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Shanna Young Replaces Mariya Agapova at Invicta FC 39

Kansas City, Mo. – The fight card for Invicta FC 39 has undergone a late change.

Fast-rising flyweight contender Mariya Agapova (8-1) has suffered injuries in an auto-pedestrian accident in South Florida and has been forced out of her match-up with Brazilian Daiana Torquato (9-3). The Kazakh fighter has provided photos of her injuries, which can be viewed here (WARNING: these are graphic images).

Stepping in on two weeks’ notice will be Tennessee’s Shanna Young (7-2). The Contender Series veteran was most recently in action at Invicta FC 38, topping Finland’s Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision. “The Shanimal” also competed at Phoenix Series 2, edging Suotama, but falling short against eventual tournament winner Miranda Maverick.

In addition to the change, Hawaii’s Monica Franco (1-0) has been tabbed to meet fellow bantamweight newcomer Tina Pettigrew (1-0) in the night’s opening bout.

Invicta FC 39 takes place Friday, Feb. 7 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. The event is headlined by atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey (8-4), who faces No. 1 contender Ashley “Smashley” Cummins (7-4).

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through Eventbrite.

The updated Invicta FC 39 fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Cummins
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez vs. Miranda Maverick
Flyweight: Shanna Young vs. Daiana Torquato
Atomweight: Alesha Zappitella vs. Kelly D’Angelo
Flyweight: Erin Blanchfield vs. Victoria Leonardo
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey vs. Linda Mihalec
Bantamweight: Tina Pettigrew vs. Monica Franco

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.

Frey

Invicta FC 39 Features Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Cummins Atomweight Title Fight on Feb. 7

Kansas City, Mo. – Invicta Fighting Championships will kick off its 2020 slate with a stacked fight card on Friday, Feb. 7. Invicta FC 39 will take place from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., and will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s headliner, atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey (8-4) aims to make the second defense of her 105-pound title against a familiar foe in No. 1 contender Ashley “Smashley” Cummins (7-4). The pair met previously at Invicta FC 24, with the Texas-based Frey earning a decision victory. Frey later ascended to the top of the division with a pair of victories over Finland’s Minna Grusander. Cummins rebounded with wins over Jéssica Delboni and Stephanie Alba to earn her shot at gold.

The co-main event will determine the next flyweight contender as UFC veteran and former title challenger Pearl “The Chi-Town Princess” Gonzalez (10-4) meets recent Phoenix Series 2 winner Miranda “Fear The” Maverick (6-2). Gonzalez seeks her second shot at champion Vanessa Porto and rides the momentum of a decision victory over the previously unbeaten Brogan Walker in the Invicta FC 37 main event. The Missouri native Maverick inched closer to title contention in September, defeating Victoria Leonardo, Shanna Young and UFC alum DeAnna Bennett to capture the one-night tournament.

Also on the card, Contender Series veteran Mariya Agapova (8-1) clashes with Brazil’s Daiana Torquato (9-3) in a flyweight bout, Michigan’s Alesha “Half Pint” Zappitella (5-2) and Missouri’s Kelly D’Angelo (4-2) jockey for position in the atomweight ranks, 20-year-old flyweight Erin “Cold Blooded” Blanchfield (4-1) takes on four-fight Invicta veteran Victoria “Fury” Leonardo (6-1) of Louisiana, New York’s “Lionheart” Jillian DeCoursey (3-2) collides with Kentucky atomweight Linda “F109” Mihalec (2-0), and bantamweight Tina “The Predator” Pettigrew (1-0) will make her Invicta debut against fellow newcomer Monica Franco (1-0).

Tickets for the event can be purchased now through Eventbrite.

The current Invicta FC 39 fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Cummins
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez vs. Miranda Maverick
Flyweight: Mariya Agapova vs. Daiana Torquato
Atomweight: Alesha Zappitella vs. Kelly D’Angelo
Flyweight: Erin Blanchfield vs. Victoria Leonardo
Atomweight: Jillian DeCoursey vs. Linda Mihalec
Bantamweight: Tina Pettigrew vs. Monica Franco

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.