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History Lesson: The Journey of the Invicta Strawweight Title

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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.

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Invicta FC 31 Results: Jandiroba Chokes Morandin, Retains Strawweight Title

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, Sept. 1, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The Invicta FC strawweight belt remains around the waist of undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba after she submitted countrywoman Janaisa Morandin. After a feeling out process on the feet, the champion exploded for a takedown. She worked to the mount position, but Morandin was able to recover her guard. Jandiroba peppered Morandin with short shots as the first round came to a close. Round two saw Jandiroba again earn a takedown, but this time, she effortlessly passed to mount and attacked the neck of the challenger with a choke. The arm-triangle was deep, forcing Morandin to submit.

Pearl Gonzalez picked up her third straight win — second in the flyweight division — with a decision victory over Brazilian Daiane Firmino. Gonzalez fired kicks immediately which allowed Firmino to power the fight to the ground. Gonzalez was able to gain top position, but Firmino worked back to her feet. The pair worked hard in the clinch, trading short knees. The second round saw Gonzalez land a huge throw to delight the crowd. Gonzalez worked from the scarf hold position, threatening with multiple submissions. Firmino was game, nearly taking Gonzalez’s back. In the last frame, Firmino pushed the action. She secured a takedown, but was forced to defend an armbar attempt and triangle choke threat from Gonzalez. The fight went to the judges for a verdict and they rewarded Gonzalez for her efforts.

In a battle of undefeated bantamweights, Lisa Spangler narrowly edged Shanna Young on the scorecards. The karate style of Young was evident from the opening bell, as she repeatedly fired head kicks with her lead leg. The attacks appeared to surprise Spangler, as she absorbed a lot of punishment early, bleeding heavily from her nose. Spangler settled in during the second round, landing combinations and marching through the kick attempts. Young continued her kicking arsenal, but Spangler landed heavy punches to the body. The fight’s lone takedown came in round three, as Spangler briefly put Young on her back. The pair returned to the center of the cage in the waning moments, trading heavy punches as the crowd erupted. The judges were split, with Spangler handing Young her first defeat.

Colorado’s Mallory Martin continued her winning streak, stopping Canada’s Ashley Nichols in the third round. Nichols started strong, dropping Martin early with a right hand. Martin recovered and was able to earn a takedown. The second stanza saw Martin earn another takedown, but she was unable to mount much offense. Round three saw Martin come out aggressively. She put Nichols on her back along the fence and went for the finish. Martin dropped a series of heavy elbows, hurting Nichols in the process. The referee saved Nichols from further damage, giving Martin the TKO victory.

Flyweight Miranda Maverick quickly returned to the win column with a first-round finish of Louisiana’s Victoria Leonardo. After a brief striking exchange, Maverick closed the distance and methodically worked for a takedown. Once on top, she passed to the mount. Leonardo tried to escape through the back door, but Maverick latched onto her right arm. Leonardo desperately looked to escape, but Maverick cranked hard, coercing the armbar finish.

Competing as an atomweight for the first time, Missouri’s Kelly D’Angelo bested newcomer Lindsey VanZandt by decision. VanZandt was quick to attack with her takedowns, but fell into the dangerous guard of VanZandt. D’Angelo first attacked with a triangle choke, then an armbar. VanZandt nearly turned purple, but did not tap. D’Angelo was able to mount and deliver punishment from the top. It was more of the same in round two, as D’Angelo again threatened with submissions. VanZandt went for it in round three, firing high kicks and a flying knee, but it wasn’t enough, as D’Angelo scored the unanimous decision win.

Strawweight Kay Hansen used a well-round attack, earning a third-round stoppage win over the previously undefeated Helen Peralta. The pair spent the majority of the first two rounds jostling for position in the clinch. Hansen was able to change levels — avoiding any damage — and scoring with takedowns. In the third round, Hansen’s work paid off, as she earned a big slam and passed to the mount. Once there, she unleashed a flurry of elbows and punches that forced the referee to step in and halt the contest.

Kicking off the night’s action live and free on Facebook, featherweights Audrey Wolfe and Holli Salazar battled to a draw after three rounds. Salazar repeatedly landed her right hand early, prompting a takedown from Wolfe. Salazar attacked with an armbar from her back that forced Wolfe to defend. In the second frame, Salazar again did damage with her right hand, scoring in the clinch. Wolfe worked hard for a takedown in the final frame. She landed an illegal head butt from inside the guard of Salazar, forcing referee Greg Franklin to deduct a point. That proved to be a factor, as all three judges scored the bout a draw.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Virna Jandiroba def. Janaisa Morandin by submission (arm-triangle choke). Round 2, 2:23 – for strawweight title
Pearl Gonzalez def. Daiane Firmino by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-27)
Lisa Spangler def. Shanna Young by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Mallory Martin def. Ashley Nichols by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 1:05
Miranda Maverick def. Victoria Leonardo by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:26
Kelly D’Angelo def. Lindsey VanZandt unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Kay Hansen def. Helen Peralta by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 4:16
Holli Salazar vs. Audrey Wolfe ruled a unanimous draw (28-28 x3)

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 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Aug. 31, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin. The event takes place from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday, Sept. 1, with the main card streaming live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, strawweight champion Virna Jandiroba (13-0) makes her first defense of her belt against fellow Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (10-1). Jandiroba claimed the title earlier this year, defeating MIZUKI at Invicta FC 28 in Utah. Morandin was most recently in action against Kinberly Novaes at Invicta FC 26, earning a “Performance of the Night” bonus for her victory.

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

Strawweight Title: Virna Jandiroba (114.6) vs. Janaisa Morandin (114.5)
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez (124.5) vs. Daiane Firmino (125.4)
Bantamweight: Shanna Young (134.5) vs. Lisa Spangler (135)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (117)* vs. Ashley Nichols (115.7)
Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (125.1) vs. Victoria Leonardo (125.7)
Atomweight: Kelly D’Angelo (106) vs. Lindsey VanZandt (105.5)
Strawweight: Helen Peralta (115.7) vs. Kay Hansen (115.3)
Featherweight: Audrey Wolfe (145.5) vs. Holli Salazar (145.7)

* – Martin was fined 25 percent of her fight purse for missing the strawweight limit of 116 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.

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Virna Jandiroba vs. Janaisa Morandin Title Fight Tops Invicta FC 31 Fight Card

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta FC 31 is taking shape.

The event, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 1, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., will be headlined by a strawweight title clash between Brazilians Virna Jandiroba (13-0) and Janaisa Morandin (10-1).

Jandiroba remained undefeated and captured Invicta gold earlier this year, defeating Japan’s MIZUKI at Invicta FC 28 by decision. The submission specialist has finished 10 of her 13 career victories.

The 23-year-old Morandin bested countrywoman Kinberly Novaes at Invicta FC 26 to earn her 10th career win. Her lone career defeat came against former Invicta champion and current UFC fighter Livia Renata Souza.

In the night’s co-main event, UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (8-3) aims to continue her ascension through the flyweight division as she welcomes Brazilian Daiane Firmino (10-2) to the Invicta cage. Gonzalez was last in action at Invicta FC 29, submitting Bárbara Acioly via first-round armbar. Firmino enters the promotion with wins over Ariane Lipski and Invicta veteran Mariana Morais.

Also on the card, former bantamweight title challenger Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-6) meets unbeaten newcomer Shanna Young (4-0), Colorado’s Mallory Martin (3-2) takes on Canadian Ashley Nichols (3-2) in a strawweight affair, Kelly D’Angelo (2-2) drops to atomweight against Lindsey VanZandt (3-0), knockout artist Helen Peralta (2-0) meets fellow strawweight Kay Hansen (2-1), and Audrey Drew (1-0) squares off with Holli Salazar (1-0) at featherweight.

The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 31 can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Virna Jandiroba (13-0) vs. Janaisa Morandin (10-1)
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez (8-3) vs. Daiane Firmino (10-2)
Bantamweight: Raquel Pa’aluhi (6-6) vs. Shanna Young (4-0)
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (3-2) vs. Ashley Nichols (3-2)
Atomweight: Kelly D’Angelo (2-2) vs. Lindsey VanZandt (3-0)
Strawweight: Helen Peralta (2-0) vs. Kay Hansen (2-1)
Featherweight: Audrey Drew (1-0) vs. Holli Salazar (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 31 will be available via Ticketfly.com beginning Saturday, Aug. 4.

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 28 Results: Jandiroba Tops MIZUKI, Captures Strawweight Gold

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Salt Lake City — On Saturday, March 24, Invicta Fighting Championships made its first trip to the state of Utah, hosting Invicta FC 28: MIZUKI vs. Jandiroba from the Union Event Center in the capital of the Beehive State. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba is the new Invicta FC strawweight champion after largely dominating Japan’s MIZUKI from bell to bell. Jandiroba took the fight to the mat effortlessly throughout the entire five-round affair. A right hand from Jandiroba damaged the left eye of MIZUKI early in the fight and it swelled badly. Jandiroba was methodical with her top pressure, smothering MIZUKI from generating offense or returning to her feet. The best chance for MIZUKI came in round four, as she scored with a beautiful hip toss, but Jandiroba quickly reversed the position and continued her dominance. When the scorecards were revealed, it was the Brazilian who left with the win and the belt.

Former title challenger DeAnna Bennett returned to the promotion and snapped the winning streak of Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez. Bennett surprised the Mexican fighter with a steady forward advance, landing punches and initiating the clinch. Bennett scored with a big takedown, but Rodríguez quickly bounced back to her feet. The second round was more of the same as Bennett’s frequent level changes and feints prevented Rodríguez from putting together her boxing combinations. Rodríguez increased her output in the final round, but Bennett’s wrestling and clinch game was too much. The judges were split, but it was Bennett who left with the win.

Veteran Milana Dudieva gave Christina Marks a rude welcome to the Invicta cage, earning a second-round TKO victory. The flyweights spent the first round in a feeling-out process, trading single strikes and gauging range. It was more of the same in round two, but late in the frame, Dudieva delivered a massive right hand that sent Marks crashing to the ground. Dudieva followed with a series of right hands to finish the fight.

Pearl Gonzalez outworked Kali Robbins in a three-round war to introduce herself to the strawweight division. The previously undefeated Robbins waded through the strikes of Gonzalez to impose her grappling attack in the opening round. Gonzalez was able to defend from her back and reverse position multiple times. As the fight progressed, Robbins began to give Gonzalez more openings for scrambles and Gonzalez capitalized. She spent the better part of the last two rounds in the top position, cruising to the decision win.

Finnish atomweight Minna Grusander impressed in her promotional debut, stopping her fellow newcomer Fernanda Barros by TKO. Barros was very aggressive to start, coming forward with looping punches and kicks. Grusander survived the onslaught and the pair traded guillotine attempts. In the second round, the Finn found her range on the feet, dropping Barros with a flurry midway through the round. She increased her output, pounding out the Brazilian along the cage to earn the TKO win.

Strawweight Kal Schwartz put on a wrestling clinic before violently finishing Kay Hansen in the second round. Schwartz controlled the clinch throughout the first round, scoring with short punches and knees. Hansen broke free for a moment, but was quickly slammed to the canvas. That was a precursor to what would come in round two as Schwartz opened a huge cut on Hansen’s face with an elbow before suplexing her to the ground. Schwartz sensed the finish was near and flurried hard to force the referee to intervene.

In a pairing of bantamweight newcomers, New Hampshire’s Kerri Kenneson edged Chelsea Chandler after three thrilling rounds. Chandler’s grappling arsenal was the story early in the fight as she repeatedly attacked Kenneson with choke attempts, but Kenneson turned the tide with a massive left hand to close the opening round. Chandler continued to attack the limbs of Kenneson, but she left herself exposed to ground and pound. Kenneson was forced to defend a deep triangle choke in the third round, but her offensive output was more than enough to secure the decision nod.

Jillian DeCoursey remained undefeated, handing Invicta newcomer Rebekah Levine her first defeat in their atomweight match-up. LeVine sought the takedown early in the fight, but quickly fell into the dangerous guard of DeCoursey. The BJJ brown belt attacked with numerous armbars from her back, forcing LeVine to defend. As the fight progressed, DeCoursey showcased her superior grappling game, frequently moving to mount and dropping punches. LeVine proved her toughness by making it to the final bell, but DeCoursey claimed the clear-cut decision victory.

Flyweights Tracy Cortez and Kaytlin Neil kicked off the action with a back-and-forth battle that went to the scorecards. Cortez was aggressive throughout, pressing forward and keeping Neil with her back to the fence. Neil was able to score with a hip toss in the middle stanza, but she struggled to maintain top position. The final frame was full of scrambles and submission attempts, but it was the relentless pressure of Cortez that was rewarded by the judges.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Virna Jandiroba def. MIZUKI by split decision (49-46, 46-49, 49-46) – for strawweight title
DeAnna Bennett def. Karina Rodríguez by split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)
Milana Dudieva def. Christina Marks by TKO (punches). Round 2, 3:57
Pearl Gonzalez def. Kali Robbins by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)
Minna Grusander def. Fernanda Barros by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:26
Kal Schwartz def. Kay Hansen by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 4:27
Kerri Kenneson def. Chelsea Chandler by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jillian DeCoursey def. Rebekah Levine by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Tracy Cortez def. Kaytlin Neil by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

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 28: MIZUKI vs. Jandiroba Official Weigh-in Results

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Salt Lake City — On Friday, March 23, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 28: MIZUKI vs. Jandiroba. The event takes place from the Union Event Center in Utah, on Saturday, March 24, and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s main event, Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) returns to the Invicta cage to face undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba (12-0) for the strawweight title. The 23-year-old MIZUKI enters the contest having won four straight, including a second-round armbar finish of Lynn Alvarez in her most recent Invicta appearance. Jandiroba impressed in her promotional debut, submitting veteran Amy Montenegro in the first round via armbar to earn her shot at gold.

The co-main event features a flyweight match-up between UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) and Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (6-2).

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

Strawweight Title: MIZUKI (113.9) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (127.9)* vs. Karina Rodríguez (125.2)
Flyweight: Milana Dudieva (125.9) vs. Christina Marks (124.8)
Strawweight: Kali Robbins (115.4) vs. Pearl Gonzalez (115.9)
Atomweight: Minna Grusander (105.8) vs. Fernanda Barros (105.9)
Strawweight: Kal Schwartz (115.6) vs. Kay Hansen (115.3)
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (135.7) vs. Chelsea Chandler (135.7)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (106) vs. Rebekah Levine (104.9)
Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (124.7) vs. Kaytlin Neil (125.5)

* – Bennett was fined 25 percent of her fight purse for missing the flyweight limit of 126 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.

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MIZUKI Replaces Janaisa Morandin, Faces Virna Jandiroba for Strawweight Title at Invicta FC 28

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Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 28 has a new main event.

Brazilian Janaisa Morandin (10-1) has been forced out of her strawweight title tilt against countrywoman Virna Jandiroba (12-0). Stepping in for Morandin will be Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4). The 23-year-old enters the contest having won four straight, including a second-round armbar finish of Lynn Alvarez in her most recent Invicta appearance.

A replacement opponent is being sought to face UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-7).

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)
Strawweight: Milana Dudieva (11-7) vs. TBD
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (6-2)
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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Janaisa Morandin vs. Virna Jandiroba Title Fight Headlines Invicta FC 28 on March 24

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships is heading to Utah.

The promotion’s 28th event will take place Saturday, March 24 from the Union Event Center in Salt Lake City. The card will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. MT.

In the night’s main event, Brazilians Janaisa Morandin (10-1) and Virna Jandiroba (12-0) clash for the strawweight title. Morandin made her Invicta debut in a “Fight of the Night” battle against former champion Livia Renata Souza last August and followed it up with dominant win over Kinberly Novaes at Invicta FC 26 in December. Jandiroba also impressed in her first bout with the promotion, submitting veteran Amy Montenegro in the first round via armbar.

The co-main event features the return of Japan’s MIZUKI (12-4) against UFC veteran Milana Dudieva (11-7). The 23-year-old MIZUKI enters the contest having won four straight, including a second-round armbar finish of Lynn Alvarez in her most recent Invicta appearance. Dudieva will be making her third appearance inside the Invicta cage, but this will be her first bout in the strawweight division.

UFC veteran DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) rejoins the promotion to take on Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez (6-2). Bennett, a former strawweight title challenger, fought to a draw against Melinda Fabian in December. Rodríguez has earned back-to-back wins over Bárbara Acioly and Christine Ferea since joining the promotion last summer.

Also on the card, undefeated strawweight Kali Robbins (5-0) takes on UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez (6-3), Finland’s Minna Grusander (5-1) meets fellow atomweight newcomer Fernanda Priscila (3-1) of Brazil, Kal Schwartz faces a yet-to-be-named opponent in a strawweight affair, undefeated bantamweight Kerri Kenneson (2-0) of New Hampshire takes on the debuting Chelsea Chandler (0-0), and Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) battles Rebekah Levine (1-0) at atomweight.

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

Strawweight Title: Janaisa Morandin (10-1) vs. Virna Jandiroba (12-0)
Strawweight: MIZUKI (12-4) vs. Milana Dudieva (11-7)
Flyweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-3-1) vs. Karina Rodríguez (6-2)
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. TBA
Bantamweight: Kerri Kenneson (2-0) vs. Chelsea Chandler (0-0)
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey (1-0) vs. Rebekah Levine (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 28 will go on sale Saturday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. MT 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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Nine Athletes Join Invicta FC Roster

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has added nine new faces to its roster.

Joining the strawweight division will be undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba (11-0). The 28-year-old, dubbed “Carcará,” most recently defeated UFC veteran Ericka Almeida. She also holds a submission victory over UFC and Invicta FC veteran Lisa Ellis.

The flyweight division has six new fighters, including four who are unbeaten: Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC), Chan-Mi Jeon (5-0), Bárbara Acioly (4-0), Karina Rodríguez (4-2), Cheri Muraski (3-0) and Tracy Cortez (0-0).

  • Italy’s Borella will join the promotion having won four of her last five fights.
  • At just 19 year old, South Korea’s Jeon has finished four of her five wins with strikes, capturing ALL FC’s flyweight championship in the process.
  • The 28-year-old Acioly also hails from Brazil and has stopped three of her four wins inside the first round.
  • Mexico’s Rodríguez has stopped her opponent in three of her four wins and has faced the likes of Invicta FC veteran Alexa Grasso.
  • Colorado’s Muraski, who was 6-1 as an amateur before turning pro in late 2016, submitted Invicta FC veteran Shannon Sinn in her last outing.
  • Cortez, a Tuff-N-Uff flyweight titleholder, fights out of Arizona and will make her professional debut inside the Invicta cage after going 6-0 as an amateur.

“There are a lot of eyeballs on the 125-pound weight class right now,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp. “We have a card coming up on May 20 that showcases some of the best flyweights in the world.

“Being able to add such a talented group of athletes to that flyweight mix will only push the entire division further. We’re expecting to see great match-ups right away, while also looking ahead to the exciting opportunities our younger prospects will have as they develop here at Invicta.”

Finally, two fighters slated to make their professional debuts have joined the atomweight division. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Jillian DeCoursey (0-0) compiled a record of 8-1 as an amateur. California’s Ashley Medina (0-0) went 4-1 in the amateur ranks, including two wins via armbar.

All of the new athletes are expected to make their promotional debuts later in 2017.

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.