KANSAS CITY, Kan. – On Friday, June 28, Invicta Fighting Championships touched down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City for Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.
The Invicta bantamweight belt remains around the waist of Brazilian Talita Bernardo, who submitted challenger Olga Rubin in the second round of their title bout. Rubin stalked Bernardo early as the bantamweights exchanged range-finding kicks. Bernardo ducked under a right hand from Rubin and took the fight to the ground. Rubin applied a buggy choke from the bottom, but Bernardo patiently worked her way free and to top position. A series of right hands from Bernardo forced Rubin to scramble. Bernardo used a body lock to drag Rubin to the mat. She quickly moved to back mount and began to work for a rear-naked choke. Rubin arched her back to defend the submission and eventually spun into the guard of the Brazilian. Late in the round, it was Rubin who took the back of Bernardo and opened a large cut near the right eye. A left head kick from Rubin greeted Bernardo to start the second round. Bernardo absorbed it and took Rubin to the mat. Rubin landed an upkick but gave up her back in the ensuing scramble. Bernardo again went to work on a rear-naked choke, eventually locking it in and coercing the tap from the challenger.
Returning to where her career started, Californian strawweight Kay Hansen looked to get back into contention when she faced off with undefeated Colombian Sayury Cañon. Hansen scored with a quick right hand and immediately launched into a big takedown. She climbed on the back of Cañon and looked for a choke. Cañon used the cage to her advantage and escaped the position. Hansen shot for another takedown but went for a ride as Cañon slammed her to the mat. When the pair returned to striking, Hansen set up another takedown and again moved to Cañon’s back. The Colombian did well to avoid letting Hansen secure her hooks for a moment, but eventually succumbed to the UFC veteran’s pressure. Hansen rained right hands and worked to flatten out Cañon, but could not find a finish before the bell. A spinning backfist attempt from Cañon opened the second frame and turned it into a takedown. Hansen scrambled to a dominant position and again looked to set up a submission. Cañon escaped to her feet and peppered Hansen with her jab. A big flurry from Cañon prompted Hansen to tie her up and slam her back to the canvas. It was short-lived as Cañon bounced back to her feet. In the final frame, Hansen wasted little time closing the distance and pushing Cañon against the fence. Cañon looked for heavy punches at range, forcing Hansen to clinch again. Hansen fired a step-in, upward elbow that surprised Cañon. The Colombian responded with a massive slam in the center of the cage. Hansen worked hard in the clinch before unleashing a late onslaught of kicks. The competitive affair went to the scorecards and it was Hansen who eked out the split-decision victory after three, hard-fought rounds.
Promotional newcomer Andressa Romero of Brazil spoiled the Invicta and North American debut of Japanese atomweight Saori Oshima. Oshima flurried forward to initiate the clinch in the opening moments of the bout, but it was Romero who spun her to the cage. She looked for a body lock which allowed Oshima to briefly attack her neck. Oshima used the choke attempt to transition to a kimura and flip Romero to the mat. Romero did not panic in the precarious position, but Oshima again rolled her to move to top position. She quickly transitioned to the back with both hooks. Romero looked to spin into top position but was forced to defend an armbar attempt from the Japanese fighter. Romero worked her way free momentarily, only for Oshima to attack her other arm. Romero opened up with her hands in round two to try and slow Oshima’s advance. Oshima marched forward absorbing punches before changing levels and pulling Romero on top of her. After a short grappling exchange, Romero opted to return to her feet and stay out of Oshima’s guard. The pair willingly traded power shots in the pocket before Oshima again pulled Romero on top of her. The Brazilian dropped heavy right hands from the top until the round closed. Oshima looked for an immediate takedown to open the last round. Romero tried to set up an arm-triangle from the top before Oshima recovered her guard. As the fight returned to the feet, Oshima chased Romero around the cage to secure a short clinch. Romero teed off with right hands late in the bout. A late takedown from Oshima had little effect, as she was unable to mount any offense. When the scorecards were read, it was Romero who walked away with the victory to move into contention at 105 pounds.
Kicking off the action on the CBS Sports main card, Taylor Guardado made her Invicta FC return opposite Japan’s Yoko Hagashi in a bantamweight affair. Higashi scored with a quick right hand before barreling forward for a takedown attempt. Guardado side-stepped the attempt and delivered a thundering right hand of her own. Higashi changed levels, but Guardado stuffed her and jumped on her back. She secured both hooks and sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke in just 83 seconds.
Closing out the preliminary-card action, Brazilian atomweight Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira took on Canada’s Katie Saull. Ferreira quickly caught a kick from Saull and forced her to the mat. She postured up along the fence to deliver heavy left hands. Saull was active with her guard, but allowed Ferreira to move to her back and lace in one hook. The left hands from Ferreira continue to rain down on Saull. Ferreira quickly jumped on the back and looked for a rear-naked choke, but Saull was able to spin out of the submission and into top position. Ferreira was aggressive from her back, frequently threatening to lock up Saull’s arm. The second stanza opened with a more measured pace on the feet. Saull shot for a takedown, but Ferreira stuffed it and reversed position. A left elbow from Saull connected clean to the temple of Ferreira. The Brazilian stuck to Saull like glue along the fence. Saull broke free late in the round. Ferreira opened round three with a heavy right hook to Saull’s midsection. Saull returned fire with a teep kick to Ferreira’s stomach. The pair traded more kicks, with neither truly taking control of the range. A crisp right from Ferreira got through Saull’s guard with a minute left in the fight. A left hand from Saull found its mark late, but the judges were called upon for a verdict. All three rendered a win for Ferreira, who called for a title shot in her post-fight interview.
In a battle of amateur world champions, American Zoe Nowicki collided with Brazilian Josiane Oliveira in a flyweight bout. Oliveira popped the head of Nowicki early with a jab as she looked to find her range. Nowicki was undeterred, marching forward and scoring with a heavy right hand. A level change from the American led to a wild scramble. Oliveira delivered a spinning heel kick that wowed the crowd, but Nowicki absorbed the strike well. Nowicki fired a booming overhand right that landed clean to the left eye of Oliveira. Late in the round, Nowicki utilized her wresting pedigree to score the fight’s first takedown. In round two, Oliveira used her length to keep Nowicki on the outside. Another overhand from Nowicki missed the mark as Oliveira was able to evade. A takedown from Nowicki was stuffed by the Brazilian, who followed with a wheel kick attempt. The final frame began slowly, as both fighters looked for openings. Nowicki was the first to find one, cracking Oliveira with another right hand. She powered into a single-leg and earned a brief takedown. The pressure of Nowicki took its toll as the fight progressed. Oliveira’s offensive output waned in the closing moments. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Nowicki claimed the unanimous decision nod.
The night opened with a flyweight match-up between Mexico’s Violeta Mendoza and the debuting Fallon Johnson. The pair exchanged heavy low kicks before Mendoza started to open up with punches. Johnson looked for the clinch, but it was Mendoza who gained top position on the ground. The Mexican moved to half guard, but was unable to mount any significant offense. The fight returned to the feet and Mendoza again landed heavy punches. Mendoza caught a kick and delivered a massive right hand that dropped Johnson. She flurried with punches to get the first-round TKO victory and move to 2-0.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Talita Bernardo def. Olga Rubin by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:53 – for bantamweight title
Kay Hansen def. Sayury Cañon by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andressa Romero def. Saori Oshima by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Taylor Guardado def. Yoko Higashi by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:23
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Zoe Nowicki def. Josiane Oliveira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Violeta Mendoza def. Fallon Johnson by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:16
About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.