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Invicta FC 58 Headlined By Strawweight Showdown on November 6 in Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A familiar face returns to Invicta Fighting Championships on Wednesday, Nov. 6, as former strawweight champion Emily “Gordinha” Ducote (13-9) collides with Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova (9-3-1) in a main event match-up, live from Memorial Hall in Kansas City.

Oklahoma’s Ducote returns to the division she once reigned following a five-fight stint with the UFC. The 30-year-old will quickly look to get back into the title picture — for the belt she gave up voluntarily — and build on the momentum of four wins in her five Invicta appearances. Ostroverkhova will present a stern challenge for the former champion, fresh off a three-round battle with another former titleholder, Valesca Machado, at Invicta FC 56 in August. The Ducote-Ostroverkhova bout replaces the previously announced headliner between Alejandra Lara and Viviane “Sucuri” Pereira, which has been canceled due to illness.

In the night’s co-main event, Invicta FC staple DeAnna “Vitamin D” Bennett (14-9-1) welcomes Brazilian flyweight Thaiane “Pancadão” Souza (9-7, 1 NC) to the promotion. The UFC and Bellator veteran Bennett returned to the Invicta cage in September, putting on a dominant display in a victory over Liz Tracy. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Souza has finished six of her nine career victories, including four via submission.

Also on the card, UFC veteran Victoria “Fury” Leonardo (9-6) returns to the Invicta cage to take on flyweight newcomer Amanda “Sardinha” Torres (9-7) of Brazil, another UFC veteran, Shanna “The Shanimal” Young (9-7) takes on Paraguay’s Pámela Bóveda (5-4) in a bantamweight match-up, rising featherweights Zurina “Mayhem” Turrey (4-1) and Joy “Killjoy” Pendell (3-1) aim to make their mark on the division, Colombia’s Sayury Cañon (3-1) welcomes Abril Anguiano (6-3) to the strawweight division, undefeated wrestling standout Zoe Nowicki (1-0) faces Barbara Grabowska of Poland in a flyweight contest, and Polish atomweight Magdalena “Atomówka” Czaban (1-0) collides with Texas-based Hope “Hummingbird” Holmes (1-0).

Invicta FC 58: Ducote vs. Ostroverkhova will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 2 for members of the Invicta Insiders Club, with the public sale beginning Thursday, Oct. 3 through Eventbrite.

The full fight card can be found below:

Strawweight: Emily Ducote vs. Yulia Ostroverkhova
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett vs. Thaiane Souza
Flyweight: Victoria Leonardo vs. Amanda Torres
Bantamweight: Shanna Young vs. Pámela Bóveda
Featherweight: Zurina Turrey vs. Joy Pendell
Strawweight: Sayury Cañon vs. Abril Anguiano
Flyweight: Zoe Nowicki vs. Barbara Grabowska
Atomweight: Magdalena Czaban vs. Hope Holmes

A previously announced atomweight bout between Japan’s Saori “Little Giant” Oshima (14-5) and Mexico’s Ana “Guerrera” Palacios (9-3-1) has been removed from the card due to injury.

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

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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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Phoenix Series 2 Official Weigh-in and Tournament Draw Results

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, Sept. 5, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for its Phoenix Series 2 tournament. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, Sept. 6, with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

The one-night, eight-woman tournament will take place in the flyweight division. The single-elimination tournament will feature one-round fights in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the tournament final being a three-round affair to determine the tournament champion.

The tournament participants were matched up during a random draw during the event’s weigh-ins.

In the first quarterfinal bout, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva meets Brazilian newcomer Daiana Torquato. The second match-up pits UFC veteran and former strawweight title challenger DeAnna Bennett against veteran Liz Tracy. In the third pairing, the red-hot Victoria Leonardo looks to avenge her only career defeat against submission ace Miranda Maverick. Finally, Contender Series veteran Shanna Young meets Strikeforce veteran Maiju Suotama.

The quarterfinal fighters will have incentive to finish their fights for multiple reasons. First, each finish will earn the winning fighter a monetary bonus, but more importantly, the fastest finisher in the quarterfinal round will have the luxury of picking their opponent for the semifinals based on the remaining three combatants. If there are no finishes in the quarterfinals, the semifinal match-ups will again be determined by random draw.

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

Flyweight Co-Main Event: Alexa Conners (125.8) vs. Mariya Agapova (125.7)
Flyweight Bout: Josee Storts (125.9) vs. Helen Lucero (125.1)
Flyweight Reserve Bout No. 2: Kay Hansen (125.5) vs. Carolina Jimenez (124.5)
Flyweight Reserve Bout No. 1: Chantel Coates (129)* vs. Flore Hani (124.7)
Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Maiju Suotama (123.6) vs. Shanna Young (126)
Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Miranda Maverick (125.9) vs. Victoria Leonardo (126)
Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: DeAnna Bennett (125.8) vs. Liz Tracy (125.7)
Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Daiana Torquato (125.4) vs. Milana Dudieva (125.9)

* – Coates was fined 25 percent of her fight purse for missing weight and is no longer eligible to step in as an injury replacement in the tournament.

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: Get to Know the Fighters Competing for Tournament Glory

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After an incredible first tournament in May that saw Brianna Van Buren crowned the Invicta strawweight champion, the Phoenix Series is back for its second tournament. With it comes eight flyweights all set to compete on Sept. 6 in a one-night, single-elimination tournament at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.

The competition will follow the same rules as the first installment of the series and similar to that event back in May, it features a mix of top competitors including Invicta veterans, exciting prospects and newcomers to the Invicta FC cage.

Without further ado, it’s time to meet the eight women involved in the return of the Phoenix Series:

DeAnna Bennett (10-5-1):

The first of three fighters who step into this tournament after competing in a four-woman title contender tournament earlier in the year, Bennett is no stranger to being at the top of her division in Invicta. Bennett challenged Livia Renata Souza back in 2016 for the Invicta FC strawweight championship, coming up short on that occasion.

After beginning her career 8-0, Bennett has been a top contender in the sport for many years. She will be going into the tournament in search of a title shot after just missing out on one when she lost a very close decision to Karina Rodriguez in her last fight.

Milana Dudieva (12-8):

Dudieva is the second fighter in the tournament who comes in after competing in the four-woman tournament earlier this year, losing her initial fight — a “Fight of the Night” performance — to Karina Rodriguez who went on to beat Bennett in the final and win the tournament.

She comes into Sept. 6 as the woman with the most fights in the competition and an impressive record of 12 wins with 10 coming via stoppage. Dudieva has experience fighting in the UFC and against some of the biggest names in the sport such as former UFC champion Jessica Andrade. Her experience and strong Judo background make her a tough match-up for any of the other seven women.

Miranda Maverick (5-2):

The third and final woman who competed in the flyweight tournament earlier in the year is Maverick. She comes in as the youngest of the eight women at 22 years old but is showing promising signs as a prospect in the sport.

Maverick lost her fight in the four-woman tournament to DeAnna Bennett but held her own against her the whole fight showing that despite only being seven fights into her professional career, she is ready to take on the very best in Invicta. Whilst studying and aiming for a PhD in psychology, she has picked up a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and earned four of her five wins via submission.

Shanna Young (6-2):

Stepping into the competition to replace the injured Cheri Muraski doesn’t mean that Young isn’t prepared for this tournament. Fighting on Dana White’s Contender Series in August, Young will be hoping to capitalize on this quick turn around and make the most out of the opportunity.

This will be Young’s second time in the Invicta cage following a split decision loss to Lisa Spangler at Invicta FC 31, a fight which was in contention for “Fight of the Year.” A black belt in Karate, Young has finished four of her six wins and is a skillful distance striker.

Liz Tracy (5-3):

“The Titan” Tracy comes into the second tournament of the Phoenix Series with confidence in her own abilities. Bringing strong wrestling fundamentals and high-level training at 10th Planet Portland, Tracy has showed that she has the ability to neutralize her opponents with her technique.

Stepping into the cage for the first time in 2019, Tracy’s last fight at Invicta FC 32 was voted the best “Fight of the Year” in 2018 by the fans. Her performance against Stephanie Geltmacher showed that Tracy is not just a grappler and that she can and will stand and trade punches with anyone standing across the cage from her.

Victoria Leonardo (6-1):

Making a short turnaround after a “Fight of the Night” performance at Invicta FC 36 that extended her winning streak to four straight, Louisiana’s Leonardo will be out to prove she’s a contender at 125 pounds.

The 29-year-old will make her fourth Invicta appearance and looks to add to her resume that includes four submission finishes. She has tangled with fellow tournament competitor Miranda Maverick and holds wins over Stephanie Geltmacher and Jamie Milanowski under the Invicta banner.

Daiana Torquato (9-3):

The first of two fighters in the tournament who will be stepping into the Invicta cage for the first time, Torquato is bringing lots of momentum with her into the tournament.

Following seven straight wins in her native Brazil, Torquato is a black belt in Muay Thai and has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She trains out of Thai Brasil Floripa alongside the UFC’s Marina Rodriguez and will be ready to test her striking skills against whoever she is matched up against.

Maiju Suotama (8-4):

The final entrant in the eight-woman flyweight tournament is Finnish grappling specialist Maiju Suotama. An ADCC European champion and a NAGA expert champion, Suotama’s grappling accomplishments speak for themselves.

With all but one of her professional wins coming via finish — with five TKOs and two submissions — Suotama rounds out the eight competitors as an exciting finisher and a former Strikeforce fighter.

This piece is a special contribution from Kyle Dimond, a journalism major in Gloucester, England. You can follow Kyle on Twitter.

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Phoenix Series Returns on Sept. 6, Features Flyweight Tournament

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Kansas City, Mo. – The Phoenix Series is returning.

After a thrilling debut event in May that crowned a new strawweight champion, Invicta Fighting Championships will once again hold an eight-woman, one-night tournament on Sept. 6 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The single-elimination tournament will feature one-round fights in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the tournament final being a three-round affair to determine the tournament champion.

The eight tournament participants will be matched up during a random draw prior to the event.

As was the case during the inaugural tournament, the quarterfinal fighters will have plenty of incentive to finish their fights. Each finish will earn the winning fighter a monetary bonus, but more importantly, the fastest finisher in the quarterfinal round will have the luxury of picking their opponent for the semifinals based on the remaining three combatants. If there are no finishes in the quarterfinals, the semifinal match-ups will again be determined by random draw.

Phoenix Series 2 will feature the flyweight division and includes a mix of promising prospects, UFC veterans and a former title challenger.

The field will include three fighters who recently competed in the flyweight contender tournament. UFC veteran — and former strawweight title challenger — DeAnna Bennett (10-5-1) aims to rebound from her hard-fought defeat against Karina Rodriguez in the Invicta FC 35 main event. Fellow UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (12-8) also hopes to bounce back from a loss to Rodriguez in a “Fight of the Night” performance at Invicta FC 34. Finally, 22-year-old submission stalwart Miranda Maverick (5-2) will be out to prove herself against the field of veterans.

They are joined by a pair of Invicta veterans known for their grappling acumen. Colorado’s Cheri Muraski (6-2) returns to the Invicta cage for the first time since Invicta FC 29. Her opponent from that event, Portland’s Liz Tracy (5-3), also enters the tournament field.

Rounding out the lineup will be a trio of promotional newcomers. Daiana Torquato (9-3) makes her Invicta debut riding the momentum of seven straight wins in her native Brazil. Also hailing from Brazil, Contender Series veteran Marilia Santos (10-3) hopes to capture the form that has earned her wins across the globe. Finally, Strikeforce veteran Maiju Suotama (8-4) of Finland will test her mettle under the Invicta banner for the first time.

In addition to the eight tournament fighters, the event will showcase two non-tournament bouts.

The night’s co-main event — which takes place between the tournament semifinals and final — features Alexa Conners (5-3) against Invicta newcomer Mariya Agapova (6-1). Conners will make her fifth appearance under the Invicta banner, but her first at 125 pounds. Agapova recently appeared on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, but suffered her first career defeat to Invicta veteran Tracy Cortez.

Taking place between the tournament’s quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, 21-year-old Missouri flyweight Josee Storts (1-0) takes on fellow newcomer Helen Lucero (0-0), who will be making her professional debut.

The broadcast team from the first Phoenix Series tournament remains intact as Invicta FC post-fight correspondent and former Invicta fighter Laura Sanko once again calls play-by-play. Joining Sanko on the call will be veteran cageside analyst Jimmy Smith. All of the action will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

A pair of tournament reserve match-ups will be added to the fight card in the coming weeks. Tickets to the event can be purchased now through Eventbrite.

Phoenix Series 2
Cheri Muraski (6-2)
Daiana Torquato (9-3)
DeAnna Bennett (10-5-1)
Liz Tracy (5-3)
Maiju Suotama (8-4)
Marilia Santos (10-3)
Milana Dudieva (12-8)
Miranda Maverick (5-2)

Non-Tournament Bouts
Alexa Conners (5-3) vs. Mariya Agapova (6-1)
Josee Storts (1-0) vs. Helen Lucero (0-0)

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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Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodríguez II Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Kan. — On Thursday, June 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodríguez II. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, June 7, with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the flyweight contender tournament will come to a close as UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (10-4-1) rematches Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (7-3). The pair met previously at Invicta FC 28, with Bennett edging Rodríguez by decision. The pair meet again with a flyweight title shot on the line. Bennett defeated Missouri’s Miranda Maverick and Rodriguez topped UFC veteran Milana Dudieva in the tournament semifinals at Invicta FC 34 in February. The winner will be the next to challenge Brazilian champion Vanessa Porto.

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

Flyweight Contender Bout: DeAnna Bennett (125.3) vs. Karina Rodríguez (125.4)
Atomweight: Alesha Zappitella (106) vs. Viviane Pereira (106.7)*
Strawweight: Kanako Murata (116) vs. Liana Pirosin (115.8)
Bantamweight: Katharina Lehner (135.4) vs. Lisa Spangler (135.4)
Featherweight: Kaitlin Young (145.8) vs. Faith McMah (146.4)#
Bantamweight: Chelsea Chandler (136) vs. Brittney Victoria (134)
Atomweight: Kelly D’Angelo (108.8)* vs. Jillian DeCoursey (105.4)
Atomweight: Loma Lookboonmee (105.5) vs. Monique Adriane (105.6)
Strawweight: Valerie Wong (114.5) vs. Genia Goodin (114.3)

* – Pereira and D’Angelo missed the atomweight limit of 106 pounds and were fined 25 percent of their respective fight purses

# – McMah missed the featherweight limit of 146 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse

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 Features DeAnna Bennett vs. Karina Rodríguez II

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 35 has been finalized.

On Friday, June 7, the promotion again touches down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the flyweight contender tournament will come to a close as UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (10-4-1) rematches Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (7-3). The pair met previously at Invicta FC 28, with Bennett edging Rodríguez by decision. The pair meet again with a flyweight title shot on the line. Bennett defeated Missouri’s Miranda Maverick and Rodriguez topped UFC veteran Milana Dudieva in the tournament semifinals at Invicta FC 34 in February. The winner will be the next to challenge Brazilian champion Vanessa Porto.

The co-main event will take place in the atomweight division as undefeated wrestling stalwart Alesha Zappitella (5-0) takes on four-fight UFC alum Viviane Pereira (13-3), who makes her debut in the 105-pound division. Zappitella bested former title challenger Amber Brown in her last outing, while Pereira took on top strawweight MIZUKI in her promotional debut.

Joining the top two match-ups will be seven additional bouts. Japan’s Kanako Murata (9-1) meets fellow strawweight newcomer Liana Pirosin (7-2), former bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner (7-1) returns to take on undefeated Lisa Spangler (3-0), featherweight Kaitlin Young (9-9-1) clashes with New Zealand’s Faith McMah (6-3), California bantamweights collide as Stockton’s Chelsea Chandler (1-1) meets undefeated Los Angeles fighter Brittney Victoria (3-0), Missouri’s Kelly D’Angelo (3-2) takes on New York’s Jillian DeCoursey (2-1) in an atomweight affair, Thailand’s Loma Lookboonmee (2-1) welcomes Brazilian atomweight Monique Adriane (4-1) to the Invicta cage, and strawweights Valerie Wong (0-0) and Genia Goodin (0-0) make their professional debuts.

The current Invicta FC 35 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight Contender Bout: DeAnna Bennett (10-4-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (7-3)
Atomweight: Alesha Zappitella (5-0) vs. Viviane Pereira (13-3)
Strawweight: Kanako Murata (9-1) vs. Liana Pirosin (7-2)
Bantamweight: Katharina Lehner (7-1) vs. Lisa Spangler (3-0)
Featherweight: Kaitlin Young (9-9-1) vs. Faith McMah (6-3)
Bantamweight: Chelsea Chandler (1-1) vs. Brittney Victoria (3-0)
Atomweight: Kelly D’Angelo (3-2) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (2-1)
Atomweight: Loma Lookboonmee (2-1) vs. Monique Adriane (4-1)
Strawweight: Valerie Wong (0-0) vs. Genia Goodin (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 35 are on sale now through Eventbrite.

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 28: MIZUKI vs. Jandiroba Official Weigh-in Results

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Salt Lake City — On Friday, March 23, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 28: MIZUKI vs. Jandiroba. The event takes place from the Union Event Center in Utah, on Saturday, March 24, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) returns to the Invicta cage to face undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba (12-0) for the strawweight title. The 23-year-old MIZUKI enters the contest having won four straight, including a second-round armbar finish of Lynn Alvarez in her most recent Invicta appearance. Jandiroba impressed in her promotional debut, submitting veteran Amy Montenegro in the first round via armbar to earn her shot at gold.

The co-main event features a flyweight match-up between UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) and Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (6-2).

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

Strawweight Title: MIZUKI (113.9) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (127.9)* vs. Karina Rodríguez (125.2)
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (125.9) vs. Christina Marks (124.8)
Strawweight: Kali Robbins (115.4) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (115.9)
Atomweight: Minna Grusander (105.8) vs. Fernanda Barros (105.9)
Strawweight: Kal Schwartz (115.6) vs. Kay Hansen (115.3)
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (135.7) vs. Chelsea Chandler (135.7)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (106) vs. Rebekah Levine (104.9)
Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (124.7) vs. Kaytlin Neil (125.5)

* – Bennett was fined 25 percent of her fight purse for missing the flyweight limit of 126 pounds

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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Janaisa Morandin vs. Virna Jandiroba Title Fight Headlines Invicta FC 28 on March 24

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is heading to Utah.

The promotion’s 28th event will take place Saturday, March 24 from the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City. The card will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. MT.

In the night’s main event, Brazilians Janaisa Morandin (10-1) and Virna Jandiroba (12-0) clash for the strawweight title. Morandin made her Invicta debut in a “Fight of the Night” battle against former champion Livia Renata Souza last August and followed it up with dominant win over Kinberly Novaes at Invicta FC 26 in December. Jandiroba also impressed in her first bout with the promotion, submitting veteran Amy Montenegro in the first round via armbar.

The co-main event features the return of Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) against UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-7). The 23-year-old MIZUKI enters the contest having won four straight, including a second-round armbar finish of Lynn Alvarez in her most recent Invicta appearance. Dudieva will be making her third appearance inside the Invicta cage, but this will be her first bout in the strawweight division.

UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) rejoins the promotion to take on Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (6-2). Bennett, a former strawweight title challenger, fought to a draw against Melinda Fabian in December. Rodríguez has earned back-to-back wins over Bárbara Acioly and Christine Ferea since joining the promotion last summer.

Also on the card, undefeated strawweight Kali Robbins (5-0) takes on UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (6-3), Finland’s Minna Grusander (5-1) meets fellow atomweight newcomer Fernanda Priscila (3-1) of Brazil, Kal Schwartz faces a yet-to-be-named opponent in a strawweight affair, undefeated bantamweight Kerri Kenneson (2-0) of New Hampshire takes on the debuting Chelsea Chandler (0-0), and Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) battles Rebekah Levine (1-0) at atomweight.

The fight card for Invicta FC 28 can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Janaisa Morandin (10-1) vs. Virna Jandiroba (12-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-7)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (6-2)
Strawweight: Kali Robbins (5-0) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (6-3)
Atomweight: Minna Grusander (5-1) vs. Fernanda Priscila (3-1)
Strawweight: Kal Schwartz (1-1) vs. TBA
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (2-0) vs. Chelsea Chandler (0-0)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) vs. Rebekah Levine (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 28 will go on sale Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. MT via Ticketfly.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. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.