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Invicta FC 29 Results: Kaufman Submits Lehner, Claims Bantamweight Title

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, May 4, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

There’s a new champion in the bantamweight division as veteran Sarah Kaufman secured the first submission victory of her storied career, choking Germany’s Katharina Lehner in the third round. There was no feeling-out process as the pair exchanged punches in the center of the cage following the opening bell. Kaufman was fluid with her combinations, but Lehner responded with heavy right hands of her own. Round two saw Kaufman secure double underhooks and earn a takedown. She attacked with an arm-triangle choke, but Lehner was able to survive and escape. Kaufman again secured a takedown in the third round and opened up a large cut on Lehner with ground and pound. She sensed the finish was near and attacked the neck of the German fighter. Once the rear-naked choke was locked in, Lehner tapped and Kaufman claimed the title.

In the night’s co-main event, veteran Pannie Kianzad returned to the win column, defeating Brazilian newcomer Bianca Daimoni. The boxing skills of Kianzad were on display early and often, as she lit up Daimoni with combinations on the feet. Daimoni tried to answer with kicks, but Kianzad stayed out of range. A left hook from Kianzad dropped Daimoni in the second stanza. Kianzad was confident in the final five minutes, snapping the head of Daimoni frequently with her jab. There was no doubt on the scorecards as Kianzad earned every round from each of the judges.

The flyweight bout between Pearl Gonzalez and Brazil’s Bárbara Acioly did not last long as Gonzalez secured a first-round armbar finish. Gonzalez wobbled Acioly with a left hand in the first exchange, but the Brazilian was able to recover. The pair traded body kicks, but Gonzalez earned a takedown and moved to mount. She looked for an armbar, but Acioly scrambled to top position. Gonzalez threatened with a triangle choke before again switching to the armbar and coercing the tap from Acioly.

Marciea Allen made a successful return to the promotion, scoring a first-round TKO after opponent Julia Avila suffered an injury to her finger. Within the fight’s first minute, Allen fired a kick that caught Avila in the hand. She tried to shake it off, but the referee realized she was injured and waved off the contest.

Flyweight veterans Liz Tracy and Cheri Muraski went the distance, with Tracy capturing the decision nod. Tracy’s forward pressure was the story of the fight, as she closed the distance and forced Muraski to work in the clinch. Tracy was able to move to Muraski’s back on multiple occasions, scoring with short shots. Tracy used her wrestling to secure takedowns in each of the first two frames. Muraski’s face wore the damage of Tracy’s punches, but she fought back hard in the final round. It was too little, too late as Tracy left victorious.

Making her professional debut, Lisa Spangler edged Sarah Kleczka in a back-and-forth affair. Spangler did damage to the lead leg of Kleczka with leg kicks in the opening stanza. Kleczka answered with frequent overhand rights and kicks to the body of Spangler. As the fight wore on, Spangler capitalized on Kleczka’s takedown attempts, scoring with heavy hammerfists. When the scorecards were read, it was Spangler who walked away with the win.

In a battle of featherweights, Macy Chiasson topped Allison Schmidt after three, hard-fought rounds. Chiasson used her height and reach advantage, as well as switching stances, to puzzle Schmidt early. She repeatedly scored with punches from range, causing the face of Schmidt to swell. Schmidt looked to bring the fight to the mat often, but Chiasson’s takedown defense held up, as she continued to score on the feet. After three rounds, Chiasson swept the scorecards.

Strawweight Helen Peralta picked up her second straight win in the Invicta cage, handing newcomer Cheyanne Vlismas her first professional defeat. Peralta’s kicks were the story in round one, as Vlismas looked to counter. In round two, it was the hands of Peralta that did the damage, as she dropped Vlismas with a right straight-left hook combination. Vlismas was game, surviving the onslaught and pressing the action in the final frame. It wasn’t enough, however as Peralta claimed the decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sarah Kaufman def. Katharina Lehner by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 4:30 – for bantamweight title
Pannie Kianzad def. Bianca Daimoni by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Pearl Gonzalez def. Bárbara Acioly by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:30
Marciea Allen def. Julia Avila by TKO (finger injury). Round 1, 0:49
Liz Tracy def. Cheri Muraski by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Lisa Spangler def. Sarah Kleczka by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Macy Chiasson def. Allison Schmidt by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Helen Peralta def. Cheyanne Vlismas by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Thursday, May 3, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner. The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, May 4, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the bantamweight title will be on the line between Canadian Sarah Kaufman (19-4, 1 NC) and German fighter Katharina Lehner (7-0). Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who returned to the promotion in January and defeated former No. 1 contender Pannie Kianzad. The undefeated Lehner earned a first-round finish of Alexa Conners at Invicta FC 25 in her most recent Invicta appearance.

The night’s co-main event also takes place in the bantamweight division as Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-3) welcomes Brazilian Bianca Daimoni (7-2) to the promotion.

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

Bantamweight Title: Sarah Kaufman (133.7) vs. Katharina Lehner (135)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (134.8) vs. Bianca Daimoni (139.6)*
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez (123.8) vs. Bárbara Acioly (126.3)*
Bantamweight: Julia Avila (135.8) vs. Marciea Allen (135.8)
Flyweight: Liz Tracy (125.1) vs. Cheri Muraski (125.6)
Bantamweight: Sarah Kleczka (133.8) vs. Lisa Spangler (134.5)
Featherweight: Allison Schmidt (145.1) vs. Macy Chiasson (144.7)
Strawweight: Helen Peralta (115.6) vs. Cheyanne Vlismas (115.7)

* – Daimoni and Acioly were each fined 25 percent of their fight purses for missing weight

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 29 Fight Card Adds Nine Bouts

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Kansas City, Mo. — After venturing to Salt Lake City for its most recent event, Invicta Fighting Championship is returning to the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, May 4 for Invicta FC 29. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, the bantamweight title will be on the line between Canadian Sarah Kaufman (19-4, 1 NC) and German fighter Katharina Lehner (7-0). Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who returned to the promotion in January and defeated former No. 1 contender Pannie Kianzad. The undefeated Lehner earned a first-round finish of Alexa Conners at Invicta FC 25 in her most recent Invicta appearance.

The night’s co-main event also takes place in the bantamweight division as Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-3) welcomes Brazilian Bianca Daimoni (7-2) to the promotion.

Following a successful debut at Invicta FC 28, UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (7-3) makes a quick turnaround to take on Brazil’s Bárbara Acioly (4-2) in a flyweight match-up.

Also on the card, Julia “Raging Panda” Avila (4-0) debuts against returning bantamweight veteran Marciea Allen (6-2), flyweight Liz Tracy (4-2) meets Colorado’s Cheri Muraski (4-1), undefeated bantamweight Yaya Rincón (2-0) takes on Washington’s Lisa “The Strangler” Spangler (0-0), newcomers Allison Schmidt (1-0) and Macy Chiasson (1-0) clash at featherweight, Helen Peralta (1-0) tangles with Cheyanne Vlismas (1-0) in a strawweight bout, and 18-year-old Croatian flyweight Adriana Vuković (0-0) debuts in the Invicta cage against a yet-to-be-named opponent.

The fight card for Invicta FC 29 can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Sarah Kaufman (19-4, 1 NC) vs. Katharina Lehner (7-0)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-3) vs. Bianca Daimoni (7-2)
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez (7-3) vs. Bárbara Acioly (4-2)
Bantamweight: Julia Avila (4-0) vs. Marciea Allen (6-2)
Flyweight: Liz Tracy (4-2) vs. Cheri Muraski (4-1)
Bantamweight: Yaya Rincón (2-0) vs. Lisa Spangler (0-0)
Featherweight: Allison Schmidt (1-0) vs. Macy Chiasson (1-0)
Strawweight: Helen Peralta (1-0) vs. Cheyanne Vlismas (1-0)
Flyweight: Adriana Vuković (0-0) vs. TBD

Tickets for Invicta FC 29 are in sale 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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Invicta FC 27 Results: Kaufman Cruises Past Kianzad, Porto Chokes Morais

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, Jan. 13, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Sarah Kaufman’s return to the Invicta cage was a successful one as the former Strikeforce bantamweight champion and UFC veteran bested Pannie Kianzad by decision. Kaufman’s striking arsenal was on full display throughout the contest. She landed her right hand in the clinch throughout the bout, bloodying the nose of Kianzad early in the fight. Kianzad never backed down, firing spinning backfists and a variety of kicks. But Kaufman’s veteran savvy was too much, as she landed with more and more volume as the fight progressed. The Canadian swept the scorecards after three rounds.

Former flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto continued her march back towards title contention, dispatching of her fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais in the first round. Porto landed heavy leg kicks as the fight begin, prompting Morais to shoot for a takedown. Porto scrambled to the back of Morais, who desperately tried to defend Porto’s submission attack. Porto sunk in a rear-naked choke late in the round, coercing the tap from Morais.

In a classic striker vs. grappler affair, it was the wrestler, Sharon Jacobson, that came out on top of Canada’s Ashley Nichols. Jacobson initiated the clinch to start the fight and aimed to take the fight to the mat. Nichols countered with heavy knees and punches, dropping Jacobson in the opening round. Jacobson secured a takedown and was able to recover. The relentless wrestling of Jacobson was the story of the rest of the fight, as she was able to put Nichols on her back repeatedly. The final five minutes was all Jacobson, who used the knee-on-belly technique to pepper Nichols with punches and elbows and capture the win.

Atomweight Ashley Cummins completed dominated promotional debutant Stephanie Alba over three rounds. Cummins was able to take the fight to the mat in every round, where she meticulously delivered ground and pound. The first round was filled with short elbow from the half guard, as Alba could not get off her back. Cummins sought an arm-triangle choke in the second stanza, but Alba defended well. In the final frame, Cummins sought the finish, scoring with combinations before yet another takedown. She dropped punches to the final bell, but had to settle for decision victory.

Guam’s Brogan Walker-Sanchez handed Cheri Muraski her first professional defeat after a grueling, three-round contest. Muraski’s intentions were clear from the opening bell as she closed the distance and looked to take Walker-Sanchez to the mat. Walker-Sanchez was able to score with elbows from the clinch and use her underhooks to stay standing. Muraski did find herself inside the full guard at one point, but was unable to pass to a dominant position. The pair jostled for position along the fence for the majority of the fight, but two of the three judges rewarded Walker-Sanchez the decision.

Felicia Spencer kept her undefeated record intact, besting debuting featherweight Akeela Al-Hameed by decision. The fight featured a contrast of styles as Al-Hameed employed a boxing attack against Spencer’s taekwondo base. The pair traded head kicks in the opening frame after a grueling stint in the clinch. Al-Hameed’s best moment came in the form of a standing guillotine choke attempt against the fence, but Spencer showcased great flexibility to land knees from the vicarious position. Spencer would gain top control late in the fight, sealing the win on all the judges’ scorecards.

Strawweight Mallory Martin gave Tiffany Masters a rude welcome to the Invicta FC cage, earning a second-round stoppage due to strikes. Martin pressed forward in the opening round, scoring with her left hook inside the pocket. Masters countered with volume, but Martin took her down and rained elbows from the top. It was more of the same in round two as Martin mounted Masters along the fence and dropped heavy shots. The onslaught led the referee to intervene and give Martin the victory.

Making her professional MMA debut, Muay Thai stylist Loma Lookboonmee put on a striking clinic, battering Mellissa Wang over three rounds. Wang immediately looked to take the fight to the mat, but Loma countered with knees and elbows in the clinch. The shots took their toll on Wang, who bled from her nose and left eye. The fight was paused twice by the referee after the Thai fighter landed knees while Wang was a downed fighter. Despite a point deduction, Loma swept the scorecards with the impressive performance.

In a match-up of strawweight newcomers, Helen Peralta needed less than a round to dispatch of Jade Ripley with strikes. Peralta used her kicks to find her range and began to land her right hand at will. After buckling the knees of Ripley in the clinch, Peralta delivered a series of punches along the fence that forced the referee to halt the contest.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sarah Kaufman def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Vanessa Porto def. Mariana Morais by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:19
Sharon Jacobson def. Ashley Nichols by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ashley Cummins def. Stephanie Alba by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Brogan Walker-Sanchez def. Cheri Muraski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Felicia Spencer def. Akeela Al-Hameed by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mallory Martin def. Tiffany Masters by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 3:36
Loma Lookboonmee def. Mellissa Wang by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26)
Helen Peralta def. Jade Ripley by TKO (punches). Round 1, 2:22

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 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Jan. 12, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman. The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Jan. 13, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-2) takes on Canada’s Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC) in a bantamweight match-up. Kianzad aims to get back in the win column after falling against then-champion Tonya Evinger and recent title challenger Raquel Pa’aluhi. Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who previously competed in the Invicta cage in 2013. She holds victories over fellow Invicta veterans Shayna Baszler, Takayo Hashi, Roxanne Modafferi, Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith.

In the night’s co-main event, Vanessa Porto (19-8) quickly steps back into the cage to face fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais (12-5). Porto was in action at Invicta FC 26 in December, stopping UFC veteran Milana Dudieva by strikes. The 21-year-old Morais returns to the promotion for the first time since 2015, where she faced former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi.

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

Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (136.7)* vs. Sarah Kaufman (135.4)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (125.3) vs. Mariana Morais (124.6)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (115.7) vs. Ashley Nichols (115.3)
Atomweight: Ashley Cummins (105.6) vs. Stephanie Alba (106)
Flyweight: Cheri Muraski (125.4) vs. Brogan Walker-Sanchez (125.4)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Akeela Al-Hameed (144.7)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (115.3) vs. Tiffany Masters (117.4)*
Atomweight: Mellissa Wang (104.3) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (105.9)
Strawweight: Jade Ripley (115.9) vs. Helen Peralta (115.6)

* – Kianzad and Masters were each fined 25 percent of their fight purses for missing weight

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 27 Features Pannie Kianzad vs. Sarah Kaufman Main Event

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 27 has taken shape.

The event, which takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. It will feature a bantamweight headliner between Iranian-Swedish fighter Pannie Kianzad (8-2) and Canada’s Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC).

Kianzad aims to get back in the win column after falling against then-champion Tonya Evinger and recent title challenger Raquel Pa’aluhi. Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who previously competed in the Invicta cage in 2013. She holds victories over fellow Invicta veterans Shayna Baszler, Takayo Hashi, Roxanne Modafferi, Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith.

In the night’s co-main event, Vanessa Porto (19-8) quickly steps back into the cage to face fellow Brazilian Mariana Morais (12-5). Porto was in action at Invicta FC 26 in December, stopping UFC veteran Milana Dudieva by strikes. The 21-year-old Morais returns to the promotion for the first time since 2015, where she faced former title challenger Roxanne Modafferi.

Also announced for the event, wrestling stalwart Sharon Jacobson (4-2) takes on decorated striker Ashley Nichols (3-1) in a strawweight bout, Missouri native Ashley Cummins meets promotional newcomer Stephanie Alba (3-1, 1 NC) at atomweight, undefeated flyweight Brogan Walker-Sanchez (4-0) of Guam will debut against a to-be-announced opponent, featherweight finisher Felicia Spencer (3-0) welcomes Akeela Al-Hameed (0-0) to the professional ranks, strawweights Mallory Martin (1-2) and Tiffany Masters (2-1) clash in a bout that was originally slated for Invicta FC 24, atomweight Muay Thai standout Loma Lookboonmee (0-0) makes her professional MMA debut against Mellissa Wang (1-0), and Jade Ripley and Helen Peralta make both their Invicta and professional debuts in a strawweight match-up.

The fight card for Invicta FC 27 can be found below:

Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-2) vs. Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (19-8) vs. Mariana Morais (12-5)
Strawweight: Sharon Jacobson (4-2) vs. Ashley Nichols (3-1)
Atomweight: Ashley Cummins (5-4) vs. Stephanie Alba (3-1, 1 NC)
Flyweight: Brogan Walker-Sanchez (4-0) vs. TBA
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (3-0) vs. Akeela Al-Hameed (0-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (1-2) vs. Tiffany Masters (2-1)
Atomweight: Mellissa Wang (1-0) vs. Loma Lookboonmee (0-0)
Strawweight: Jade Ripley (0-0) vs. Helen Peralta (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 27 are on sale now via Tickeyfly.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 Adds 15 Fighters, Including Sarah Kaufman and Pearl Gonzalez

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Kansas City, Mo. — The Invicta Fighting Championships roster has grown with the signings of 15 athletes.

The bantamweight division will see the biggest influx of combatants with six signings: Sarah Kaufman (18-4, 1 NC), Marciea Allen (6-2), Julia Avila Shumate (4-0), Kerri Kenneson (2-0), Allison Schmidt (1-0) and Chelsea Chandler (0-0).

  • Canada’s Kaufman is a former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran who previously competed in the Invicta cage in 2013. She holds victories over fellow Invicta veterans Shayna Baszler, Takayo Hashi, Roxanne Modafferi, Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith.
  • Allen, dubbed the “Black Widow,” returns to the promotion for the first time since Invicta FC 3. She currently rides a three-fight winning streak that includes victories over veterans Carina Damm and Jan Finney.
  • Entering the promotion with an unbeaten record, the Californian Avila Shumate, also known as “The Raging Panda,” hold victories over current UFC fighter Marion Reneau and current UFC flyweight champion Nicco Montaño.
  • Also undefeated through two professional outings, Kenneson competes out of New Hampshire.
  • A product of the American Kickboxing Academy, Schmidt won her MMA debut via rear-naked choke.
  • Hailing from Stockton, Calif., and training under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie, Chandler will make her professional debut in the Invicta cage.

Joining the flyweight ranks will be Bianca “Bibi” Daimoni (7-2), Brogan Sanchez (4-0), Monica “PhenomAmom” Medina (3-1) and Helen Peralta (0-0). Fighting out of Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil, the 31-year-old Daimoni has stopped five of her seven victories with strikes. Sanchez (formerly Walker), is a Guam native and has opened her career with four straight victories. Medina, who trains out of Alan Belcher MMA in Mississippi, has scored two triangle-choke finishes in her three professional wins to go with seven finishes by strikes as an amateur. Iowa’s Peralta compiled a 7-1 record as an amateur.

The strawweight division gets a pair of new faces in UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (6-3) and Canada’s Ashley Nichols (3-1). Chicago’s Gonzalez joins the promotion following a two-fight Octagon stint. The 31-year-old is a former XFC titleholder. A decorated striker who earned the World Professional MuayThai Federation super bantamweight title, Nichols has been in the cage and ring with many top names, including Randa Markos, Tiffany van Soest and Anissa Meksen. She currently rides a three-fight winning streak in MMA competition.

Finally, three new athletes have been added to the atomweight division: Loma Lookboonmee (0-0), Fernanda Priscila (3-1) and Rebekah LeVine (1-0). A veteran of more than a hundred Muay Thai bouts, Thailand’s Lookboonmee will make her professional MMA debut for the promotion. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, Priscila trains out of the Academia Kimura Nova União. After going unbeaten as an amateur, California’s LeVine opened her professional career with a first-round armbar submission.

Look for many of the new athletes to compete inside the Invicta FC cage in 2018.

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.