News-Alexa-Grasso-For-Family

Alexa Grasso: For Family and Country

At 21 years of age, most young adults are uncertain of what their future holds.

Not Mexicoโ€™s Alexa Grasso.

The strawweight, who carries an unblemished record of 5-0, made her Invicta Fighting Championships debut in September and bested Ashley Cummins by decision. That experience was a life-changing event for the fighter.

โ€œIt was a shock wave; it was amazing,โ€ described Grasso. โ€œI was very excited to fight. So many times I dreamed of that day.โ€

Success in her first Invicta appearance, along with her early career triumphs, prompted Grasso to re-evaluate her career path.

โ€œAfter my fourth fight, which was pretty hard, it made me wonder if [fighting] was really what I wanted,โ€ admitted Grasso. โ€œThe days after [the fight], I had a beautiful feeling which made me realize that this is what I want.โ€

Once her mind was clear regarding her fighting career, Grasso took things a step further.

โ€œI decided to pause my studies,โ€ revealed Grasso. โ€œI am in a very important part of my career as a fighter and I really want to put all my attention and efforts into my preparation.โ€

Instead of balancing homework with training sessions, the Lobo Gym product now finds herself following the same path many of her family members have already gone down inside the boxing ring.

โ€œMy family has been a very important part in my life as a fighter,โ€ she explained. โ€œThey know exactly what itโ€™s like being on a diet, they know how the body feels after hard workouts and they are always attentive to my needs for my preparation. They understand the passion that is felt being a fighter.โ€

So why did Grasso choose to blaze her own trail in the cage instead of the ring?

โ€œBoxing is great and I love it, but I think it makes me a very complete fighter to use my whole body to finish my fights compared to only my fists,โ€ said the Guadalajara-based fighter.

Under the tutelage of her uncle and father, Grasso has compiled a record that includes three sub-minute knockouts. Sheโ€™ll return to action at Invicta FC 10 on Friday, Dec. 5, in Houston. Across the cage will be native Texan Alida Gray, who also possesses three career wins with her fists.

โ€œI think she is an excellent fighter,โ€ proclaimed Grasso of her opponent. โ€œThis will be a great show. I hope everybody can watch it on UFC Fight Pass.โ€

Although Grasso is still very young, she and her Lobo Gym teammate, bantamweight Irene Aldana, are already captivating Mexican fight fans with their talent. The pair both scored wins at Invicta FC 8 and will look to do so again in Houston.

โ€œIt was a very big achievement for both of us,โ€ recalled Grasso of their September victories. โ€œIt was very important because we showed that there are also good-quality fighters in Mexico.

โ€œWe have all eyes on our performances. Invicta is the most important MMA league for women, and it makes me proud to be part of the event.โ€

If Grasso is able to get past Gray on Dec. 5, her perfect record will undoubtedly land her in title talk at 115 pounds.

โ€œAs a fighter, I should be ready for any opportunity that comes my way,โ€ she declared. โ€œSo if I have the opportunity to fight for a title, itโ€™s something I cannot let go.

โ€œIt would fulfill one of my biggest goals. Thatโ€™s why I train so hard every day.โ€

With her country and her family in her corner, Grassoโ€™s hopes for victoryโ€”and one day a championship beltโ€”may soon be a reality.

โ€œI do this because I love it. I really believe that when you do things with heart and enjoy them, wishes come true.โ€


Alexa would like to thank her coaches, Francisco Grasso and Tito Castro, for making her a great person inside and outside the cage, her teammates who have sweated every day with her, her sponsors for taking care of her health and always supporting her, and finally, her dad, who has been living this dream by her side.

Andrea Lee Replaces Vanessa Porto at Invicta FC 10

Kansas City, Mo.ย โ€“ After being notified of an unforeseen delay in visa processing, Invicta Fighting Championships today announced that flyweight title contender Vanessa Porto (17-6) will no longer face veteran Roxanne Modafferi (16-11) at Invicta FC 10 on Dec. 5.

Rather than waiting for the visa issue to be resolved, Invicta FC officials have tapped rising prospect Andrea Lee (2-0) to replace Porto. Lee, the 2013 Women’s National Golden Gloves Champion, impressed in her Invicta debut, a victory over Shannon Sinn at Invicta FC 9 in November.

Porto is expected to return to the Invicta cage in early 2015ย at Invicta FC 11.

Invicta FC 10 streams live on UFCFIGHTPASS.com from the Arena Theatre in Houston on Friday, Dec. 5 and is headlined by Invicta FC atomweight champion Michelle Waterson (12-3) taking on Brazilian challenger Herica Tiburcio (8-2). In the co-headline bout, red-hot bantamweight contender Tonya Evinger (14-5), coming off a first-round submission of Ediane Gomes, meets Belgium’s Cindy Dandois (5-1).

Tickets for Invicta FC 10 are on sale now and can be purchased at the venue box office, via charge-by-phone by calling 713-772-5900 or online at arenahouston.com.

For more information, visit InvictaFC.com.


About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial artsย (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform toย hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executiveย Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of womenโ€™sย MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors andย identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information,ย visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta onย Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Press Contact:
Eric Jackman
718.354.9024
eric@jacktaylorpr.com
orย press@invictafc.com

Invicta FC 10 Full Card Announced for Friday, December 5

Kansas City, Mo.ย โ€“ Invicta Fighting Championships today announced the full fight card for Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio, which will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass from the Arena Theatre in Houston on Friday, Dec. 5.

In the night’s headline bout,ย Invicta FC atomweight champion Michelle Waterson (12-3) will face Brazilian challenger Herica Tiburcio (8-2).

Waterson is coming off the first defense of her title, a TKO victory over Yasuko Tamada (15-9) in September. The win marked the championโ€™s 10th finish in 12 career victories.

Tiburcio, currently riding a three-fight winning streak, was slated to make her promotional debut at Invicta FC 9, but visa issues forced her off the card. Six of the 22-year-old challengerโ€™s career wins have come via submission.

Red hot bantamweight contender Tonya Evinger (14-5), coming off a first-round submission of Ediane Gomes, meets Belgium’sย Cindy Dandois (5-1) in the co-headline bout.

The full fight card for Invicta FC 10 can be found below:

Atomweight Title Fight: Michelle Waterson (12-3) vs. Herica Tiburcio (8-2)
Bantamweight: Tonya Evinger (14-5) vs. Cindy Dandois (5-1)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (17-6) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (16-11)
Flyweight: Jennifer Maia (9-3-1) vs. DeAnna Bennett (5-0)
Featherweight: Charmaine Tweet (6-4) vs. Faith van Duin (4-1)
Bantamweight: Irene Aldana (4-1) vs. Marion Reneau (4-1)
Featherweight: Peggy Morgan (2-2) vs. Andria Wawro (3-1)
Strawweight: Alexa Grasso (5-0) vs. Alida Gray (4-1)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (2-1) vs. Cassie Robb (0-2)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (1-1) vs. Evva Johnson (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 10 are on sale now and can be purchased at the venue box office, via charge-by-phone by calling 713-772-5900 or online at arenahouston.com.

For more information, visit InvictaFC.com.


About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial artsย (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform toย hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executiveย Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of womenโ€™sย MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors andย identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. For more information,ย visit InvictaFC.com, follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights) and like Invicta onย Facebook (Facebook.com/InvictaFights).

Press Contact:
Eric Jackman
718.354.9024
eric@jacktaylorpr.com
orย press@invictafc.com

News-Invicta-FC-09-Results

Invicta FC 9 Results: Honchak Retains Title, Kowalkiewicz Edges Inoue

On Saturday, Nov. 1, Invicta Fighting Championships hostedย Invicta FC 9: Honchak vs. Hashiย from the RiverCenter in Davenport, Iowa. The nine-fight eventย streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

In the nightโ€™s main event, Invicta flyweight champion Barb Honchak successfully defended her 125-pound title with a hard-fought decision win over Japanโ€™sย Takayo Hashi. Honchakโ€™s strategy from the very beginning was to force Hashi against the fence and grind her out. Honchak was able to impose her will on the challenger and score with short punches and knees from the clinch. Hashi earned takedowns late in the third and fourth rounds, but she was unable to hold the champion on the ground. Honchak let her hands go late in the fifth frame, leaving no doubt who had won the contest.

The nightโ€™s co-main event featured the Invicta return of Japanese strawweightย Mizuki Inoue, who welcomed unbeaten Polish fighterย Karolina Kowalkiewicz to the Invicta cage. Kowalkiewicz used her length to keep Inoue at range during the first round, scoring with combinations and leg kicks. In the middle stanza, Inoue was able to score with a hip toss and put Kowalkiewicz on her back. Kowalkiewicz was able to survive the tough position and the round. The final frame saw Kowalkiewicz return to landing on the feet, but Inoue fired back. When it was all said and done, Kowalkiewicz claimed the narrow split decision win.

Stepping into the cage on just a weekโ€™s notice, Hawaiiโ€™s Raquel Paโ€™aluhi survived a tough first round and earned the nod over Kaitlin Young on the scorecards. Young battered Paโ€™aluhi in the opening frame, opening up multiple cuts on the Hawaiianโ€™s face. Paโ€™aluhi bounced back in rounds two and three with takedowns. Paโ€™aluhi threatened to finish the fight with a rear-naked choke and strikes, but Young was able to survive to the final bell.

Jodie Esquibel put together one of the best performances of her career, outstriking Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc and earning a lopsided, unanimous decision win. Esquibel used her speed and footwork to land combination after combination and frustrate Rivera-Calanoc. The Jacksonโ€™s MMA fighter mixed in takedowns and survived a late guillotine attempt from Rivera-Calanoc to claim the victory.

Atomweights Amber Brown and Liz McCarthy engaged in a back-and-forth war that saw Brown eke out the win via split decision. McCarthy repeatedly took the fight to the ground with her wrestling, but Brown landed the more effective strikes. A knee from Brown opened a large cut over McCarthyโ€™s right eye in round two, leading to a bloody affair.

Amanda Bell returned to the Invicta cage and scored a first-round TKO over promotional newcomer Maria Hougaard-Djursaa. Bell came out firing and overwhelmed the Danish fighter. Once on the mat, Bell rained punches and forced the referee to halt the bout late in the opening stanza.

Veteran striker Andrea K. Lee used her stand-up game to get the better of fellow flyweight Shannon Sinn. Lee dropped Sinn early and battered her throughout the remainder of the contest to take home the win on the scorecards.

Strawweight Jamie Moyle scored an impressive decision win in her pro debut, battering Jenny Liou Shriver for three rounds. Shriver had no answer for Moyleโ€™s striking and suffered her first career loss.

Kelly McGill spoiled the pro debut of Maegan Goodwin in the first fight of the evening. The bloody affair saw McGill open up Goodwin with an elbow, helping her seal the decision win and move to 2-0.

OFFICIALย RESULTS

Barb Honchak def. Takayo Hashi by unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 50-45) โ€“ for flyweight title
Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Mizuki Inoue by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Raquel Paโ€™aluhi def. Kaitlin Young by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jodie Esquibel def. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Amber Brown def. Liz McCarthy by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Amanda Bell def. Maria Hougaard-Djursaa by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 4:56
Andrea K. Lee def. Shannon Sinn by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jamie Moyle def. Jenny Liou Shriver by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Kelly McGill def. Maegan Goodwin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

โ€˜Cyborgโ€™ Justino Injured, Waterson vs. Tiburcio to Headline Invicta FC 10

Kansas City, Mo. โ€“ Invicta Fighting Championships today announced that Cristiane โ€˜Cyborgโ€™ Justino (12-1) injured her left ankle, suffering a full thickness rupture of the anterior talofibular ligament, and has been forced to withdraw from her scheduled bantamweight debut in the main event of Invicta FC 10 on Dec. 5.

Justino has not competed in MMA since July of 2013 when she defeated Marloes Coenenย  (22-6) via fourth-round TKO at Invicta FC 6 to capture the Invicta FC Featherweight Championship.

Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson (12-3) now headlines Invicta FC 10 when she faces Brazilian challenger Herica Tiburcio (8-2).

Waterson is coming off the first defense of her title, a TKO victory over Yasuko Tamada (15-9) in September. The win marked the championโ€™s 10th finish in 12 career victories.

Tiburcio, currently riding a three-fight winning streak, was slated to make her promotional debut at Invicta FC 9, but visa issues forced her off the card. Six of the 22-year-old challengerโ€™s career wins have come via submission.

Invicta FC 10 will take place from the Arena Theatre in Houston on Friday, Dec. 5. Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. CT and can be purchased at the venue box office, via charge-by-phone by calling 713-772-5900 or online at arenahouston.com.

Additional bouts for the event will be announced in the coming weeks.