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Shanna Young Replaces Mariya Agapova at Invicta FC 39

Kansas City, Mo. โ€“ 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 Brazilianย 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 fellowย 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 byย atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey (8-4), whoย faces No. 1 contender Ashley โ€œSmashleyโ€ Cummins (7-4).

Tickets for the event can be purchased now throughย Eventbrite.

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

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


About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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.ย Followย Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (InvictaFights), and Instagramย (@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. โ€“ 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 nightโ€™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 โ€œSmashleyโ€ 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 Finlandโ€™s Minna Grusander. Cummins rebounded with wins over Jรฉssica 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 โ€œThe Chi-Town Princessโ€ Gonzalez (10-4) meets recent Phoenix Series 2 winner Miranda โ€œFear Theโ€ 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 Brazilโ€™s Daiana Torquato (9-3) in a flyweight bout, Michiganโ€™s Alesha โ€œHalf Pintโ€ Zappitella (5-2) and Missouriโ€™s Kelly Dโ€™Angelo (4-2) jockey for position in the atomweight ranks, 20-year-old flyweight Erin โ€œCold Bloodedโ€ Blanchfield (4-1) takes on four-fight Invicta veteran Victoria โ€œFuryโ€ Leonardo (6-1) of Louisiana, New Yorkโ€™s โ€œLionheartโ€ Jillian DeCoursey (3-2) collides with Kentucky atomweight Linda โ€œF109โ€ 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 throughย Eventbrite.

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

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


About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) 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.ย Followย Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (InvictaFights), and Instagramย (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.