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Invicta FC 54 Results: McCormack Puts Wójcik to Sleep, Retains Strawweight Title

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BOSTON – On Friday, Oct. 27, Invicta Fighting Championships made its debut on the East Coast, hosting Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik from Citizens House of Blues.

In the night’s headliner, Ireland’s Danni McCormack retained her 115-pound strap after choking challenger Karolina Wójcik unconscious in the fight’s fourth round. Wójcik never tapped, but was finished for the first time in her career. The finish punctuated a dominant night for the champion, who controlled the action from the fight’s onset.

Former flyweight title challenger Kristina Williams got back in the win column after edging out Irish newcomer Dee Begley on the scorecards after three rounds.

Andrea Amaro spoiled the night of Massachusetts native Hilarie Rose by securing a first-round rear-naked choke.

In the featherweight division, Riley Martinez made quick work of Germany’s Julia Dorny, taking the back and coercing a tap less than two minutes into the fight.

Kicking off the night, bantamweight Maria Djukic picked up a decision nod over Brazilian Fernanda Araujo.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Danni McCormack def. Karolina Wojcik by technical submission (rear-naked choke). Round 4, 1:22– for strawweight title
Kristina Williams def. Dee Begley by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andrea Amaro def. Hilarie Rose by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:19
Riley Martinez def. Julia Dorny by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:48
Maria Djukic def. Fernanda Araujo by unanimous decision (30-37, 29-28, 29-28)

The planned strawweight bout between Valesca Machado and Kalindra Faria was removed from the event due to illness.

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

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Invicta FC 53 Results: Dos Santos Dethrones DeCoursey to Capture Atomweight Belt

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DENVER — On Wednesday, May 3, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City, hosting Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos from ReelWorks Denver.

Rayanne dos Santos is now the third Brazilian fighter to hold the atomweight title, after dethroning Jillian DeCoursey over five, hard-fought rounds. Both fighters flicked their jab early to gauge range. A head kick attempt from DeCoursey caught the gloves of the evading Brazilian. A counter left from dos Santos found the mark and DeCoursey retreated. A flurry from dos Santos finished with a slapping leg kick. The speed of dos Santos was apparent in the exchanges, but DeCoursey was undeterred. A looping right hand from DeCoursey allowed dos Santos to drop levels and drive into a takedown. It was short lived as DeCoursey sprung to her feet and pinned dos Santos against the fence. DeCoursey locked her hands for a double-leg and dumped dos Santos to the mat, but was forced to defend a guillotine attempt as the round came to a conclusion. DeCoursey began round two with a straight right hand and drove dos Santos to the fence. Dos Santos spun DeCoursey and dropped for a takedown, only for DeCoursey to hit a switch. After jostling in the clinch, the pair separated to reveal a cut above the left brow of DeCoursey. A massive left hand stunned DeCoursey and dos Santos followed with a pair of rights. DeCoursey instinctively dove for a takedown, which dos Santos stuffed. The Brazilian moved to top position along the fence and punished DeCoursey from half guard. Dos Santos scrambled to the back of DeCoursey as the frame expired. Confidence oozed from dos Santos to start the third round. She marched forward and kept DeCoursey on the back foot. DeCoursey remained composed and looked for openings. Dos Santos tried to flurry against the cage for a second time, but DeCoursey defended well. DeCoursey opened up her kicking arsenal and began to frustrate the Brazilian. The momentum shift was obvious to start the fourth as it was DeCoursey coming forward. Dos Santos answered with an overhand right to keep DeCoursey honest. A deep single-leg attempt from DeCoursey was unsuccessful, as dos Santos scrambled to her back. As DeCoursey tried to escape, dos Santos moved to half guard. She finished the round on DeCoursey’s back. Dos Santos flicked her jab to start round five and then marched right through a head kick attempt from DeCoursey. She flurried along the cage as she kept her foot on the gas. DeCoursey fired punches, hoping to secure a comeback. Dos Santos did not give her the opportunity, calmly throwing combinations at range. A late head kick from DeCoursey clipped dos Santos, but it was too little, too late for the American. Dos Santos celebrated wildly as the final horn sounded. The result was not in question as the scorecards were read, giving dos Santos the title.

Bantamweights Olga Rubin and Claire Guthrie fought hard to establish themselves as the No. 1 contender in the night’s co-main event. Rubin came out firing a variety of strikes. Guthrie closed the distance and looked to muscle the fight to the ground. As Rubin separated, Guthrie rushed back to a single-leg attempt against the fence. From striking range, Guthrie connected with a heavy body kick. Her repeated level changes appeared to frustrate Rubin. Another body kick from Guthrie landed as Rubin walked forward. Guthrie was active from the clinch with short knees and punches. Rubin opened round two with a takedown attempt but was unsuccessful. Guthrie returned to the clinch and continued to score with volume. The heavy clinch work slowed the output from Rubin. Guthrie moved to Rubin’s back for a moment, but she couldn’t keep the fight on the ground. Rubin showcased great balance to stay on her feet, but she eventually landed on her back after a failed trip attempt. From her back, Rubin went straight to work, slapping on a buggy choke. Guthrie fought hard to escape, but ultimately succumbed to the submission. Rubin’s second-round finish was the first buggy choke in Invicta history.

Former atomweight champion Jéssica Delboni moved up in weight to take on former strawweight title challenger Danielle Taylor. The pair gauged range with low kicks to start the contest. A stiff left hook from Delboni clipped Taylor clean. A lead hook from Taylor found the jaw of Delboni and slowed her march for a moment. The pair clinched and exchanged short knees before separating. The Brazilian Delboni switched her attack to the legs of Taylor, landing both inside and outside of the thigh. A strong jab from Taylor popped the head of Delboni. A late trade of punches closed out the frame. From the southpaw stance, Delboni kicked the body of Taylor in round two. The inside leg kick of Delboni landed at will and kept Taylor moving away from range. The jab of Taylor was her most effective weapon, but she struggled to match the volume of the Brazilian. Taylor countered the low kicks with ones of her own. A clean left hook from Taylor caught Delboni clean to close the middle frame. Delboni’s forward pressure did not stop in the final five minutes. She walked through the punches of Taylor and fired ones of her own. The corner of Taylor implored her to move forward, which nearly resulted in the fight’s first takedown. Delboni settled for the clinch before separating to the middle of the cage. Both fighters threw until the final bell, but it was Delboni who took home the unanimous decision.

Brazil’s Monique Adriane spoiled the perfect record of previously unbeaten Mexican Nicole Geraldo in an atomweight clash. After a brief feeling-out process to gauge their range, Geraldo delivered a body kick. Adriane responded with a double jab. A leg kick from Geraldo was countered with a right hook from the Brazilian. Geraldo drew a reaction from the crowd with a spinning backfist, but it only found the arm of Adriane. A combination from Adriane landed and put Geraldo on her back foot for a moment. The Mexico product landed an overhand right to slow Adriane’s advance. A body kick from Geraldo found Adriane’s midsection late in the round. The pair went straight back to boxing range in round two. Adriane continued to find success with her counterstrikes. The right hand of Geraldo snuck through the Brazilian’s guard on multiple occasions to keep the fight close. Adriane fired a combination from the pocket that backed up Geraldo. The Mexican again looked for a spinning attack, but the Adriane was wise to it and evaded. A takedown attempt from Geraldo was stuffed by Adriane. The left eye of Geraldo swelled from the punches of Adriane as the fight progressed. The fight’s final frame featured an increase in Geraldo’s kick output. Adriane matched it with punches flush to the damaged eye of the Mexican. A deep shot from Geraldo nearly brought the contest to the mat for the first time, but it was Adriane who scrambled to take the back and apply a rear-naked choke. Geraldo fought hard to avoid the finish, but could not escape the perilous position. The judges were called upon to render a verdict, but there was no doubt as Adriane swept the scorecards.

The third bout of the night featured veteran flyweights Elise Pone and Liana Pirosin. The American Pone fired multiple heads kick prompting Pirosin to secure a body lock and drive the fight to the fence. Pone looked to toss the Brazilian but ended up on her back. Pirosin quickly attacked with an armbar and then took Pone’s back. Pone fought the hands of Pirosin, but was caught in a body triangle and could not escape the position. Pone began the second round with a purpose, scoring with strikes. Pirosin countered with a throw along the cage, but this time Pone was able to work back to her feet. Pone delivered elbows from the clinch. The nose of Pirosin began to bleed from the onslaught. Pirosin worked hard for a trip, but Pone kept the fight upright. After an exchange of head kicks, Pone initiated the clinch and landed more strikes. Pone landed with clinch combinations in the third round. Pirosin broke free to striking range, but absorbed more punishment in the process. Pirosin spun Pone to the cage before the American returned the favor. Pirosin changed levels for a double but Pone shrugged her off. Pirosin drove forward into the clinch but Pone inflicted more and more damage. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Pone who walked away with victor.

Brazilian atomweight Lili Ferreira welcomed Mexico’s Flor Hernandez to the Invicta cage in the second contest of the evening. A stiff jab from Hernandez was answered by a flurry from Ferreira. Hernandez pressed forward, eating looping hooks from Ferreira. From the clinch, Ferreira worked hard for a trip from double underhooks. She softened up Hernandez with knees to the body before dragging her to the ground. Ferreira quickly took the back of Hernandez and secured a body triangle. Hernandez rolled to her stomach, but Ferreira held the position. A powerful push from Hernandez spun her into the full guard of Ferreira. Hernandez dropped a series of punches from top position to close the frame. There was significant swelling under the left eye of Hernandez to start the second round. Ferreira connected with a heavy kick to the liver of Hernandez and drove into a takedown. Hernandez tried to tie up the arms of the Brazilian and was slammed to the canvas. The fight returned to the feet and Ferreira again attacked the midsection. A kick from Hernandez was caught by Ferreira and she cracked Hernandez with punches. Another heavy body kick from Ferreira found its mark to end the round. The final stanza opened with more forward pressure from Hernandez, but Ferreira was able to counter with punches. A head kick from Hernandez brushed the face of Ferreira and was followed by a right hook. The aggression of Hernandez worked against her later in the round as Ferreira ducked under her punches and took her to the ground. Ferreira pinned Hernandez against the fence and stayed heavy from top position. The fight would goes the distance and Ferreira captured the decision victory.

A flyweight clash between Ky Bennett and Kendal Holowell opened the night’s action. The pair wasted little time engaging with strikes. Holowell missed with a spinning backfist and Bennett flurried forward with punches. In the clinch, Bennett connected with multiple elbows. Holowell spun the fight to the fence, but absorbed a huge knee to her midsection. More elbows followed from Bennett as Holowell tried to recover from the body strike. Holowell latched onto a single along the fence before switching to a double and lifting Bennett to the mat. Bennett rained elbows to the side of Holowell’s head. A scramble saw Holowell take Bennett’s back and apply a body triangle. She worked for choke, but gave up position while transitioning for a triangle attempt. Bennett sprung to her feet and then earned a takedown of her own. She dropped punches from back mount to close the round. Bennett was the aggressor to start round two, marching forward with strikes. She continued to punish Holowell in the clinch with elbows. Holowell looked for a takedown, but Bennett stuffed it and delivered knees to the body. Bennett was relentless with elbows, keeping Holowell from mounting offense and driving her to the mat. A steady stream of right hands from Bennett forced the referee to intervene and halt the contest, giving her the TKO victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Rayanne dos Santos def. Jillian DeCoursey by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Olga Rubin def. Claire Guthrie by submission (buggy choke). Round 2, 4:23
Jéssica Delboni def. Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Monique Adriane def. Nicole Geraldo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Elise Pone def. Liana Pirosin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Flor Hernandez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ky Bennett def. Kendal Holowell by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:04

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

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Invicta FC 52 Results: McCormack Becomes First Irish Champion, Bannon Dominates

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DENVER — On Wednesday, March 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack from ReelWorks Denver.

The strawweight belt is now around the waist of Ireland’s Danni McCormack after dethroning Brazilian Valesca Machado after five rounds. McCormack flicked her jab to start, but was immediately dropped by a right hand from Machado. A left straight from McCormack connected and was answered by a short left hook from the Brazilian. The nose of McCormack bled from the early power shot. A devastating right hand from Machado dropped McCormack again and the Brazilian smelled blood in the waters. She rained punches as McCormack desperately tried to recover. Machado took the back and slapped on a body triangle. She worked for a choke attempt, but McCormack was able to scramble back to her feet. McCormack tried to change levels to no avail. The clinch position allowed her to recover further from the damage and survive the round. McCormack’s strategy shifted toward closing the distance in round two. Machado sought a takedown and was easily stuffed by the Irish fighter. McCormack secured double under hooks along the fence and hung on the Brazilian. Machado looked for slicing elbows, but was largely forced to jostle for position throughout the round. A right hand from Machado caught McCormack in the jaw to start round three. She was able to walk through it and clinch. The punches of Machado landed with more regularity and McCormack fought hard to clinch. Both fighters connected in the center of the cage, but McCormack did not change her clinching strategy. She powered into a double-leg attempt, which Machado stopped. The championship rounds featured a more patient counterstriking attack from Machado and a few crisp shots prompted McCormack to clinch. Machado failed at a takedown attempt before McCormack pressed her to the cage yet again. The pair traded more punches and McCormack responded with a takedown off her own. She tried to mount the Brazilian, who quickly countered with a leg lock from the bottom. McCormack escaped as the round expired. After a pair of right hands from Macahdo, McCormack looked to grapple. She muscled Machado to the mat. The Brazilian struggled to find any space against the relentless clutch of McCormack. Machado slapped on an armbar from her back that McCormack defended well. McCormack applied offense until the final horn and was rewarded for her efforts by the judges, becoming the first Irish champion in Invicta history.

In the night’s co-main event, strawweights Karolina Wójcik and Ediana Silva battled in an effort to establish themselves as contenders. The pair gauged their range in the fight’s opening minutes. The stalemate was briefly interrupted by a right hand from Silva. Wójcik fired a calf kick. The referee paused the action and implored the fighters to engage. Wójcik continued to circle on the outside and Silva struggled to cut her off. Wójcik landed a heavy right hand to open round two, but quickly returned to circling Silva. When the two entered boxing range, each was able to evade the other’s strikes. Silva found a home for her right body kick as she tried to stop the orbit of the Polish fighter. With a minute left in round two, Silva secured a body lock and pushed Wójcik to the cage, but could not secure a takedown. Wójcik inadvertently poked Silva in the eye early in the third round. The Brazilian quickly recovered and the bout was able to continue. Neither fighter was able to find much offense as both were quick to evade one another. The closely contested bout went to the judges. They were split in their verdict, with Wójcik eking out the win.

Undefeated Irish fighter Shauna Bannon welcomed former atomweight title challenger Minna Grusanader to the strawweight division. Bannon pressured forward, looking to find her range. Grusander sat back and hoped for openings to flurry. She cracked the Irishwoman with a big hook at the end of an exchange. Bannon fired back with a combination of her own before the Finnish fighter took the fight to the ground. Grusander was heavy from the top position, but could not keep Bannon on the mat. Bannon’s left leg became a weapon, repeatedly landing to the body of Grusander. The Finn was unfazed and fired back with punches. Grusander looked for a takedown late, but was countered by Bannon, who finished the round on top. Bannon went to the well one too many times with her left kick in round two, allowing Grusander to power into the clinch along the fence. Bannon’s takedown defense held true and she muscled her way to the top. Grusander looked for a kneebar but absorbed heavy punches in the process. Bannon began to look for an arm-triangle with Grusander quickly locking her down. Bannon moved to the crucifix and dropped elbows. Grusander tried to spin to her belly and Bannon repeatedly punched her in the back of the head, forcing the referee to intervene and take away the position. Round three started with an onslaught of left-leg side kicks from Bannon. Grusander tried to drag Bannon into a brawl with looping combinations. Bannon did well to keep the fight at range and score with her kicks. A push kick to the midsection of Grusander sent her to the mat and Bannon followed her down. Grusander latched onto a deep kneebar. Bannon did not panic, battering the body of Grusander with punches to eventually escape the submission attempt. Once free, Bannon moved to half guard and landed punches. The fight saw the scorecards and Bannon’s undefeated record remained intact.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mayra Cantuária picked up submission win over veteran Calie Cutler in their bantamweight clash. Cantuária flung looping hooks immediately, forcing Cutler to circle away from range. A left straight from the Brazilian caught Cutler flush and she retreated. Cutler recovered quickly and looked to clinch. Cantuária shrugged her off before powering into a double-leg takedown. She allowed Cutler to stand and returned to landing heavy punches. Blood began to trickle from the nose of Cutler and Cantuária brought her to the canvas. She took her back before Cutler spun free into her guard. Once on top, Cutler was able to pass to side control. Cantuária dropped back for a leg lock as the round came to a close. The left straight of Cantuária continued to find the mark in round two, but Cutler repeatedly walked through it. A takedown attempt from Cutler was stuffed by the Brazilian, who spun to Cutler’s back and dragged her to the ground. She moved to the back once more and locked in a rear-naked choke to coerce the tap.

Undefeated strawweight sensation Fatima Kline gave Olympic judo bronze medalist Natalia Kuziutina a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Kline marched forward with kicks and closed the distance. She avoided a throw from the judoka and looked to take her back. Kuziutina broke free and returned to striking range. Kline caught a kick and tried to take Kuziutina to the ground, but went for a ride, summersaulting all the way back to standing. Kuziutina scored with a head-and-arm throw and began to crank on Kline from the scarf hold position. Kline was patient and was able to transition to Kuziutina’s back. The fight found its way back to the feet, but only momentarily as Kuziutina looked for another takedown. Kline countered and finished the round strong. The second round featured some wild techniques from Kuziutina and Kline capitalized with a heavy body kick and takedown. She tried to posture up from the half guard, but Kuziutina neutralized her from the bottom. Kline looked to pass to mount and Kuziutina scrambled, giving up her back in the process. Kline slapped on a body triangle and went searching for a rear-naked choke. She abandoned the choke in favor of heavy punches. Kline finished the round in the advantageous position. The aggression of the Russian fighter did not stop in the last stanza. She pressed forward and was punished for it by Kline’s counterstrikes. Kuziutina again secured the head-and-arm position along the fence, but Kline did not succumb to a throw. A deep single from Kuziutina was finished with a trip. Kline did not panic and moved to top position. A thunderous overhand right dropped Kuziutina with 90 seconds left in the contest. Kline flurried for the finish, firing heavy punches. Kline took the back and sunk in a rear-naked choke. She squeezed hard for the submission, but was ultimately forced to settle for the decision win.

Colombian Sayury Cañon and knockout artist Amanda Macioce engaged in a three-round war in their strawweight match-up. Macioce quickly went on the attack, but Cañon countered with a right hand. Macioce stuck with it and briefly stunned the Colombian fighter. She changed levels for a takedown, which Cañon stuffed. Blood poured from the nose of Cañon from the heavy hands of Macioce, but she was undeterred in her clinch work. Macioce powered Cañon against the fence and landed a big knee. A powerful low kick sent Cañon to her back for a moment. Cañon caught a kick from Macioce and slammed her violently to the mat. Macioce was unfazed and bounced straight back to her feet. Round two began with a trade of low kicks. Macioce connected with a body kick as Cañon came forward. The nose of Macioce also began to leak. Cañon pinned Macioce to the fence and jostled for under hooks. Cañon changed levels and secured a perfectly timed double leg takedown. She could not hold Macioce down, but continued to impose her will. A big flurry from Cañon had Macioce retreating late in the round. The last five minutes opened with a quick clinch battle. Cañon punished Macioce with a knee square to her already bloodied nose. The lead leg of Cañon turned purple from the heavy kicks of Macioce and she was forced to switch stances. Cañon latched onto a single in the middle of the cage and put Macioce on her back. She delivered a series of punches as Macioce worked back to her feet. Cañon slammed Macioce to the ground once more in the closing moments of the bout to seal the decision win and remain undefeated.

The action began with a 120-pound catchweight affair between newcomers Diana Sanchez and Kendra McIntyre. McIntyre was aggressive to start, firing kicks and pushing Sanchez to the cage. Sanchez clinched and spun the fight to the fence. She muscled McIntyre to the mat, but only for a moment. Sanchez changed levels and locked her hands to score another brief takedown. McIntyre forced Sanchez to her back and rained hammerfists before letting her return to her feet. A massive right hand from the former IKF champion rocked Sanchez late in the round, but she was able to stay upright. With seconds left in the round, Sanchez delivered another takedown. McIntyre stalked Sanchez to start the second stanza, but was taken to the mat with a single-leg. She worked hard to get back to her feet with Sanchez sticking to her like glue. The pair separated and traded strikes from range. A late exchange saw both fighters land, prompting Sanchez to secure another takedown. In the final frame, McIntyre delivered a heavy right hand and followed with a body kick. She caught a kick from Sanchez and kicked out her back leg. The pair traded heavy knees in the center of the cage and then scrambled for position. Sanchez looked to take McIntyre’s back, but McIntyre was able to spin to the top. A thunderous elbow greeted Sanchez as she worked back to her feet. With only a minute left, Sanchez looked for a desperation leg lock. McIntyre was wise to it and defended. The fight saw the scorecards and McIntyre walked away with a victory in her professional debut.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Danni McCormack def. Valesca Machado by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Karolina Wójcik def. Ediana Silva by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Shauna Bannon def. Minna Grusander by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mayra Cantuária def. Calie Cutler by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:16
Fatima Kline def. Natalia Kuziutina by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sayury Cañon def. Amanda Macioce by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Kendra McIntyre def. Diana Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 51 Results: Bernardo Dethrones Tennant, Souza Outworks Williams

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DENVER — On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo from ReelWorks Denver.

Brazil’s Talita Bernardo earned her third straight win in the Invicta cage, dethroning titleholder Taneisha Tennant in the process. Tennant opened with a low kick and Bernardo answered with a calf kick of her own. The Brazilian again went to the calf to try and slow Tennant’s movement. Tennant pumped her jab before attempting a front kick. Bernardo caught the kick and chased her to the ground. She immediately moved to Tennant’s back and began working for a rear-naked choke. Tennant fought the hands as Bernardo tried to soften her up with punches. Bernardo transitioned to a body triangle and continued to search for a choke. Tennant sat up to break the body triangle, but she could not escape the grasp of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Bernardo fired short right hands to the body of Tennant and applied a face crank, but could not get the opening-round finish. Tennant flicked her jab in round two and pressured Bernardo to the cage. A stiff right from Tennant popped the head of Bernardo, prompting her to latch onto a leg and drag Tennant to the ground. It was brief as Tennant bounced back to her feet. Bernardo stuck with it, dragging Tennant to the mat with a body lock. She took the back and flattened out Tennant, but the American was able to escape. Despite the opportunity to stand, Tennant followed Bernardo back to the ground. She was able to control the position briefly and return to the feet. Bernardo scored with a late throw as the round expired. The bantamweight delivered calf kicks to one another’s lead legs in the third frame. Bernardo changed levels and dragged Tennant on top of her. She attacked with a leg lock, but absorbed an onslaught of punches from Tennant. The pair scrambled and Bernardo slammed Tennant to the ground. Bernardo passed from side control to mount and began to look for an arm-triangle choke. She abandoned the choke attempt to drop punches from the dominant position. Bernardo briefly attacked with a straight armbar, which Tennant quickly defended. Tennant again was saved by the round expiring. Bernardo’s assault on Tennant’s calf continued, but she largely sat back and waited for Tennant to come forward. Tennant fired kicks to the knee. Bernardo changed levels and secured a body lock. Tennant used the fence to stay upright. She leaned on Bernardo from the clinch and offered a series of knees to the Brazilian’s thigh. Tennant grabbed a single and Bernardo actually helped her bring the fight to the ground. Bernardo went for a kneebar, which Tennant defended with a fence grab. The fight was dead even heading to the final round. Bernardo put her mark on the round quickly, lifting Tennant above her head and slamming her violently to the ground. Tennant attempted to stop the takedown by grabbing the fence again and was deducted a point. The Brazilian passed to north-south and maintained top position. Bernardo tried to stay busy from the top as Tennant aimed to tie her up from the bottom. Tennant briefly caught Bernardo in a triangle, but the Brazilian was wise to it and delivered short body shots. The judges were called upon for the final time of the evening and Bernardo was announced as the new bantamweight champion. She is the first Brazilian to hold the 135-pound strap under the Invicta banner.

There’s a new flyweight champion as Brazilian Ketlen Souza proved to be too much for veteran Kristina Williams over five rounds. The two combatants traded kicks as they looked to find their range. A massive overhand right from Souza cracked Williams on the jaw, but the American took it well. Williams countered a kick from Souza and flurried forward into the clinch. Souza shrugged her off for a moment before Williams tied her up and tripped her to the ground. Williams stayed heavy on top, keeping the Brazilian with her back to the mat. She looked to pass to mount, but it allowed Souza to recover her guard. Souza scrambled hard and latched onto one of the legs of Williams to get back to her feet. They returned to the clinch late in the round and exchanged knees. A looping right from Souza again clipped Williams early in round two. Williams was unfazed and returned fire with kicks. A wheel kick from Souza was blocked by the American despite the oohs from the crowd. Souza’s aggression cost her as she was off balance and allowed Williams to gain top position against the cage. Williams postured up, but the Brazilian controlled her wrists from the bottom. Williams settled for the full guard and Souza tried to tie her up. After the referee stood the fight up, Williams caught a kick and dumped Souza to the ground again. Souza went for an armbar as the round expired. A calf kick from Williams sent Souza backpedaling to open the third stanza. A heavy right hand from Williams found the jaw of Souza and the Brazilian responded with a takedown. It was short-lived as Williams sprung to her feet. Another right from Souza landed clean, but Williams again acted as if nothing happened. Souza pinned Williams to the cage and fired short right hands. The pair jostled for position and Souza landed on top. She peppered right hands to the body of Williams. A big elbow from Souza found the mark and Williams leaked from a big cut above her right eye. The doctor’s inspected Williams between rounds and the fight was allowed to continue into the championship rounds. A front kick from Souza caught Williams in the mouth, but she still marched forward into the clinch. Souza missed with a spinning attack and was content to stay at range. Williams brought the fight to the clinch with a minute left in the round, but could not generate any offense. Williams changed levels with her punches in the fifth frame. She followed with low kicks and tried to cut off the cage as Souza bounced around the outside. Williams fired combinations against the fence and Souza showed off her speed and head movement to evade the punches. There was little doubt after 25 minutes as Souza claimed the decision victory and the 125-pound belt.

Former title challenger Olga Rubin got back in the win column after three rounds with Serena DeJesus. Rubin threw a variety of kicks to find her range. DeJesus walked through the strikes and fired heavy punches. A big flurry from DeJesus backed Rubin to the fence, but she responded with a combination of her own. Rubin shot for a takedown and then summersaulted when she missed the target. DeJesus’s aggression was used against her as Rubin countered through the hands of the Las Vegas fighter. A stiff jab from Rubin popped the head of DeJesus like a pez dispenser and drew a smile from DeJesus. Rubin secured a body lock, but DeJesus powered free late in the round. DeJesus just marched Rubin down with punches in round two. Rubin answered with another power jab that stunned DeJesus for a moment. DeJesus landed a clean uppercut, which allowed her to push Rubin against the fence. She exited with an elbow on the break and was quickly countered by a left hand from Rubin. DeJesus pinned Rubin to the fence before absorbing an elbow from Rubin. A spinning backfist from Rubin drew a reaction from the crowd. A left straight put DeJesus on rubber legs and Rubin flurried for a finish, but DeJesus was saved by the bell. DeJesus appeared to have recovered in the third frame, firing power punches and marching toward Rubin. The bantamweights exchanged uppercuts from the single-collar tie before separating. A counter left from Rubin stunned DeJesus yet again. The toughness of DeJesus was on full display as she absorbed the punishment from Rubin and never went down. The judges awarded Rubin the decision nod to snap the winning streak of DeJesus.

Denver bantamweight Claire Guthrie stayed in the win column, defeating a very tough Auttumn Norton after three, hard-fought rounds. Norton fired multiple kicks to start and Guthrie capitalized by catching one and driving her the canvas. After a brief scramble, Guthrie settled into half guard and stayed heavy on top. Norton was able to recover her guard, shrimp to the fence and return to the feet. The pair hung on one another against the cage before briefly separating and allowing Guthrie to slam Norton to the ground once more. Norton sprung back to her feet and the fight stayed upright for the remainder of the frame. A head kick from Guthrie greeted Norton to open round two. Guthrie used a right hand to set up a level change, but Norton shrugged her off. A cut opened under the right eye of Guthrie halfway through the round. Norton stalked Guthrie around the cage before being driven to the mat with a power double. Guthrie stuck to Norton like glue along the fence. The pair traded body kicks to close the stanza. In round three, Guthrie walked through a right hand to attempt a takedown, but Norton stuffed the shot. A big body kick from Guthrie found its mark to back up Norton and slow her advance. Guthrie landed a combination before slipping and falling to the mat. Norton could not take advantage as Guthrie got back to her feet and cracked Norton with a right hand. A slapping head kick from Guthrie landed late in the fight as the pace slowed. It was a clean sweep on the scorecards for Guthrie, who earned her fourth straight win.

More atomweights were in action as veteran Marisa Messer-Belenchia welcomed Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira to the Invicta cage. Ferreira cracked Messer-Belenchia with a series of right hands immediately to open the bout. Messer-Belenchia clinched and the two jockeyed for position along the cage. The American scored with short right hands and knees, but Ferreira was able to toss her to the ground. Even after Messer-Belenchia secured her full guard, Ferreira dropped heavy punches to the head and body. Messer-Belenchia looked for a butterfly sweep and then an armbar. Ferreira slammed free of the submission attempt and continued to batter the face of Messer-Belenchia until the round came to a conclusion. A crisp right from Ferreira stunned Messer-Belenchia and she followed with a head kick. Messer-Belenchia took the shots and returned the fight to the clinch. An onslaught of short punches from Messer-Belenchia connected against the fence. Ferreira tried to spin Messer-Belenchia to the cage and fired a big elbow. Messer-Belenchia stayed glued to the Brazilian, giving her no space to work. Ferreira broke free in the round’s final minute and she threw heavy strikes, again forcing Messer-Belenchia to clinch. A late takedown saw Ferreira take Messer-Belenchia’s back, but she did not have time to secure a rear-naked choke. Ferreira remained the aggressor in the third round, firing big punches from distance. Messer-Belenchia returned to the same strategy of clinching along the fence. She laced a leg and attempted to trip Ferreira, but the Brazilian defended to stay upright. Ferreira threw Messer-Belenchia to the ground and attempted an arm-in guillotine which Messer-Belenchia easily escaped. The grueling clinch work of Messer-Belenchia continued until moments before the final bell when both fighters threw with reckless abandon. Messer-Belenchia’s efforts were in vain as the judges scored the contest for Ferreira.

The second fight of the night featured Brazilian newcomer Rayanne dos Santos opposite Canadian Katie Saull in an atomweight contest. Dos Santos fired a variety of kicks against the southpaw Saull. A head kick from Saull was blocked late by the Brazilian. A counter right from dos Santos found the mark, but Saull was able to roll with it. The pair traded kicks from range and looked to draw the other into boxing range. Both fighters wore welts from the strikes that connected. Dos Santos looked for a late trip, but the round expired. In the middle frame, Saull changed levels with her kicks and attacked the midsection of dos Santos. Dos Santos was undeterred, assaulting the lead leg of Saull with low kicks. The Brazilian tried to flurry, but Saull used her footwork to evade the attack. Saull slipped on a head kick midway through the round and dos Santos pounced with hammerfists. Saull was able to secure her guard and then return to her feet. Saull shot for a late takedown and dos Santos sprawled. A right hand from dos Santos stunned Saull with seconds left in the round and she went for the finish, but the horn saved the Canadian. Round three opened with a body kick from Saull, which dos Santos turned into a takedown. Saull countered with an armbar attempt from the bottom and forced dos Santos to defend. Dos Santos calmly escaped and secured top position. She attempted to pass Saull’s guard, but it was largely a stalemate. An errant strike from dos Santos landed to the back of Saull’s head and the referee took the position away. Ultimately, the scorecards were needed and it was dos Santos who was rewarded the decision victory.

In the night’s opening match-up grappling ace Fatima Kline remained undefeated after outworking wrestling stalwart Laura Gallardo. A looping right hand from Kline caught Gallardo clean and sent her to the mat early in the contest. Gallardo recovered and the pair exchanged low kicks. Kline used her reach well to keep Gallardo at range. Gallardo entered the pocket and looked to clinch, but Kline was able to separate. The southpaw Gallardo capitalized on Kline switching stances and landed a slapping low kick. Kline countered with a heavy body kick. Gallardo fired a head kick, but Kline evaded the strike. Late in the round, Kline changed levels and secured a double. She lifted Gallardo above her head and slammed her to the ground. Kline tried to posture up as the round came to a close. Round two began with another stiff right hand from Kline and she immediately clinched. Gallardo broke free and shot for a takedown. She latched onto a single and dragged Kline to the mat, but could not keep her there. Kline delivered an overhand left as she continued to switch her stance. A heavy right from Kline wobbled Gallardo and Kline chased her to the canvas. Kline passed to mount and rained strikes. Gallardo scrambled hard and escaped to her feet. Kline transitioned to her back and peppered Gallardo with short knees. Gallardo desperately tried to get the fight to the ground, but Kline showcased great takedown defense to control the action until the round’s end. The final stanza saw Gallardo look for a takedown and Kline countered with a kimura attempt and sweep. Kline landed with regularity from distance, frustrating Gallardo with every strike. Gallardo countered a body kick by holding onto Kline’s leg, but it was Kline who threw The Ultimate Fighter veteran to the ground with a thunderous slam. A head kick from Kline connected late in the fight as she imposed her will on Gallardo. The fight went the distance and all three judges scored the fight for Kline.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Talita Bernardo def. Taneisha Tennant by unanimous decision (48-46 x3) – for bantamweight title
Ketlen Souza def. Kristina Williams by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for flyweight title
Olga Rubin def. Serena DeJesus by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Claire Guthrie def. Auttumn Norton by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Rayanne dos Santos def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Fatima Kline def. Laura Gallardo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 50 Results: Machado Captures Strawweight Title Tournament

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DENVER — On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City, hosting Invicta FC 50 from ReelWorks Denver. The event featured a four-woman, one-night title tournament in the strawweight division.

There’s a new Invicta FC strawweight champion as Valesca Machado edged Karolina Wójcik for 115-pound supremacy. Machado opened the fight by delivering a counter right hand as both fighters looked to establish their striking range. Wójcik shook her head after it landed. The Polish fighter frequently switched stances, giving Machado a new puzzle to solve. The Brazilian again delivered a heavy right hand midway through the round. Both fighters implored one another to engage in a firefight, but neither took the bait. Machado began the middle frame with a pair of right straights. Wójcik barreled into the pocket, but the Brazilian showcased great footwork to avoid damage. Machado’s counter strikes began to land with more regularity as the frame progressed. Wójcik’s frustration was apparent in the fight’s last round. She could not find her way into range and Machado made her pay with punches every time she tried. Wójcik closed the distance late and secured a body lock along the fence. She tried to lace her leg for a trip, but Machado saw it coming and was able to separate. Machado turned up her output near the end of the fight, peppering the face of the Polish athlete. Wójcik’s late clinch work proved to be futile and the fight was sent to the judges. When the scorecards were revealed, it was Machado that claimed the decision, as well as the belt.

Making her second Invicta appearance, former UFC combatant Talita Bernardo took on former Invicta bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner. Lehner clipped Bernardo early and quickly invited her back to the feet. The Brazilian responded with a takedown and took Lehner’s back. The German did not panic, but Bernardo was patient in her rear-naked choke attempt. Lehner fought the hands of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt for most of the round, surviving until the bell. In round two, Lehner came forward with punches to back Bernardo against the fence. The grappler switched levels and put Lehner on the ground. She passed to side control and began to attack the right arm of Lehner. Lehner was wise to the submission attempt and was able to recover her half guard. Bernardo was reckless from the top position, eating a big upkick as she tried to pass to side control again. However, she recovered instantly and slapped on a kimura that forced Lehner to quickly tap before the round came to its conclusion.

Competing in her own backyard, Colorado’s Claire Guthrie welcomed karate stylist Brigid Chase to the Invicta cage. Chase immediately went on the offensive, firing multiple kicks. Guthrie grabbed ahold of Chase and powered her to the ground. Chase sprung back to her feet, only to be dragged back to the mat. Guthrie briefly mounted, but could not hold the position. She stuck to Chase like glue to prevent the striker from unleashing offense. Chase broke free and landed a spinning heel kick to Guthrie’s face. Guthrie wasted little time taking the fight back to the ground and mounting Chase. From the dominant position, Guthrie fired elbows and punches. Chase exploded to top position late in the frame. Round two opened with Guthrie dropping Chase with a massive right hand. She followed Chase to the canvas and leaned back for a heel hook. Chase countered with a leg attack of her own. Guthrie transitioned to a toe hold, but it allowed Chase to move to top position. She applied an arm-triangle from the mount which forced Guthrie to defend until the round expired. The right hand of Guthrie found its mark again to open round three and she muscled Chase to the ground. She quickly passed to mount. Guthrie climbed high while raining punches and took Chase’s back. She worked for a rear-naked choke, but Chase fought her hands well. Guthrie moved back to mount and dropped punches and elbows. The top pressure of Guthrie was relentless and she battered Chase along the fence. Guthrie flurried hard for a finish but ultimately settled for a decision win.

Ireland’s Danni McCormack took on Brazilian Maira Mazar in the tournament’s reserve bout. The southpaw McCormack was quick to enter boxing range and deliver a left hand. She rocked Mazar with more punches, dazing her and sending her to the mat. McCormack took Mazar’s back and looked for a choke along the fence. Mazar desperately tried to recover from the early onslaught. McCormack settled for half guard, but continued to deliver punches. Mazar kicked McCormack off and fired a series of upkicks to make it through the round. Mazar started round two with multiple kicks before latching onto McCormack and slamming her to the canvas. She quickly moved to the back of the Irish fighter. McCormack stood and looked to shake the Brazilian off. Mazar responded with a rear-naked choke attempt which McCormack successfully defended. McCormack tried to separate Mazar’s body triangle, but ate a series of punches in the process. She finally separated and absorbed a huge knee on the break. Once back at striking range, McCormack landed multiple left hands to close the middle stanza. In round three, McCormack briefly looked to change levels and keep Mazar guessing. She eventually powered into a takedown and landed in Mazar’s guard. Mazar escaped to her feet and the pair exchanged punches in the middle of the cage. McCormack lost her balance and Mazar turned it into a takedown. The Irish fighter worked backed to her feet and cracked Mazar with heavy punches late. The verdict was left in the hands of the judges, who rendered McCormack the winner.

The second strawweight title tournament semifinal match-up pitted returning Invicta veteran Valesca Machado against her 20-year-old countrywoman Ediana Silva. The two Brazilians gauged range early, looking for openings. A heavy low kick from Machado buckled the lead leg of Silva. Machado missed with a spinning backfist attempt, which allowed Silva to connect with a right hand. Silva charged forward with reckless abandon, throwing heavy punches. After absorbing a pair of rights, Machado closed the distance and pushed Silva to the fence. Machado connected with a series of uppercuts, but Silva just marched right through the strikes. Machado began to counter effectively as the round progressed, which set up a late takedown as the round closed. Machado opened round two with a variety of kicks and a stiff right hand that slowed Silva’s advance for the first time. Machado looked for another takedown, but Silva was able to shrug her off and stay on her feet. A second attempt was successful and Machado looked to take Silva’s back. The younger fighter was resilient, working back to her feet, only to be taken down again. Machado took Silva’s back and secured a rear-naked choke, but could not coerce the tap before the round expired. The last round began with Machado scoring a brief takedown. Silva’s forward march continued, but Machado landed with counters. Machado capitalized on Silva’s aggression, landing a late takedown. The judges were split, but Machado earned the victory and moved onto the final.

In the first half of the strawweight title tournament semifinals, Polish newcomer Karolina Wójcik squared off with UFC veteran Gloria de Paula. Wójcik walked straight into the pocket and fired looping punches when the fight began. De Paula clinched and pinned her to the fence. The pair separated and Wójcik again fired heavy punches before de Paula closed the distance and clinched. Wójcik latched onto a single and looked to drag de Paula to the ground. The Brazilian scrambled well to stay upright. Wójcik changed levels to look for a double, but de Paula was able to separate late in the round. De Paula was the aggressor to open the middle stanza, but it was short lived as Wójcik powered her to the fence. The fight turned into a striking match at range and both fighters connected with heavy shots. The right eyes of both fighters began to swell. Wójcik caught a body kick from de Paula and kicked out her back leg to bring the fight to the mat. De Paula quickly attacked from her guard, but Wójcik scrambled to take her back along the cage. The Polish fighter peppered de Paula with heavy punches from back mount. De Paula defended well to survive the round. Knowing she was down on the scorecards, de Paula came out firing in the third. Wójcik looked to answer, but the taller Brazilian delivered knees. The urgency from de Paula was apparent throughout the round, as she rocked Wójcik with a head kick and flurried hard for a finish. Wójcik displayed her durability to survive the barrage and make it to the scorecards. The early work was enough for Wójcik to advance in the tournament.

The night kicked off in the flyweight division as Elise Pone collided with boxing champion Melissa Oddessa. Pone looked to keep the fight at range by peppering Oddessa with kicks, but Oddessa marched forward undeterred initially. The fight found the fence and Pone delivered knees to the midsection. Oddessa secured a body lock, but it was Pone who drove the fight to the ground. A scramble saw Oddessa gain top position. Pone worked back to her feet and attacked with an arm-in guillotine attempt. She scored with knees before dropping to the mat. The bell saved Oddessa to close the first frame. In round two, Pone clinched Oddessa to the fence and the pair jostled for position. Pone was relentless with knees and elbows, preventing Oddessa from mounting any offense. Round three began with Pone cracking Oddessa with a heavy right hand. Much like the first two stanzas, Pone dominated the clinch. There was no doubt on the scorecards as Pone cruised to the decision win.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Valesca Machado def. Karolina Wójcik by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – strawweight title tournament final
Talita Bernardo def. Katharina Lehner by submission (kimura). Round 2, 4:26
Claire Guthrie def. Brigid Chase by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Danni McCormack def. Maira Mazar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) – strawweight title tournament reserve bout
Valesca Machado def. Ediana Silva by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) – strawweight title tournament semifinal
Karolina Wójcik def. Gloria de Paula by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) – strawweight title tournament semifinal
Elise Pone def. Melissa Oddessa by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 49 Results: DeCoursey Dethrones Delboni with First-Round Submission

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OKLAHOMA CITY — On Wednesday, Sept. 28, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey from the Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, Okla.

There’s a new atomweight champion as Jillian DeCoursey dethroned Brazilian Jéssica Delboni in the first round. The two atomweights gauged one another’s timing and range in the fight’s opening minutes. Delboni ripped multiple low kicks to the lead leg of DeCoursey. The Brazilian flurried forward and pushed DeCoursey to the fence. When Delboni dropped down for a takedown, DeCoursey capitalized and moved to mount in the scramble. She quickly took Delboni’s back and sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke. With the victory, DeCoursey became the first atomweight fighter to have made her professional debut in the Invicta cage — at Invicta FC 25 in 2017 — and then capture an Invicta title.

Ketlen Souza made a case for a flyweight title shot with a decision win over veteran Maiju Suotama in the night’s co-feature. Souza aimed for Suotama’s chin early as the Finnish fighter kept her chin high. They traded leg kick before Suotama tried to clinch. Souza showcased great takedown defense to stay upright. She landed a spinning heel kick to the stomach of Suotama. Soon after, Suotama changed levels and latched onto a single leg. Souza again stayed on her feet. She closed the round with a flying knee attempt and a wheel kick from range. Souza was very aggressive in round two, firing a variety of strikes at range. Suotama ate the shots and timed another takedown attempt, but could not muscle the Brazilian to the floor. Souza’s speed and mix of attacks kept Suotama guessing. The left eye of Suotama swelled from the repeated shots of Souza. A heavy body kick from Souza found the liver of Suotama to begin the final round. Suotama dropped her arm to cover the spot and Souza followed up with power punches. Souza sought a finish, looking for flashy technique after technique. Suotama was game, absorbing the damage throughout. The judges were in unison, awarding Souza with a clear decision win.

Brazilian newcomer Valesca Machado made a statement in the strawweight division, outworking veteran Liz Tracy over the course of three rounds. Tracy came out with erratic movement, which allowed her to land some heavy low kicks. Machado remained patient and looked to find her timing. Tracy tried to clinch, but Machado shrugged her off. As the round progressed, Machado began to land with regularity. Tracy’s pace slowed and the power shots from Machado connected to the body and chin. In round two, Machado came forward more. The right hands from the Brazilian damaged the face of Tracy. Tracy was able to muscle Machado to the ground and tried to take her back. Machado scrambled to top position and returned to her feet. The last five minutes opened with an overhand right from Machado flush to Tracy’s chin. She then found a home for her right hand over and over before delivering an uppercut as Tracy marched into range. Tracy never stopped her advance, but Machado lit her up late in the fight with combinations. The judges were called upon and the newcomer snapped Tracy’s winning streak.

Utah flyweight Kaytlin Neil gave fellow Ultimate Fighter castmate Hannah Guy a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Neil utilized her reach advantage early and often, digging teep kicks to the body of Guy. Guy looked to flurry forward, but ate an onslaught of punches. Guy latched onto a leg and tried to bring the fight to the mat, but Neil took her back in the scramble. Late in the round, Neil hurt Guy badly with a combination and followed her to the mat. She could not find the finish before the round expired. The kicks to the body from Neil continued to batter the body of Guy. Guy tried to hide her agony along the fence, but Neil pounced with a barrage of punches. Somehow Guy dug deep and looked for a takedown, giving her enough time to recover and make it to her stool. Guy’s struggles to get into the pocket continued in round three. She latched onto Neil’s leg, but couldn’t secure a takedown. Neil’s striking assault was relentless as she kept punishing Guy at range. It was a clean sweep on the scorecards for Neil after the dominant performance.

UFC veteran Poliana Botelho made her promotional debut opposite Helen Peralta in a flyweight contest. Botelho threw a head kick that Peralta walked through and closed the distance. From there, the pair clinched along the cage and the round became a war of attrition. They jostled for position and frequently spun one another’s back to the fence. Each fighter delivered knees and short punches, but neither could find an advantage. Round two started similarly, as Peralta powered Botelho to the cage and secured a body lock. As she tried to muscle the Brazilian to the canvas, Botelho scored with a great toss to earn top position. It was short lived as Peralta was able to get back to her feet. They continued to engage in a clinch battle before Botelho earned another takedown to close the round. The over-under position continued to be where the majority of the fight took place in the final frame. When they did separate, Peralta delivered a heavy liver shot, but Botelho responded with a big knee. Her knees would land with frequency late in the fight and that proved to be the difference as Botelho claimed the hard-fought decision win.

Mexico’s Montserrat Rendon eked out a close split decision win over bantamweight veteran Brittney Cloudy in her Invicta debut. Rendon marched forward to start the bout, as she looked to close range. Cloudy showcased excellent footwork to stay on the outside and counter Rendon. Rendon tried to clinch, but Cloudy brushed her aside. That would be the story of the round, as Cloudy’s movement frustrated Rendon throughout. It was more of the same in round two, as Cloudy continued to score from range while Rendon pushed forward aggressively. A heavy left knee from Cloudy found the midsection of Rendon and backed her up for the first time. The Mexican fighter wowed the crowd with a spinning backfist late in the round. Cloudy continued to throw with volume in the third stanza. Rendon became desperate late, trying to get Cloudy to the ground. Her first takedown did not come until 30 seconds were left in the fight. However, that was enough to convince two of the judges at cageside to hand her the victory.

The night kicked off in the strawweight division as Ireland’s Shauna Bannon kept her perfect record intact with an impressive win over Mexico’s Nadia Vera. Bannon’s karate background was on display early as she peppered Vera with right hands. She connected with a lead-leg head kick and closed the distance. Vera looked to bring the fight to the mat and ended up on top. She dropped short shots from full guard, but was forced to defend an armbar attempt from Bannon. Vera was able to escape, but fell into a deep triangle from the Irish fighter. Vera did not panic, but needed the bell to survive the round. In the second, Bannon landed her right hand at will. Vera baited her into boxing range and looked to brawl. Bannon was able to muscle her way to the top position and looked to mount. She gave up the position to attempt another triangle choke from her back. Vera again was saved by the horn. The Mexican prospect was aggressive to open the final frame, charging forward and pinning Bannon to the fence. She put Bannon on her back and the two traded a flurry of punches on the canvas. Bannon returned to her feet late in the round and went for a finish, but Vera’s toughness helped her see the scorecards. There was no doubt from the judges, who rewarded Bannon for her efforts.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jillian DeCoursey def. Jéssica Delboni by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:49 – for atomweight title
Ketlen Souza def. Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Valesca Machado def. Liz Tracy by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Kaytlin Neil def. Hannah Guy by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)
Poliana Botelho def. Helen Peralta by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Montserrat Rendon def. Brittney Cloudy by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Shauna Bannon def. Nadia Vera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 48 Results: Tennant Edges Rubin to Retain Title, Bernardo Submits Gadelha

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DENVER — On Wednesday, July 20, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 48: Tennant vs. Rubin. The fight card marked Invicta’s first event in Colorado, visiting ReelWorks Denver.

Taneisha Tennant remains the Invicta FC bantamweight champion after a hard-fought battle with Israel’s Olga Rubin. The opening stanza was primarily fought at range. The bantamweights fired kicks to get their timing before Rubin barreled forward into a clinch. She dragged Tennant to the mat, but could not control her. Rubin pinned Tennant to the cage and worked for a body lock. She attempted a lateral drop to no avail. Rubin connected with a left hand as the round expired. Round two began much like the first, with both fighters looking to find a rhythm. Tennant flurried forward and Rubin ducked under to clinch once more. She again looked for a takedown, but could not bring Tennant to the floor. After multiple exchanges, Tennant scored with a late combination to seal the round. Rubin flicked her lead leg in round three to keep Tennant at bay. It was ineffective as Tennant marched right through the strikes. Tennant’s aggression picked up, opening the door for Rubin to score with a blast double-leg takedown. However, Tennant rebounded immediately and the fight returned to the feet. The volume of Tennant picked up late in the frame. The championship rounds saw Tennant gain top position along the fence. As she tried to pass to half guard, Rubin slapped on a buggy choke from her back. Tennant did not panic and patiently waited for the round to close to survive the submission. The final round was a war of attrition as both fighters tried to dig deep. Rubin landed heavy shots, but Tennant landed with volume. Her output was just enough to edge out the frame on two of the judges’ scorecards, resulting in her defending the title via split decision.

UFC veteran Talita Bernardo took care of her fellow Brazilian Yana Gadelha in a bantamweight match-up. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts had a feeling out process on the feet. Bernardo delivered a thundering body kick that opened up a level change and she brought the fight to the ground. Bernardo attacked with a kimura, but Gadelha scrambled to top position. Bernardo tried to escape out the back, falling into a kneebar attempt. Gadelha cranked on the submission but could not find the finish. In round two, Gadelha flurried forward which allowed Bernardo to again change levels and take the fight to the ground. She quickly took the back of Gadelha and applied a choke attempt. Gadelha fought hard but was forced to submit to the deep rear-naked choke.

Oklahoma’s Kristina Williams and Brazilian Liana Pirosin battled to keep their winning streaks alive in the flyweight division. They exchanged range-finding strikes and kept the fight at distance early. Williams began to connect with long jabs and kicks, utilizing her length advantage. She dropped Pirosin with a massive right hand and quickly chased her to the mat. Williams took Pirosin’s back and applied a rear-naked choke. She squeezed hard and coerced the tap from the Brazilian.

Striking stalwarts Isis Verbeek and Melissa Oddessa put on a show in their strawweight affair. The crisp boxing of Oddessa was on display early. Verbeek used her kicking arsenal to keep Oddessa guessing. The pair traded a variety of strikes throughout the frame. Verbeek opened the second round with a devastating flying knee that sent Oddessa to the canvas. Oddessa was able to recover, but Verbeek continued to mix up her attacks despite the forward advance of Oddessa. A late flurry from Oddessa swung the momentum late in the second round. The third round was a close affair after both fighters tried to leave a lasting impression with the judges. Another late knee from Verbeek sealed the deal as she took home the unanimous decision verdict.

Featherweight sluggers Amber Leibrock and Morgan Frier showed a different element to their skillsets, with Leibrock earning a first-round submission win. Frier quickly closed the distance and looked to use her wrestling to take Leibrock down. Leibrock was eventually able to separate and the pair exchanged punches at range. Frier again clinched, but Leibrock delivered heavy knees before driving her to the mat. She rained left hands and took Frier’s back. From there, she sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke.

The night opened in the bantamweight division as Auttumn Norton welcomed Canada’s Maria Djukic to the Invicta cage. Djukic wasted little time establishing her jab. Norton looked to counter, cracking Djukic with a heavy right hand off a low kick. A lead left hook from Norton sent the Canadian crashing to the canvas, but she was able to recover. Djukic leaked blood from her nose from the heavy shot. She went back to her jab and bloodied the nose of Norton. Another big right hand from Norton wobbled Djukic late in the round. Round two opened with another clean right from Norton. Djukic continued to pressure forward and ultimately walked into a massive punch that buckled her legs. Norton smelled the finish and pounded out the TKO victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Taneisha Tennant def. Olga Rubin by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 50-45) – for bantamweight title
Talita Bernardo def. Yana Gadelha by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 1:39
Kristina Williams def. Liana Pirosin by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:16
Isis Verbeek def. Melissa Oddessa by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Amber Leibrock def. Morgan Frier by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:09
Auttumn Norton def. Maria Djukic by TKO (punches). Round 2, 1:02

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 47 Results: Ducote Batters Zappitella to Retain Strawweight Belt

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Wednesday, May 11, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 47: Ducote vs. Zappitella from Memorial Hall.

Strawweight Emily Ducote is still the Invicta champion after stopping former atomweight titleholder Alesha Zappitella after two rounds. Ducote showed great patience and composure to start the fight. She stayed long with her punches and countered whenever Zappitella came forward. Zappitella tried to use her wrestling, but was stuffed by the champion. The challenger stuck with it along the fence, but could not bring the fight to her world. Ducote went after Zappitella’s left eye in round two, battering it with punches and causing a cut. She stunned Zappitella with a right hand and kept attacking the same spot with precision. Zappitella blinked repeatedly as blood poured out of her eyelid. The doctor was called in to inspect the damage between rounds and halted the contest to protect Zappitella from further harm.

The co-main event featured featherweight Chelsea Chandler edging out Courtney King after three hard-fought rounds. Chandler marched forward immediately and pushed King to the fence. She brought the fight to the ground and moved to mount. She looked to take the back, but King was patient and recovered her guard. She kicked Chandler off and returned to the feet, but Chandler quickly brought the fight back to the clinch and the ground. Ground strikes opened a cut on King’s left eye, but she showed her resiliency to once again get back to her feet. King started round two with a bang, sitting down Chandler with a heavy punch. She flurried hard with more punches, but Chandler was able to recover and clinch. King’s left eye bled profusely, however she did not back down. A knee to the midsection from King prompted Chandler to close the distance, putting King on her back as the round expired. King probed with kicks in the final stanza, frustrating Chandler. She responded with a takedown, landing in the full guard. King showed an active guard, but Chandler was able to pass to half. King tried to scramble and Chandler punished her with punches. Chandler moved to side control in the center of the cage late in the fight to seal the decision win.

It didn’t take long for atomweight Jillian DeCoursey to re-establish herself as a threat in the division, as she absolutely demolished fellow New York native Lindsey VanZandt in just 61 seconds. The pair traded combinations early in the fight as they looked to find an opening. That opening came in the form of a right hook from DeCoursey, which caught VanZandt flush on the jaw and turned out her lights. The referee rushed in to pull DeCoursey off and she celebrated emphatically.

Former training partners collided when Brazilians Liana Pirosin and Janaisa Morandin met in a flyweight contest. Pirosin used her length to keep Morandin on the outside from the fight’s opening bell. Morandin wasn’t shy about firing heavy leg kicks, but struggled to get into the pocket. Pirosin’s confidence grew as the round progressed, as she peppered Morandin from range. Morandin powered into a takedown, but couldn’t keep the fight on the ground. Morandin again looked to close the distance and clinch in the second frame, but Pirosin shrugged her off. Pirosin continuously fired a lead-leg head kick to keep Morandin honest at range. Morandin pressed forward and found success when she was able to get inside. Her powerful leg kicks turned the legs of Pirosin red. The length and volume of Pirosin still proved to be the difference for most of the round. After exchanging heavy right hands in the opening portion of the final round, Morandin drove Pirosin to the mat. She moved to mount with a guillotine attempt and looked to take Pirosin’s back. Morandin kept the top position and looked for a finish, but it did not come. The judges were split in their verdict, but it was Pirosin who took the decision win.

In the night’s lone bantamweight clash, Serena DeJesus continued her winning streak after a back-and-forth battle with Brittney Cloudy. Both fighters looked to establish their range early with Cloudy popping her jab and DeJesus firing kicks. The hands of Cloudy scored with volume, but DeJesus scored with thundering body kicks. In round two, a big left from DeJesus backed up Cloudy and she let out a loud yell. Cloudy briefly scored a takedown, but DeJesus powered back to her feet. The pair traded heavy shots in the clinch as Cloudy fired knees and DeJesus answered with elbows. DeJesus was the aggressor in the fight’s last five minutes, pressing forward and landing combinations. A liver kick stunned Cloudy for a moment and DeJesus looked for a finish. It would not come, but DeJesus captured victory on the scorecards.

Strawweight Fatima Kline remained undefeated after stopping a very tough Sidney Trillo. After a brief feeling-out process, Kline ducked under a punch and put Trillo on her back. She fired heavy punches along the fence and looked to take Trillo’s back. Eventually Kline secured the position and applied a body triangle. She worked for a choke, but Trillo showcased great defense. Kline countered well to open the second stanza. She secured a body lock and put Trillo on the mat again. From side control, Kline looked for multiple chokes before rolling for an armbar. Trillo stayed calm and escaped to survive the round. Kline used a big combination to drive into a massive takedown in round three. She mounted Trillo and unleashed a heavy barrage of strikes that forced the referee to intervene.

The night kicked off with a strawweight match-up between newcomer Alyssa Linduska  and former boxing Olympian Jennifer Chieng. Linduska opened the bout with an onslaught of kicks to keep Chieng at range. Chieng found her timing with her jab and peppered the face of Linduska. A big right hand from Chieng landed clean, prompting Linduska to flurry forward and secure the fight’s first takedown. In round two, Linduska again took the fight to the mat, but Chieng countered and gained top position. Chieng eventually took Linduska’s back, but could not find a finish. The final frame opened with Chieng looking for a throw, but Linduska reversed it and landed in Chieng’s guard. Chieng threw up a triangle attempt from her back. Linduska delivered heavy knees to defend the submission attempt and finished the fight on top. When the scorecards were revealed, it was Linduska who earned the decision win in her pro debut.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Emily Ducote def. Alesha Zappitella by TKO (doctor’s stoppage). Round 2, 5:00 – for strawweight title
Chelsea Chandler def. Courtney King by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jillian DeCoursey def. Lindsey VanZandt by knockout (right hook). Round 1, 1:01
Liana Pirosin def. Janaisa Morandin by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Serena DeJesus def. Brittney Cloudy by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Fatima Kline def. Sidney Trillo by TKO (strikes). Round 3, 4:45
Alyssa Linduska def. Jennifer Chieng by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 46 Results: Rodríguez Retains After Torquato Rematch, Gomes Shocks Dudieva

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Wednesday, March 9, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 46: Rodríguez vs. Torquato 2 from Memorial Hall. The event was simulcast on Invicta FC’s YouTube channel and MMA Junkie.

The flyweight title was once again on the line between Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez and Brazilian challenger Daiana Torquato. Torquato opened the rematch with a heavy leg kick. Rodríguez responded with a jab-straight combination to slow Torquato’s advance. Rodríguez turned up her own forward march, willingly trading with Torquato inside the pocket. Rodríguez closed the distance and Torquato delivered a pair of knees. Rodríguez returned the favor as the fighters disengaged. Torquato earned an outside-trip takedown late in the round. The second round began with Rodríguez throwing long punches to control the range. Torquato continued her assault on the lead leg of the Mexican fighter. The Brazilian dragged Rodríguez to the ground, but she quickly bounced back to her feet. Torquato stuck with it and brought the fight to the canvas to close the frame. In round three, both fighters mixed up their attacks. Both threw with power and kept one another guessing with kicks. The lead leg of Rodríguez bruised from the low kicks of Torquato. The championship rounds opened with power shots from both fighters. Torquato connected with a right hand and the pair clinched. Rodríguez delivered a great elbow on the break and they again returned to range. Torquato’s low-kick attack did not relent, but nor did Rodríguez’s advance. A heavy body kick from Rodríguez was turned into a body lock by Torquato. She dragged the fight to the ground and managed to scramble to the top position. Rodríguez scored with an upkick to end the frame. The final round opened with a trade of knees in the clinch. Rodríguez landed another big elbow, but was answered with a heavy right hand by Torquato. Torquato was able to duck under and secure a body lock, but Rodríguez fought her way out of it. The Brazilian kept looking for a decisive takedown, but Rodríguez stayed on the feet and encouraged Torquato to brawl. The two, talented warriors went to the scorecards again, but this time the cards were even closer. One judge scored it for the challenger Torquato, but the other two overruled, allowing Rodríguez to retain her title.

The co-main event kicked off with fireworks as newcomer Denise Gomes took on UFC veteran Milana Dudieva. Dudieva fired a right hand down the pipe to back up the Brazilian. That was short-lived, however as Gomes starting powering forward. After trading shots in the clinch, Dudieva secured a takedown. Gomes attempted a leg lock, but absorbed heavy shots for her troubles. Dudieva took the back and dropped two-handed strikes. The Brazilian was resilient, escaping and taking Dudieva’s back late. Gomes was relentless with her pressure, staying in the pocket and swinging. An errant kick landed low on Dudieva and was followed shortly after by an eye poke. Once the action continued, Dudieva made Gomes pay for the fouls. She dropped the Brazilian with an overhand right and flurried hard for a finish. Gomes survived and returned to the feet, only to get dropped a second time. Dudieva attacked recklessly to close the frame, but she could not put Gomes away. Gomes went for broke in round three and her constant pressure finally paid off. She backed Dudieva to the fence and unloaded with heavy punches. A knee from Gomes sent Dudieva crashing to the mat and after a barrage of punches, the referee intervened to halt the contest and hand Gomes the surprising comeback win.

Liz Tracy earned her third win under the Invicta banner, besting former title challenger Danielle Taylor. Tracy probed with her front kick to gauge range. Taylor remained outside and looked for a way to get inside boxing range. Tracy flurried forward, but was countered by punches from Taylor. A level change from Tracy allowed her to trip Taylor to the canvas. She bullied her to the fence from the half guard. Taylor attacked from her back with little success. Short shots connected for Tracy and she was able to pass to mount. Once in the dominant position, Tracy unloaded with punches. Taylor was forced to give up her back to survive. Tracy worked hard for the finish, but could not secure it. Round two began with more probing from range, as both fighters tried to take control. Tracy frequently switched stances and tried to clinch. Taylor connected with a heavy shot as Tracy came forward, leading to a wild exchange. Another shot from Tracy was stuffed by Taylor, but Tracy used a head-and-arm throw to get the fight back to the mat. In the last round, Taylor continued to struggle in closing the distance. Tracy was able to sit outside and use her reach. Tracy returned to the clinch late in the fight and hung on Taylor against the cage. Taylor separated in the final minute, but was unable to land the fight-finishing shots. There were no doubts on the scorecards as Tracy claimed victory.

Oklahoma’s Kristina Williams and French Polynesia’s Flore Hani battled hard for three rounds in their flyweight match-up. Hani pressured early, but immediately found trouble in the length of Williams. The taller fighter kept Hani at range and delivered a barrage of strikes. Hani’s lead leg turned red to match her shorts from the low kicks of Williams. Hani tried to clinch, but found little success as Williams was able to land with elbows and separate. The combinations of Williams found their mark again and again. The face of Hani swelled from the onslaught. In the second round, Hani powered into a double-leg takedown along the fence. She moved Williams to the center of the cage and neutralized the offense of Williams. When the fight returned to the upright position, Hani scored with knees. With the fight tied heading to the third, the pair exchanged combinations. The volume of Williams continued to increase as the round progressed. Hani shot for a takedown, but Williams was able to sprawl. Hani secured the clinch late in the fight, landing more knees and making it difficult on the judges. The judges were split in their verdict, but it was Williams who was victorious in her Invicta debut.

An atomweight contest opened the night as Brazil’s Monique Adriane clashed with veteran Paulina Granados. A right hand from Adriane clipped Granados right after the opening bell. The fight quickly found the mat and the Brazilian looked for a choke. Granados remained calm, reversing position and moving to the top. Adriane worked back to the feet and separated. She connected with another heavy right hand, prompting Granados to shoot for a takedown. Adriane stuffed it and landed with an elbow on the break. There was more punishment on the feet from Adriane as she continued to open up. She finished the round with a late takedown. There was more urgency from Granados to open the second frame, as she pressured forward. Adriane was patient from range, scoring with combinations and low kicks. Granados looked to grapple late in the frame, but Adriane again showcased a great sprawl. The Brazilian attacked the lead leg of Granados to start the final stanza. She sprawled and moved to the back of Granados, but Granados was able to scramble to the top. Adriane again worked back to her feet and turned up her aggression. She battered Granados with punches to the body and the head, and looked to finish with a big knee. Granados survived to the final horn, but Adriane swept the scorecards to earn her first Invicta win.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Karina Rodríguez def. Daiana Torquato by split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46) – for flyweight title
Denise Gomes def. Milana Dudieva by TKO (knee and punches). Round 3, 1:56
Liz Tracy def. Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Kristina Williams def. Flore Hani by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Monique Adriane def. Paulina Granados by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 45 Results: Delboni Gets Revenge, Unseats Zappitella in Dominant Performance

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Wednesday, Jan. 12, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni 2. The event was simulcast on Invicta FC’s YouTube channel and MMA Junkie.

In the night’s headliner, Alesha Zappitella and Jéssica Delboni met for a second time with Zappitella’s atomweight belt on the line. The Brazilian Delboni immediately fired a combination, but her aggression allowed Zappitella to drag the fight to the ground. Zappitella controlled the head and fired knees. Delboni reversed the position and looked for a single. Zappitella transitioned to a guillotine attempt, but Delboni escaped and separated. Zappitella tried for an arm-drag, then took Delboni down. Delboni briefly moved to the back of Zappitella as the two jostled for top position. The fight returned to the feet and Delboni landed punches. The second round began with a much more measured pace. Zappitella wasted little time looking for a takedown, but Delboni stayed upright. Another shot from Zappitella was answered with heavy elbows and punches from Delboni. An overhand right from Zappitella surprised Delboni for a moment. The takedown defense of Delboni was the difference as the round progressed. The confidence of Delboni grew in round three, as she unleashed combinations. The dynamics of the fight changed as the action consisted of striking exchanges. The Brazilian hurt Zappitella with a knee late in the frame. The championship rounds started with more strikes from Delboni. Zappitella looked to counter with right hands before shooting for the legs. Delboni punished Zappitella with punches as she remained latched to a leg. Another right hand from Delboni stunned the American, prompting her to grapple once more. The final round began with Delboni having a big lead on the scorecards. Zappitella went for broke with heavy punches. She changed levels and latched onto Delboni’s leg in the center of the cage. Delboni remained calm and continued to deliver hammerfists to the face of Zappitella. Late in the fight, Delboni looked to take Zappitella’s back. Zappitella escaped out the back, but Delboni transitioned to an armbar attempt. Zappitella worked free and gained top position. Delboni kept up her aggressive attack, working for a kneebar. The finish did not come, but there was no doubt on the scorecards as Delboni exacted revenge and claimed atomweight gold.

The co-main event of the evening featured Hong Kong’s Ramona Pascual opposite Shamir Peshewa in a 150-pound catchweight contest. A right hand from Pascual clipped Peshewa right off the opening bell and she followed it with a left straight. Pascual attacked the lead leg of Peshewa with low kicks. A knee from Pascual found the liver of Peshewa, who winced in pain and retreated to the cage. Pascual followed up with punches and the referee stepped in to halt the bout just 60 seconds into the first round.

Texas newcomer Hailey Cowan collided with Hawaii’s Monica Franco in a bantamweight affair. Cowan took the center of the cage and drove her way into the clinch. With double underhooks, Cowan held Franco against the fence. They traded short knees from close quarters, as Cowan looked for a trip takedown. The offense of Franco was negated by the strength of Cowan, who took the fight to the ground late in the round. A left hand from Cowan greeted Franco to open the second frame. The fight returned to the clinch and Cowan powered the fight back to the canvas along the fence. Cowan dropped heavy punches from the top as Franco struggled to escape. Cowan passed to mount, then took Franco’s back. She applied a rear-naked choke and Franco tapped.

Helen Peralta extended her success under the Invicta banner, handing fellow flyweight Elise Pone her first professional defeat. Peralta immediately started firing haymakers. She then threw a hook kick, but Pone was able to evade the flashy attack. Peralta pushed her way to the clinch, pinning Pone against the cage. Peralta delivered a steady stream of right hands from the clinch. Late in the round, Peralta dragged Pone to the ground and rained left hands. Pone was able to survive the onslaught. In round two, the fight quickly returned to the clinch and Peralta put Pone on her back. After a brief grappling exchange, Peralta allowed Pone to return to her feet. Peralta continued her relentless pressure in the clinch, scoring with a trip takedown late in the frame. Peralta opened round three with a powerful right hand that dropped Pone. Moments after Pone regained her footing, Peralta planted her on the canvas. When the fight returned to the feet, Pone connected with a heavy kick. Peralta returned to dominating in the clinch. A desperate Pone delivered an elbow that stunned Peralta, but it was too little, too late. All three judges scored the contest in favor of Peralta.

Atomweights squared off when Canada’s Katie Saull welcomed Tamika Jones to the promotion. The southpaw Saull fired her left hand like a piston. Jones struggled with the boxing prowess of Saull. The pair clinched against the fence and it was Saull who took down the wrestler Jones. Saull took the back of Jones and began to work for a rear-naked choke. Saull squeezed hard, but Jones never panicked and escaped to top position. Saull stayed aggressive, attacking with an armbar and coercing the tap from Jones late in the round.

The night kicked off in the bantamweight division as Sarah Kleczka returned to the Invicta cage to face off with Mexico’s Maria Jose Favela. The pair patiently gauged their range and looked for openings in the opening frame. Midway through the round, Favela connected with a solid right hand. Kleczka looked for a spinning backfist, but was countered by Favela. The Mexican fighter peppered the lead leg of Kleczka with kicks. Round two saw Kleczka flurry forward and pressure Favela. A right hand from Kleczka landed clean and she followed it with a combination along the fence. Favela switched stances to counter the forward advance of Kleczka. The final stanza began with the fight still up for grabs. The bantamweights traded heavy right hands late in the fight. The fight was sent to the judges, who were split in their verdict, rewarding Kleczka the victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Jéssica Delboni def. Alesha Zappitella by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) – for atomweight title
Ramona Pascual def. Shamir Peshewa by TKO (knee and punches). Round 1, 1:00
Hailey Cowan def. Monica Franco by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 3:17
Helen Peralta def. Elise Pone by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
Katie Saull def. Tamika Jones by submission (armbar). Round 1, 4:30
Sarah Kleczka def. Maria Jose Favela by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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 (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.