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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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Christina Marks Meets Milana Dudieva at Invicta FC 28 on March 24

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 28 is once again complete.

Last week it was revealed that Brazilian Janaisa Morandin had been forced out of her strawweight title tilt against countrywoman Virna Jandiroba (12-0) and Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) would step into the title affair.

MIZUKI’s original opponent, Milana Dudieva (11-7), will now face fellow UFC veteran Christina Marks (8-9) in a flyweight contest. California’s Marks is a veteran of The Ultimate Fighter 26 and enters the contest having won three of her last four. She has shared the cage with Invicta veterans Sarah D’Alelio, Sara McMann, Colleen Schneider and Michelle Ould.

As a result of the change, the flyweight match-up between UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) and Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (6-2) has been elevated to the co-main event.

Invicta FC 28 takes place Saturday, March 24, from the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. MT.

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

Strawweight Title: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Virna Jandiroba (12-0)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (6-2)
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (11-7) vs. Christina Marks (8-9)
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. Kay Hansen (1-0)
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (2-0) vs. Chelsea Chandler (0-0)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) vs. Rebekah Levine (1-0)
Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (1-1) vs. Kaytlin Neil (1-2)

Tickets for Invicta FC 28 are available now 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.

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Milana Dudieva Replaces Jessica-Rose Clark, Three Bouts Join Invicta FC 26 Fight Card

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 26 has undergone a change to one of the previously announced match-ups and added three new bouts.

Flyweight Jessica-Rose “Jessy Jess” Clark has been pulled from her match-up with former title challenger Vanessa Porto (18-8). Stepping in to face the Brazilian will be UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-6).

Undefeated Brazilian strawweight Virna Jandiroba (11-0) will make her promotional debut against returning veteran Amy Montenegro (8-2). Jandiroba enters the contest having won nine of her 11 career bouts via submission. Montenegro is coming off a “Fight of Year” contender against Celine Haga at Invicta FC 21 earlier this year.

In the atomweight division, former title challenger Amber Brown (6-4) tangles with Texan Tessa Simpson (5-2). Both fighters are eager to work back into title contention in the sport’s deepest 105-pound division.

Finally, flyweight knockout artists Karina Rodríguez (5-2) and Christine Ferea (1-1) will look to add to their respective highlight reels. Mexico’s Rodríguez put away Brazilian Bárbara Acioly at Invicta FC 24, while Ferea engaged in a three-round war with kickboxing champion Tiffany Van Soest at Invicta FC 23.

Invicta FC 26 takes place Friday, Dec. 8, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. It will be headlined by a flyweight title clash between champion Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) and undefeated Polish fighter Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0).

The current fight card for Invicta FC 26 can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Jennifer Maia (14-4-1) vs. Aga Niedźwiedź (10-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-1)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-8) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-6)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (8-2) vs. Virna Jandiroba (11-0)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (6-4) vs. Tessa Simpson (5-2)
Flyweight: Christine Ferea (1-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (5-2)

Tickets for the event are on sale now via Tickeyfly.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.

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Invicta FC 24 Results: Borella Tops Dudieva, Frey Bests Cummins

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, July 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The night’s main event featured a closely contested flyweight between Italy’s Mara Romero Borella and UFC veteran Milana Dudieva. Borella flurried forward to open the bout, allowing Dudieva to score with a judo throw. Borella looked for a leg lock, which allowed her to return to the feet. The pair traded punches before Borella looked for a takedown. Dudieva countered with a guillotine attempt to close the round. In the second round, Borella used her striking and length before putting Dudieva on her back. She scored with ground and pound from the top position along the fence. It was more of the same in round three, but Dudieva sought an armbar from her back. Borella defended and passed to mount. Dudieva powered to the top position in the fight’s waning moments, but landed in a triangle attempt from the Italian. The Russian would survive to the final bell, but it was Borella who walked away with the split decision win.

Former atomweight title challenger Jinh Yu Frey used her wrestling and top control to edge Ashley Cummins by decision. Frey capitalized on the forward pressure of Cummins, taking the fight to the mat. Cummins was active on her back, threatening with armbars. Frey opted to return to the feet in the first round, but as the fight progressed, she stayed in the guard of Cummins. That resulted in repeated armbar attempts from Cummins, which Frey was forced to defend. Every time Frey escaped, Cummins attacked with another. The final stanza was a showcase of the strength of Frey, who was able to keep Cummins on her back for the majority of the round and earn the victory on the judges’ scorecards.

Veteran Pam Sorenson gave featherweight newcomer Helena Kolesnyk a rude welcome to the Invicta cage, scoring a first-round submission victory. Kolesnyk threw kicks early, but Sorenson timed a takedown attempt and tripped her to the canvas. She methodically passed to side control and then the mount. Sorenson dropped heavy right hands from mount. She was patient from the top, passing to S-mount and setting up an armbar. Sorenson cranked on the arm and Kolesnyk was forced to submit.

The flyweight match-up between newcomers Karina Rodríguez and Bárbara Acioly was fast and violent. Mexico’s Rodríguez rocked Brazil’s Acioly early with a right hand and quickly looked for the finish. She chased Acioly to the mat and pounded away with strikes. Acioly did her best to survive and nearly worked back to her feet, but Rodríguez was relentless with her aggression. A swarm of hammerfists from Rodríguez was too much for referee Greg Franklin, who stepped in and saved Acioly from further damage.

Missouri’s Miranda Maverick remained unbeaten, topping promotional newcomer Gabby Romero on the scorecards. Maverick scored with left hands in the first frame. Romero answered with a head-and-arm throw attempt, but ended up on her back. She attacked with a leg lock attempt that allowed her to get on top of Maverick. Maverick was able to escape, but fell into a deep armbar attempt to close the round. In round two, a series of uppercuts from Maverick were the most significant strikes of the bout. The pair’s chess match on the mat later resumed as Maverick delivered heavy shots, while Romero searched for submissions. Maverick attacked the body in the final frame, slowing Romero’s output. A late armbar attempt from Maverick was reversed by Romero and Maverick was once again forced to ride out the round to the bell. When it was all said and done, it was Maverick who was victorious.

Strawweights Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir and Kelly D’Angelo engaged in a hard-fought battle over the course of three rounds, with Iceland’s Davíðsdóttir earning the decision victory. The pair came out firing, connecting with straight punches. Davíðsdóttir looked to bring the fight to the canvas, but D’Angelo responded with heavy punches. The nose of Davíðsdóttir poured blood as the opening stanza came to a close. The second and third rounds were a different story as Davíðsdóttir utilized her takedowns to neutralize D’Angelo’s offense. The Icelandic fighter was able to mount D’Angelo and rain heavy punches and elbows. The fight went the distance with Davíðsdóttir sweeping the scorecards.

The night kicked off with a dominant performance from undefeated featherweight Felicia Spencer. Spencer opened with a series of body kicks to opponent Amy Coleman, but was briefly taken down. She worked back to her feet and then put Coleman on her back. She wasn’t able to keep Coleman down for long, but later in the round, she scored with a big lift along the fence. Spencer quickly took Coleman’s back with both hooks. Once there, she worked for a rear-naked choke and coerced the tap from Coleman.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Mara Romero Borella def. Milana Dudieva by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Jinh Yu Frey def. Ashley Cummins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Pam Sorenson def. Helena Kolesnyk by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:12
Karina Rodríguez def. Bárbara Acioly by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 2:14
Miranda Maverick def. Gabby Romero by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir def. Kelly D’Angelo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Felicia Spencer def. Amy Coleman by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:17

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 24: Dudieva vs. Borella Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, July 14, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, July 15, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-5) drops to flyweight to take on newly signed Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC). Both fighters will be making their Invicta debuts. Russia’s Dudieva joins the organization after battles in the UFC against top bantamweights Marion Reneau and Julianna Pena, while Italy’s Borella enters the bout winning four of her last five fights.

The co-main event features an atomweight contest between Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) and Ashley Cummins (5-3). Frey looks to work her way back into title contention, while Cummins hopes to build off her decision win over Amber Brown in her most recent outing.

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

Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (125.8) vs. Mara Romero Borella (125.9)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (105.9) vs. Ashley Cummins (105.9)
Featherweight: Pam Sorenson (149.6)* vs. Helena Kolesnyk (145.9)
Flyweight: Karina Rodríguez (124.1) vs. Bárbara Acioly (125.9)
Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (125) vs. Gabby Romero (125.4)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (115) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (115.2)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Amy Coleman (149.5)*

*Sorenson and Coleman missed the featherweight limit of 146 pounds and were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse

A strawweight bout between Mallory Martin and Tiffany Masters has been removed from the card due to medical issues. The fight card will proceed with seven fights.

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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Milana Dudieva vs. Mara Romero Borella Elevated to Invicta FC 24 Main Event

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 24 has changed yet again.

Previously slated to serve as the night’s co-main event, the flyweight bout between UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-5) and newly signed Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC) now takes the top billing. Both fighters will be making their Invicta debuts. Russia’s Dudieva joins the organization after battles in the UFC against top bantamweights Marion Reneau and Julianna Pena, while Italy’s Borella enters the bout winning four of her last five fights.

The change comes after Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger was released from her contract to challenge former Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino at UFC 214 on July 29.

Evinger’s opponent, promotional newcomer Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC), is expected to remain on the card with a replacement opponent to be determined.

The bantamweight match-up between Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) and recent title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) of Russia is now the co-main event. The Hawaii native 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 looks to rebound after back-to-back fights against the aforementioned Evinger.

Invicta FC 24 takes place Saturday, July 15, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

The current Invicta FC 24 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (11-5) vs. Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5)  vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Ashley Cummins (5-3)
Flyweight: Karina Rodríguez (4-2) vs. Bárbara Acioly (4-0)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (2-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-1) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-0)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (2-0) vs. Amy Coleman (2-1)

Tickets for the event can be purchased through 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.

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Invicta FC 24 Fight Card Complete, Tonya Evinger Steps Into Main Event

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 24 has a new main event.

Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (19-5, 1 NC) will move up in weight to take on promotional newcomer Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC) in a three-round, non-title featherweight match-up.

Joining the new headliner will be seven additional bouts.

In the night’s co-main event, UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-5) meets newly signed Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC) at flyweight. Both fighters will be making their Invicta debuts. Russia’s Dudieva joins the organization after battles in the UFC against top bantamweights Marion Reneau and Julianna Pena, while Italy’s Borella enters the bout winning four of her last five fights.

Rising bantamweight contender Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5) returns to the Invicta cage against recent title challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC) of Russia. The Hawaii native 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 looks to rebound after back-to-back fights against Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger.

Missouri product Ashley Cummins (5-3) continues her run at atomweight as she meets former title challenger Jinh Yu Frey (5-2). Cummins nearly submitted Amber Brown in her previous outing but settled for a decision win, while Frey hopes to bounce back from defeat by doctor’s stoppage at Invicta FC 19 in September.

Two new additions to the roster collide when Karina Rodríguez (4-2) and Bárbara Acioly (4-0) throw down in the flyweight division. Rodríguez has battled tough competition in Mexico, including a bout with former Invicta FC strawweight contender Alexa Grasso. After early success in her native Brazil, Acioly has earned back-to-back wins on American soil.

Iceland’s Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) takes on Kelly D’Angelo (2-0) and Mallory Martin (1-1) welcomes Tiffany Masters (2-0) to the promotion, both at strawweight. Finally, Amy Coleman (2-1) of Tennessee meets Felicia Spencer (2-0) of Florida in a featherweight match-up.

Invicta FC 24 takes place Saturday, July 15, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

The updated Invicta FC 24 fight card can be found below:

Featherweight: Tonya Evinger (19-5, 1 NC) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (11-5) vs. Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-5)  vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-3, 1 NC)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Ashley Cummins (5-3)
Flyweight: Karina Rodríguez (4-2) vs. Bárbara Acioly (4-0)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davíðsdóttir (2-0) vs. Kelly D’Angelo (2-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-1) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-0)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (2-0) vs. Amy Coleman (2-1)

Tickets for the event can be purchased through 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.