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Invicta FC 40 Results: Ducote Outworks Lima, Zappitella Edges VanZandt

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, July 2, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. Lima. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Former title challenger Emily Ducote got back in the win column after a three-round bout against UFC alum Juliana Lima. The two veterans traded combinations early, as they gauged range. Lima looked to clinch, but Ducote was able to evade and stay on the outside. After an exchange of kicks, Lima delivered a right hand, followed by a left and finally a right uppercut to stun Ducote. That prompted the Oklahoma fighter to clinch the Brazilian along the fence. She recovered and the pair separated, but not before Lima landed a big knee. The second round saw Ducote score a series of power shots that slowed the advance of Lima. Lima answered with an onslaught of kicks to maintain her distance. Ducote came forward with reckless abandon, landing a heavy combination. Late in the frame, Ducote shot and put Lima on her back. She passed to side control and delivered massive elbows that cut Lima on her right eye. Round three began with a front kick from Lima to the midsection of Ducote. The fight returned to the clinch as Ducote pushed Lima to the fence. The Brazilian used an uppercut to create space and they returned to the center of the cage. Ducote fired with power and volume, further opening the cut on Lima’s cheek. A great level change by Ducote brought the fight to the ground, but only briefly. Ducote’s hard work in the final two frames was the difference in the eyes of the judges, who handed in a unanimous decision for the American.

In the night’s co-main event, atomweights Alesha Zappitella and Lindsey VanZandt battled back and forth for three rounds. Zappitella showed quick feet and head movement early. VanZandt fired a front kick and was taken down. She pushed Zappitella off and scored with an upkick. VanZandt tried to trip Zappitella, but lost position and ended up on her back. From side control, Zappitella showed heavy hips and dropped short elbows. VanZandt worked back to her feet late in the round. Round two began with another takedown from Zappitella. She powered her way past the guard of VanZandt, moving to side control once more. VanZandt was able to work back to her feet and started to implement her will. She landed a heavy low kick and followed it with a powerful right hand that stunned Zappitella. The third round began with VanZandt stuffing a shot from the wrestler. Zappitella stuck with it and eventually dragged VanZandt to the canvas. Zappitella was a bit reckless and VanZandt took her back momentarily. VanZandt’s success was short lived, however as Zappitella spun back to top position. VanZandt scored with a big knee late, but Zappitella put her on back one final time and the judges were called upon to decide the result. The scorecards were diverse, but two judges gave the fight to Zappitella.

Chelsea Chandler moved up in weight to welcome undefeated featherweight Liv Parker to the Invicta cage. Chandler wasted little time, attacking Parker with a big combination early. She ripped the midsection with a left hand and Parker was clearly hurt. A follow-up punch dropped Parker and Chandler followed her to the ground. She took Parker’s back, slapped on a rear-naked choke and coerced a tap in just 65 seconds.

Flyweight newcomers Trisha Cicero and Laura Gallardo went to battle in a clash of styles. The wrestler Gallardo wasted little time coming forward and looking for a takedown. The karate stylist Cicero was able to stuff the first shot, but ultimately ended up on her back. She worked back to her feet and used her kicks to frustrate Gallardo at range. Gallardo was relentless with her takedown attempts. In round two, Cicero scored with an uppercut as she was able to dictate the action while standing. Gallardo changed levels and timed a shot to bring the fight to the ground midway through the round. Cicero was patient and worked back to her feet. The kicks of Cicero landed with regularity, but Gallardo finished the stanza with a late takedown. The final round featured Cicero keeping the fight on the feet and forcing Gallardo to kickbox. The height and reach advantage was a big factor, as Cicero peppered shots. Gallardo looked for a takedown in the final minute, but she couldn’t secure it. The judges were split in their verdict, but it was Cicero who claimed the win.

The night’s action began in the strawweight division as Invicta vet Genia Goodin took on newcomer Shelby Koren. Kentucky’s Goodin was the aggressor early, pushing the action and initiating the clinch. Koren tried to take the back standing, then ultimately pulled guard and looked for an armbar. Goodin responded with a big slam and attacked with an armbar of her own. Koren escaped and returned to the feet to attack with a guillotine. The fight returned to the mat and Koren went for another armbar, but Goodin survived. Round two featured a big hip toss from Koren, but she wasn’t able to keep Goodin on the mat. The pair traded kicks on the feet, with Koren landing a solid right hand off an inside leg kick. With the fight in the balance in the final frame, Goodin was able to secure the mount position and attack with an armbar of her own. That was enough in the eyes of the judges, who rewarded Goodin with the victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Emily Ducote def. Juliana Lima by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Alesha Zappitella def. Lindsey VanZandt by split decision (28-29, 29-27, 30-27)
Chelsea Chandler def. Liv Parker by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:05
Trisha Cicero def. Laura Gallardo by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Genia Goodin def. Shelby Koren by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

About Invicta FC:

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

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Phoenix Series 3 Results: Stoliarenko Claims Gold in Thriller, Tennant Captures Tournament

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, March 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted its third Phoenix Series tournament plus a bantamweight title headliner in a historic night at Memorial Hall. The event aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The Phoenix Series 3 main event was an instant classic as Lithuania’s Julija Stoliarenko battled Lisa Verzosa in one of the bloodiest fights in Invicta history. Stoliarenko scored with a head kick early, stunning Verzosa. The American responded with a stiff right hand that put Stoliarenko on the ground. Verzosa followed her down, but was forced to defend an armbar. Blood began to pour from Stoliarenko’s nose, setting the tone of the fight. A second armbar attempt was unsuccessful, but Stoliarenko took the round. Verzosa fought back hard in round two, repeatedly scoring with her right hand. The nose of Stoliarenko bled badly in round three, but she was unfazed, slicing Verzosa open with an elbow. Both fighters sported a crimson mask for the remainder of the fight, pushing the pace and looking to put the other away. The mouthpiece of Stoliarenko frequently hit the canvas from the right hands of Verzosa. A finish never came and the fight was sent to the judges to determine a new champion. They were split in their scores, but Stoliarenko took the fight on two cards to capture the belt.

Taneisha Tennant picked up her third win of the night, defeating Taylor Guardado in the Phoenix Series 3 bantamweight tournament final. Tennant’s pinpoint striking was on display from the onset, peppering Guardado from range with counter strikes. Guardado came forward with pressure, but Tennant’s footwork kept her just out of range. Tennant caught Guardado with a strong right hand that sent her mouthpiece flying to the mat. Guardado never backed down, marching forward. A takedown attempt by Guardado was met with a great sprawl by Tennant. Blood poured from Guardado’s nose in round three and her corner told her she was down on the judges’ scorecards. She pushed the action, but Tennant’s nightlong showcase of technique continued throughout the final frame. Guardado came up short on her punches, but did score with heavy leg kicks. It wasn’t enough, as Tennant took home the decision and tournament trophy to remain undefeated.

The strawweight contest between Kay Hansen and Liana Pirosin became the first fight in modern MMA history to utilize open scoring. Hansen showcased her strong grappling game throughout the fight, taking down the Brazilian at will. Pirosin did her best to stay active off her back, but Hansen repeatedly got the better of the scrambling exchanges. The second round was the most dominant round of the fight for Hansen, who took Pirosin’s back and briefly secured a body triangle. She scored with short punches from top position and earned a 10-8 round from one of the judges in real time. The third round was again a display for Hansen’s grappling, but Pirosin went for broke knowing she was down on the scorecards. She threatened Hansen with an armbar just as time expired, but could not find the finish. Hansen took the clean sweep from the judges. “It was nice knowing the scores, so I didn’t have to guess,” said the victorious Hansen of the open format.

In the second tournament semifinal, Taneisha Tennant used a measured striking attack and great takedown defense to edge Hope Chase. The forward pressure of Chase had no impact on Tennant early in the fight as she stayed on the outside and looked to counter. Chase powered into a double-leg attempt, but Tennant shrugged her off. The pair traded flashy techniques as a question-mark kick from Tennant was followed by a wheel kick attempt by Chase. Late in the fight, Chase’s takedown attempts worked against her, as Tennant battered her with elbows along the fence. That proved to be the difference on the scorecards as Tennant moved to the tournament final.

The first semifinal match-up featured Taylor Guardado against Serena DeJesus. Guardado powered the fight to the fence early and tried to secure a takedown. DeJesus landed short knees and elbows to stay upright. When the pair separated, DeJesus was able to score with kicks from range. The pair returned to the clinch and DeJesus scored with more elbows. Guardado continued to apply pressure, flurrying with punches in the fight’s waning moments. The judges were split in their verdict, handing Guardado a spot in the final.

The second tournament reserve bout was largely a one-sided affair as veteran Mitzi Merry topped newcomer Morgan Hickam. Merry controlled range early before catching Hickam with a series of right hands. Hickam kept her chin high as she absorbed multiple shots. The Tennessee fighter put Merry against the cage and worked hard to secure a takedown. Merry used an active guard from bottom, attacking with an armbar, then an omoplata. The ensuing scramble saw Merry take Hickam’s back and threaten with a choke attempt. She couldn’t score the finish, but Merry took home the decision victory.

In tournament reserve action, Kelly Clayton battered fellow newcomer Florina Moeller en route to a submission win. Moeller barreled forward recklessly, eating right hand after right hand. She was undeterred, getting inside and pushing Clayton to the cage. Clayton showcased great balance, preventing Moeller from getting the fight the ground. Clayton continued to score with power punches on the feet before earning a late takedown. She took Moeller’s back and applied a rear-naked choke to coerce a tap before the final bell.

The final tournament quarterfinal fight pitted Taneisha Tennant against Brittney Victoria. Tennant showcased her crisp striking from the opening bell. Victoria tried to use her boxing, but Tennant kept her at range with kicks. Tennant put together a series of punches that backed Victoria to the cage. The diverse arsenal of Tennant kept Victoria guessing, as she battered the body with a kick and punches. Victoria sought a takedown late in the fight, but Tennant punished her with a combination of punches. The fight saw the scorecards, with Tennant becoming the fourth and final semifinalist.

Hope Chase and Julia Ottolino engaged in a highly competitive fight in the third tournament quarterfinal bout. Chase came out and applied pressure right away. Ottolino scored with a series of kicks, but Chase flurried forward and brought the fight to the ground. Chase applied ground and pound before Ottolino threatened with an armbar. Chase defended, but ate an upkick in the process. She allowed Ottolino to stand and again flurried with a series of punches along the fence. Ottolino tried to counter, but she could not match the volume of Chase, who punched her ticket to the semifinals by decision.

In the night’s second match-up Taylor Guardado outworked Claire Guthrie to capture the second spot in the tournament semifinals. Guardado was aggressive to start, powering Guthrie to the fence. She brought the fight to the mat, but Guthrie attacked with a triangle choke attempt. Guardado navigated the submission and the referee stood up the fight after a brief stalemate. A right hand from Guthrie found the mark, but the strike left her open to a level change from Guardado, who dragged the fight back to the ground. The fight’s final minute was spent in the clinch, with all three judges rewarding Guardado for efforts.

The tournament quarterfinals kicked off with a battle between Serena DeJesus and Kerri Kenneson. The more experienced Kenneson immediately went for a takedown and put DeJesus on her back. DeJesus did not panic and worked back to her feet. Kenneson landed short uppercuts in the clinch, but DeJesus responded with knees and big elbows. When the pair separated, Kenneson threw a body kick which allowed DeJesus to time a takedown of her own. She dropped an onslaught of short punches to Kenneson’s face. The fight returned to the feet briefly, but Kenneson earned a late trip takedown and took the back of DeJesus. DeJesus spun into the full guard to finish the fight on top. The judges were in agreement, sending DeJesus to the semifinals.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Julija Stoliarenko def. Lisa Verzosa by split decision (48-46, 46-49, 49-46) – for bantamweight title
Taneisha Tennant def. Taylor Guardado by unanimous decision (30-27 x3) – bantamweight tournament final
Kay Hansen def. Liana Pirosin by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Taneisha Tennant def. Hope Chase by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – bantamweight tournament semifinal
Taylor Guardado def. Serena DeJesus by split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – bantamweight tournament semifinal
Mitzi Merry def. Morgan Hickam by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – tournament reserve bout
Kelly Clayton def. Florina Moeller by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:51 – tournament reserve bout
Taneisha Tennant def. Brittney Victoria by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Hope Chase def. Julia Ottolino by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Taylor Guardado def. Claire Guthrie by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Serena DeJesus def. Kerri Kenneson by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 39 Results: Frey Tops Cummins in Rematch, Maverick Earns Title Shot

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Feb. 7, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Former atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey made sure no one else would leave Kansas City with the belt. After giving up the belt due to missing weight, Frey defeated No. 1 contender Ashley Cummins after five competitive rounds. The first round was spent entirely on the feet. Cummins used her jab to establish range. Frey looked for her power left, but it did not land initially. Cummins clinched and landed short knees. Frey found success with a body kick, but she struggled to match the output of Cummins. In round two, Cummins again scored with combinations. Frey delivered a heavy left hand that cut Cummins over her right eye. She followed it with a looping right hook that dropped Cummins for a moment. Round three featured more back-and-forth action. Cummins was relentless with her pressure and jab. Frey stayed on the outside and again looked for her power punches. A brief clinch saw Cummins batter the body of Frey. They exchanged low kicks in a very close frame. The fourth round saw Cummins initiate the clinch and score with foot stomps. Her forward pressure continued, but Frey was able to counter. The Texan landed with kicks to try and slow the movement of Cummins. In the final stanza, Frey used her kicking arsenal and pushed the pace. When the scorecards were read, it was Frey who walked away with the decision win.

In the night’s co-main event, Phoenix Series winner Miranda Maverick earned a title shot with a dominant performance against UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez. The pair traded kicks early, but Maverick wasted little time establishing her ground dominance. She put Gonzalez on the ground and took her back. The former title challenger Gonzalez showed poise, defending from her back and staying active. The second round started strong for Gonzalez, who scored with a hip toss and gained top position. Maverick never panicked and eventually reversed position. The 22-year-old moved to mount late in the frame, battering Gonzalez with strikes. It was more of the same in the third, as Maverick repeatedly put Gonzalez on the mat and prevented her from mounting any offense. The fight went to the judges, but there was never any doubt as Maverick swept the scorecards.

Atomweight contenders Alesha Zappitella and Kelly D’Angelo put on a show in their three-round battle. Zappitella came forward early, flurrying with punching combinations. D’Angelo looked to counter and batter the lead leg of her wrestling counterpart. After five minutes of trading on the feet, Zappitella went to her strong grappling attack, putting D’Angelo on her back. The Missouri native threatened Zappitella with an armbar, but Zappitella remained calm and controlled from the top. Zappitella repeatedly passed to side control. D’Angelo stayed active in the third round, peppering Zappitella with counter punches. Zappitella’s wrestling proved to be the difference, as she captured the clear-cut judges’ decision.

Flyweight Erin Blanchfield thrilled the crowd with a second-round knockout over veteran Victoria Leonardo. Louisiana’s Leonardo was the aggressor early, staying in the face of her younger foe. Blanchfield tried for a hip toss, but Leonardo used a whizzer to stay off her back. The pair separated and Blanchfield unleashed a left head kick that sent Leonardo crashing to the canvas. Blanchfield flurried for a finish, but Leonardo showed great heart to recover and survive the round. In the second round, Leonardo sought the clinch along the fence. Blanchfield was able to separate and fired another left head kick that put Leonardo down for good.

New York’s Jillian DeCoursey showcased her grappling chops, besting Linda Mihalec in their atomweight affair. Mihalec tried to bring the fight to the mat, but was quickly reversed and put on her back. She powered to top position, but DeCoursey swept her along the fence with a kimura attempt. DeCoursey scored with ground and pound as the round expired. In round two, DeCoursey caught Mihalec with a clean overhand right before powering into a double-leg takedown. Mihalec looked for a leg lock, but DeCoursey defended and finished the round on top. Kentucky’s Mihalec pushed the pace early in the final stanza, dragging DeCoursey to the ground. She transitioned to the back, which gave DeCoursey an opening to spin into her guard. Mihalec powered to top position one final time in the fight’s final minute, but DeCoursey swept her again to put the finishing touches on the decision victory.

The night kicked off with a bantamweight battle between newcomers Monica Franco and Tina Pettigrew. California’s Pettigrew found success early with her jab and pushed Franco to the cage. She brought the fight to the ground and took Franco’s back. Pettigrew threatened with an armbar, but Franco was able to escape. Franco’s counter striking was the difference in the second round, keeping Pettigrew at bay. The final round featured Pettigrew seeking a takedown, but Franco battered her with short punches and elbows to seal the decision win.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jinh Yu Frey def. Ashley Cummins by unanimous decision (48-47 x3)
Miranda Maverick def. Pearl Gonzalez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Alesha Zappitella def. Kelly D’Angelo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Erin Blanchfield def. Victoria Leonardo by knockout (head kick). Round 3, 2:06
Jillian DeCoursey def. Linda Mihalec by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Monica Franco def. Tina Pettigrew by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 38 Results: Murata Edges Ducote, Porto Tops Rodríguez

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Nov. 1, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

There’s a new strawweight champion as Japan’s Kanako Murata edged Oklahoma’s Emily Ducote over the course of five rounds. Ducote opened the title match-up with low kicks to the calf of Murata. The Japanese fighter faked a superwoman punch and secured a body lock, but Ducote remained upright. Murata then ducked under a punch and powered the fight to the ground. Ducote quickly latched onto an arm and forced Murata to defend the armbar. Ducote worked back to her feet, but it was short lived as Murata dragged her back to the mat late in the round. The low kick of Ducote continued to land in round two, frustrating Murata. A deep single-leg attempt by Murata was shrugged off by Ducote. The Oklahoma fighter used her reach to land punches to Murata’s midsection. Murata powered into a takedown as the round neared its end, but Ducote again forced her to defend an armbar attempt. In the third round, Ducote was able to land straight punches with regularity. Murata landed a nice combination from boxing range, but struggled to get inside with any consistency. Ducote shrugged off multiple takedown attempts, but Murata got her to the canvas late in the round. Ducote pushed forward in round four, driving Murata against the fence with her punches. A lead-leg head kick from Ducote caught Murata flush. She followed it with a second head kick that appeared to stun Murata. Ducote attacked with more punches, forcing Murata to look for a takedown. She latched onto Ducote’s arm and pulled her to the ground. Ducote locked onto an arm, but Murata escaped. Murata tried to cartwheel past Ducote’s guard as the round expired. Ducote peppered the face of Murata with punches in the final round. Murata scored with a takedown midway through the round, but found herself in another armbar attempt. The fight was sent to the judges for the decision, who were split in favor of Murata.

In what was originally scheduled to be the night’s headliner, flyweight champion Vanessa Porto took on Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez in an all-out war. Unfortunately, Rodríguez missed weight for the bout and fight became a non-title affair. The reach advantage of Rodríguez came into play early, as she was able to connect with Porto from range. The Brazilian answered with a strong right hand and then changed levels for a big slam. Rodríguez showed great scrambling ability to get back to her feet, but Porto was able to secure more takedowns. The latter part of the round was controlled by Porto and her wrestling. The left eye of Rodríguez swelled badly to open round two. The Mexican fighter was unfazed, securing the clinch and kneeing Porto multiple times in the face. Blood poured from Porto’s nose, but she moved forward aggressively. A right hand from Porto damaged Rodríguez’s nose midway through the frame. Another big knee from Rodríguez landed, prompting a late takedown from Porto. Both fighters wore plenty of damage entering the final round. Rodríguez became more confident, moving forward and firing punches. Porto tried repeatedly to bring the fight to the ground, but was met with more knees. The nose of Porto leaked blood and her right eye swelled, but she was able to secure a late takedown. The fight was sent to the judges for a verdict and it was Porto who walked away with the victory.

Strawweight Mallory Martin continued her winning ways, defeating Cynthia Arceo on the scorecards. Arceo scored with a short left hand early as she bounced on her feet. Martin closed the distance and secured a takedown with an outside trip. After a series of left hands, Arceo worked back to her feet. The Texas fighter used her kicking arsenal to control the range late in the round. The second round started well for Arceo as she cracked Martin with a straight right hand. However, she threw a kick that Martin caught and was planted on the ground once again. Martin patiently passed to side control and eventually the mount. Once in mount, Martin delivered heavy ground and pound, battering the promotional newcomer with elbows and punches. Arceo showed heart to survive the round. Arceo found success early in round three by using her kicks to stay on the outside. Martin countered with her lead hook, but eventually changed levels and returned the fight to the mat. She again earned the mount and rained more elbows, but could not find the finish. Martin moved to 6-2 with the decision win.

Flyweights Shanna Young and Maiju Suotama met for a second time, with Young again coming out victorious. The opening round was a flashback to the pair’s previous bout at Phoenix Rising 2, as Finland’s Suotama was able to get Young to the canvas and take her back. Suotama tried to soften up Young with punches and looked for a rear-naked choke. Young was able to survive and the fight went to a second round. Young took control with her striking, dropping Suotama with a massive left hand. She continued to damage Suotama with punches, bloodying her nose. Suotama tried to get the fight back to the ground, but Young showcased a great sprawl. Young gained top position late in the round and delivered heavy punishment. Suotama pulled guard early in round three, attacking with an armbar. Young punched her way free and pounded on the Finn from side control. Late in the round, Young moved to mount and unleashed punch after punch. Suotama made it to the final bell, but Young walked away with the decision nod.

Bantamweight Lisa Verzosa remained unbeaten after a three-round war with New Hampshire’s Kerri Kenneson. Verzosa pressured forward from the opening bell, delivering a right hand along the cage. She looked to follow it up with more punches, but Kenneson caught her with a clean right hand that sent her crashing to the canvas. Verzosa recovered and continued to march forward. Kenneson scored with a left hook to the body and closed the round with a takedown attempt. The pair exchanged early in round two, with Verzosa attacking the body of Kenneson in the clinch. Kenneson threw a variety of kicks, trying to slow the unrelenting advance of Verzosa. In the last five minutes, both fighters had their moments. Verzosa stayed in the face of Kenneson, causing her nose to bleed with punches. A left hook to right straight combination from Verzosa forced Kenneson to shoot for a takedown, but Verzosa countered with a guillotine choke attempt. The back-and-forth battle went the distance, with Verzosa claiming victory.

Auttumn Norton picked up her first career win after battering Shaianna Rincón over three rounds in their featherweight match-up. After taking turns landing heavy shots in the fight’s first stanza, Norton stunned Rincón with a right hand. The fight swung heavily in Norton’s favor in round two as Norton caught a kick and dumped Rincón to the ground. Once on top, Norton unleashed a barrage of punches and elbows that split open Rincón. Despite the onslaught, Rincón survived the round. Round three was largely a carbon copy of the second, as Norton put Rincón on the mat and landed more ground and pound. The fight saw the final bell, but it was a clean sweep for Norton on the scorecards.

The night kicked off with a clash of bantamweight newcomers as New York’s Taneisha Tennant met Las Vegas-based Serena DeJesus. After a brief feeling-out process, Tennant dropped DeJesus with right hand. DeJesus would survive and fire back with kicks. In round two, DeJesus turned the tables, stunning Tennant with a left hand and landing numerous low kicks. With the fight in the balance in the final frame, Tennant bloodied the nose of DeJesus with a big left hook. She finished strong with a right hand that hurt DeJesus. All three judges rewarded Tennant the decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Kanako Murata def. Emily Ducote by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) – for strawweight title
Vanessa Porto def. Karina Rodríguez by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Mallory Martin def. Cynthia Arceo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Shanna Young def. Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision (29-27, 28-27, 28-26)
Lisa Verzosa def. Kerri Kenneson by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Auttumn Norton def. Shaianna Rincón by unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Taneisha Tennant def. Serena DeJesus by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 37 Results: Gonzalez Outworks Sanchez, Agapova Stops Santos

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Oct. 4, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 37: Gonzalez vs. Sanchez from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Former flyweight title challenger Pearl Gonzalez returned to the win column, putting the first blemish on the record of Guam’s Brogan Sanchez in the nights’ headliner. Sanchez was the aggressor early, peppering Gonzalez with kicks and scoring with a left hand. Gonzalez looked for a head-and-arm throw, but Sanchez reversed it and attempted to take her back. Gonzalez was patient and secured top position. Sanchez worked hard to get back to the feet, but Gonzalez again used the head-and-arm throw, this time landing in side control. Gonzalez would spend the final minute of the frame on top of Sanchez. Round two was much more tactical. Sanchez controlled the range with a variety of kicks. Gonzalez returned fire, as both fighters landed with heavy body blows. Gonzalez looked for the same throw a third time and ended up on bottom after Sanchez anticipated the technique. Sanchez worked to take the back, but Gonzalez spun to top position in the round’s waning seconds. The final round saw the fighters jostle for position in the clinch. Gonzalez separated and landed a solid right hand. Sanchez sought a takedown and ended up giving up one as Gonzalez capitalized on her desperation late in the fight. The fight would go the distance, but all three judges at cageside rewarded Gonzalez for her efforts.

In a battle of Contender Series veterans, Mariya Agapova scored a TKO win over Marilia Santos. The two went straight to work, exchanging heavy punches in the pocket. Santos ducked under a punch from Agapova and secured a body lock. She attempted a lateral drop, but Agapova was wise to it and landed in the top position. After a pair of right hands from the Kazakhstan native, Santos looked for an armbar. Agapova defended and escaped the position. Late in the round, Agapova delivered multiple elbows to the Brazilian’s head. She smelled the finish and flurried with punches, forcing the referee to intervene.

California’s Kay Hansen gave Brazilian Nicolle Caliari a rude welcome to the Invicta cage in their strawweight affair. The pair traded kicks before Hansen muscled Caliari to the ground and quickly took her back. Hansen worked hard for a rear-naked choke, but Caliari was able to defend. Caliari eventually made her way back to her feet, then looked for a takedown. Hansen countered with a guillotine, but Caliari survived the round. Hansen took the fight to the canvas early in round two, producing an omoplata attempt from the Brazilian. Hansen scrambled and took Caliari’s back, then transitioned to mount. Caliari remained calm and got back to her feet, only to be slammed by Hansen moments later. Round three began with another takedown by Hansen. She moved to mount and attacked with another guillotine choke. This time, Caliari was forced to tap.

The atomweight contest between veterans Lindsey VanZandt and Shino VanHoose came to quick and unfortunate end. After a couple of short exchanges on the feet, VanZandt landed a devastating low kick to the lead leg of VanHoose. The kick buckled VanHoose’s left knee and she fell to the canvas in pain. The referee immediately stepped in and handed VanZandt the TKO victory.

Undefeated atomweights clashed as Kentucky’s Linda Mihalec faced off with Marisa Messer-Belenchia. The first round was largely a war of attrition in the clinch. Messer-Belenchia pushed Mihalec to the fence and worked hard for a takedown. Mihalec defended with knees, but eventually the fight found the ground with Messer-Belenchia controlling from the top. A late reversal from Mihalec saw her deliver heavy strikes. Messer-Belenchia secured a quick throw in round two, and she looked to set up a north-south choke. Mihalec reversed position and mounted Messer-Belenchia. She rained heavy strikes, but Messer-Belenchia was able to survive the round. An inadvertent clash of heads early in round three caused a large cut on Mihalec, but it didn’t affect her performance as she outworked Messer-Belenchia for the decision win.

Bantamweight Hope Chase made a strong impression during her first Invicta appearance, submitting Megan Cawley inside the first round. After a brief feeling-out process, Chase powered Cawley to the ground and unleashed a barrage of punches. Cawley attacked with an armbar, but Chase escaped and passed to side control. Following more strikes, Cawley gave up her back and Chase locked in a fight-finishing rear-naked choke.

In a battle of flyweight newcomers, Colorado’s Claire Johnson submitted Minnesota’s Jordan Kaaze. The first round saw Johnson take control in the clinch and bring the fight to the mat. Once on top, Johnson was able to control the round and score with punches from the top. Round two was nearly a carbon-copy of the first, as Johnson was able to get in close and take Kaaze to the ground. She passed to side control and delivered a barrage of elbows. Kaaze absorbed the shots, but was unable to work back to her feet. In the final frame, Johnson scored with a trip takedown and worked to Kaaze’s back. She attacked with a reverse triangle before latching onto an armbar and coercing the tap from Kaaze.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pearl Gonzalez def. Brogan Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mariya Agapova def. Marilia Santos by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 4:55
Kay Hansen def. Nicolle Caliari by submission (guillotine choke). Round 3, 1:14
Lindsey VanZandt def. Shino VanHoose by TKO (knee injury). Round 1, 0:39
Linda Mihalec def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Hope Chase def. Megan Cawley by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:28
Claire Johnson def. Jordan Kaaze by submission (armbar). Round 3, 2:20

About Invicta FC:

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

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Phoenix Series 2 Results: Maverick Submits Bennett to Capture Tournament Crown

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Sept. 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted its second Phoenix Series tournament from Memorial Hall. The event aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The tournament final featured a rematch between Miranda Maverick and DeAnna Bennett. Bennett pressed forward on the feet in the opening stanza as Maverick looked to counter. After trading leg kicks, Maverick scored with a front kick to Bennett’s midsection. The fighters opened up with their hands as the round progressed, with Maverick landing a heavy counter in the pocket. Bennett sought a takedown late in the round, but Maverick stayed on her feet. The second frame featured a number of flurries from both fighters, but each was able to evade significant damage. Bennett changed levels for a takedown, but Maverick reversed it and took her to the ground briefly. Bennett quickly worked back to her feet and finished the round in the top position. In the fight’s final round, Maverick secured a single leg along the fence and tripped Bennett to the ground. As Bennett worked to stand, Maverick transitioned to her back. Bennett was able to defend numerous choke attempts, but as the round came closer to an end, Maverick was able to get her arm under the chin. The tap from Bennett came with less than two minutes left as Maverick took home the tournament championship and exacted revenge for her previous defeat to Bennett.

The night’s co-main event pitted Kazakhstan’s Mariya Agapova against Invicta veteran Alexa Conners. After trading body kicks, Agapova started to open up with combinations. A superwoman punch prompted Conners to shoot for a takedown, but she could not get Agapova to the ground. A heavy kick to the liver stunned Conners and Agapova followed with a massive right hand. Smelling blood, Agapova pounced on Conners, taking her back. She applied a rear-naked choke and Conners submitted.

In non-tournament action, Josee Storts impressed in her Invicta debut, submitting fellow newcomer Helen Lucero in the fight’s first round. Storts went straight to work, pushing Lucero to the fence and bringing her to the ground. She gained mount and began battering Lucero. Lucero swept to top position, but Storts used an armbar attempt to regain mount. The 21-year-old set up a topside triangle choke attempt. Lucero spun to top position, but the choke was sunk in and Storts unleashed a barrage of elbows to split open Lucero’s forehead. Lucero was forced to tap, handing Storts her second career victory.

DeAnna Bennett earned the second spot in the tournament final with a submission win over Brazilian Daiana Torquato. Torquato jumped on Bennett’s back right away and then transitioned for a standing arm-triangle choke. Bennett remained calm and escaped the submission attempt. She pushed Torquato to the fence before scoring with a powerful double-leg takedown. Bennett took the back of Torquato and secured both hooks. She patiently got her arm under Torquato’s chin and coerced the tap.

In the tournament semifinals, Miranda Maverick clashed with Shanna Young. The pair stayed at range initially. Young caught Maverick with a heavy left hand, forcing the tournament’s youngest fighter to shoot. She latched onto a single and dragged Young to the ground. Young tried to use the fence to work back to her feet, but gave up her back in the process. Maverick capitalized, taking Young’s back. She flattened her out and applied a fight-finishing rear-naked choke to punch her ticket to the final.

The second tournament reserve bout featured Invicta staple Kay Hansen against unbeaten Venezuelan prospect Carolina Jimenez. Hansen was quick to look for a takedown and took the fight to the canvas. Jimenez showcased her grappling prowess, sweeping to the top position. The pair traded positions repeatedly, with Hansen slowly taking control of the contest. In the fight’s final minute, Hansen took the back of Jimenez and worked for a rear-naked choke. The finish did not come, but Hansen exited the cage with the clear-cut win.

In the night’s first tournament reserve bout, Kansas native Chantel Coates walked home with a split decision over newcomer Flore Hani. Coates cracked Hani with a right hand, prompting the French Polynesian fighter to shoot. Coates timed it perfectly, catching Hani with a flush head kick on the entry. Hani was able to survive and bring the fight to the ground. Coates worked back to her feet and the pair spent the rest of the bout in the clinch. The back-and-forth action was like a chess match and two of the judges scored the bout in favor of Coates.

The final quarterfinal fight was a clash of styles as Tennessee’s Shanna Young edged out Finland’s Maiju Suotama. Suotama wasted little time closing the distance after blocking a head kick attempt from Young. Suotama was able to change levels and get Young to the ground. She was able to smother Young with her control, but Young did not panic and was able to work to top position. Once on top, Young unleashed a barrage of punches. That onslaught was the difference as Young moved on to the semifinal round.

Missouri native Miranda Maverick picked up her second win over Victoria Leonardo to move onto the tournament semifinals. Leonardo was relentless with her pressure, forcing Maverick to her back foot. Maverick was patient at range, scoring with counters. Maverick initiated the clinch and looked to bring the fight to the mat. Leonardo was able to separate, but Maverick’s ability to control the distance was enough to convince the judges to hand her the victory.

Veteran DeAnna Bennett edged out Liz Tracy in a back-and-forth battle in the second quarterfinal bout. Tracy closed the distance early, but Bennett muscled her to the mat for a moment. After jostling for position in the clinch, Tracy earned the fight’s first takedown. It was short-lived as Bennett worked back to the feet. Bennett opened up with her striking late and cracked Tracy with multiple shots. She followed it with a late takedown to earn the unanimous decision nod and her spot in the semifinals.

The quarterfinal action kicked off with a match-up between UFC veteran Milana Dudieva and Brazilian newcomer Daiana Torquato. Torquato was aggressive early, pinning her Russian foe against the cage. From the clinch, Torquato scored with short knees and elbows. Dudieva looked to use her judo, but Torquato was wise to it and kept the fight upright. Torquato’s pressure proved to be the difference on the scorecards as two of the judges at cageside awarded her the decision and a spot in the semifinals.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Miranda Maverick def. DeAnna Bennett by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 3:38 – flyweight tournament final
Mariya Agapova def. Alexa Conners by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:03
Josee Storts def. Helen Lucero by submission (triangle-armbar). Round 1, 4:21
DeAnna Bennett def. Daiana Torquato by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:34 – flyweight tournament semifinal
Miranda Maverick def. Shanna Young by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:35 – flyweight tournament semifinal
Kay Hansen def. Carolina Jimenez by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – flyweight tournament reserve bout
Chantel Coates def. Flore Hani by split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – flyweight tournament reserve bout
Shanna Young def. Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – flyweight tournament quarterfinal
Miranda Maverick def. Victoria Leonardo by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – flyweight tournament quarterfinal
DeAnna Bennett def. Liz Tracy by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – flyweight tournament quarterfinal
Daiana Torquato def. Milana Dudieva by split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – flyweight tournament quarterfinal

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 36 Results: Sorenson Bests Young, Claims Featherweight Title

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Aug. 9, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 36: Sorenson vs. Young from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Pam Sorenson is the new Invicta FC featherweight champion after defeating Kaitlin Young in the night’s main event. Young stayed a range early in the fight, but forced Sorenson to back up. Sorenson responded by throwing overhands and then changing levels for a takedown. She struggled to keep Young down initially, but eventually secured top position. Young gave up her back to stand and delivered a knee to a grounded Sorenson. That foul resulted in a point a deduction, but the fight continued. In round two, Young’s striking began to take over. That was short-lived though, as Sorenson ducked under a right hand and put her on the ground. She took Young’s back and threatened with a rear-naked choke. The veteran Young did not panic, calmly defending the submission attempt and spinning into the guard of Sorenson. Round three was nearly a carbon copy of the second, with Sorenson bringing the fight to the mat, but Young finding ways to defend and work to top position. Sorenson finished the round with an armbar attempt and her best striking exchange of the bout. In round four, the grappling exchanges turned in favor of Young for a moment. She spun into Sorenson’s half guard, then passed to mount and looked for an arm-triangle. Sorenson escaped and finished the frame strong. The final round was punctuated with yet another Sorenson takedown. She nearly mounted Young, but settled for taking her back along the fence. She held that position until the final bell, securing the dominant performance. The judges rendered a unanimous verdict after the five-round affair.

Strawweight newcomer Emily Ducote did not waste any time putting her stamp on the promotion, crushing former title challenger Janaisa Morandin inside the first round. Ducote use her reach to keep the Brazilian Morandin on the outside. Morandin tried to flurry to boxing range, but was met with stiff right hands. That was the tone of the fight, as with less than a minute left in the first stanza, a right hand from Ducote put Morandin on the canvas. Ducote smelled blood and rained heavy punches, forcing the referee to intervene.

Brazil’s Jéssica Delboni picked up a split-decision win over fellow atomweight Lindsey VanZandt. Delboni fired kicks to open the contest. VanZandt looked to return fire, but the Brazilian caught a kick and dumped her to the canvas. Delboni peppered VanZandt with kicks to prevent her from getting to her feet. When she did work to her feet, Delboni put her back on the mat. VanZandt threatened with a triangle choke late in the round, but could not find a finish. It was VanZandt who opted to take the fight to the ground in the middle round. She put Delboni on her back, then took her back and secured a body-triangle. Delboni defended the submission attempts and spun to top position, but VanZandt closed the frame with an armbar attempt. Round three started with a Delboni takedown, but she did little with it and the fight returned to the feet. The fighters jostled for position in the clinch for the remainder of the fight, sending the fight to the scorecards. When the scores were revealed, it was Delboni who walked away victorious.

Victoria Leonardo put the first blemish on the record of Oklahoma’s Stephanie Geltmacher after a three-round war. There was no feeling-out process between the two flyweights as Geltmacher quickly barreled forward. Leonardo answered with short shots. Geltmacher earned a brief takedown, but Leonardo bounced right back to her feet. The taller Leonardo used her height and reach advantage to batter the face of Geltmacher from distance. In round two, Geltmacher’s nose opened up from Leonardo’s punches. That didn’t slow her down, however as she took the fight to the ground and took Leonardo’s back. Leonardo remained calm and scrambled to top position, where she delivered more punishment. Both fighters wore plenty of damage entering the fight’s last frame. Leonardo was unrelenting at range, cracking Geltmacher with right hand after right hand. Geltmacher never stopped coming forward, despite her nose bleeding heavily. The back-and-forth battle went the distance and Leonardo edged out the decision win.

Atomweight Alyse Anderson scored a hard-fought decision victory over late-notice opponent Katie Saull. The first round belonged to Anderson, as she was able to push Saull to the cage and take her back on the feet. She applied a body-triangle and dragged Saull to the ground. She worked hard for a rear-naked choke, but the Canadian defended well. Saull’s boxing was on display early in round two, but Anderson was able to close the distance and take the fight to the ground. Saull was active from her back, preventing Anderson from mounting offense or passing her guard. The final stanza opened with Saull landing from range, forcing Anderson to clinch along the fence. Anderson powered the fight to the mat, but once again could not pass the guard. The judges were called upon and awarded Anderson the split-decision nod.

Flyweight Caitlin Sammons earned her second straight win, submitting knockout artist Chantel Coates in the second round via rear-naked choke. Coates largely dominated the opening round, peppering Sammons with her hands. Sammons delivered low kicks to get the fight at range, but frequently found herself absorbing punches. Coates dropped Sammons briefly near the end of the round with a left hand. It was more of the same early in round two, as Coates continued to find success in the stand-up department. The tide of the fight turned quickly as Sammons secured a trip takedown and took the back of Coates. She quickly applied a choke and coerced the tap from Coates.

Bantamweight debutants graced the cage in the night’s second bout as Erin Harpe took on Auttumn Norton. Harpe was aggressive to open the bout, flurrying forward and looking for a takedown. Norton kept the fight upright for a moment, but eventually Harpe took her down with a single and delivered ground and pound. The second stanza took place on the feet with Norton showcasing her hand speed and repeatedly finding the jaw of Harpe with punches. The fight’s final frame featured a quick takedown from Harpe, who re-established her top control. She briefly mounted Norton and busted open her nose with strikes. The judges at cageside were split, but Harpe earned the victory.

Kicking off the night’s action were bantamweight newcomers Julia Ottolino and Megan Cawley. Ottolino used constant forward pressure and leg kicks to establish her range. Cawley looked to counter, but struggled to match the output of the Chicago native. Cawley landed a counter left hook in round two that briefly stunned Ottolino, but she could not capitalize. The third round saw Ottolino unleash multiple superwoman punches that found the jaw of Cawley. The fight went the distance and the judges rendered a clean sweep for Ottolino.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pam Sorenson def. Kaitlin Young by unanimous decision (50-44, 49-45, 48-45) – for featherweight title
Emily Ducote def. Janaisa Morandin by knockout (punches). Round 1, 4:03
Jéssica Delboni def. Lindsey VanZandt by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Victoria Leonardo def. Stephanie Geltmacher by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Alyse Anderson def. Katie Saull by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Caitlin Sammons def. Chantel Coates by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:10
Erin Harpe def. Auttumn Norton by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-27)
Julia Ottolino def. Megan Cawley by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 35 Results: Rodríguez Gets Revenge, Edges Bennett to Claim Title Shot

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, June 7, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodríguez II from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

There’s a new No. 1 contender in the flyweight division as Karina Rodríguez defeated DeAnna Bennett to earn a title shot against champion Vanessa Porto. The pair had met previously at Invicta FC 28, with Bennett earning a decision victory. The rematch began with a tightly contested first round. Rodríguez popped her jab over and over to keep Bennett at range. Bennett took her time adjusting, but eventually found her range and scored with punches of her own. The pair traded combinations throughout the frame, as the entire round was spent on the feet. In the second frame, Bennett used her boxing to set up her takedown attempts, but unlike the pair’s first meeting, Rodríguez was able to keep the fight upright. Bennett’s control along the fence changed the flow of the fight. The last stanza began with a big body kick from Rodríguez. That prompted Bennett to shoot and eventually secure the fight’s first takedown. That would be the story of the remainder of the fight, as Bennett worked relentlessly to bring the fight to the mat. The fight went the distance and it was Rodríguez’s name called when the scorecards were revealed.

UFC veteran Viviane Pereira put the first blemish on the record of atomweight Alesha Zappitella with a dominating performance in the night’s co-main event. Zappitella came out firing punches, but despite her clear speed advantage, she could not get inside the range of the former strawweight Pereira. The Brazilian used her counter striking to batter the smaller Zappitella at range. A series of jabs forced the face of Zappitella to swell. Zappitella tried to implement her wrestling attack, but Pereira stuffed all of her attempts to get the fight to the mat. In round two, the constant shots from Pereira appeared to break the nose of Zappitella, as it poured blood and she was forced to breathe through her mouth. Pereira dropped Zappitella with a right hand just as round two came to a close. The final round was more of the same, as Pereira cruised to the lopsided decision victory.

Japan’s Kanako Murata put the strawweight division on notice in her promotional debut, submitting Brazilian Liana Pirosin inside the first round. Murata powered into a quick takedown and looked for a choke. Pirosin scrambled free and briefly took Murata’s back and worked for a choke of her own. Murata squirmed free and regained top position. She passed to Pirosin’s back, trapping her left arm with a leg. That allowed her to slap on a rear-naked choke and coerce the tap from the Brazilian less than halfway through the opening frame.

Lisa Spangler remained unbeaten, edging former bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner by unanimous decision. The fight was spent on the feet throughout its entirety with neither fighting wanting to give an inch. Spangler threw low kicks in the opening frame as Lehner peppered with jab, as both looked to find their range. The technical striking chess match continued throughout the first round. In round two, both fighters took turns opening up and firing overhand rights. The low kicks of Spangler took their toll on the German fighter as the fight progressed. In the final stanza, Lehner’s pace slowed and she took deep breaths. Spangler threw with more volume in the fight’s final minutes, putting the finishing touches on a decision victory to remain undefeated.

Minnesota’s Kaitlin Young used her striking prowess to get the better of former featherweight title challenger Faith McMah. Young went to work right away with kicks to the lead leg of the Kiwi fighter. McMah stayed on the outside, absorbing each kick. Young was able to close the distance and score with elbows over the top of McMah’s guard. In round two, McMah earned a brief takedown, but she could not keep Young down. Young continued to batter McMah’s lead leg, slowing her movement. In the third round, Young poured it on with a barrage along the fence. The onslaught hurt McMah, who crumbled to the canvas, forcing the referee to intervene.

In a clash of California bantamweights, it was Stockton’s Chelsea Chandler who stopped Los Angeles fighter Brittney Victoria by second-round TKO. The pair threw heavy punches right away. Chandler waded through Victoria’s punches and initiated the clinch. When they separated, Chandler cracked Victoria with a heavy right hand that hurt her. She followed her to the mat and unleashed a barrage of elbows and took Victoria’s back as the round expired. Round two began much the same, but another right hand from Chandler hurt Victoria badly. Chandler again dropped heavy elbows, but Victoria was able to survive. An armbar attempt from Chandler allowed Victoria to scramble to her feet. That was short lived, however. Chandler dropped Victoria once again and put her away with a flurry of punches.

Atomweights Kelly D’Angelo and Jillian DeCoursey put on a show in the night’s third bout. The power punching of D’Angelo was the story of the first round. She battered DeCoursey with punches and scored with heavy hammerfists when DeCoursey looked for a takedown. The tide turned early in round two, as DeCoursey was able to change levels and get the fight to the ground. She couldn’t keep it there, as D’Angelo scrambled back to her feet. The pair continued to trade heavy shots and takedowns throughout the final frame, but it was D’Angelo who was able to frequently find top position. A late heel hook attempt from DeCoursey was too little, too late, as the fight was sent to the judges at cageside, who returned a unanimous verdict for Missouri’s D’Angelo.

Thailand’s Loma Lookboonmee returned to the Invicta cage and spoiled the promotional debut of Brazilian Monique Adriane after three, hard-fought rounds. The kicking arsenal of Lookboonmee was on full display as she spun Adriane around like a top just moments into the fight with a body kick. The Brazilian countered the kicks with heavy punches to keep the fight close. Lookboonmee secured the fight’s first takedown with a trip. She dropped heavy elbow from half guard. The second round was electric, as both fighters turned up the pace. Adriane caught a kick and planted Lookboonmee on her back, but the Thai fighter scrambled to her feet. Adriane tried to repeat the feat moments later, but Lookboonmee reversed it and put the Brazilian on her back. The final round was spent largely on the feet with Lookboonmee repeatedly kicking the midsection of Adriane. A late takedown from Lookboonmee sealed the deal as she swept the scorecards.

Kicking off the night’s action was a battle of debuting strawweights as Kentucky’s Genia Goodin took on California’s Valerie Wong. Goodin’s height and reach advantage was quickly neutralized as Wong looked for a takedown. However, it was Goodin who brought the fight to the ground and maintained top position. Wong was active from her back, looking for submissions, but Goodin showcased good defense. It was more of the same in the second frame, as Goodin looked for a leg lock, but Wong countered with a rear-naked choke attempt. The third stanza was all Goodin, who used her clinch game to keep Wong pinned against the fence. The judges were split, but it was Goodin who left the cage victorious.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Karina Rodríguez def. DeAnna Bennett by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) – flyweight tournament final
Viviane Pereira def. Alesha Zappitella by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Kanako Murata def. Liana Pirosin by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:10
Lisa Spangler def. Katharina Lehner by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Kaitlin Young def. Faith McMah by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 3:52
Chelsea Chandler def. Brittney Victoria by TKO (punches). Round 2, 3:58
Kelly D’Angelo def. Jillian DeCoursey by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Loma Lookboonmee def. Monique Adriane by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Genia Goodin def. Valerie Wong by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

About Invicta FC:

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

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Phoenix Series Results: Brianna Van Buren Crowned New Strawweight Champion

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, May 3, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted its inaugural Phoenix Series tournament from Memorial Hall. The event aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

There’s a new strawweight champion as Brianna Van Buren won three fights in one night, submitting Kailin Curran in the Phoenix Series tournament final. The opening stanza featured Van Buren scoring with inside leg kicks. Curran tried to keep the fight at range, but Van Buren changed levels and slammed her to the mat. Once on top, Van Buren was dominant. She controlled the Hawaiian with short shots, but could not find a finish. In the second frame, Van Buren again secured a takedown and immediately passed to mount. She delivered heavy shots, forcing Curran to give up her back along the fence. Curran defended briefly, but it wasn’t enough, as Van Buren locked in the choke and claimed the title.

The evening’s lone non-tournament bout featured Kay Hansen vs. Magdaléna Šormová. Hansen was relentless in the first round, putting the Czech newcomer on the mat and pounding on her with elbows. Šormová was undeterred, looking for armbars from her back and throwing upkicks. In round two, Šormová was able to gain the top position for the first time and she did not relinquish it until just before the horn sounded at the end of the round. She patiently attacked Hansen and nearly passed to mount. The final round saw Hansen look for a throw, but Šormová countered it and took her back. She worked hard for a choke, but Hansen was able to escape and gain top position late in the frame. Hansen went for an armbar with just seconds remaining in the fight, but Šormová was able to survive to the final bell. When the scorecards were read, the judges again dissented, but Šormová scored the split decision win in her promotional debut.

The second half of the semifinals saw Kailin Curran go to war with Sharon Jacobson. After a brief feeling-out process, Jacobson looked for a takedown. Curran countered with a big throw that put her in top position. Jacobson was able to work back to her feet and land big knees along the fence. When the pair separated, Curran was able to land her jab and bloody the nose of Jacobson. The Colorado fighter was able to execute a throw of her own and put Curran on the ground. She passed to side control and landed short shots. Curran powered back to her feet late in the fight and the fight was sent to the judges. All three judges rewarded Curran for her efforts, giving her the second spot in the tournament final.

In the night’s first semifinal match-up, California’s Brianna Van Buren called her shot, selecting Juliana Lima as her opponent with the only finish in the quarterfinals. Lima used her length to stay on the outside early. Van Buren scored with heavy punches before ducking under and scooping up the Brazilian for a huge slam. She worked from the top position, keeping Lima on her back. Lima used an armbar attempt to get back to her feet, but it was short lived as Van Buren slammed her violently to the mat yet again. There was little doubt on the scorecards as Van Buren advanced to the finals.

The tournament’s reserve match-up featured newcomers Alyssa Krahn and Itzel Esquivel. It was the Texas fighter Esquivel who started with heavy kicks, prompting Krahn to work for a takedown. The Canadian Krahn had to work hard to bring the fight to the ground, but she got it there midway through the round. Once in top position, she was able to control Esquivel and score with punches. When it was over, the judges again rendered a split decision, with Krahn edging Esquivel.

The final tournament quarterfinal featured high-powered wrestler Sharon Jacobson against former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown. Jacobson grabbed a single and took the fight to the ground, but Brown used a heel hook attempt to gain the top position. Jacobson scrambled to her feet and the pair traded clinch knees. An arm-drag takedown from Jacobson turned the tide, as she overwhelmed Brown with punches and secured the mount. She delivered elbows and took Brown’s back late to secure the unanimous decision victory and move to the semifinal round.

Brianna Van Buren scored the night’s first finish as she submitted India’s Manjit Kolekar with an armbar. Van Buren scooped up Kolekar and slammed her to the canvas in the opening minute of the fight. She passed to mount and then looked to take Kolekar’s back. A series of punches from Van Buren forced Kolekar to cover up and expose an arm. Van Buren latched on and coerced the tap at the 3:20 mark to move on to the semifinals.

A pair of UFC veterans squared off as Brazil’s Juliana Lima took on Danielle Taylor. Taylor quickly closed the distance and put Lima against the fence. The taller Lima reversed the position and attacked with knees from the clinch. The pair jostled for position as the round progressed. Taylor briefly scored a takedown, but she couldn’t hold Lima on the mat. Lima powered back to the clinch and the fight went the distance. The judges were again split, but Lima moved on to the semifinals.

The tournament action kicked off with a battle between UFC veteran Kailin Curran and Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir. Curran dropped Davíðsdóttir with a massive right hand early in the fight and looked to secure a choke. Davíðsdóttir fought out of the submission attempt and mounted Curran. She rained punches and elbows, but Curran was able to work back to her feet. Once back to the feet, Curran scored another knockdown. Davíðsdóttir worked back to the top position late in the fight, but the judges were called upon to decide the outcome. They were split in their verdict, but it was Curran who advanced to the semifinals.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Brianna Van Buren def. Kailin Curran by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 3:49 – strawweight tournament final
Magdaléna Šormová def. Kay Hansen by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Kailin Curran def. Sharon Jacobson by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – strawweight tournament semifinal
Brianna Van Buren def. Juliana Lima by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – strawweight tournament semifinal
Alyssa Krahn def. Itzel Esquivel by split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9) – strawweight tournament reserve bout
Sharon Jacobson def. Amber Brown by unanimous decision (10-9 x3) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Brianna Van Buren def. Manjit Kolekar by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:20 – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Juliana Lima def. Danielle Taylor by split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal
Kailin Curran def. Sunna Davíðsdóttir by split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – strawweight tournament quarterfinal

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 34 Results: Porto Tops Gonzalez, Captures Vacant Flyweight Title

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Feb. 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez from the Memorial Hall. The night’s first three bouts streamed live on Facebook and UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT, with the remainder of the event airing exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Vanessa Porto is now the Invicta FC flyweight champion after defeating Pearl Gonzalez by technical decision. The first round saw Gonzalez use her length to kick. Porto countered with punches, leading to a takedown. Gonzalez worked back to her feet, but ate three right hands in the process. Porto again took the fight to the ground. Round two featured a variety of kicks from both fighters until Porto again showcased her strength, picking up Gonzalez and slamming her to the mat. She passed to the mount and slapped on an arm-triangle choke. Gonzalez waited it out and eventually returned to her feet before the round came to an end. It was more kicks from both fighters early in round three, but Porto initiated the clinch and pinned Gonzalez to the cage. She scooped up a single and put Gonzalez on her back. Porto passed to side control where she remained until the round concluded. Porto controlled the range early in round four, but Gonzalez inadvertently poked her in the left eye to pause the action. The doctors came in to check on the Brazilian, but there was a cut to her eyelid that forced the fight to be waved off. That sent the fight to the scorecards, where Porto was ahead from all three judges at cageside.

Mexico’s Karina Rodriguez engaged in a three-round war with UFC veteran Milana Dudieva, punching her ticket to the flyweight tournament final with a split-decision victory. Rodriguez was crisp with her striking early, peppering Dudieva with kicks. Dudieva changed the tides with a well-timed takedown and a barrage of punches from top position. Late in the round, Dudieva rocked Rodriguez with a right hand as the bell sounded. The second round began similarly, with Dudieva scoring a takedown. Rodriguez was able to work back to her feet and she pushed the pace. She came forward hard, nearly overwhelming Dudieva late in the round with punches. The last stanza was razor-close as both fighters looked for openings. The judges were called upon to decide the result and two of the three rewarded Rodriguez for her efforts.

The first half of the flyweight contender tournament pitted UFC veteran and former strawweight title challenger DeAnna Bennett against rising prospect Miranda Maverick. Maverick scored early with leg kicks. Bennett marched forward, changing levels and putting Maverick on her back with a double-leg takedown. Maverick locked up her guard, but Bennett scored with right hands. In round two, the pair traded positions in the clinch, but again, it was Bennett’s double-leg takedown that helped her gain an advantageous position. She was able to move to Maverick’s back and threaten with a rear-naked choke, but the Missouri fighter defended and escaped. The final frame saw Maverick push the action. She gained the clinch, only to have Bennett reverse and position and work for a single. Maverick threw knees and short elbows, but it wasn’t enough, as Bennett claimed the decision and the first spot in the flyweight tournament final.

In the flyweight tournament reserve bout, Tracy Cortez used her solid wrestling and submission defense to edge grappler Erin Blanchfield by split decision. Cortez threw with reckless abandon early, before changing levels and taking Blanchfield to the ground. Blanchfield latched onto Cortez’s right arm, looking for an armbar. Cortez was able to defend, but Blanchfield held the position until the end of the round, absorbing short punches and knees from Cortez. The second frame was a back-and-forth affair, with Cortez getting the better of the clinch work. Blanchfield had a strong third round, securing a takedown and attacking with submissions. Cortez survived a deep arm-triangle choke attempt, returning to the feet in the fight’s final minute. When the judges were called upon, it was Cortez who walked away victorious.

Flyweights Victoria Leonardo and Jamie Milanowski put on a show for the brief time they were in the cage. Milanowski quickly dragged Leonardo to the ground, but Leonardo looked for an armbar and got back to her feet. She then put Milanowki on her back and dropped heavy ground and pound. The fight returned to the feet briefly and Milanowski again looked to gain top position. Leonardo stuffed a head-and-arm throw and took the back of the newcomer. She locked onto a rear-naked choke, forcing Milanowski to tap midway through the first round.

Featherweight Courtney King picked up her first win in the Invicta cage, stopping fellow Coloradan Holli Logan by second-round submission. Logan scored with repeated counter right hands in the opening stanza, as King pressed forward. King eventually earned the clinch and brought the fight to the ground with a trip takedown. In the second frame, King flurried hard to get the clinch. This time, however, it was Logan who looked for a trip. King reversed the position and landed on top, locking in a D’arce choke. Logan was able to defend, but gave up the mount. King rained punches and forced Logan to give up her back. Once there, King attacked the neck and coerced a tap by rear-naked choke.

The night’s action kicked off with a flyweight match-up between newcomers Caitlin Sammons and Christina Ricker. Sammons used her teep kick to gauge range, before scoring with a counter uppercut. She then took Ricker to the mat and control her from the back, but trapping Ricker’s left arm. Late in the first round, Sammons looked for an armbar, but Ricker was able to survive the round. In round two, Sammons hurt Ricker with a kick to the body and followed her to the ground. Sammons unleashed a series of punches and elbows that forced the referee to halt the bout and save Ricker from further damage.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Vanessa Porto def. Pearl Gonzalez by unanimous technical decision (40-36, 39-37, 39-37). Round 4, 2:34 – for flyweight title
Karina Rodriguez def. Milana Dudieva by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – flyweight tournament semifinal
DeAnna Bennett def. Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) – flyweight tournament semifinal
Tracy Cortez def. Erin Blanchfield by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Victoria Leonardo def. Jamie Milanowski by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 2:45
Courtney King def. Holli Logan by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:46
Caitlin Sammons def. Christina Ricker by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:02

About Invicta FC:

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