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History Lesson: The Journey of the Invicta Strawweight Title

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On Friday, Nov. 20, Invicta Fighting Championships will host its 43rd event from Kansas City, Kan. The event will crown the eighth strawweight champion in promotional history. Let’s take a look back at the belt’s history.

SETTING THE PACE

Invicta FC 4 was the stage where the first-ever Invicta strawweight champion was crowned.

The main event was expected to feature Carla Esparza and Claudia Gadelha. Unfortunately, Gadelha was forced from the bout because of a broken nose and needed to be replaced.

Also training for a fight that night was Australian Bec Rawlings — neé Hyatt. Rawlings was set to take on Joanne Calderwood on the undercard, but got the call to face Esparza.

Rawlings was the underdog in the fight, especially considering the late notice. However, Rawlings showed up to fight the highly touted Esparza.

While Rawlings proved to be a tough opponent, Esparza proved why she was regarded as one of the best 115-pounders in the world. For five rounds, Esparza used her solid boxing and vastly superior wrestling to stifle Rawlings. When the buzzer went off at the end of round five, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Esparza was the first-ever Invicta strawweight champion.

It was a short run though…

FINNING THE VOID

Esparza’s championship win was quickly followed by the UFC opening its own women’s strawweight division. With that, the champion decided to join the new season of The Ultimate Fighter, where they had a tournament to crown the first-ever UFC strawweight titleholder (which Esparza would go on to win).

Esparza’s departure left a void. And that void was to be filled at Invicta 8.

Europe’s top 115-pounder, Katja Kankaanpää of Finland, was matched against top American prospect Stephanie Eggink. The bout was paired with an atomweight title affair for championship doubleheader.

Kankaanpää’s experience figured in heavy into this fight by many, and their assertions proved to be correct. Kankaanpää, the tough and gritty vet, was able to mostly stifle Eggink throughout the fight. The big X-factor was her grappling.

The fight went into the fifth round and Kankaanpää decided to hit the gas, preferring to score a finish over letting the judges decide. She got Eggink to the ground, slapped on a D’Arce choke and tapped out Eggink just over two minutes into the final round.

The title win was huge, but she was then tasked with being the first strawweight champ to defend her title.

GANGSTER’S PARADISE

Kankaanpää’s win was huge, but she had a big task ahead of herself, as the Invicta strawweight division was brimming with talent. Her first challenger would be a highly touted newcomer from Brazil named Livia Renata Souza, the self-described Brazilian gangster.

The struggle for the champion would be matching her ground game with that of Souza, as Souza is known for her top-level submission grappling. Unfortunately for the champ, that would be on display in this match-up.

After four rounds of fighting, Souza was able to slap on a triangle choke, forcing a tap from Kankaanpää, thus ending her brief championship run. Kankaanpää would retire from the sport a few fights later with that championship accolade to her name.

Now, it was the task of Souza to be the first strawweight champ to defend the belt. Her first opponent as champ was DeAnna Bennett, a respected veteran that has been in the position of big fights more than a few times. Bennett also happened to be 8-0 at the time, making this a battle of the unbeatens.

The co-main event of Invicta 15 figured to be the BJJ of Souza vs. the boxing and wrestling of Bennett. However, just 1:30 into the first round, Souza landed a brutal body kick that folded Bennett. Souza followed up with several punches and just like that, she had defended her title with a highlight-reel finish.

The UFC would eventually be in the future of Souza, but not before her next fight at Invicta 17.

QUEEN OF THE HILL

Souza would be matched up in her second title defense against Angela Hill, a young fighter in the sport that had made The Ultimate Fighter despite having just one pro fight. Hill had washed out of the UFC not long after, and was ready to regroup under the Invicta banner.

Hill had begun her comeback with Invicta, scoring TKO victories in two bouts over Alida Gray and the aforementioned Eggink. Those two wins allotted her the resume to warrant a title shot against Souza.

Invicta 17 came around with Souza and Hill populating the co-main event in support of the bantamweight title in the main slot. Fans anticipated a clash of styles.

What they saw was a highly competitive bout. Hill used her solid Muay Thai skills and excellent athleticism to contrast with the top-level ground game and strength of Souza. Both fighters had their moments, but after 25 minutes it would come down to the judges’ scorecards.

The judges were split in who they thought took the victory; with two judges scoring the fight in favor of Hill, netting her the title and dethroning Souza in an upset.

Hill’s first title defense would take place at Invicta 20 against powerhouse Kaline Medeiros. The Brazilian Medeiros was known for her fierce knockout power and was a threat to put Hill out with one shot.

In a more clear-cut title fight for Hill, she was able to outpoint Medeiros on all the scorecards, defending her title and continuing her career resurgence after her initial UFC ouster.

Hill vacated the title after the win and headed to the UFC, as she received a late-notice opportunity. She’s been there ever since.

BLACK BELT, TITLE BELT

With the departure of Hill, Invicta again needed to fill a vacancy. So, the company looked to two of it’s top international stars to fill that need: Mizuki Inoue of Japan and Virna Jandiroba of Brazil.

Invicta 28 was the site where that vacant title would be filled. Mizuki was known to Invicta fans for her exciting style and impressive resume, while Jandiroba was an undefeated 13-0 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt looking to make a name for herself.

Like many of the title fights before it, Mizuki-Jandiroba was a competitive fight that had fans in attendance on their feet. Mizuki’s striking and Jandiroba’s grappling were both on display, in a great contrast of style.

For the second time in Invicta strawweight championship history, the judges were split on their choice for the winner. However, it was Jandiroba who got the judge’s tilt, making her the second Brazilian champ in the division’s history.

With that win, Jandiroba was then matched up with a fellow Brazilian Janaisa Morandin at Invicta 31 in her first defense of the gold. However, this time, she made sure to leave no doubt in the minds of the judges and fans.

In the second round, Jandiroba really made the grappling disparity apparent, as she dominated her countrywoman. She secured a beautiful arm-triangle choke, coercing a tap from Morandin and successfully defending her title.

As with the previous champ, Hill, Jandiroba would be offered a UFC contract and would then vacate the title to pursue that endeavor.

ONE NIGHT, THREE FIGHTS, ONE BELT

To fill the void left behind by Jandiroba, Invicta decided to hold an eight-woman, one-night tournament to crown a new champion. The tournament would consist of UFC veterans Kailin Curran, Juliana Lima and Danielle Taylor; international stars Sunna Davidsdottir and Manjit Kolekar; Invicta mainstays Sharon Jacobson, Amber Brown; and top regional fighter Brianna van Buren.

Each quarterfinal and semifinal bout was one round, with the final being a three-round affair. The winner of that three-round fight would earn the Invicta gold.

The opening round saw Curran and Lima score split decisions over Davidsdottir and Taylor, respectively. Jacobson defeated Brown by unanimous decision and van Buren scored an armbar finish over Kolekar.

The semifinals saw two more definitive wins than the first round, though there were no finishes. Van Buren bested the favored Lima by unanimous verdict, while Curran did the same over Jacobson in what was seen as an upset.

The main event came and both fighters could taste victory. It was just 15 minutes (or less) away.

In what was an outstanding performance, van Buren completed the Cinderella run in which she outlasted UFC veterans and other top prospects to dominate Curran in the finals and choke her out in the second round. With that, the championship void was filled with a young, exciting star.

However, we would never see van Buren defend that title, as the UFC offered her a fight on late notice, effectively vacating the belt.

LAND OF THE RISING STAR

With the belt without a home, Invicta again had to put together two stars to square off for the gold. Invicta 38 was the site, and competing for the title would be Japanese phenom Kanako Murata and scrappy veteran Emily Ducote.

Murata had gained fame fighting for top Japanese organization Rizin and was known for her excellent wrestling. Ducote, on the other hand, was a former Bellator MMA flyweight championship challenger who had ransacked Janaisa Morandin in her Invicta debut to earn this slot.

This was another great fight. Murata had her moments where she showed off underrated striking and good grappling. Ducote showed off her good striking as well, as well as her scrappiness. They threw down for five rounds, warranting a call to the judges.

In what we can call another piece of brilliant matchmaking by Invicta FC, we saw another split decision decide the Invicta 115-pound strap. That decision went the way of Murata, making her the first Japanese strawweight champion in Invicta. It also, in the process, proved the worth of Ducote, who is now one of the best 115-pounders.

Murata never defended the title, though. She vacated the title and signed with the UFC, leaving the belt without an owner once more.

That’s where Ducote and Montserrat Ruiz come in. The belt is on the line at Invicta 43. Who will add to the rich history of Invicta’s strawweight lineage?

This piece is a special contribution from Riley Kontek, a veteran combat sports writer whose work has appeared on Bleacher Report MMA, Combat Press and the MMA Intel Blog. You can follow Riley on Twitter.

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Invicta FC 20 Results: Kunitskaya Unseats Evinger, Hill Bests Medeiros

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Nov. 18, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya stunned the bantamweight division by submitting champion Tonya Evinger in the first round to become the new titleholder. Evinger immediately took Kunitskaya to the ground as the fight began and she started to work from side control. Kunitskaya recovered her full guard and attacked with an armbar. Evinger tried to stand and escape, but Kunitskaya locked on and forced Evinger to submit less than two minutes into the fight.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Dec. 1, the Evinger-Kunitskaya fight was overturned to a no-contest by the Missouri Office of Athletics.

The strawweight title stayed around the waist of Angela Hill after five hard-fought rounds against challenger Kaline Medeiros. Medeiros came out looking to bring the fight to the ground, but once there, she was forced to defend a deep triangle attempt from the champion, as well as numerous elbows. The takedowns of Medeiros were the story of the second round, as she was able to keep Hill down on the mat. As the fight turned toward the championship rounds, it was Hill’s footwork and efficiency in her striking that were the story. She was patient and selective with her offense, frustrating Medeiros from the outside. Medeiros showed heart, coming forward until the final bell, but it wasn’t enough, as all three judges gave Hill the decision.

Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio showcased an improved striking attack to get the best of Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision. The Brazilian Tiburcio’s speed advantage was evident from the opening bell as she fired combination after combination. She then took Soukupova to the ground and punished her with ground and pound. It was more of the same in the middle frame as Tiburcio peppered Soukupova with punches and outside leg kicks. Soukupova found her range late in round two and carried it into round three. She pinned Tiburcio to the fence and scored with knees. It was too little, too late, however, as Tiburcio claimed victory.

Making her Invicta debut, strawweight Ashley Yoder ruined the 115-pound debut of former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown. Brown lived up to her “Bully” moniker early in the fight, powering Yoder to the canvas and moving to the mount. Yoder stayed composed, recovering her half guard and then using an omoplata to sweep to the top position. Once on top, Yoder turned the tide of the fight. The second stanza saw Yoder score with a beautiful hip toss along the cage. Brown tried to escape out the back, but Yoder used her hips to pin Brown to the mat and rained punches. Brown left her arm exposed and Yoder slapped on a deep armbar to coerce the tap.

The match-up between Pam Sorenson and Australia’s Jessica-Rose Clark was a grueling affair, with Sorenson earning a split decision win in her Invicta debut. The pair jostled for position along the fence throughout the first round as both fighters tried to wrestle the other to the ground. In round two, Clark muscled Sorenson to the mat, but it was Sorenson that went on the offensive. She repeatedly threatened with armbar attempts, preventing Clark from attacking. Sorenson’s striking was on point in the final round, as Clark’s output waned. When it was all said and done, Sorenson walked away victorious.

In her return to the promotion, strawweight J.J. Aldrich put on a boxing clinic against veteran Lynn Alvarez. Alvarez did her best to control the distance with kicks, but Aldrich was patient with her counter striking. Once Aldrich found her range with her left hand, she peppered the face of Alvarez with straight punches. Midway through the fight, the left eye of Alvarez was heavily bruised. Aldrich never slowed down; delivering a steady stream of strikes that further damaged the face of Alvarez. There was never any doubt on the scorecards as Aldrich swept the scorecards.

Bantamweight Alexa Conners got in the win column, spoiling the promotional debut of Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger. The pair spent the majority of the fight on the feet, with Conners pressing the action. Egger frequently found herself with her back to the cage, but she used her reach to keep Conners at range. As the fight progressed, Conners began attacking the body and nearly earned a stoppage in the final frame. On the scorecards, two of the three judges rewarded Conners with the split decision verdict.

Kicking off the action, strawweight Miranda Maverick submitted fellow newcomer Samantha Diaz by rear-naked choke in the first round. The pair tried to gauge their range on the feet, but Maverick eventually took the fight to the mat. She was forced to defend an armbar attempt from Diaz, but she eventually took Diaz’s back and locked in the fight-finishing choke.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Yana Kunitskaya def. Tonya Evinger by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:59 – for bantamweight title
Angela Hill def. Kaline Medeiros by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Herica Tiburcio def. Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ashley Yoder def. Amber Brown by submission (armbar). Round 2, 2:31
Pam Sorenson def. Jessica-Rose Clark by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
J.J. Aldrich def. Lynn Alvarez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alexa Conners def. Stephanie Egger by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Samantha Diaz by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:26

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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, Nov. 17, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Friday, Nov. 18 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya has stopped seven of her nine wins by way of strikes.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. Medeiros carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

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

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.7) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.1)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (114.8) vs. Kaline Medeiros (114.1)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (105.9) vs. Simona Soukupova (106)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (117)* vs. Amber Brown (114.8)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (136) vs. Pam Sorenson (140.6)*
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (115.5) vs. J.J. Aldrich (115.9)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (135.7) vs. Alexa Conners (135.9)
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (118.4)* vs. Samantha Diaz (115.9)

* – Yoder, Sorenson and Maverick were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse for missing weight

About Invicta FC:

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

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Invicta FC 20 Features Two Title Fights on Nov. 18

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 20 will feature two championship match-ups on Friday, Nov. 18.

The promotion once again returns to the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

In the night’s headliner, reigning bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5) will look to defend her belt against Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya (9-2). Evinger rides a lengthy, nine-fight winning streak into the title affair, including six straight in the Invicta cage. She was most recently in action at Invicta FC 17 in May, retaining her title with a decision win over Colleen Schneider. The 26-year-old Kunitskaya returned to competition in 2016 after nearly four years away from the sport. In her last outing, she stopped Yanan Wu by second-round TKO. Seven of Kunitskaya’s nine wins have come via strikes, including a 34-second stoppage of Cindy Dandois.

The co-main event will also feature gold on the line as strawweight champion Angela Hill (5-2) meets surging Brazilian Kaline Medeiros (8-4). The 31-year-old Hill earned the title in her last bout, defeating Livia Renata Souza by decision at Invicta FC 17. The win marked the UFC veteran’s third straight under the Invicta FC banner. Much like the champion, Medeiros has found nothing but success with the promotion, stopping Aline Serio in her promotional debut and handing Manjit Kolekar her first loss at Invicta FC 19 in September. The 37-year-old carries a five-fight winning streak into her title challenge.

Joining the two title match-ups will be six additional bouts. Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio (9-4) will take on Simona Soukupova (5-4-1), recent atomweight title challenger Amber Brown (6-2) moves up to strawweight to welcome The Ultimate Fighter veteran Ashley Yoder (4-1) to the Invicta cage, Australia’s Jessica-Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark (6-2) returns to face newcomer Pam Sorenson (4-1) in a bantamweight affair, veteran strawweight Lynn Alvarez (6-4) clashes with J.J. Aldrich (3-1), Switzerland’s Stephanie Egger (2-0) will make her Invicta debut against against a soon-to-be-announced bantamweight opponent, and strawweights Miranda Maverick (0-0) and Samantha Diaz (0-0) will make their professional debuts.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 20 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2)
Strawweight Title: Angela Hill (5-2) vs. Kaline Medeiros (8-4)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (9-4) vs. Simona Soukupova (5-4-1)
Strawweight: Ashley Yoder (4-1) vs. Amber Brown (6-2)
Bantamweight: Jessica-Rose Clark (6-2) vs. Pam Sorenson (4-1)
Strawweight: Lynn Alvarez (6-4) vs. J.J. Aldrich (3-1)
Bantamweight: Stephanie Egger (2-0) vs. TBA
Strawweight: Miranda Maverick (0-0) vs. Samantha Diaz (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 20 will be available on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m. ET and will be available for $75, $50 and $35 at Ticketfly.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 17 Results: Evinger Retains, Hill Unseats Souza

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Costa Mesa, Calif. — On Saturday, May 7, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider from the The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET.

The night’s main event saw bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger endure a five-round, grueling battle with Colleen Schneider to retain her title. Evinger rocked Schneider in the opening frame before taking her down and moving to her back. She unleashed elbows and punches, but Schneider was game. Schneider’s takedown defense held up much better through the middle rounds, as she forced Evinger to work hard for every position. Evinger’s smothering wrestling attack prevented Schneider from mounting any offense. After five rounds, Evinger walked away with a unanimous decision.

In the co-main event of the evening, the strawweight champion changed hands as Angela Hill claimed a split decision win over Brazil’s Livia Renata Souza. Souza quickly brought the fight to the mat and looked for multiple submissions. Hill remained calmed and escaped to her feet. From there, Hill’s confidence grew with every passing second. She scored with combo after combo on the feet, as Souza continually marched forward. Souza was able to earn takedowns on multiple occasions, but Hill scrambled free time and time again. In the championship rounds, Hill’s pinpoint striking continued to land flush on Souza’s jaw. Souza went for broke in the final round, chaining a guillotine choke and an armbar attempt, but it was too little, too late as Hill was crowned the new champion.

Former featherweight title challenger Charmaine Tweet weathered an early storm against Latoya Walker before scoring a highlight-reel spinning back fist. The previously undefeated Walker battered Tweet with punches early, as she ignored her reach disadvantage. Walker took Tweet down and mounted her, but Tweet was able to return to her feet. Late in the round, Tweet saw an opening and connected with a devastating spinning back fist that sent Walker crashing to the canvas. A few follow-up punches and the fight was called off.

In a battle of Brazilians, Kaline Medeiros impressed with a second-round finish of fellow strawweight newcomer Aline Serio. Medeiros landed leg kicks early to set up a big takedown. Serio tried to counter with a guillotine attempt, but Medeiros was relentless. The second stanza opened with Medeiros slamming Serio on her head and raining ground and pound. The heavy shots took their toll and the referee was forced to intervene.

Australia’s Megan Anderson continued her recent winning ways, stopping fellow featherweight Amanda Bell inside the first round. Anderson rocked Bell immediately to start the fight, but Bell survived and powered the fight to the ground. Anderson was able to power to the top position, but Bell threatened with an armbar. When the fight returned to the feet, Anderson scored with knees and punches, dropping Bell as the first-round closed.

Christine Stanley and Shannon Sinn finally locked horns in a flyweight affair and Stanley left with a decision win. Stanley was aggressive from the opening bell, throttling Sinn with heavy punches and body kicks. Sinn showcased a granite chin and heart, never backing down. Stanley’s output slowed as the fight progressed, but Sinn could not mount enough offense to sway the fight in her favor.

Flyweights Rachael Ostovich and Ariel Beck put on a show in the night’s second bout. Beck’s striking was on point in the first round, as she kept Ostovich at range. Round two swung toward the Hawaiian as she earned a takedown and threatened to submit Beck with a rear-naked choke and an armbar. The final round was the most competitive of the fight, as Beck rocked Ostovich early, but Ostovich fought back with a takedown. When it went to the judges, it was Ostovich who claimed the split decision nod.

Kicking off the action, England’s Laura Howarth spoiled the professional debut of Alexa Conners by claiming a closely contested split decision. Howarth’s kicking arsenal was on display early and often, forcing Conners to chase her around the cage. Conners find her range as the fight progressed, but it wasn’t enough as the judges rewarded Howarth the victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Tonya Evinger def. Colleen Schneider by unanimous decision (49-45, 50-44, 50-44) – for bantamweight title
Angela Hill def. Livia Renata Souza by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Charmaine Tweet def. Latoya Walker by TKO (spinning back fist and punches). Round 1, 3:41
Kaline Medeiros def. Aline Serio by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 4:04
Megan Anderson def. Amanda Bell by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:59
Christine Stanley def. Shannon Sinn by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Rachael Ostovich def. Ariel Beck by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Laura Howarth def. Alexa Conners 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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Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider Official Weigh-in Results

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Costa Mesa, Calif. — On Friday, May 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider, which takes place from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, May 7. It will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The eight-fight event will feature two title fights, as bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (17-5) meets California’s Colleen Schneider (10-6), and unbeaten strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-0) takes on UFC veteran Angela “Overkill” Hill (4-2).

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins, which were held at the Costa Mesa Marriott.

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.7) vs. Colleen Schneider (134.4)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (114.1) vs. Angela Hill (114.1)
Featherweight: Latoya Walker (144.4) vs. Charmaine Tweet (145.2)
Strawweight: Aline Serio (114.4) vs. Kaline Medeiros (115.3)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (145.7) vs. Megan Anderson (145.5)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (125.8) vs. Shannon Sinn (124.3)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (125.4) vs. Ariel Beck (125.2)
Bantamweight: Laura Howarth (134.4) vs. Alexa Conners (135.5)

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 17: Evinger vs. Schneider Full Fight Card

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 17 is complete.

Three additional fights have been added to the stacked lineup. The match-ups were revealed on the latest episode of Invicta FC Radio.

Flyweight knockout artist Christine “Knuckles” Stanley (4-1) returns to the Invicta cage to take on Colorado’s Shannon Sinn (2-2). Also at 125 pounds, Hawaiian Rachael Ostovich (2-2) meets promotional newcomer Ariel Beck (3-2). Finally, England’s Laura Howarth (2-1) steps into the Invicta cage for the first time against Alexa Conners (0-0) in a bantamweight fight.

The bouts join the previously announced headlining bantamweight title fight between champion Tonya Evinger (17-5) and California’s own Colleen Schneider (10-6), as well as a strawweight championship affair between unbeaten champion Livia Renata Souza (9-0) and UFC veteran Angela “Overkill” Hill (4-2).

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 17 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (17-5) vs. Colleen Schneider (10-6)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (9-0) vs. Angela Hill (4-2)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (11-4) vs. Aline Serio (9-5)
Featherweight: Latoya Walker (5-0) vs. Charmaine Tweet (8-5)
Atomweight: Tessa Simpson (4-1) vs. Julia Jones (4-0)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (3-3) vs. Megan Anderson (5-2)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (4-1) vs. Shannon Sinn (2-2)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (2-2) vs. Ariel Beck (3-2)
Bantamweight: Laura Howarth (2-1) vs. Alexa Conners (0-0)

The event takes place Saturday, May 7, from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Tickets for the event, available for $100, $75, $55, and $35, are currently on sale at CageTix.com.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 17 Adds Strawweight Title Tilt Between Livia Renata Souza and Angela Hill

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 17 has added more exciting match-ups.

Joining the previously announced headlining bantamweight title fight between champion Tonya Evinger (17-5) and California’s own Colleen Schneider (10-6) will be five additional bouts.

The co-main event will feature a strawweight championship affair between unbeaten champion Livia Renata Souza (9-0) and UFC veteran Angela “Overkill” Hill (4-2). Brazil’s Souza made the first defense of her belt in January at Invicta FC 15, when she stopped the previously undefeated DeAnna Bennett by first-round TKO. Making her appearance on a third straight Invicta FC card, the challenger Hill has been on a tear since debuting for the organization, knocking out veteran Alida Gray and former title challenger Stephanie Eggink en route to the championship opportunity.

Also in the strawweight division, Japan’s MIZUKI (11-4) looks to capitalize on her Invicta FC 15 win over Lacey Schuckman when she battles Brazilian newcomer Aline Serio (9-5).

A pair of featherweight clashes join the action as unbeaten Texan Latoya “Black Mamba” Walker (5-0) meets Canadian Charmaine “No So Sweet” Tweet (8-5), while Oregon’s Amanda “The Lady Killer” Bell (3-3) tangles with Australian Megan Anderson (5-2).

Finally, newcomers Tessa “The Typhoon” Simpson (4-1) and Julia “Jewels” Jones (4-0) match-up in an atomweight bout.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 17 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (17-5) vs. Colleen Schneider (10-6)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (9-0) vs. Angela Hill (4-2)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (11-4) vs. Aline Serio (9-5)
Featherweight: Latoya Walker (5-0) vs. Charmaine Tweet (8-5)
Atomweight: Tessa Simpson (4-1) vs. Julia Jones (4-0)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (3-3) vs. Megan Anderson (5-2)

The event takes place Saturday, May 7, from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Tickets for the event, available for $100, $75, $55, and $35, are currently on sale at CageTix.com.

Three additional bouts for Invicta FC 17 will be announced later this week via Invicta FC Radio, which is available via Soundcloud or iTunes.

Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), or Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest details on the event.

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.

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Invicta FC 16 Adds Angela Hill and Aspen Ladd

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tickets for Invicta FC 16 are available for purchase at the Tropicana Las Vegas Show Tickets desk, by calling 800-829-9034, or online at troplv.com.

About Invicta FC:

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

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Alida Gray Steps In Against Angela Hill at Invicta FC 15

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships today announced a change to the fight card for Invicta FC 15, which will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass on Saturday, Jan. 16, from The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Knockout artist Alida Gray (4-2) will step in on short notice against Angela Hill (2-2) at the event. Gray was last in action at Invicta FC 10 last December where she fought top contender Alexa Grasso.

Gray replaces former atomweight Jodie Esquibel (5-1), who will no longer make her strawweight debut on the card.

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

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

Featherweight Title: Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (14-1, 1 NC) vs. Daria Ibragimova (9-1)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (8-0) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-0)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-4) vs. Colleen Schneider (9-6)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (5-1) vs. Lisa Ellis (15-10)
Strawweight: Angela Hill (2-2) vs. Alida Gray (4-2)
Strawweight: Lacey Schuckman (11-8) vs. Mizuki Inoue (9-4)
Featherweight: Amanda Bell (3-3) vs. Ediane Gomes (10-4)
Flyweight: Christine Stanley (4-1) vs. Shannon Sinn (2-2)
Featherweight: Megan Anderson (4-2) vs. Amber Leibrock (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 15 are on sale now and can be purchased at fightcluboc.tix.com.

About Invicta FC:

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