Verzosa

Phoenix Series 3 Features Bantamweight Title Fight and One-Night Tournament

by News

Kansas City, Mo. – The fastest-paced format in mixed martial arts returns on March 6, when the bantamweights get their chance to run the gauntlet of the PHOENIX SERIES©, fighting up to three times in one night. The world’s premier all-women’s combat sports organization, INVICTA FC®, presents PHOENIX SERIES© 3 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., with an action-packed event also featuring an Invicta world championship fight.

The PHOENIX SERIES© is an eight-woman, single-elimination tournament that takes place in one night. Both the quarterfinal and semifinal bouts are contested over a single five-minute round. The winners of those two frantic stages meet in the finale, which is fought over three, five-minute rounds. The innovative format presents fighters with unique challenges and fans with an explosive, rapid-fire night of MMA action. The eight tournament participants will be matched up during a random draw prior to the event. The full tournament format and rules can be viewed here.

Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp said, “We have something very special with the PHOENIX SERIES© format and, after the strawweights and flyweights gave us two memorable tournaments last year, we very excited to see what the bantamweights can do in this unique environment.”

The tournament field includes three-fight Invicta veteran “Scary” Kerri Kenneson (3-2), the return of California’s Brittney “Bombshell” Victoria (3-1), three unbeaten combatants in Erin Harpe (2-0), Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant (2-0) and “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (1-0), decorated striker “Hurricane” Hope Chase (2-1), Nevada product Auttumn “The Natural” Norton (1-1), and “No Mercy” Taylor Guardado —née Stratford, who battled the likes of Ronda Rousey and Raquel Pennington in the amateurs — makes her long-awaited pro debut.

The PHOENIX SERIES© format debuted last May, when strawweight Brianna Van Buren ran the gauntlet in a reputation-making night. The California fighter was immediately called up to the UFC following her tournament victory. When the PHOENIX SERIES© returned last September, it was 22-year-old flyweight Miranda Maverick who made a name for herself by scoring two stoppages in three fights en route to lifting the trophy. Maverick returns this Friday at Invicta FC 39 in Kansas City to take on former UFC star Pearl Gonzalez in a fight that could catapult her into an Invicta word title fight.

“We are looking for one of these eight women to seize the moment,” Knapp said. “We’ve purposely invited athletes who are in the earlier stages of their careers to compete in the tournament. This is the chance for one of them to make the MMA world take notice.”

The event will also showcase a world championship fight as undefeated 24-year-old phenom Lisa “Battle Angel” Verzosa (5-0) squares off with The Ultimate Fighter alum Julija Stoliarenko (8-3-1) of Lithuania for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title. Verzosa — née Spangler — has earned four of her five career victories inside the Invicta cage. The Washington-based fighter most recently defeated Kerri Kenneson at Invicta FC 38. Stoliarenko will make her promotional debut riding the momentum of a four-fight winning streak since leaving the TUF house. All eight of her career wins have come via first-round armbar submission.

Elsewhere on the card, strawweight veterans Amber “The Bully” Brown (7-6) and Sharon “The Dream Catcher” Jacobson (6-5) will collide for a second time. The two-time national wrestling champion Jacobson took home a decision win over Brown in the quarterfinal round of the inaugural PHOENIX SERIES© tournament last May.

Also in the strawweight division, 20-year-old Californian Kay Hansen (5-3) tangles with Brazilian Liana Pirosin (7-3).

Finally, the card will feature two tournament reserve match-ups as Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus (1-1) meets Julia “Chicago” Ottolino (1-0) and Oklahoma’s Mitzi “The Mauler” Merry (2-1) returns against newcomer Morgan Hickam (1-2).

PHOENIX SERIES© 3 will take place from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event will stream live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event can be purchased through Eventbrite.

The full fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Lisa Verzosa vs. Julija Stoliarenko
Bantamweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Strawweight: Amber Brown vs. Sharon Jacobson
Strawweight: Kay Hansen vs. Liana Pirosin
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: TBD vs. TBD
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: TBD vs. TBD
Bantamweight Reserve Bout No. 2: Mitzi Merry vs. Morgan Hickam
Bantamweight Reserve Bout No. 1: Serena DeJesus vs. Julia Ottolino
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)

PHOENIX SERIES© 3 Combatants
Auttumn Norton
Brittney Victoria
Claire Guthrie
Erin Harpe
Hope Chase
Kerri Kenneson
Taneisha Tennant
Taylor Guardado

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.

YoungMandelIFC

Shanna Young Replaces Mariya Agapova at Invicta FC 39

by News

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

by News

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.

DXM_4470

Invicta FC 38 Results: Murata Edges Ducote, Porto Tops Rodríguez

by NewsOfficial Results

Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Nov. 1, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

There’s a new strawweight champion as Japan’s Kanako Murata edged Oklahoma’s Emily Ducote over the course of five rounds. Ducote opened the title match-up with low kicks to the calf of Murata. The Japanese fighter faked a superwoman punch and secured a body lock, but Ducote remained upright. Murata then ducked under a punch and powered the fight to the ground. Ducote quickly latched onto an arm and forced Murata to defend the armbar. Ducote worked back to her feet, but it was short lived as Murata dragged her back to the mat late in the round. The low kick of Ducote continued to land in round two, frustrating Murata. A deep single-leg attempt by Murata was shrugged off by Ducote. The Oklahoma fighter used her reach to land punches to Murata’s midsection. Murata powered into a takedown as the round neared its end, but Ducote again forced her to defend an armbar attempt. In the third round, Ducote was able to land straight punches with regularity. Murata landed a nice combination from boxing range, but struggled to get inside with any consistency. Ducote shrugged off multiple takedown attempts, but Murata got her to the canvas late in the round. Ducote pushed forward in round four, driving Murata against the fence with her punches. A lead-leg head kick from Ducote caught Murata flush. She followed it with a second head kick that appeared to stun Murata. Ducote attacked with more punches, forcing Murata to look for a takedown. She latched onto Ducote’s arm and pulled her to the ground. Ducote locked onto an arm, but Murata escaped. Murata tried to cartwheel past Ducote’s guard as the round expired. Ducote peppered the face of Murata with punches in the final round. Murata scored with a takedown midway through the round, but found herself in another armbar attempt. The fight was sent to the judges for the decision, who were split in favor of Murata.

In what was originally scheduled to be the night’s headliner, flyweight champion Vanessa Porto took on Mexico’s Karina Rodríguez in an all-out war. Unfortunately, Rodríguez missed weight for the bout and fight became a non-title affair. The reach advantage of Rodríguez came into play early, as she was able to connect with Porto from range. The Brazilian answered with a strong right hand and then changed levels for a big slam. Rodríguez showed great scrambling ability to get back to her feet, but Porto was able to secure more takedowns. The latter part of the round was controlled by Porto and her wrestling. The left eye of Rodríguez swelled badly to open round two. The Mexican fighter was unfazed, securing the clinch and kneeing Porto multiple times in the face. Blood poured from Porto’s nose, but she moved forward aggressively. A right hand from Porto damaged Rodríguez’s nose midway through the frame. Another big knee from Rodríguez landed, prompting a late takedown from Porto. Both fighters wore plenty of damage entering the final round. Rodríguez became more confident, moving forward and firing punches. Porto tried repeatedly to bring the fight to the ground, but was met with more knees. The nose of Porto leaked blood and her right eye swelled, but she was able to secure a late takedown. The fight was sent to the judges for a verdict and it was Porto who walked away with the victory.

Strawweight Mallory Martin continued her winning ways, defeating Cynthia Arceo on the scorecards. Arceo scored with a short left hand early as she bounced on her feet. Martin closed the distance and secured a takedown with an outside trip. After a series of left hands, Arceo worked back to her feet. The Texas fighter used her kicking arsenal to control the range late in the round. The second round started well for Arceo as she cracked Martin with a straight right hand. However, she threw a kick that Martin caught and was planted on the ground once again. Martin patiently passed to side control and eventually the mount. Once in mount, Martin delivered heavy ground and pound, battering the promotional newcomer with elbows and punches. Arceo showed heart to survive the round. Arceo found success early in round three by using her kicks to stay on the outside. Martin countered with her lead hook, but eventually changed levels and returned the fight to the mat. She again earned the mount and rained more elbows, but could not find the finish. Martin moved to 6-2 with the decision win.

Flyweights Shanna Young and Maiju Suotama met for a second time, with Young again coming out victorious. The opening round was a flashback to the pair’s previous bout at Phoenix Rising 2, as Finland’s Suotama was able to get Young to the canvas and take her back. Suotama tried to soften up Young with punches and looked for a rear-naked choke. Young was able to survive and the fight went to a second round. Young took control with her striking, dropping Suotama with a massive left hand. She continued to damage Suotama with punches, bloodying her nose. Suotama tried to get the fight back to the ground, but Young showcased a great sprawl. Young gained top position late in the round and delivered heavy punishment. Suotama pulled guard early in round three, attacking with an armbar. Young punched her way free and pounded on the Finn from side control. Late in the round, Young moved to mount and unleashed punch after punch. Suotama made it to the final bell, but Young walked away with the decision nod.

Bantamweight Lisa Verzosa remained unbeaten after a three-round war with New Hampshire’s Kerri Kenneson. Verzosa pressured forward from the opening bell, delivering a right hand along the cage. She looked to follow it up with more punches, but Kenneson caught her with a clean right hand that sent her crashing to the canvas. Verzosa recovered and continued to march forward. Kenneson scored with a left hook to the body and closed the round with a takedown attempt. The pair exchanged early in round two, with Verzosa attacking the body of Kenneson in the clinch. Kenneson threw a variety of kicks, trying to slow the unrelenting advance of Verzosa. In the last five minutes, both fighters had their moments. Verzosa stayed in the face of Kenneson, causing her nose to bleed with punches. A left hook to right straight combination from Verzosa forced Kenneson to shoot for a takedown, but Verzosa countered with a guillotine choke attempt. The back-and-forth battle went the distance, with Verzosa claiming victory.

Auttumn Norton picked up her first career win after battering Shaianna Rincón over three rounds in their featherweight match-up. After taking turns landing heavy shots in the fight’s first stanza, Norton stunned Rincón with a right hand. The fight swung heavily in Norton’s favor in round two as Norton caught a kick and dumped Rincón to the ground. Once on top, Norton unleashed a barrage of punches and elbows that split open Rincón. Despite the onslaught, Rincón survived the round. Round three was largely a carbon copy of the second, as Norton put Rincón on the mat and landed more ground and pound. The fight saw the final bell, but it was a clean sweep for Norton on the scorecards.

The night kicked off with a clash of bantamweight newcomers as New York’s Taneisha Tennant met Las Vegas-based Serena DeJesus. After a brief feeling-out process, Tennant dropped DeJesus with right hand. DeJesus would survive and fire back with kicks. In round two, DeJesus turned the tables, stunning Tennant with a left hand and landing numerous low kicks. With the fight in the balance in the final frame, Tennant bloodied the nose of DeJesus with a big left hook. She finished strong with a right hand that hurt DeJesus. All three judges rewarded Tennant the decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Kanako Murata def. Emily Ducote by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) – for strawweight title
Vanessa Porto def. Karina Rodríguez by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Mallory Martin def. Cynthia Arceo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Shanna Young def. Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision (29-27, 28-27, 28-26)
Lisa Verzosa def. Kerri Kenneson by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Auttumn Norton def. Shaianna Rincón by unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
Taneisha Tennant def. Serena DeJesus by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships 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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

Murata

Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote Official Weigh-in Results

by News

Kansas City, Mo. — On Thursday, Oct. 31, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, Nov.1 , with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

In the night’s main event, Japan’s Kanako Murata (10-1) battles veteran Emily Ducote (8-5) for the vacant strawweight championship. Murata submitted Liana Pirosin in her promotional debut at Invicta FC 35. Oklahoma’s Ducote impressed in her first Invicta appearance, stopping former title challenger Janaisa Morandin in the first round.

The co-main event pits flyweight champion Vanessa Porto (21-8) against contender tournament winner Karina Rodríguez (8-3) in a non-title affair, after Rodríguez failed to make weight. The Brazilian Porto captured gold at Invicta FC 34, defeating UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez. Mexico’s Rodriguez most recently earned a hard-fought decision victory over UFC alum DeAnna Bennett at Invicta FC 36.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins.

Strawweight Title: Kanako Murata (114.9) vs. Emily Ducote (114.2)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (124.2) vs. Karina Rodríguez (126.1)*
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (115.8) vs. Cynthia Arceo (116)
Flyweight: Shanna Young (125.7) vs. Maiju Suotama (124.2)
Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa (135.5) vs. Kerri Kenneson (135.6)
Featherweight: Shaianna Rincón (143.8) vs. Auttumn Norton (146)
Bantamweight: Serena DeJesus (135.7) vs. Taneisha Tennant (135.9)

* – Rodríguez missed the flyweight championship limit of 125 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse. Her bout against Porto is now a three-round, non-title bout.

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships 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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

Porto

Invicta FC 38 Features Two Title Fights on Nov. 1

by News

Kansas City, Mo. – The fight card for Invicta FC 38 will feature a pair of title bouts.

Flyweight champion Vanessa Porto (21-8) will make the first defense of her 125-pound title against contender tournament winner Karina Rodríguez (8-3). The Brazilian Porto captured gold at Invicta FC 34, defeating UFC veteran Pearl Gonzalez by decision. Mexico’s Rodriguez earned her shot at gold with a hard-fought decision victory over UFC alum DeAnna Bennett in the Invicta FC 36 main event.

The co-main event also features gold on the line as Japan’s Kanako Murata (10-1) battles veteran Emily Ducote (8-5) for the vacant strawweight championship. Murata, a decorated wrestler, submitted Liana Pirosin in her promotional debut at Invicta FC 35. Oklahoma’s Ducote has faced some of the toughest flyweights in the world and now seeks a title at 115 pounds after stopping former title challenger Janaisa Morandin at Invicta FC 36.

Joining the two title fights will be a strawweight clash between Contender Series veteran Mallory Martin (5-2) and Texas newcomer Cynthia “Sin” Arceo (5-1-1), a flyweight rematch between recent Phoenix Series 2 quarterfinalists Shanna Young (6-2) and Maiju Suotama (8-4), a bantamweight bout featuring undefeated Lisa “Battle Angel” Verzosa (4-0) — formerly Spangler — and “Scary” Kerri Kenneson (3-1), the return of California’s Shaianna “Yaya” Rincón (2-0) against Nevada’s Auttumn Norton (0-1) at featherweight, and the debut of Las Vegas bantamweight Serena de Jesus (1-0), who takes on fellow newcomer Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant (1-0) of New York.

Invicta FC 38 takes place Friday, Nov. 1, from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event can be purchased now through Eventbrite.

The current Invicta FC 38 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto vs. Karina Rodríguez
Strawweight Title: Kanako Murata vs. Emily Ducote
Strawweight: Mallory Martin vs. Cynthia Arceo
Flyweight: Shanna Young vs. Maiju Suotama
Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa vs. Kerri Kenneson
Featherweight: Shaianna Rincón vs. Auttumn Norton
Bantamweight: Serena DeJesus vs. Taneisha Tennant

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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

DXM_5803

Invicta FC 37 Results: Gonzalez Outworks Sanchez, Agapova Stops Santos

by NewsOfficial Results

Kansas City, Kan. — On Friday, Oct. 4, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 37: Gonzalez vs. Sanchez from Memorial Hall. The entire fight card aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Former flyweight title challenger Pearl Gonzalez returned to the win column, putting the first blemish on the record of Guam’s Brogan Sanchez in the nights’ headliner. Sanchez was the aggressor early, peppering Gonzalez with kicks and scoring with a left hand. Gonzalez looked for a head-and-arm throw, but Sanchez reversed it and attempted to take her back. Gonzalez was patient and secured top position. Sanchez worked hard to get back to the feet, but Gonzalez again used the head-and-arm throw, this time landing in side control. Gonzalez would spend the final minute of the frame on top of Sanchez. Round two was much more tactical. Sanchez controlled the range with a variety of kicks. Gonzalez returned fire, as both fighters landed with heavy body blows. Gonzalez looked for the same throw a third time and ended up on bottom after Sanchez anticipated the technique. Sanchez worked to take the back, but Gonzalez spun to top position in the round’s waning seconds. The final round saw the fighters jostle for position in the clinch. Gonzalez separated and landed a solid right hand. Sanchez sought a takedown and ended up giving up one as Gonzalez capitalized on her desperation late in the fight. The fight would go the distance, but all three judges at cageside rewarded Gonzalez for her efforts.

In a battle of Contender Series veterans, Mariya Agapova scored a TKO win over Marilia Santos. The two went straight to work, exchanging heavy punches in the pocket. Santos ducked under a punch from Agapova and secured a body lock. She attempted a lateral drop, but Agapova was wise to it and landed in the top position. After a pair of right hands from the Kazakhstan native, Santos looked for an armbar. Agapova defended and escaped the position. Late in the round, Agapova delivered multiple elbows to the Brazilian’s head. She smelled the finish and flurried with punches, forcing the referee to intervene.

California’s Kay Hansen gave Brazilian Nicolle Caliari a rude welcome to the Invicta cage in their strawweight affair. The pair traded kicks before Hansen muscled Caliari to the ground and quickly took her back. Hansen worked hard for a rear-naked choke, but Caliari was able to defend. Caliari eventually made her way back to her feet, then looked for a takedown. Hansen countered with a guillotine, but Caliari survived the round. Hansen took the fight to the canvas early in round two, producing an omoplata attempt from the Brazilian. Hansen scrambled and took Caliari’s back, then transitioned to mount. Caliari remained calm and got back to her feet, only to be slammed by Hansen moments later. Round three began with another takedown by Hansen. She moved to mount and attacked with another guillotine choke. This time, Caliari was forced to tap.

The atomweight contest between veterans Lindsey VanZandt and Shino VanHoose came to quick and unfortunate end. After a couple of short exchanges on the feet, VanZandt landed a devastating low kick to the lead leg of VanHoose. The kick buckled VanHoose’s left knee and she fell to the canvas in pain. The referee immediately stepped in and handed VanZandt the TKO victory.

Undefeated atomweights clashed as Kentucky’s Linda Mihalec faced off with Marisa Messer-Belenchia. The first round was largely a war of attrition in the clinch. Messer-Belenchia pushed Mihalec to the fence and worked hard for a takedown. Mihalec defended with knees, but eventually the fight found the ground with Messer-Belenchia controlling from the top. A late reversal from Mihalec saw her deliver heavy strikes. Messer-Belenchia secured a quick throw in round two, and she looked to set up a north-south choke. Mihalec reversed position and mounted Messer-Belenchia. She rained heavy strikes, but Messer-Belenchia was able to survive the round. An inadvertent clash of heads early in round three caused a large cut on Mihalec, but it didn’t affect her performance as she outworked Messer-Belenchia for the decision win.

Bantamweight Hope Chase made a strong impression during her first Invicta appearance, submitting Megan Cawley inside the first round. After a brief feeling-out process, Chase powered Cawley to the ground and unleashed a barrage of punches. Cawley attacked with an armbar, but Chase escaped and passed to side control. Following more strikes, Cawley gave up her back and Chase locked in a fight-finishing rear-naked choke.

In a battle of flyweight newcomers, Colorado’s Claire Johnson submitted Minnesota’s Jordan Kaaze. The first round saw Johnson take control in the clinch and bring the fight to the mat. Once on top, Johnson was able to control the round and score with punches from the top. Round two was nearly a carbon-copy of the first, as Johnson was able to get in close and take Kaaze to the ground. She passed to side control and delivered a barrage of elbows. Kaaze absorbed the shots, but was unable to work back to her feet. In the final frame, Johnson scored with a trip takedown and worked to Kaaze’s back. She attacked with a reverse triangle before latching onto an armbar and coercing the tap from Kaaze.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pearl Gonzalez def. Brogan Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mariya Agapova def. Marilia Santos by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 4:55
Kay Hansen def. Nicolle Caliari by submission (guillotine choke). Round 3, 1:14
Lindsey VanZandt def. Shino VanHoose by TKO (knee injury). Round 1, 0:39
Linda Mihalec def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Hope Chase def. Megan Cawley by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:28
Claire Johnson def. Jordan Kaaze by submission (armbar). Round 3, 2:20

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships 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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

Gonzalez

Invicta FC 37: Gonzalez vs. Sanchez Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Thursday, Oct. 3, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 37: Gonzalez vs. Sanchez. The event takes place from from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 4, with the entire card streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

Flyweights headline the event as Pearl Gonzalez (9-4) takes on Brogan “Killer Bee” Sanchez (6-0). The Chicago native Gonzalez is a UFC veteran and former flyweight title challenger. Guam’s Sanchez — formerly Walker — has opened her career with six straight victories, including two straight inside the Invicta cage.

The card will also feature a pair of Contender Series veterans as Kazakhstan’s Mariya Agapova (7-1) makes a quick turnaround following her first-round submission win over Alexa Conners at Phoenix Series 2 to battle Brazilian Marilia Santos (10-3).

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins.

Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez (125.7) vs. Brogan Sanchez (125.5)
Flyweight: Mariya Agapova (125.9) vs. Marilia Santos (125.5)
Strawweight: Kay Hansen (116) vs. Nicolle Caliari (116.2)*
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose (106) vs. Lindsey VanZandt (105.3)
Atomweight: Linda Mihalec (105.5) vs. Marisa Messer-Belenchia (106)
Bantamweight: Megan Cawley (135.6) vs. Hope Chase (135.8)
Flyweight: Jordan Kaaze (125.4) vs. Claire Johnson (125.6)

* – Caliari missed the strawweight limit of 116 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships 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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Flyweights Pearl Gonzalez and Brogan Sanchez Now Headline Invicta FC 37

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Kansas City, Mo. – Invicta FC 37 has a new headliner.

Atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey (8-4) has been forced out of her scheduled title defense against No. 1 contender Ashley Cummins (7-4) due to injury. The bout will be rescheduled for Invicta FC 39.

Stepping into the main event spotlight will be the flyweight contest between Pearl Gonzalez (9-4) and Brogan “Killer Bee” Sanchez (6-0). The Chicago native Gonzalez is a UFC veteran and former flyweight title challenger. Guam’s Sanchez — formerly Walker — has opened her career with six straight victories, including two straight inside the Invicta cage.

In addition to the new headliner, a bantamweight bout has joined the fight card as Florida’s Megan “Killa” Cawley (0-1) returns to the Invicta cage against newcomer “Hurricane” Hope Chase (1-1) of Pennsylvania.

Invicta FC 37 takes place Friday, Oct. 4, from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event can be purchased now through Eventbrite.

The updated Invicta FC 37 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez vs. Brogan Sanchez
Flyweight: Mariya Agapova vs. Marilia Santos
Strawweight: Kay Hansen vs. Nicolle Caliari
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose vs. Lindsey VanZandt
Atomweight: Linda Mihalec vs. Marisa Messer-Belenchia
Bantamweight: Megan Cawley vs. Hope Chase
Flyweight: Jordan Kaaze vs. Claire Johnson

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships 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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.

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Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Cummins Title Clash Headlines Invicta FC 37 Fight Card

by News

Kansas City, Mo. – The lineup for Invicta FC 37 has been finalized.

The event, which takes place Friday, Oct. 4, from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., will be headlined by an atomweight title clash between current champion Jinh Yu Frey (8-4) and challenger Ashley “Smashley” Cummins (7-4). The pair met previously at Invicta FC 24 in 2017 with the Texas-based Frey taking a decision victory in the three-round affair. Frey would go on to capture the 105-pound title against Finland’s Minna Grusander and defend the belt in a rematch at Invicta FC 33. Cummins has won two straight since her prior meeting with Frey, most recently defeating Brazil’s Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 32.

In the night’s co-main event, UFC veteran and former flyweight title challenger Pearl Gonzalez (9-4) takes on unbeaten Brogan “Killer Bee” Walker-Sanchez (6-0) of Guam. The Chicago native Gonzalez will look to rebound after coming up short against current champion Vanessa Porto in her last outing. Walker-Sanchez will be making her third appearance in the Invicta cage and aims to build off her decision win over recent Phoenix Series tournament winner Miranda Maverick.

The card will also feature a pair of Contender Series veterans as Kazakhstan’s Mariya Agapova (7-1) makes a quick turnaround following her first-round submission win over Alexa Conners at Phoenix Series 2 to battle Brazilian Marilia Santos (10-3). Fresh off a win in a Phoenix Series tournament reserve bout, California’s Kay Hansen (4-3) returns to welcome 22-year-old Brazilian Nicolle Caliari (4-1) to the Invicta cage. Veterans atomweights meet when Idaho’s Shino VanHoose (6-5) takes on New York’s Lindsey “Damsel” VanZandt (6-2). Newcomers Linda “F109” Mihalec (1-0) of Kentucky and Marisa “Spider Monkey” Messer-Belenchia (3-0) of Connecticut collide, also at 105 pounds. Finally, in a match-up of debuting flyweights, Minnesota’s Jordan “KamiKaaze” Kaaze (0-0) faces Colorado’s Claire Johnson (0-0).

The Invicta FC 37 fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Jinh Yu Frey vs. Ashley Cummins
Flyweight: Pearl Gonzalez vs. Brogan Walker-Sanchez
Flyweight: Mariya Agapova vs. Marilia Santos
Strawweight: Kay Hansen vs. Nicolle Caliari
Atomweight: Shino VanHoose vs. Lindsey VanZandt
Atomweight: Linda Mihalec vs. Marisa Messer-Belenchia
Flyweight: Jordan Kaaze vs. Claire Johnson

Invicta FC 37 will stream live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event can be purchased now through Eventbrite.

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships 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 (Facebook.com/InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.