Invicta FC 61 Results: Ferreira Outclasses Palacios Following Night of Exciting Finishes
SHAWNEE, Okla. — The most prestigious prize in the atomweight division was on the line when Invicta Fighting Championships returned to Shawnee, Okla., on Friday, April 4, for Invicta FC 61: Ferreira vs. Palacios from the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort.
In the night’s headliner, atomweight queen Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira outlasted the ever-tough Ana Palacios to retain the 105-pound title after five rounds. Ferreira was the aggressor to start the bout. She fired long right hands and mixed in low kicks. Palacios evaded the strikes and used her footwork to control angles. The karate background of the challenger was clear as she snapped her strikes toward Ferreira. The Brazilian Ferreira began to sit down on her punches, scoring with heavy shots before initiating the clinch late in the opening frame. The feeling-out process came to a close quickly as both fighters connected with heavy right hands in round two. Palacios picked up her output and used her speed to cut off the cage. Ferreira remained unfazed and she dazzled the crowd with her head movement. Palacios did well to change levels with her punches and land to the body of the champion. The inside leg of Palacios was visibly damaged from low kicks. The Mexican looked for a takedown, but Ferreira shrugged her off. The jab from the challenger was effective early in the third, but Ferreira eventually timed the strike and dropped Palacios with a straight right hand. Ferreira followed Palacios to the mat and went to work from the top. Palacios scrambled back to her feet only to find herself in a guillotine attempt from the champion. The Brazilian scored with knees, but Palacios broke free from the choke. Ferreira hit a late takedown and jumped the back of Palacios as the fight went to the championship rounds. Palacios fired a head kick to begin the fourth with Ferreira moving just out of range. The low kicks from Ferreira continued to find their mark to negate the speed of Palacios. Ferreira changed levels to bring the fight to the ground. Palacios attacked with a guillotine from her back to no avail. Ferreira looked to control position, however Palacios flipped the script and swept to top position and then mount. She went for an armbar, putting Ferreira in danger. The champion displayed grit to endure the submission and escape. A reckless takedown attempt from Palacios in round five was met with a counter knee from Ferreira. She followed it with a barrage of right hands and landed in top position along the cage. A late standup from the referee gave Palacios another opportunity to make an impression on the judges. Ferreira made sure it would not matter, landing a final takedown and taking the back of the challenger. The judges were called upon for the first and only time of the night, rending a verdict in favor of the champion Ferreira, who extended her winning streak to five.
The co-main event featured the long-awaited featherweight grudge match between Australia’s Jamie Edenden and decorated wrestler Jackie Cataline. Despite the bad blood leading into the match-up, the pair were patient in establishing their striking range. Edenden countered the jab of Cataline well, keeping the American guessing. The first takedown attempt from Cataline was met with a heavy right hand by Edenden. Cataline frequently wound up for power strikes, but she was unable to fool the Aussie. Edenden delivered a steady diet of low kicks to the lead leg of Cataline. Another takedown attempt from Cataline led to the clinch position along the cage, but the round came to a close before any further offense. The second stanza began with more low kicks from Edenden. A stiff jab from Cataline popped the head of Edenden. She doubled down on it, but walked straight into a right hand from Edenden. That was a precursor to the fight’s conclusion as Cataline powered forward and was met with a devastating right hand that sent Cataline crashing to the canvas. The referee stepped in before Edenden could land any additional shots and the Australian celebrated the emphatic victory.
Former strawweight champion Emily Ducote thrilled her hometown crowd by defeating Brazil’s Thaiane Souza in a catchweight affair. Ducote was crisp with her hands from the opening bell, frustrating Souza from range. Souza tried to rush into the pocket recklessly, giving Ducote openings for punishing body shots. A great level change and outside trip from Ducote brought the fight to the canvas. It was short-lived though, as Ducote allowed the fight to return to the feet. A snapdown along the fence from Ducote was followed with a thunderous left hook that turned out the lights on Souza. The follow-up shots sealed the deal and the referee intervened to save the Brazilian from further damage
A battle of featherweight finishers opened the Invicta FC 61 main card as 21-year-old Jaeleen Robledo squared off with unbeaten Riley Martinez. Martinez closed the distance right away, grabbing underhooks and looking for a takedown. Robledo did well to scramble and landed in top position in half guard. She passed to side control and secured a crucifix position. Robledo fired elbows and punches to punish the more experienced Martinez. Martinez rolled to her stomach and Robledo took her back. Robledo sunk in a rear-naked choke, but Martinez managed to escape. She gained top position only to fall into a triangle choke attempt from Robledo. Martinez was composed and eventually broke free of the submission. A head-and-arm throw from Martinez failed and she again found herself in the crucifix. The round finished with a deep armbar attempt from Robledo, but the bell saved Martinez. The nose of Robledo leaked blood early in round two and the pair exchanged right hands. Martinez brought the fight to the ground and landed in top position. Robledo looked for an omoplata sweep, but Martinez was wise to it and she dropped heavy right hands. Robledo survived and she swept to top position. She passed to mount and rocked Martinez with a massive elbow. Robledo was relentless, slapping on a triangle choke from the top and continuing to punish Martinez with strikes. The referee saw enough and halted the bout, handing Robledo the biggest win of her career.
The preliminary card was headlined by a pair of atomweights as Brazilian Taynara Silva met France’s Claire Lopez in each of their first Invicta appearances. Lopez wasted little time showcasing her striking, taking advantage of the Brazilian’s low hands. Silva countered with a takedown attempt and secured an arm-in guillotine attempt in the ensuing scramble. Lopez did not panic, but she could not find her way out of the position. Silva grabbed her opposite bicep and lifted Lopez high into the air. The Frenchwoman frantically tapped, but the referee missed it initially. Silva did not relent, squeezing until Lopez tapped for a second time, earning the third-straight finish of the prelims.
In an evening featuring multiple featherweight bouts, the first 145-pound athletes to step into the cage were California’s Joy Pendell and Brazil’s Marilia Morais. Pendell immediately pressed forward, clinched and pushed Morais to the fence. She used a throw to put Morais on her back and trapped her arm underneath her. Pendell dropped an onslaught of punches and elbows. As Morais freed her arm, Pendell slapped on an arm-triangle choke. When Pendell passed to mount, the squeeze was too tight for Morais and she tapped out midway through the opening frame.
The night’s preliminary card action began with a match-up of undefeated flyweights as Zoe Nowicki took on promotional newcomer Kellie Marin. The taller Marin peppered Nowicki from range early, prompting the wrestling stalwart Nowicki to change levels and take the fight to the mat. She quickly passed to mount along the fence and rained punches. Marin was able to defend the strikes, but Nowicki attacked with an Americana and Marin was forced to tap just moments into the fight.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Ana Palacios by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 50-45) – for atomweight title
Jamie Edenden def. Jackie Cataline by knockout (punch). Round 2, 1:53
Emily Ducote def. Thaiane Souza by knockout (punches). Round 1, 2:29
Jaeleen Robledo def. Riley Martinez by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 2:17
Taynara Silva def. Claire Lopez by submission (guillotine choke). Round 1, 3:17
Joy Pendell def. Marilia Morais by submission (arm-triangle choke). Round 1, 2:28
Zoe Nowicki def. Kellie Marin by submission (Americana). Round 1, 1:42
About Invicta FC: A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.