Bantamweight Maria Favela Returns to Action at Invicta FC 57 in First Bout Since Beating Lymphatic Cancer
LAS VEGAS — Invicta Fighting Championships’ bantamweight Maria Favela will enter the cage at Invicta FC 57 for the first time since successfully beating lymphatic cancer in December of 2023.
At just 30 years old, Favela was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma in July of 2023. She began to notice a change in her health in May of that year, as she was frequently feeling ill and experiencing a marked loss of weight and energy. Thought to be suffering from side effects of COVID, Favela underwent MRI testing in Mexico City, where she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma and given a 50 percent chance of survival. With help from a GoFundMe campaign generously supported by the MMA community — including Cynthia Calvillo and Dana White — Favela was able to receive quality private care that included three surgeries and 12 rounds of chemotherapy every 15 days. Favela was declared cancer-free in December of 2023, and will return to action at Invicta FC 57 on Friday, Sept. 20.
As Favela looks ahead to her fight against Maria Djukic, she reflects on the road that brought her to this moment and how she overcame the fight of her life.
On Her Upcoming Bout at Invicta 57
“I was feeling I had to do it at least one more time for me. I wanted to fight before my PET scan in June, but it was impossible. My coaches were like, ‘No, you’re crazy. You need more time.’ But if I’m gonna fight, I’m gonna fight. And I’m gonna enjoy every single second, no matter what happens.”
On We Can Expect to See from Her at Invicta 57
“You’re going to see a Maria who won’t have any fear. You’re going to see a more aggressive Maria, one who is more technical. For six months, I endured surgeries, chemotherapies, weekly blood tests, and losing my hair. I’m not scared of being out of the comfort zone.”
On Her Experience with Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma
“They told me that I had a 50% chance of living. They treated me as if I was Stage four, because I had lymphomas in my liver, in my hips, in my heart, and my lungs. Every gland becomes like a tumor. The doctors told me if I’m still pushing, I’ll be passing out with a heart attack. My lungs were doing 90% of the work, and my heart was taking most of the oxygen.”
On How Fighting Prepared Her for the Most Important Battle of Her Life
When I was doing treatments, I was in the fight mode. You don’t think about fear, you do what you have to do. It doesn’t matter how uncomfortable you are in a situation, you keep pushing. The fight game was keeping me motivated, because I was really determined that I wanted to make my dream come true. My body was becoming like a cage or a trap… I was fighting against my own body.”
On the Incredible Support She Received from Her Family and the MMA Community
“My friend helped me make a GoFundMe, and the whole MMA community came to support. Even Cynthia Calvillo and Dana White donated money. When you’re fighting cancer, the last thing that you have is time. Thanks to the MMA community and my family, I was able to pay for private treatment.”
Advice for Others Going Through Cancer
“Don’t give up. No matter what doctors say, no matter what people say. Believe in yourself, and don’t let anybody treat you differently. It doesn’t mean that your life is ending. You’re actually going to realize how beautiful life is afterwards.”
Don’t miss the chance to see Favela in action when Invicta FC 57 comes to Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas on Friday, September 20. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite.
Favela’s Social Media Channels: Facebook, Instagram, X
The complete Invicta FC 57 fight card can be found below:
Atomweight Title: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Andressa Romero
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Nayara Maia
Flyweight: Liz Tracy vs. DeAnna Bennett
Featherweight: Jamie Edenden vs. Abby Montes
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva vs. Sandra Lavado
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Maria Favela
Strawweight: Meaghan Penning vs. Fernanda Orellana
Strawweight: Ana Vitória vs. Quinn Williams
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.
Press Inquiries: press@invictafc.com or Cindy Ronzoni, Anthem cronzoni@anthemse.com
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