked to flurry forward, but ate an onslaught of punches. Guy latched onto a leg and tried to bring the fight to the mat, but Neil took her back in the scramble. Late in the round, Neil hurt Guy badly with a combination and followed her to the mat. She could not find the finish before the round expired. The kicks to the body from Neil continued to batter the body of Guy. Guy tried to hide her agony along the fence, but Neil pounced with a barrage of punches. Somehow Guy dug deep and looked for a takedown, giving her enough time to recover and make it to her stool. Guy’s struggles to get into the pocket continued in round three. She latched onto Neil’s leg, but couldn’t secure a takedown. Neil’s striking assault was relentless as she kept punishing Guy at range. It was a clean sweep on the scorecards for Neil after the dominant performance.

UFC veteran Poliana Botelho made her promotional debut opposite Helen Peralta in a flyweight contest. Botelho threw a head kick that Peralta walked through and closed the distance. From there, the pair clinched along the cage and the round became a war of attrition. They jostled for position and frequently spun one another’s back to the fence. Each fighter delivered knees and short punches, but neither could find an advantage. Round two started similarly, as Peralta powered Botelho to the cage and secured a body lock. As she tried to muscle the Brazilian to the canvas, Botelho scored with a great toss to earn top position. It was short lived as Peralta was able to get back to her feet. They continued to engage in a clinch battle before Botelho earned another takedown to close the round. The over-under position continued to be where the majority of the fight took place in the final frame. When they did separate, Peralta delivered a heavy liver shot, but Botelho responded with a big knee. Her knees would land with frequency late in the fight and that proved to be the difference as Botelho claimed the hard-fought decision win.

Mexico’s Montserrat Rendon eked out a close split decision win over bantamweight veteran Brittney Cloudy in her Invicta debut. Rendon marched forward to start the bout, as she looked to close range. Cloudy showcased excellent footwork to stay on the outside and counter Rendon. Rendon tried to clinch, but Cloudy brushed her aside. That would be the story of the round, as Cloudy’s movement frustrated Rendon throughout. It was more of the same in round two, as Cloudy continued to score from range while Rendon pushed forward aggressively. A heavy left knee from Cloudy found the midsection of Rendon and backed her up for the first time. The Mexican fighter wowed the crowd with a spinning backfist late in the round. Cloudy continued to throw with volume in the third stanza. Rendon became desperate late, trying to get Cloudy to the ground. Her first takedown did not come until 30 seconds were left in the fight. However, that was enough to convince two of the judges at cageside to hand her the victory.

The night kicked off in the strawweight division as Ireland’s Shauna Bannon kept her perfect record intact with an impressive win over Mexico’s Nadia Vera. Bannon’s karate background was on display early as she peppered Vera with right hands. She connected with a lead-leg head kick and closed the distance. Vera looked to bring the fight to the mat and ended up on top. She dropped short shots from full guard, but was forced to defend an armbar attempt from Bannon. Vera was able to escape, but fell into a deep triangle from the Irish fighter. Vera did not panic, but needed the bell to survive the round. In the second, Bannon landed her right hand at will. Vera baited her into boxing range and looked to brawl. Bannon was able to muscle her way to the top position and looked to mount. She gave up the position to attempt another triangle choke from her back. Vera again was saved by the horn. The Mexican prospect was aggressive to open the final frame, charging forward and pinning Bannon to the fence. She put Bannon on her back and the two traded a flurry of punches on the canvas. Bannon returned to her feet late in the round and went for a finish, but Vera’s toughness helped her see the scorecards. There was no doubt from the judges, who rewarded Bannon for her efforts.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jillian DeCoursey def. Jéssica Delboni by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:49 – for atomweight title
Ketlen Souza def. Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Valesca Machado def. Liz Tracy by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Kaytlin Neil def. Hannah Guy by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)
Poliana Botelho def. Helen Peralta by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Montserrat Rendon def. Brittney Cloudy by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Shauna Bannon def. Nadia Vera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey Official Weigh-in Results

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OKLAHOMA CITY — On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey, which takes place Wednesday, Sept. 28 from the Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, Okla.

In the night’s headliner, atomweight champion Jéssica Delboni (12-3) makes the first defense of her 105-pound title against “Lionheart” Jillian DeCoursey (5-3). Brazil’s Delboni capitalized on her Phoenix Tournament victory to dethrone Alesha Zappitella in dominant fashion at Invicta FC 45. New York’s DeCoursey earned No. 1 contender-status after a highlight-reel, 61-second knockout of Lindsey VanZandt at Invicta FC 47.

The event will be broadcast on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event are on sale now through StubWire.

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

Atomweight Title: Jéssica Delboni (104.8) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (104.7)
Flyweight: Maiju Suotama (123) vs. Ketlen Souza (123)
Strawweight: Liz Tracy (115.9) vs. Valesca Machado (115.8)
Flyweight: Kaytlin Neil (125.5) vs. Hannah Guy (126)
Flyweight: Helen Peralta (125.9) vs. Poliana Botelho (125.4)
Bantamweight: Brittney Cloudy (135.6) vs. Montserrat Rendon (135)
Strawweight: Nadia Vera (115.2) vs. Shauna Bannon (115.4)

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.