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Invicta FC 59 Results: Maia Dethrones Bernardo To Become Bantamweight Champion

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ATLANTA – On Friday, Dec. 13, Invicta Fighting Championships debuted in the Peach state, holding Invicta FC 59: Bernardo vs. Maia from the Eastern in Atlanta.

In the night’s main event, bantamweight champion Talita Bernardo put her belt on the line against fellow Brazilian – and former flyweight titleholder – Jennifer Maia. Bernardo battered the lead leg of Maia with low kicks in the first minute of the fight. She ducked under the punches of Maia and looked for a takedown. Maia initially defended, but Bernardo imposed her will and tripped Maia to the mat. Bernardo rained short right hands from half guard, but Maia recovered her full guard. Maia worked for an armbar from the bottom, which Bernardo defended and escaped. Bernardo pinned Maia to the cage and dropped heavy punches and elbows. Round two began with the fighters trading kicks. Bernardo looked for a takedown, but it was Maia who landed in the top position. Maia tried to pass to mount with no avail. She again looked for an armbar before the fight returned to the feet. A right hand from Maia popped the head of Bernardo. Another takedown was stuffed by Maia, only for her to fall into a deep kneebar attempt. Bernardo cranked hard on the submission, but Maia remained calm and escaped to top position. A counter right hand from Maia found its mark to start the third frame. Bernardo answered with a body kick before shooting for a takedown. Maia defended and kept the fight on the feet. Bernardo failed on another takedown attempt and tried to coerce Maia to the ground. Maia had none of it and stayed content to score on the feet with combinations. Another shot from Bernardo turned into her dragging Maia on top of her. Maia passed to mount briefly and she finished the round in top position. Bernardo opened round four with a knee to Maia’s stomach. She then countered with a straight right to keep Maia at range. A clean right hand from Maia stunned Bernardo, who responded with a massive slam. Maia worked back to her feet before spinning Bernardo to her back. Maia transitioned to Bernardo’s back along the fence and flattened her out. Bernardo did not panic and regained her half guard late in the round. A pair of heavy left hands from Bernardo landed to start round five. She then dragged Maia to the ground and scrambled to her back. Maia escaped and was able to pass to side control before bringing the fight back to standing. A late takedown from Maia all but sealed the victory, as she became the first fighter in Invicta history to hold a title in multiple weight classes.

The co-feature saw Brazil’s Paula Bittencourt return to the win column, defeating Colombia’s Alejandra Lara. Lara opened with a jumping front kick and the pair wasted no time firing power punches. Bittencourt clinched, but it was Lara who took control and put the Brazilian against the fence. A scramble allowed Bittencourt to secure a body lock and she landed an elbow. When the pair separated, Lara delivered a heavy left hand before initiating the clinch once more. She clung to Bittencourt like glue, but Bittencourt was able to break free. Lara fired a left head kick and left straight, only to be countered by a right hand from Bittencourt. Round two featured a hook kick attempt from the Colombian, which did not connect. Bittencourt ducked under a punch to secure a body lock, but Lara’s balance prevented the fight from finding the canvas. A short hook from Bittencourt caught Lara charging into boxing range, prompting the veteran to return the fight to the clinch. A late takedown attempt from Lara was stuffed by the Brazilian. In the final round, Lara controlled the distance with her kicks. Bittencourt powered forward recklessly and found herself in the clinch again. A wild flurry from Bittencourt slowed the advance of Lara midway through the stanza. A thunderous body kick landed for Lara with a minute left in the bout and she doubled up on the strike. The fight went the distance and the judges were called upon to render a verdict. They were split in their scores, with Bittencourt eking out the win.

Former strawweight champion Valesca Machado gave Brazilian newcomer Yasmin Castanho a rude welcome to the Invicta cage with a dominant performance. A heavy right hand from Machado wobbled Castanho less than a minute into the fight. Castanho changed levels for a takedown, but was stuffed by Machado. A counter right from Machado again connected and Castanho tumbled to her back. She recovered, but was greeted by an uppercut from the former champ. Another takedown attempt from Castanho was shut down and she walked into a stiff right hand from Machado. The takedown defense of Machado held true throughout the opening frame. Machado closed the range with confidence in round two, countering each kick attempt from Castanho with a right hand. She continued to stuff every shot from Castanho. An overhand right, then left hook from Machado had Castanho on her back foot. Castanho desperately clung to a single in the round’s final seconds and brought the fight to the ground for the first time, but Machado prevented her from gaining a dominant position. The right hand of Machado landed over and over, as Castanho’s defense waned. Castanho attempted to pull guard after a failed takedown attempt, but Machado did not follow her to the ground. Machado punished Castanho’s final takedown effort with a series of elbows and punches. There was no doubt on the scorecards as Machado swept them all to earn the decision victory.

In an atomweight match-up Mexico’s Ana Palacios and Brazilian Monique Adriane looked to move closer to title shot at the other’s expense. The pair looked to find their range early in the bout. Adriane was the first to connect, sending Palacios to the canvas with a well-timed strike. The Mexican popped back to her feet and began to throw kicks to Adriane’s midsection and legs. Adriane caught a kick attempt from Palacios and dumped her back to the ground momentarily. Palacios scored with a heavy body kick late in the round that stunned Adriane. She followed it with a switch kick to the opposite side. Palacios showcased her speed in round two, scoring with quick combinations before Adriane could counter. The body kicks from Palacios continued to find their mark as the round progressed and Adriane’s frustration was evident. Adriane latched onto a single-leg attempt, but was peppered with short punches from Palacios, who remained upright. The last round mimicked the earlier rounds as the movement of Palacios forced Adriane to chase and prevented her from firing punches. The output from Palacios remained constant and Adriane became desperate late in the fight. She repeatedly failed on takedown attempts and the fight was sent to the judges for a decision. All three judges rewarded Palacios for her efforts, moving her into title contention.

The first Invicta bout inside the state of Georgia took place in the strawweight ranks as undefeated Chilean Fernanda Orellana met Ashley Barrett. Barrett quickly clinched in the fight’s opening minute and delivered knees to the midsection of Orellana. Orellana fired back with an elbow as the pair separated, but absorbed a massive right hand from Barrett that dropped her. Barrett looked to capitalize and scored a takedown. Orellana scrambled and turned the fight in her favor, taking Barrett’s back and locking in a rear-naked choke. Barrett survived the choke attempt, but was forced to defend an armbar from Orellana. The round concluded with Orellana looking for a guillotine choke, but she was unable to finish. A spinning backfist from Orellana greeted Barrett to start the second round, but the American was undeterred and took the fight to the clinch. Orellana delivered knees of her own. Barrett locked onto a head-and-arm throw and brought Orellana down to the mat. Orellana continued to show an active guard from her back, applying an armbar and briefly extending. Barrett fought free from the hold and finished the round on the back of Orellana. The fight’s final frame featured a quick throw from Barrett and she attacked with an arm-triangle from half guard. Orellana was able to bridge from her back and recover her guard. Barrett found herself in another armbar midway through the round, but the cage prevented Orellana from fully extending her arm. Barrett’s wrestling allowed her to escape and secure top position, but it was short lived as Orellana took her back. Orellana fished for the fight-finishing rear-naked choke and coerced a late tap from Barrett.

A scheduled featherweight bout between Riley Martinez and Jackie Cataline was removed from the card due to a medical issue.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jennifer Maia def. Talita Bernardo by unanimous decision (49-46 x3) – for bantamweight title
Paula Bittencourt def. Alejandra Lara by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Valesca Machado def. Yasmin Castanho by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ana Palacios def. Monique Adriane by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Fernanda Orellana def. Ashley Barrett by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 4:24

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.

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Invicta FC 58 Results: Ducote Submits Ostroverkhova, Leonardo Taps Torres

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Wednesday, Nov. 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 58: Ducote vs. Ostroverkhova from Memorial Hall.

The main event saw former strawweight champion Emily Ducote get back in the win column with a submission victory over Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova. After a thundering leg kick from Ducote, Ostroverkhova countered with a punching combination. Ducote returned the favor, countering with a right hand of her own. Ostroverkhova attacked the body of Ducote with a hook to keep the former champion guessing. Another heavy kick from Ducote battered the lead leg of the Russian. From the clinch, Ducote fired an elbow flush to Ostroverkhova’s temple, but absorbed more punches as they separated. The two combatants exchanged willingly from boxing range, with both fighters landing power shots late in the round. The second frame began much like the first ended, as both fighters fired in the pocket. Ducote timed a level change perfectly, powering Ostroverkhova to the mat with a double-leg takedown. From the half guard, Ducote looked to set up an arm-triangle, forcing Ostroverkhova to give up mount. From the dominant position, Ducote threw slicing elbows and kept her hips heavy. Ostroverkhova tried to bridge from the bottom, but Ducote locked on a fight-finishing armbar that forced the Russian to submit.

In her return to the Invicta cage, flyweight Victoria Leonardo met Brazilian Amanda Torres. After a brief feeling out period, Torres caught Leonardo flush with a right hand that stunned her. Leonardo responded by attacking the midsection of Torres with kicks. The flyweights settled in and began trading striking combinations from inside the pocket. Leonardo just missed with a wheel kick attempt. Leonardo stayed aggressive, powering Torres to the ground and delivering a flurry of punches to close the round. Torres began the second round with more urgency. Leonardo mixed in kicks and jabs to keep the Brazilian guessing. The volume of Torres increased throughout the round and she caught Leonardo with a heavy left hand. A spinning backfist from Torres found its mark, forcing Leonardo into a brief takedown. A stiff left from Leonardo wobbled Torres and the fight moved to the clinch. Torres fired a head kick that Leonardo barely evaded. Leonardo earned an early takedown in the fight’s final round. During the ensuing scramble, she pulled Torres on top of her, but used a leg lock attempt to gain top position and the half guard. Torres regained her guard and sought a triangle choke, but Leonardo showcased her veteran savvy, passing to full mount. She locked on an armbar and Torres had not choice but to tap.

Returning veteran Shanna Young gave Paraguay’s Pámela Bóveda a rude welcome to the organization in a bantamweight fight. Young wasted no time, unleashing a vicious barrage of punches and kicks. She backed Bóveda to the fence and rained punches, forcing the referee to stop the contest less than a minute into the bout. The 23-second TKO was the fastest finish in Invicta bantamweight history.

Featherweights Zurina Turrey and Joy Pendell made their Invicta debuts looking to make their mark on the division. Pendell quickly attacked the lead leg of Turrey with push kicks. She followed with a question-mark kick, but Turrey was undeterred. A straight right from Turrey was answered by a clinch from Pendell. Turrey struggled to peel Pendell off of her against the cage. After the referee briefly intervened, the fight immediately returned to the clinch and remained there for the rest of the round. Turrey battered the legs of Pendell to start the second round. Pendell clinched and worked hard for a single-leg takedown. The takedown defense of Turrey withstood the test and she punished Pendell with punches and knees. Pendell hung onto Turrey and tried to drag her down, to no avail. When Pendell clinched in round three, Turrey spun her to the fence and the pair jostled for position. Pendell finally secured a takedown, but she was unable to keep Turrey on her back. Turrey delivered heavy body shots and punches to the thigh of Pendell. Turrey landed a massive left hook in the fight’s waning seconds, but the grueling battle was sent to the judges. All three scored the bout in favor of Turrey, who moved to 5-1 with the win.

Kick off the main card, Colombia’s Sayury Cañon took on Mexico’s Abril Anguiano in a strawweight affair. Anguiano controlled the range early with her jab and footwork. Cañon delivered a heavy right hand and sought a takedown. Another massive right hand from Cañon rocked Anguiano. Despite a large hematoma on her forehead, Anguiano used her boxing experience to weather the storm from Cañon. Anguiano used long punches to force Cañon to retreat. It was short-lived as Cañon fired back with a flurry of her own late in the frame. In round two, Cañon changed levels with her punches, peppering the body of Anguiano. Anguiano remained patient, staying at range to counter Cañon’s aggression. Cañon sought a takedown, but it was shrugged off by Anguiano. A vicious uppercut from Anguiano was followed by a heavy leg kick to slow Cañon’s advance. Both fighters threw with volume to open the third round. Cañon briefly scored with a trip along the cage, but Anguiano bounced back to her feet. Anguiano worked the body of the Colombian. Cañon connected with a stiff jab and the lip of Anguiano was split open. Cañon worked for a late takedown to narrowly seal the deal on the scorecards, as she claimed the split verdict from the judges.

Unbeaten flyweight Zoe Nowicki clashed with debuting Polish newcomer Barbara Grabowska in the night’s final preliminary-card bout. Nowicki stalked Grabowska across the cage and briefly clinched. She then connected with a right hand and looked for a single-leg takedown. Grabowska defended before firing back with a combination of her own. The right hand of Grabowska became a piston, popping back the head of Nowicki. A reckless advance from Nowicki resulted in absorbing a massive left hook and a failed takedown attempt. Nowicki continued to test the takedown defense of Grabowska, but could not bring her to the mat. The American remained aggressive in round two, pushing forward and aiming to take Grabowska down. The flyweights traded knees in the clinch before Grabowska broke free. Midway through the frame, Nowicki went for an ankle pick and briefly brought Grabowska to the canvas. Grabowska scrambled free but absorbed a flurry of punches from Nowicki. The aggression of Nowicki resulted in a late takedown to close the stanza. The fight quickly found the clinch in round three, with Nowicki forcing Grabowska to the cage. The Polish fighter was able to separate and return to landing boxing combinations. A steady stream of knees from Grabowska prevented Nowicki from taking her down, but a late level change from Nowicki secured a double-leg takedown and she stuck to Grabowska like glue. The judges were called upon for a verdict and it was Nowicki claiming the hard-fought decision victory.

The night opened with an atomweight match-up between undefeated athletes Magdalena Czaban and Hope Holmes. The pair traded kicks as they looked to establish striking range. A right straight from Czaban connected, prompting a flurry from Holmes. Czaban clinched along the fence, but Holmes was able to spin free. The southpaw Holmes began to frustrate Czaban with kicks, but the Polish fighter scored with a big throw and landed in the top position. Holmes was active with her guard, preventing Czaban from mounting offense. Round two began with more kicks before Czaban changed levels and scored a trip takedown. Holmes briefly attacked with a guillotine. Czaban opened a large gash on the cheek of Holmes with an elbow. Czaban looked for a ninja choke, prompting Holmes to drop to the mat. That was unsuccessful, as Czaban transitioned and sunk the choke deeper and coerced the tap with a modified guillotine.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Emily Ducote def. Yulia Ostroverkhova by submission (armbar). Round 2, 3:53
Victoria Leonardo def. Amanda Torres by submission (armbar). Round 3, 1:56
Shanna Young def. Pámela Bóveda by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 0:23
Zurina Turrey def. Joy Pendell by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sayury Cañon def. Abril Anguiano by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Zoe Nowicki def. Barbara Grabowska by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Magdalena Czaban def. Hope Holmes by submission (guillotine choke). Round 2, 2:42

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.

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Invicta FC 57 Results: Ferreira Outduels Romero To Capture Atomweight Title

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Friday, Sept. 20, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero from Memorial Hall. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

In the night’s main event, a new atomweight champion was crowned as Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira bested fellow Brazilian Andressa Romero. Ferreira cracked Romero with multiple low kicks and then a big right hand. She followed it with a massive slam. Romero got back to her feet but was forced to defend a choke attempt. Romero clinched and tried to take Ferreira to the mat. Ferreira punished her with knees and punches to the body. A beautiful foot sweep by Ferreira sent Romero crashing into a right hand then a massive left hook. Ferreira scrambled to take Romero’s back, but ended up on her back in the ensuing transition. A straight right hand from Romero greeted Ferreira to start round two. She fired back and quickly clinched. Romero landed knees and elbows on her own. Ferreira tried to power into a takedown and Romero locked her hands for a guillotine attempt. There was no panic from Ferreira, who maintained her takedown attempt and eventually earned it. She looked to take Romero’s back, but found herself with her back to the mat once more. Ferreira’s jab found a home to start the third frame. A counter right hand from Romero also landed as the two Brazilians traded punches in the center of the cage. Romero pressed hard for a single, even lifting Ferreira off the canvas, but could not finish the takedown. Ferreira connected with a punch-knee combination as the round expired. The fourth round featured both fighters throwing with reckless abandon. They repeatedly landed power strikes from inside boxing range. Ferreira scored with an outside trip, but gave up the advantageous position to attempt a guillotine. Romero worked from the top, grapevining the legs of Ferreira, but could not pass the guard. Ferreira used a heel hook attempt to get back to the feet. Much like round four, the final round opened with a wild exchange with both fighters landing heavy punches. Ferreira delivered a takedown along the fence, but Romero sprung back to her feet. There was no quit in either fighter as they battered one another until the final bell. The judges were called upon for a final time of the night and it was Ferreira who left with gold around her waist.

The co-main event featured a flyweight clash between former title challenger Kristina Williams and Brazilian newcomer Nayara Maia. Williams went straight to work with a flurry of punches. An awkward exchange saw Maia buckle to the canvas holding her knee. The Brazilian tried to power through the pain, but could not continue, handing Williams the 31-second win.

In the 500th bout in promotional history, veteran flyweights DeAnna Bennett and Liz Tracy renewed a rivalry that began at Phoenix Tournament 2. Tracy fired quick combinations, but allowed Bennett to catch a kick and dump her to the ground. Tracy used the cage to regain her footing to no avail, as Bennett took her down again. When Tracy rolled, Bennett moved to her back. The wrestling transitions from Bennett kept Tracy guessing. Tracy separated late in the round and then changed levels for a takedown attempt. Bennett stuffed it and turned her to the cage. Round two opened with the two veterans trading punching combinations. Bennett delivered an uppercut as Tracy ducked her jab. Another kick from Tracy was caught by Bennett and she took her down momentarily. Tracy continued to march forward and mix in low kicks. Bennett circled at range, getting in and out of the pocket at will. The pair jostled for position to close the frame. The right hand of Bennett suddenly became a piston to start the third. She cracked Tracy multiple times. Tracy drove into a takedown attempt and she looked to lace the legs of Bennett. Bennett swung with backwards elbows that jarred the head of Tracy. Tracy expended a ton of energy trying to get Bennett down but was unable to do so. The pair smiled at one another in the waning seconds and they traded to the final bell. Much like the first meeting, Bennett took home the decision victory.

Veteran flyweights Milana Dudieva and Sandra Lavado kicked off the night’s main card with a back-and-forth affair. Both fighters kept a high guard early, as each looked for an opening. Lavado found success with her outside leg kick, which prevented Dudieva from stepping into her punches. Midway through the first round, Dudieva changed levels and looked for a takedown. Lavado defended initially, but succumbed to a throw from the judoka. Dudieva first worked from the scarf hold position, then switched to side control, and then back mount. She sunk in a choke and squeezed hard for a finish, but Lavado managed to escape and get back to her feet. Lavado was patient to start round two, finding a home for her right hand through the defense of Dudieva. The Russian fighter clinched to work her grappling game only for Lavado to shrug her off. After trading overhand rights, Dudieva powered into the clinch and looked for a takedown. A sweeping leg kick from Dudieva greeted Lavado in round three, nearly sending her to the ground. The pair resumed their chess match on the feet, with each struggling to land through the other’s defense. Dudieva tried to clinch but failed to get the Peruvian down initially. After transitioning to a single and lifting high, Dudieva put Lavado on her back. Lavado worked hard to stand, only for Dudieva to score with another throw and land in the scarf hold again. The fight went the distance, with Dudieva claiming the hard-fought decision victory.

Australian featherweight Jamie Edenden ruined the night of her fellow debutant Abby Montes, claiming victory after three grueling rounds. The bout began with series of inside leg kicks from both fighters to gauge the distance. Edenden was the first to sit down on a punch, cracking Montes with a right hand. The countering ability of the Aussie was on display as she peppered the head of Montes with power shots. Montes opted to clinch to slow Edenden’s attack. In round two, the pair bit down on their mouthpieces and openly traded in the center of the cage. Montes again initiated a clinch, but it was Edenden who looked to change levels. When they separated, Montes marched down Edenden relentlessly, absorbing punches along the way. Montes threw leg kicks with a purpose in round three and delivered heavy punches of her own. Edenden scored with a right hand to the midsection of Montes. The Australian mixed up her levels with her punches, keeping Montes guessing. When the fight returned to the clinch, Edenden looked for a single, but was unable to finish it. Montes sought a late takedown of her own and Edenden punished her with elbows. The judges were called upon to render a verdict and it was Edenden who claimed the decision nod.

In a battle of bantamweights, Canada’s Maria Djukic squared off with Mexico’s Maria Favela. After a brief feeling-out period to find range, Djukic took control with a big combination that stunned Favela. A devastating right hand from the Canadian found the jaw of Favela, sending her to the ground. The referee quickly stepped in to hand Djukic the 57-second TKO win.

Chilean strawweight Fernanda Orellana spoiled the Invicta return of Meaghan Penning with a lopsided decision victory. Penning pinned Orellana to the cage and worked for underhooks. Orellana fired short knees to the midsection of Penning. She spun Penning to the fence and scored with elbow strikes. Penning worked tirelessly for a takedown, but it did not come. Late in the round, Orellana scored with a beautiful hip toss and finished the round in top position. A counter right hand from Orellana greeted Penning to start round two, but she quickly answered with a front kick that caught the Chilean off balance. Penning returned to the clinch and stuck to Orellana like glue. She eventually pulled guard and Orellana wasted little time posturing up to rain strikes. Penning fished for an armbar and then a triangle choke from her back, but Orellana was wise to the submission attempts. Orellana dropped heavy strikes to Penning’s face to close the stanza. Penning came out firing an onslaught of kicks in the third round. When that proved ineffective, Penning clinched and pulled guard in the center of the cage. Penning desperately sought an armbar from the bottom, but Orellana escaped. Orellana continued to punish Penning with punches and elbows from the top. There was no doubt on the scorecards as all three judges rewarded Orellana for her efforts.

The event opened with a strawweight match-up between Quinn Williams and Brazilian Ana Vitória. Williams connected a heavy right hand as Vitória barreled forward, then drove Vitória to the mat. Vitória showed an active guard and Williams let her stand. Vitória delivered a punch combination before diving for a single-leg takedown. Williams kept herself upright, spinning Vitória to the cage. A heavy right from Williams created a massive hematoma on the forehead of the Brazilian. Williams again brought the fight to the ground and worked from side control. A submission attempt from Williams allowed Vitória to gain top position, but only briefly as Williams powered back to side control as the first round closed. A jumping knee from Williams backed Vitória to the fence early in round two. She responded quickly, dumping Williams to the canvas. Williams again displayed her strength, reversing the position. A choke attempts from Williams was defended well by Vitória, but she could not escape the top control of the American. The final frame featured a grueling battle for position along the cage, as both fighters jostled for position. Williams scored with clinch knees, prompting Vitória to pull the action the mat. The confidence of Williams grew with every strike and she cruised to the clear-cut decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Andressa Romero by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Kristina Williams def. Nayara Maia by TKO (injury). Round 1, 0:31
DeAnna Bennett def. Liz Tracy by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Milana Dudieva def. Sandra Lavado by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jamie Edenden def. Abby Montes by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Maria Djukic def. Maria Favela by TKO (punches). Round 1, 0:57
Fernanda Orellana def. Meaghan Penning by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Quinn Williams def. Ana Vitória by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

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.

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Invicta FC 56 Results: Maia Bests Cantuária to Earn Bantamweight Title Shot

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DENVER – On Friday, Aug. 9, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City for Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária. The event took place from Stockyards Event Center and the night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

In the main event, former flyweight champion Jennifer Maia made a successful return to the organization, besting fellow Brazilian Mayra Cantuária in a bantamweight contest. Cantuária fired combinations from her southpaw stance that the veteran Maia evaded. Maia ducked under a punch and Cantuária clinched. The pair exchanged heavy punches inside the pocket with a crisp left hook from Maia having the most impact. Cantuária found the mark with a straight left. Maia stayed inside range and answered with punches of her own. A body kick from Maia surprised Cantuária. She delivered a short right hook that caught Maia clean. Maia stumbled, then clinched as the frame ended. Round two opened with a flurry of punches from Maia and a head-kick attempt. Cantuária nodded with respect after just moving out of the way. A short right hand from Cantuária greeted Maia as she moved into range. Cantuária began to showboat from the success she found on the feet. Maia landed a crisp combo and Cantuária powered forward with reckless abandon. Another head kick from Maia was blocked by Cantuária. Maia landed with volume late in the round and fended off a takedown attempt from Cantuária. With the fight in the balance, Maia dug deep and pressured her less experienced opponent. She regularly slipped the punches of Cantuária and connected with counters. The pair exchanged wildly along the fence after Cantuária briefly slipped. The Brazilians never stopped trading in the bout’s final minute and the judges were called upon for a final time. The veteran Maia had her hand raised to set up a future bout with current bantamweight champion Talita Bernardo.

Former strawweight champion Valesca Machado gave Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova a rude welcome to the Invicta cage in the evening’s co-main event. Machado clipped Ostroverkhova with a left hook in the fight’s first striking exchange. She followed it with a long jab to keep Ostroverkhova at range. Ostroverkhova answered with a low kick and clinch knee. Machado connected with a massive right hand that wobbled the legs of the Russian. She flurried with punches along the fence, but did not get overanxious. Machado peppered Ostroverkhova with single shots while Ostroverkhova recovered from the early trouble. She missed with a superman punch and Machado landed an overhand right in response. Another left hook from the Brazilian wobbled Ostroverkhova again late in the round. Machado landed a heavy shot to open round two but continued to be patient with her offense. She countered an Ostroverkhova jab with a perfect right hand. The pair clinched and Machado muscled the newcomer to the ground. Machado mixed in left hands and right elbows from the half guard. Ostroverkhova tried to tie up the former champion from the bottom, but Machado stayed busy until the round expired. Ostroverkhova came forward with purpose to start the final stanza. That aggression worked against her though, as Machado put her on her back. After a lengthy time on the ground, the fight returned to the feet and both fighters scored with punches. A body kick from Ostroverkhova was caught by Machado and she pinned her against the fence. A head-and-arm throw from Machado saw Ostroverkhova stuck in a scarf hold as the fight concluded. There were no doubts on the scorecards as Machado swept every round.

Jackie Cataline put the first blemish on the record of Brazilian featherweight Kelly Ottoni with a third-round TKO finish. Cataline scored with a hook and Ottoni smiled at her. Cataline followed with more punches before securing underhooks and then a takedown. The wrestling stalwart stayed heavy on top, preventing Ottoni from generating offense. Cataline worked for a D’arce, but Ottoni was wise to it and escaped. Cataline finished the round on top. Round two featured an immediate takedown from Cataline. Ottoni fished for a leg from bottom position, but Cataline firmly maintained control. The fight returned to the feet and Cataline connected with a crisp right hand. She pushed Ottoni to the cage and sliced her open with an elbow. Cataline earned another takedown, passed to mount and dropped heavy shots. She looked for a late armbar as the horn sounded. The doctor checked on Ottoni between rounds, but the fight was allowed to continue. Cataline opened up with her hands, battering the face of the Brazilian. Ottoni showed heart, answering with punches of her own. When Cataline had enough, she lifted Ottoni high in the air and slammed her violently to the mat. The American locked on an arm-triangle but could not find the finish from the choke. A flurry of punches, however, were too much for Ottoni and the referee rewarded Cataline with the stoppage victory.

Promotional newcomers Paula Bittencourt and Kate Bacik wasted little time feeling each other out in their bantamweight bout as both rushed to the center of the cage. Bacik delivered a heavy body kick that Bittencourt caught and answered with a straight right that sent Bacik to the canvas. Bittencourt allowed the Brit to stand and the pair continued their wild exchange. Bittencourt clinched for a moment before Bacik broke free and scored with front kicks. Bittencourt’s pace slowed as the round progressed, and she again looked to clinch. Bacik’s leg kicks took a toll on the right leg of Bittencourt, but the Brazilian was still able to land a heavy right hand as the round came to a close. Bacik marched forward recklessly in round two and was dumped to the ground by Bittencourt. The Brazilian could not keep Bacik on her back and when the pair returned to standing, it was Bacik who earned a takedown. Bacik pressed Bittencourt against the cage and landed with knees. Bittencourt spun free and unleashed a string of punishing right hands. She powered into a late takedown and finished the round in top position. With the fight still up for grabs in the third round, it was Bacik who stayed busy on the feet initially. Bittencourt responded with a takedown along the fence. Bacik attacked from the bottom with short elbows, but Bittencourt stayed heavy on top. The Brazilian spammed left hands. Bacik worked back to her feet late and the fight was sent to the scorecards. The judges were split in their verdict, with Bacik walking away with a hard-earned victory.

The main card opened with a match-up between Mexican atomweights as Flor Hernandez welcomed Ana Palacios to the organization. It was a tentative start for the countrywomen, as they looked to find their range and exploit an opening in the other’s defense. Palacios showcased a speed advantage, evading the strikes of her taller counterpart. Hernandez was undeterred by the misses, marching forward and maintaining the center of the cage. Late in the frame, Palacios ducked under a punch from Hernandez and initiated the clinch. The pair exchanged short knees and jostled for head position in a grueling battle. The second round began with an onslaught of kicks from Palacios. She entered the pocket and traded punches with Hernandez, who used her size to score a pair of powerful shots. Palacios briefly clinched once more and fired off a series of punches as she exited to the center of the cage. Despite her smaller stature, Palacios managed distance well, connecting with heavy body kicks and avoiding the front kicks of Hernandez. A great level change from Palacios led to the fight’s first takedown and she postured up from the full guard to score with punches as the round expired. The effective kicking game of Palacios continued in the final frame. Hernandez’s frustration was apparent as she struggled to land strikes. Palacios took her down midway through the round and took her back. Hernandez powered out of the vicarious position and took the back of Palacios. A late armbar attempt from Palacios was the fight’s final action before the judges were asked to decide a winner. All three scored the bout in favor of Palacios.

Brazilian atomweight Giulliany Perêa impressed in her first Invicta appearance, outworking Mexico’s Ailed Zubieta. Zubieta landed a combination in the fight’s first exchange, leading to Perêa to shoot for a takedown. Zubieta stuffed the initial attempt, but Perêa powered the pair to the ground and gained top position. The Mexican remained calm and scrambled to her feet, only for Perêa to secure a single-leg and drag her back to the ground. Perêa was patient from the top, delivering heavy punches from inside the guard. Zubieta again tried to scramble back to her feet, but Perêa took her back with both hooks. Zubieta recovered her half guard momentarily, as Perêa dropped back for a kneebar. Zubieta defended well and the Brazilian abandoned the submission as the round came to a close. Zubieta crushed the body of Perêa with a kick to open round two, but Perêa drove into another takedown. She moved to the back and applied a body-triangle. Zubieta escaped and took the back of Perêa in the ensuing scramble. Perêa wore Zubieta like a backpack against the fence for quite some time before escaping and driving Zubieta back to the mat. Round three began similarly to the second, as Perêa found top position in the opening seconds. She fired elbows to the legs of Zubieta to open the Mexican’s guard. Perêa offered Zubieta a steady diet of left hands and knees to the rib. She used the strikes to set up a kimura attempt, but could not coerce a tap. The judges were called upon for the first time and they rendered a unanimous verdict for Perêa.

Featherweights collided when Ali Pellegrini met Marissa Ellis. Pellegrini went straight to work with kicks, using her length to frustrate Ellis. Ellis remained aggressive with her advance, which allowed Pellegrini to score a takedown and move to her back. The Washington-based fighter transitioned to a body-triangle and then went to work on a rear-naked choke. The veteran Ellis remained calm to survive the choke attempt and the round. In the second stanza, Ellis marched forward and willingly exchanged with the taller Pellegrini. Ellis ripped a thundering kick to the midsection of Pellegrini, who quickly drove into a takedown. Pellegrini moved to mount and rained elbows. Ellis again gave up her back and Pellegrini searched for a choke along the cage. Pellegrini put Ellis’s back to the mat and dropped more elbows from mount, but could not find the finish. Pellegrini capitalized on the desperation of Ellis early in round three, using a body lock to drop her to the canvas and take the back. This time, Ellis could not defend and Pellegrini claimed victory in her professional debut.

The night’s action kicked off with a flyweight contest between professional debutants Ashley Barrett and Tatiana Salazar. Salazar found range quickly, landing a sharp jab and crisp hook. That prompted Barrett to clinch, push the Nicaraguan to the cage and take her to the mat. Barrett immediately moved to mount and unleashed a flurry of punches. The onslaught was too much for Salazar and the referee stepped in to save her just 94 seconds into the bout.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jennifer Maia def. Mayra Cantuária by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Valesca Machado def. Yulia Ostroverkhova by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jackie Cataline def. Kelly Ottoni by TKO (punches). Round 3, 3:15
Kate Bacik def. Paula Bittencourt by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ana Palacios def. Flor Hernandez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Giulliany Perêa def. Ailed Zubieta by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ali Pellegrini def. Marissa Ellis by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 1:14
Ashley Barrett def. Tatiana Salazar by TKO (punches). Round 1, 1:34

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.

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Invicta FC 55 Results: Bernardo Submits Rubin to Retain Bantamweight Title

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – On Friday, June 28, Invicta Fighting Championships touched down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City for Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

The Invicta bantamweight belt remains around the waist of Brazilian Talita Bernardo, who submitted challenger Olga Rubin in the second round of their title bout. Rubin stalked Bernardo early as the bantamweights exchanged range-finding kicks. Bernardo ducked under a right hand from Rubin and took the fight to the ground. Rubin applied a buggy choke from the bottom, but Bernardo patiently worked her way free and to top position. A series of right hands from Bernardo forced Rubin to scramble. Bernardo used a body lock to drag Rubin to the mat. She quickly moved to back mount and began to work for a rear-naked choke. Rubin arched her back to defend the submission and eventually spun into the guard of the Brazilian. Late in the round, it was Rubin who took the back of Bernardo and opened a large cut near the right eye. A left head kick from Rubin greeted Bernardo to start the second round. Bernardo absorbed it and took Rubin to the mat. Rubin landed an upkick but gave up her back in the ensuing scramble. Bernardo again went to work on a rear-naked choke, eventually locking it in and coercing the tap from the challenger.

Returning to where her career started, Californian strawweight Kay Hansen looked to get back into contention when she faced off with undefeated Colombian Sayury Cañon. Hansen scored with a quick right hand and immediately launched into a big takedown. She climbed on the back of Cañon and looked for a choke. Cañon used the cage to her advantage and escaped the position. Hansen shot for another takedown but went for a ride as Cañon slammed her to the mat. When the pair returned to striking, Hansen set up another takedown and again moved to Cañon’s back. The Colombian did well to avoid letting Hansen secure her hooks for a moment, but eventually succumbed to the UFC veteran’s pressure. Hansen rained right hands and worked to flatten out Cañon, but could not find a finish before the bell. A spinning backfist attempt from Cañon opened the second frame and turned it into a takedown. Hansen scrambled to a dominant position and again looked to set up a submission. Cañon escaped to her feet and peppered Hansen with her jab. A big flurry from Cañon prompted Hansen to tie her up and slam her back to the canvas. It was short-lived as Cañon bounced back to her feet. In the final frame, Hansen wasted little time closing the distance and pushing Cañon against the fence. Cañon looked for heavy punches at range, forcing Hansen to clinch again. Hansen fired a step-in, upward elbow that surprised Cañon. The Colombian responded with a massive slam in the center of the cage. Hansen worked hard in the clinch before unleashing a late onslaught of kicks. The competitive affair went to the scorecards and it was Hansen who eked out the split-decision victory after three, hard-fought rounds.

Promotional newcomer Andressa Romero of Brazil spoiled the Invicta and North American debut of Japanese atomweight Saori Oshima. Oshima flurried forward to initiate the clinch in the opening moments of the bout, but it was Romero who spun her to the cage. She looked for a body lock which allowed Oshima to briefly attack her neck. Oshima used the choke attempt to transition to a kimura and flip Romero to the mat. Romero did not panic in the precarious position, but Oshima again rolled her to move to top position. She quickly transitioned to the back with both hooks. Romero looked to spin into top position but was forced to defend an armbar attempt from the Japanese fighter. Romero worked her way free momentarily, only for Oshima to attack her other arm. Romero opened up with her hands in round two to try and slow Oshima’s advance. Oshima marched forward absorbing punches before changing levels and pulling Romero on top of her. After a short grappling exchange, Romero opted to return to her feet and stay out of Oshima’s guard. The pair willingly traded power shots in the pocket before Oshima again pulled Romero on top of her. The Brazilian dropped heavy right hands from the top until the round closed. Oshima looked for an immediate takedown to open the last round. Romero tried to set up an arm-triangle from the top before Oshima recovered her guard. As the fight returned to the feet, Oshima chased Romero around the cage to secure a short clinch. Romero teed off with right hands late in the bout. A late takedown from Oshima had little effect, as she was unable to mount any offense. When the scorecards were read, it was Romero who walked away with the victory to move into contention at 105 pounds.

Kicking off the action on the CBS Sports main card, Taylor Guardado made her Invicta FC return opposite Japan’s Yoko Hagashi in a bantamweight affair. Higashi scored with a quick right hand before barreling forward for a takedown attempt. Guardado side-stepped the attempt and delivered a thundering right hand of her own. Higashi changed levels, but Guardado stuffed her and jumped on her back. She secured both hooks and sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke in just 83 seconds.

Closing out the preliminary-card action, Brazilian atomweight Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira took on Canada’s Katie Saull. Ferreira quickly caught a kick from Saull and forced her to the mat. She postured up along the fence to deliver heavy left hands. Saull was active with her guard, but allowed Ferreira to move to her back and lace in one hook. The left hands from Ferreira continue to rain down on Saull. Ferreira quickly jumped on the back and looked for a rear-naked choke, but Saull was able to spin out of the submission and into top position. Ferreira was aggressive from her back, frequently threatening to lock up Saull’s arm. The second stanza opened with a more measured pace on the feet. Saull shot for a takedown, but Ferreira stuffed it and reversed position. A left elbow from Saull connected clean to the temple of Ferreira. The Brazilian stuck to Saull like glue along the fence. Saull broke free late in the round. Ferreira opened round three with a heavy right hook to Saull’s midsection. Saull returned fire with a teep kick to Ferreira’s stomach. The pair traded more kicks, with neither truly taking control of the range. A crisp right from Ferreira got through Saull’s guard with a minute left in the fight. A left hand from Saull found its mark late, but the judges were called upon for a verdict. All three rendered a win for Ferreira, who called for a title shot in her post-fight interview.

In a battle of amateur world champions, American Zoe Nowicki collided with Brazilian Josiane Oliveira in a flyweight bout. Oliveira popped the head of Nowicki early with a jab as she looked to find her range. Nowicki was undeterred, marching forward and scoring with a heavy right hand. A level change from the American led to a wild scramble. Oliveira delivered a spinning heel kick that wowed the crowd, but Nowicki absorbed the strike well. Nowicki fired a booming overhand right that landed clean to the left eye of Oliveira. Late in the round, Nowicki utilized her wresting pedigree to score the fight’s first takedown. In round two, Oliveira used her length to keep Nowicki on the outside. Another overhand from Nowicki missed the mark as Oliveira was able to evade. A takedown from Nowicki was stuffed by the Brazilian, who followed with a wheel kick attempt. The final frame began slowly, as both fighters looked for openings. Nowicki was the first to find one, cracking Oliveira with another right hand. She powered into a single-leg and earned a brief takedown. The pressure of Nowicki took its toll as the fight progressed. Oliveira’s offensive output waned in the closing moments. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Nowicki claimed the unanimous decision nod.

The night opened with a flyweight match-up between Mexico’s Violeta Mendoza and the debuting Fallon Johnson. The pair exchanged heavy low kicks before Mendoza started to open up with punches. Johnson looked for the clinch, but it was Mendoza who gained top position on the ground. The Mexican moved to half guard, but was unable to mount any significant offense. The fight returned to the feet and Mendoza again landed heavy punches. Mendoza caught a kick and delivered a massive right hand that dropped Johnson. She flurried with punches to get the first-round TKO victory and move to 2-0.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Talita Bernardo def. Olga Rubin by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:53 – for bantamweight title
Kay Hansen def. Sayury Cañon by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andressa Romero def. Saori Oshima by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Taylor Guardado def. Yoko Higashi by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:23
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Zoe Nowicki def. Josiane Oliveira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Violeta Mendoza def. Fallon Johnson by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:16

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.

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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 53 Results: Dos Santos Dethrones DeCoursey to Capture Atomweight Belt

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DENVER — On Wednesday, May 3, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City, hosting Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos from ReelWorks Denver.

Rayanne dos Santos is now the third Brazilian fighter to hold the atomweight title, after dethroning Jillian DeCoursey over five, hard-fought rounds. Both fighters flicked their jab early to gauge range. A head kick attempt from DeCoursey caught the gloves of the evading Brazilian. A counter left from dos Santos found the mark and DeCoursey retreated. A flurry from dos Santos finished with a slapping leg kick. The speed of dos Santos was apparent in the exchanges, but DeCoursey was undeterred. A looping right hand from DeCoursey allowed dos Santos to drop levels and drive into a takedown. It was short lived as DeCoursey sprung to her feet and pinned dos Santos against the fence. DeCoursey locked her hands for a double-leg and dumped dos Santos to the mat, but was forced to defend a guillotine attempt as the round came to a conclusion. DeCoursey began round two with a straight right hand and drove dos Santos to the fence. Dos Santos spun DeCoursey and dropped for a takedown, only for DeCoursey to hit a switch. After jostling in the clinch, the pair separated to reveal a cut above the left brow of DeCoursey. A massive left hand stunned DeCoursey and dos Santos followed with a pair of rights. DeCoursey instinctively dove for a takedown, which dos Santos stuffed. The Brazilian moved to top position along the fence and punished DeCoursey from half guard. Dos Santos scrambled to the back of DeCoursey as the frame expired. Confidence oozed from dos Santos to start the third round. She marched forward and kept DeCoursey on the back foot. DeCoursey remained composed and looked for openings. Dos Santos tried to flurry against the cage for a second time, but DeCoursey defended well. DeCoursey opened up her kicking arsenal and began to frustrate the Brazilian. The momentum shift was obvious to start the fourth as it was DeCoursey coming forward. Dos Santos answered with an overhand right to keep DeCoursey honest. A deep single-leg attempt from DeCoursey was unsuccessful, as dos Santos scrambled to her back. As DeCoursey tried to escape, dos Santos moved to half guard. She finished the round on DeCoursey’s back. Dos Santos flicked her jab to start round five and then marched right through a head kick attempt from DeCoursey. She flurried along the cage as she kept her foot on the gas. DeCoursey fired punches, hoping to secure a comeback. Dos Santos did not give her the opportunity, calmly throwing combinations at range. A late head kick from DeCoursey clipped dos Santos, but it was too little, too late for the American. Dos Santos celebrated wildly as the final horn sounded. The result was not in question as the scorecards were read, giving dos Santos the title.

Bantamweights Olga Rubin and Claire Guthrie fought hard to establish themselves as the No. 1 contender in the night’s co-main event. Rubin came out firing a variety of strikes. Guthrie closed the distance and looked to muscle the fight to the ground. As Rubin separated, Guthrie rushed back to a single-leg attempt against the fence. From striking range, Guthrie connected with a heavy body kick. Her repeated level changes appeared to frustrate Rubin. Another body kick from Guthrie landed as Rubin walked forward. Guthrie was active from the clinch with short knees and punches. Rubin opened round two with a takedown attempt but was unsuccessful. Guthrie returned to the clinch and continued to score with volume. The heavy clinch work slowed the output from Rubin. Guthrie moved to Rubin’s back for a moment, but she couldn’t keep the fight on the ground. Rubin showcased great balance to stay on her feet, but she eventually landed on her back after a failed trip attempt. From her back, Rubin went straight to work, slapping on a buggy choke. Guthrie fought hard to escape, but ultimately succumbed to the submission. Rubin’s second-round finish was the first buggy choke in Invicta history.

Former atomweight champion Jéssica Delboni moved up in weight to take on former strawweight title challenger Danielle Taylor. The pair gauged range with low kicks to start the contest. A stiff left hook from Delboni clipped Taylor clean. A lead hook from Taylor found the jaw of Delboni and slowed her march for a moment. The pair clinched and exchanged short knees before separating. The Brazilian Delboni switched her attack to the legs of Taylor, landing both inside and outside of the thigh. A strong jab from Taylor popped the head of Delboni. A late trade of punches closed out the frame. From the southpaw stance, Delboni kicked the body of Taylor in round two. The inside leg kick of Delboni landed at will and kept Taylor moving away from range. The jab of Taylor was her most effective weapon, but she struggled to match the volume of the Brazilian. Taylor countered the low kicks with ones of her own. A clean left hook from Taylor caught Delboni clean to close the middle frame. Delboni’s forward pressure did not stop in the final five minutes. She walked through the punches of Taylor and fired ones of her own. The corner of Taylor implored her to move forward, which nearly resulted in the fight’s first takedown. Delboni settled for the clinch before separating to the middle of the cage. Both fighters threw until the final bell, but it was Delboni who took home the unanimous decision.

Brazil’s Monique Adriane spoiled the perfect record of previously unbeaten Mexican Nicole Geraldo in an atomweight clash. After a brief feeling-out process to gauge their range, Geraldo delivered a body kick. Adriane responded with a double jab. A leg kick from Geraldo was countered with a right hook from the Brazilian. Geraldo drew a reaction from the crowd with a spinning backfist, but it only found the arm of Adriane. A combination from Adriane landed and put Geraldo on her back foot for a moment. The Mexico product landed an overhand right to slow Adriane’s advance. A body kick from Geraldo found Adriane’s midsection late in the round. The pair went straight back to boxing range in round two. Adriane continued to find success with her counterstrikes. The right hand of Geraldo snuck through the Brazilian’s guard on multiple occasions to keep the fight close. Adriane fired a combination from the pocket that backed up Geraldo. The Mexican again looked for a spinning attack, but the Adriane was wise to it and evaded. A takedown attempt from Geraldo was stuffed by Adriane. The left eye of Geraldo swelled from the punches of Adriane as the fight progressed. The fight’s final frame featured an increase in Geraldo’s kick output. Adriane matched it with punches flush to the damaged eye of the Mexican. A deep shot from Geraldo nearly brought the contest to the mat for the first time, but it was Adriane who scrambled to take the back and apply a rear-naked choke. Geraldo fought hard to avoid the finish, but could not escape the perilous position. The judges were called upon to render a verdict, but there was no doubt as Adriane swept the scorecards.

The third bout of the night featured veteran flyweights Elise Pone and Liana Pirosin. The American Pone fired multiple heads kick prompting Pirosin to secure a body lock and drive the fight to the fence. Pone looked to toss the Brazilian but ended up on her back. Pirosin quickly attacked with an armbar and then took Pone’s back. Pone fought the hands of Pirosin, but was caught in a body triangle and could not escape the position. Pone began the second round with a purpose, scoring with strikes. Pirosin countered with a throw along the cage, but this time Pone was able to work back to her feet. Pone delivered elbows from the clinch. The nose of Pirosin began to bleed from the onslaught. Pirosin worked hard for a trip, but Pone kept the fight upright. After an exchange of head kicks, Pone initiated the clinch and landed more strikes. Pone landed with clinch combinations in the third round. Pirosin broke free to striking range, but absorbed more punishment in the process. Pirosin spun Pone to the cage before the American returned the favor. Pirosin changed levels for a double but Pone shrugged her off. Pirosin drove forward into the clinch but Pone inflicted more and more damage. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Pone who walked away with victor.

Brazilian atomweight Lili Ferreira welcomed Mexico’s Flor Hernandez to the Invicta cage in the second contest of the evening. A stiff jab from Hernandez was answered by a flurry from Ferreira. Hernandez pressed forward, eating looping hooks from Ferreira. From the clinch, Ferreira worked hard for a trip from double underhooks. She softened up Hernandez with knees to the body before dragging her to the ground. Ferreira quickly took the back of Hernandez and secured a body triangle. Hernandez rolled to her stomach, but Ferreira held the position. A powerful push from Hernandez spun her into the full guard of Ferreira. Hernandez dropped a series of punches from top position to close the frame. There was significant swelling under the left eye of Hernandez to start the second round. Ferreira connected with a heavy kick to the liver of Hernandez and drove into a takedown. Hernandez tried to tie up the arms of the Brazilian and was slammed to the canvas. The fight returned to the feet and Ferreira again attacked the midsection. A kick from Hernandez was caught by Ferreira and she cracked Hernandez with punches. Another heavy body kick from Ferreira found its mark to end the round. The final stanza opened with more forward pressure from Hernandez, but Ferreira was able to counter with punches. A head kick from Hernandez brushed the face of Ferreira and was followed by a right hook. The aggression of Hernandez worked against her later in the round as Ferreira ducked under her punches and took her to the ground. Ferreira pinned Hernandez against the fence and stayed heavy from top position. The fight would goes the distance and Ferreira captured the decision victory.

A flyweight clash between Ky Bennett and Kendal Holowell opened the night’s action. The pair wasted little time engaging with strikes. Holowell missed with a spinning backfist and Bennett flurried forward with punches. In the clinch, Bennett connected with multiple elbows. Holowell spun the fight to the fence, but absorbed a huge knee to her midsection. More elbows followed from Bennett as Holowell tried to recover from the body strike. Holowell latched onto a single along the fence before switching to a double and lifting Bennett to the mat. Bennett rained elbows to the side of Holowell’s head. A scramble saw Holowell take Bennett’s back and apply a body triangle. She worked for choke, but gave up position while transitioning for a triangle attempt. Bennett sprung to her feet and then earned a takedown of her own. She dropped punches from back mount to close the round. Bennett was the aggressor to start round two, marching forward with strikes. She continued to punish Holowell in the clinch with elbows. Holowell looked for a takedown, but Bennett stuffed it and delivered knees to the body. Bennett was relentless with elbows, keeping Holowell from mounting offense and driving her to the mat. A steady stream of right hands from Bennett forced the referee to intervene and halt the contest, giving her the TKO victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Rayanne dos Santos def. Jillian DeCoursey by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Olga Rubin def. Claire Guthrie by submission (buggy choke). Round 2, 4:23
Jéssica Delboni def. Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Monique Adriane def. Nicole Geraldo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Elise Pone def. Liana Pirosin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Flor Hernandez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ky Bennett def. Kendal Holowell by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:04

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 52 Results: McCormack Becomes First Irish Champion, Bannon Dominates

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DENVER — On Wednesday, March 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack from ReelWorks Denver.

The strawweight belt is now around the waist of Ireland’s Danni McCormack after dethroning Brazilian Valesca Machado after five rounds. McCormack flicked her jab to start, but was immediately dropped by a right hand from Machado. A left straight from McCormack connected and was answered by a short left hook from the Brazilian. The nose of McCormack bled from the early power shot. A devastating right hand from Machado dropped McCormack again and the Brazilian smelled blood in the waters. She rained punches as McCormack desperately tried to recover. Machado took the back and slapped on a body triangle. She worked for a choke attempt, but McCormack was able to scramble back to her feet. McCormack tried to change levels to no avail. The clinch position allowed her to recover further from the damage and survive the round. McCormack’s strategy shifted toward closing the distance in round two. Machado sought a takedown and was easily stuffed by the Irish fighter. McCormack secured double under hooks along the fence and hung on the Brazilian. Machado looked for slicing elbows, but was largely forced to jostle for position throughout the round. A right hand from Machado caught McCormack in the jaw to start round three. She was able to walk through it and clinch. The punches of Machado landed with more regularity and McCormack fought hard to clinch. Both fighters connected in the center of the cage, but McCormack did not change her clinching strategy. She powered into a double-leg attempt, which Machado stopped. The championship rounds featured a more patient counterstriking attack from Machado and a few crisp shots prompted McCormack to clinch. Machado failed at a takedown attempt before McCormack pressed her to the cage yet again. The pair traded more punches and McCormack responded with a takedown off her own. She tried to mount the Brazilian, who quickly countered with a leg lock from the bottom. McCormack escaped as the round expired. After a pair of right hands from Macahdo, McCormack looked to grapple. She muscled Machado to the mat. The Brazilian struggled to find any space against the relentless clutch of McCormack. Machado slapped on an armbar from her back that McCormack defended well. McCormack applied offense until the final horn and was rewarded for her efforts by the judges, becoming the first Irish champion in Invicta history.

In the night’s co-main event, strawweights Karolina Wójcik and Ediana Silva battled in an effort to establish themselves as contenders. The pair gauged their range in the fight’s opening minutes. The stalemate was briefly interrupted by a right hand from Silva. Wójcik fired a calf kick. The referee paused the action and implored the fighters to engage. Wójcik continued to circle on the outside and Silva struggled to cut her off. Wójcik landed a heavy right hand to open round two, but quickly returned to circling Silva. When the two entered boxing range, each was able to evade the other’s strikes. Silva found a home for her right body kick as she tried to stop the orbit of the Polish fighter. With a minute left in round two, Silva secured a body lock and pushed Wójcik to the cage, but could not secure a takedown. Wójcik inadvertently poked Silva in the eye early in the third round. The Brazilian quickly recovered and the bout was able to continue. Neither fighter was able to find much offense as both were quick to evade one another. The closely contested bout went to the judges. They were split in their verdict, with Wójcik eking out the win.

Undefeated Irish fighter Shauna Bannon welcomed former atomweight title challenger Minna Grusanader to the strawweight division. Bannon pressured forward, looking to find her range. Grusander sat back and hoped for openings to flurry. She cracked the Irishwoman with a big hook at the end of an exchange. Bannon fired back with a combination of her own before the Finnish fighter took the fight to the ground. Grusander was heavy from the top position, but could not keep Bannon on the mat. Bannon’s left leg became a weapon, repeatedly landing to the body of Grusander. The Finn was unfazed and fired back with punches. Grusander looked for a takedown late, but was countered by Bannon, who finished the round on top. Bannon went to the well one too many times with her left kick in round two, allowing Grusander to power into the clinch along the fence. Bannon’s takedown defense held true and she muscled her way to the top. Grusander looked for a kneebar but absorbed heavy punches in the process. Bannon began to look for an arm-triangle with Grusander quickly locking her down. Bannon moved to the crucifix and dropped elbows. Grusander tried to spin to her belly and Bannon repeatedly punched her in the back of the head, forcing the referee to intervene and take away the position. Round three started with an onslaught of left-leg side kicks from Bannon. Grusander tried to drag Bannon into a brawl with looping combinations. Bannon did well to keep the fight at range and score with her kicks. A push kick to the midsection of Grusander sent her to the mat and Bannon followed her down. Grusander latched onto a deep kneebar. Bannon did not panic, battering the body of Grusander with punches to eventually escape the submission attempt. Once free, Bannon moved to half guard and landed punches. The fight saw the scorecards and Bannon’s undefeated record remained intact.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mayra Cantuária picked up submission win over veteran Calie Cutler in their bantamweight clash. Cantuária flung looping hooks immediately, forcing Cutler to circle away from range. A left straight from the Brazilian caught Cutler flush and she retreated. Cutler recovered quickly and looked to clinch. Cantuária shrugged her off before powering into a double-leg takedown. She allowed Cutler to stand and returned to landing heavy punches. Blood began to trickle from the nose of Cutler and Cantuária brought her to the canvas. She took her back before Cutler spun free into her guard. Once on top, Cutler was able to pass to side control. Cantuária dropped back for a leg lock as the round came to a close. The left straight of Cantuária continued to find the mark in round two, but Cutler repeatedly walked through it. A takedown attempt from Cutler was stuffed by the Brazilian, who spun to Cutler’s back and dragged her to the ground. She moved to the back once more and locked in a rear-naked choke to coerce the tap.

Undefeated strawweight sensation Fatima Kline gave Olympic judo bronze medalist Natalia Kuziutina a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Kline marched forward with kicks and closed the distance. She avoided a throw from the judoka and looked to take her back. Kuziutina broke free and returned to striking range. Kline caught a kick and tried to take Kuziutina to the ground, but went for a ride, summersaulting all the way back to standing. Kuziutina scored with a head-and-arm throw and began to crank on Kline from the scarf hold position. Kline was patient and was able to transition to Kuziutina’s back. The fight found its way back to the feet, but only momentarily as Kuziutina looked for another takedown. Kline countered and finished the round strong. The second round featured some wild techniques from Kuziutina and Kline capitalized with a heavy body kick and takedown. She tried to posture up from the half guard, but Kuziutina neutralized her from the bottom. Kline looked to pass to mount and Kuziutina scrambled, giving up her back in the process. Kline slapped on a body triangle and went searching for a rear-naked choke. She abandoned the choke in favor of heavy punches. Kline finished the round in the advantageous position. The aggression of the Russian fighter did not stop in the last stanza. She pressed forward and was punished for it by Kline’s counterstrikes. Kuziutina again secured the head-and-arm position along the fence, but Kline did not succumb to a throw. A deep single from Kuziutina was finished with a trip. Kline did not panic and moved to top position. A thunderous overhand right dropped Kuziutina with 90 seconds left in the contest. Kline flurried for the finish, firing heavy punches. Kline took the back and sunk in a rear-naked choke. She squeezed hard for the submission, but was ultimately forced to settle for the decision win.

Colombian Sayury Cañon and knockout artist Amanda Macioce engaged in a three-round war in their strawweight match-up. Macioce quickly went on the attack, but Cañon countered with a right hand. Macioce stuck with it and briefly stunned the Colombian fighter. She changed levels for a takedown, which Cañon stuffed. Blood poured from the nose of Cañon from the heavy hands of Macioce, but she was undeterred in her clinch work. Macioce powered Cañon against the fence and landed a big knee. A powerful low kick sent Cañon to her back for a moment. Cañon caught a kick from Macioce and slammed her violently to the mat. Macioce was unfazed and bounced straight back to her feet. Round two began with a trade of low kicks. Macioce connected with a body kick as Cañon came forward. The nose of Macioce also began to leak. Cañon pinned Macioce to the fence and jostled for under hooks. Cañon changed levels and secured a perfectly timed double leg takedown. She could not hold Macioce down, but continued to impose her will. A big flurry from Cañon had Macioce retreating late in the round. The last five minutes opened with a quick clinch battle. Cañon punished Macioce with a knee square to her already bloodied nose. The lead leg of Cañon turned purple from the heavy kicks of Macioce and she was forced to switch stances. Cañon latched onto a single in the middle of the cage and put Macioce on her back. She delivered a series of punches as Macioce worked back to her feet. Cañon slammed Macioce to the ground once more in the closing moments of the bout to seal the decision win and remain undefeated.

The action began with a 120-pound catchweight affair between newcomers Diana Sanchez and Kendra McIntyre. McIntyre was aggressive to start, firing kicks and pushing Sanchez to the cage. Sanchez clinched and spun the fight to the fence. She muscled McIntyre to the mat, but only for a moment. Sanchez changed levels and locked her hands to score another brief takedown. McIntyre forced Sanchez to her back and rained hammerfists before letting her return to her feet. A massive right hand from the former IKF champion rocked Sanchez late in the round, but she was able to stay upright. With seconds left in the round, Sanchez delivered another takedown. McIntyre stalked Sanchez to start the second stanza, but was taken to the mat with a single-leg. She worked hard to get back to her feet with Sanchez sticking to her like glue. The pair separated and traded strikes from range. A late exchange saw both fighters land, prompting Sanchez to secure another takedown. In the final frame, McIntyre delivered a heavy right hand and followed with a body kick. She caught a kick from Sanchez and kicked out her back leg. The pair traded heavy knees in the center of the cage and then scrambled for position. Sanchez looked to take McIntyre’s back, but McIntyre was able to spin to the top. A thunderous elbow greeted Sanchez as she worked back to her feet. With only a minute left, Sanchez looked for a desperation leg lock. McIntyre was wise to it and defended. The fight saw the scorecards and McIntyre walked away with a victory in her professional debut.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Danni McCormack def. Valesca Machado by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Karolina Wójcik def. Ediana Silva by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Shauna Bannon def. Minna Grusander by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mayra Cantuária def. Calie Cutler by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:16
Fatima Kline def. Natalia Kuziutina by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sayury Cañon def. Amanda Macioce by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Kendra McIntyre def. Diana Sanchez 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 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 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.