Posts

Vote

History Lesson: The Journey of the Invicta Strawweight Title

/in /by

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.

Vote

Janaisa Morandin Replaces Jodie Esquibel Against Livia Renata Souza at Invicta FC 25

/1 Comment/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 25 has changed.

Strawweight title challenger Jodie Esquibel (6-2) has suffered an injury in training and has been forced out of her co-headlining bout against former champion Livia Renata Souza (10-1). Replacing Esquibel will be undefeated Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (9-0). The bout will now be a three-round, non-title affair.

Morandin has reeled off nine straight wins in her home country to open her career, including five by way of strikes. Normally competing as an atomweight, she will move up in weight to take on her countrywoman Souza.

Also, bantamweight Sarah Kleczka (0-0) will make her Invicta and professional debut against Amberlynn Orr (0-1). Kleczka, dubbed “Chucky,” was unbeaten as an amateur and replaces Kelly McGill-Velasco (2-1).

Invicta FC 25 takes place from the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 31. All of the action streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. PT.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 25 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Strawweight: Livia Renata Souza (10-1) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-0)
Bantamweight: Alexa Conners (4-1) vs. Katharina Lehner (5-0)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-1) vs. Kali Robbins (4-0)
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose (5-5) vs. Alyse Anderson (3-0)
Bantamweight: Amberlynn Orr (0-1) vs. Sarah Kleczka (0-0)
Bantamweight: Yaya Rincón (1-0) vs. Stephanie Egger (2-1)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (3-0) vs. Tracy Cortez (0-0)
Atomweight: Ashley Medina (0-0) vs. Jillian DeCoursey (0-0)

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through the Tachi Palace website.

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.

Vote

Invicta FC 25 Heads to California With Two Title Fights

/3 Comments/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is returning to California with a pair of title fights.

The promotion will make its inaugural visit to the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino on Thursday, Aug. 31.

In the night’s main event, Hawaiian Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) will face off with former title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) for the vacant bantamweight championship. Pa’aluhi has won four of her last five fights, most recently submitting Pannie Kianzad in the first round at Invicta FC 21 in January. Kunitskaya once again looks to secure gold after a pair of bouts against long-reigning champion Tonya Evinger in her two prior Invicta appearances.

Invicta gold is also on the line in the night’s co-main event as former champion Livia Renata Souza (10-1) aims to become a two-time champion against New Mexico’s Jodie Esquibel (6-2). The Brazilian Souza is coming off a first-round knockout finish of atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki at Invicta FC 22. Esquibel was also in action at the March event, besting former title challenger DeAnna Bennett by decision.

Invicta FC 25 will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. PT.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 25 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5)  vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renata Souza (10-1) vs. Jodie Esquibel (6-2)

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through the Tachi Palace website. Additional bouts for the event will be announced at a later date.

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.

Vote

Invicta FC 22 Results: Evinger Submits Kunitskaya, Souza Stops Hamasaki

/2 Comments/in , /by

Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, March 25, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger erased any doubt from her first meeting with Yana Kunitskaya, earning a second-round submission victory to retain her 135-pound title. The opening round featured Evinger earning a takedown, but was quickly forced to defense submission attempts. Kunitskaya attacked with a guillotine choke, then an armbar and finally, a myriad of leg lock attempts. Evinger defended and dropped heavy punches from the top position. In the second stanza, Evinger again worked hard to get the fight to the mat. She gained top position and methodically worked to dominant positions. She passed to side control and then took the back of Kunitskaya. Once there, Evinger slapped on the fight-finishing rear-naked choke and coerced the tap from the Russian challenger

Former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza needed less two minutes to remind the 115-pound division she’s still among the best. The Brazilian crushed current atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki with a right hand. Hamasaki crashed to the mat and Souza flurried hard to earn the first-round stoppage.

Veterans Jodie Esquibel and DeAnna Bennett engaged in a tactical, three-round fight that resulted in Esquibel taking home a narrow, split decision victory. Esquibel’s boxing on display early, but the first round swung toward Bennett’s favor after a deep armbar attempt. Esquibel survived the submission attempt and began to open up with her striking. She remained on the outside, scoring with punches to the body of Bennett and kicking the lead leg. The pair battled it out until the final bell, with Esquibel doing enough to convince two of the three judges at cageside to hand her the win.

After nearly three years away from the Invicta cage, atomweight Ashley Cummins returned and scored a big win over former title challenger Amber Brown. Cummins raced to the center of the cage and fired combination after combination. Brown answered with a takedown and moved to mount. Cummins recovered her guard and threatened with an inverted triangle choke. Brown countered with an inverted triangle choke of her own, but neither fighter found a finish. Round two was all Cummins as she earned a takedown and threatened to finish Brown with an arm-triangle choke. Brown gutted it out, but again found herself on her heels in round three. Cummins closed the fight by attacking with a rear-naked choke and cruising on the scorecards.

Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir survived a three-round war with newcomer Mallory Martin, scoring a unanimous decision win. Davíðsdóttir was active early with her punches, but Martin pressed forward. Martin ate a heavy shot and her left eye began to swell, but turned the tide in round two, rocking Davíðsdóttir with punches and opening a cut over her left eye. Both fighters dug deep in the final frame, but Davíðsdóttir was able to take’s Martin’s back for a moment, sealing the win with the judges.

Missouri’s Miranda Maverick remained undefeated, scoring a first-round submission of Kal Holliday. Holliday marched forward to open the contest, but Maverick fired strikes to keep the distance. Holliday closed the distance and scooped Maverick to the canvas. Once there, Maverick showcased an active guard, throwing up a triangle choke attempt before transitioning to an armbar. Holliday fought hard to escape, but Maverick coerced the tap, three minutes into the bout.

The night kicked off with a featherweight battle between Felicia Spencer and Madison McElhaney. The pair skipped the feeling out process and began trading heavy shots from the opening bell. Spencer’s pressure and clinch work were the story early, as she was able to put McElhaney on her back multiple times. She attacked with armbar attempts, but McElhaney was able to defend. The hard-fought bout went the distance, with Spencer remaining unbeaten with the unanimous decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Tonya Evinger def. Yana Kunitskaya by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:32 – for bantamweight title
Livia Renata Souza def. Ayaka Hamasaki by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 1:41
Jodie Esquibel def. DeAnna Bennett by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ashley Cummins def. Amber Brown by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Sunna Davíðsdóttir def. Mallory Martin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Kal Holliday by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:01
Felicia Spencer def. Madison McElhaney by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 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.

Vote

Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2 Official Weigh-in Results

/1 Comment/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, March 24, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, March 25 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) will once again put her title on the line against Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC). The match-up is rematch of the Invicta FC 20 main event which took place Nov. 18 and was initially ruled a first-round submission win for Kunitskaya. However, following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, the bout was overturned to a no-contest and Evinger retained her 135-pound championship.

The night’s co-main event will feature atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) moving up a weight class to take on former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-1).

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

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.8) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.8)
Strawweight: Ayaka Hamasaki (115.7) vs. Livia Renata Souza (115)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (117.6)* vs. Jodie Esquibel (115.5)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (105.9) vs. Ashley Cummins (105.6)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (115.8) vs. Mallory Martin (114.8)
Strawweight: Kal Holliday (115.9) vs. Miranda Maverick (120.5)*
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Madison McElhaney (146)

* – Bennett and Maverick were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse for missing weight. Both bouts will proceed as catchweights.

# – The bout between Jinh Yu Frey and Janaisa Morandin has been canceled. Frey weighed in at 106 pounds, while Morandin missed weight at 111.2 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.

Vote

Five Additional Bouts Added to Invicta FC 22

/4 Comments/in /by

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 22 has added five new bouts.

The night’s co-main event will feature atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) moving up a weight class to take on former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-1). Hamasaki will enter the contest having won five straight fights, including back-to-back title defenses against Jinh Yu Frey and Amber Brown. Souza will compete for the first time since her Invicta FC 17 battle with Angela Hill.

Also at strawweight, former title challenger DeAnna Bennett (8-2) takes on Jodie Esquibel (5-2). The pair were originally slated to collide at Invicta FC 21, but the bout had to be rescheduled. Bennett will return for the first time since Invicta FC 16, where she engaged in a back-and-forth battle with veteran Roxanne Modafferi. Esquibel headlined Invicta FC 18 in July against Mexico’s Alexa Grasso.

Recent atomweight title challenger Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) battles undefeated Brazilian newcomer Janaisa Morandin (9-0). Frey came up short in her quest for gold at Invicta FC 19 after doctors stopped her bout due to a cut. Morandin has reeled off nine straight wins in her home country, including five by way of strikes.

Finally, two additional strawweight match-ups are slated for the event. Iceland’s Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (1-0), fresh off her decision win over Ashley Greenway at Invicta FC 19, welcomes newcomer Mallory Martin (1-0) to the Invicta cage, while unbeaten Kal Holliday (1-0) looks to build off her submission victory over Tiffany Van Soest when she takes on 19-year-old sensation Miranda Maverick (1-0).

The bouts join the previously announced bantamweight title rematch between champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) and Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC).

The event takes place Saturday, March 25 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET.

The current Invicta FC 22 fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC)
Strawweight: Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) vs. Livia Renata Souza (9-1)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-2) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-2)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-0)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (1-0) vs. Mallory Martin (1-0)
Strawweight: Kal Holliday (1-0) vs. Miranda Maverick (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 22 go on sale Saturday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketfly.com. Additional bouts for the event will be announced at a later date.

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.

Vote

Invicta FC 17 Results: Evinger Retains, Hill Unseats Souza

/2 Comments/in , /by

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.

Vote

Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider Official Weigh-in Results

/in /by

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.

Vote

Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider Full Fight Card

/in /by

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.

Vote

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

/1 Comment/in /by

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.