Megan Anderson

Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet Official Weigh-in Results

Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Jan. 13, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, Jan. 14 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, Australia’s Megan Anderson (7-2) and Canada’s Charmaine Tweet (9-5) battle for the interim featherweight title. Anderson, who now resides in Kansas City, enters the match-up having won three straight fights, including back-to-back, first-round knockout victories over Peggy Morgan and Amanda Bell. A former title challenger, Tweet returned to the promotion in May, delivering a first-round finish of Latoya Walker via spinning backfist. The victory extended her current winning streak to three.

The co-main event features a bantamweight match-up between Sweden’s Pannie Kianzad (8-1) and Hawaii’s Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5).

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

Interim Featherweight Title: Megan Anderson (144.5) vs. Charmaine Tweet (143.5)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (135.8) vs. Raquel Pa’aluhi (135.0) 
Featherweight: Elizabeth Phillips (145.9) vs. Leah Letson (145.6)
Bantamweight: Sijara Eubanks (135.7) vs. Aspen Ladd (135.3)
Flyweight: 
Andrea Lee (125.1) vs. Jenny Liou (126.0)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (115.7) vs. Celine Haga (115.1)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (126.0) vs. Christine Ferea (125.3)

* – The 120-pound catchweight bout between Jodie Esquibel and Kali Robbins has been canceled. Esquibel weighed in at 118.8 pounds, while Robbins missed weight at 126.4 pounds.


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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Elizabeth Phillips vs. Leah Letson Added to Invicta FC 21, Hardy-Carpenter Canceled

Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 21 has undergone a last-minute change.

Debuting flyweight Brieta Carpenter (0-0) suffered a concussion during training for her match-up with boxing world champion Heather Hardy (0-0) and has been forced off the fight card. Due to the timing of the change, a replacement opponent could not be found before the event. Hardy will be rescheduled for a future event.

Despite losing the flyweight bout, the fight card has added another bout. UFC veteran Elizabeth Phillips (5-4) will make her promotional debut against fellow newcomer Leah “Nidas” Letson (3-1) in a featherweight match-up.

Invicta FC 21 will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. The event will be headlined by an interim featherweight title fight between Megan Anderson (7-2) and Charmaine Tweet (9-5).

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 21 can be found below:

Interim Featherweight Title: Megan Anderson (7-2) vs. Charmaine Tweet (9-5)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-1) vs. Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5)
Catchweight (120 pounds): Jodie Esquibel (5-2) vs. Kali Robbins (4-0)
Featherweight: Elizabeth Phillips (5-4) vs. Leah Letson (3-1)
Bantamweight: Sijara Eubanks (2-1) vs. Aspen Ladd (4-0)
Flyweight: 
Andrea Lee (4-2) vs. Jenny Liou (6-4)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (7-2) vs. Celine Haga (10-13)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (3-2) vs. Christine Ferea (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 21 can be purchased via Ticketfly.com.


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.

ifc21-heatherhardyheat

Heather Hardy: Bringing ‘The Heat’

Change is an inevitable part of life. And with it comes adversity. How one handles change and adversity defines who a person is.

No one knows this better than Brooklyn’s Heather Hardy.

The 34-year-old has overcome everything life has thrown her way. From being raped at a young age to raising a teenage daughter as a single parent, Hardy has stood tall and fought her way through life’s challenges. That fighting spirit has led to an undefeated boxing record and multiple world titles.

Yet, despite her success in the boxing ring, Hardy is now turning her attention to MMA. She’s approaching this change with confidence.

“As an amateur, I did kickboxing and Muay Thai. So, ever since I started boxing, everyone asks, ‘Are you gonna do MMA? Are you gonna learn jiu-jitsu?’ I decided to take the boxing route because you can’t just be OK at everything. You have to be great at something. So I always said if I was going to do MMA, it was going to be after I was great at boxing. And I’m great at boxing,” said Hardy with a laugh.

Although Hardy has been focused on the boxing ring for the better part of the last five years, she has managed to incorporate aspects of MMA into her training regimen.

“I used to hang out at Ray Longo’s school. I did some kickboxing with one of the girls who trains up there, so I did some wrestling with Jamie Franco — he was teaching me throws — but I was using it as cross training. Even when I fought Shelly Vincent this summer, I’d go up there and throw people on the floor,” explained Hardy. “Just a little before this fight camp, I started working with Rob Constance at Renzo Gracie on some judo and jiu-jitsu.”

Even with double-digit boxing wins on her resume, Hardy has found MMA training to be quite the challenge. However, like everything else in her life, she’s taken it in stride.

“It is overwhelming. That’s a great word to describe it,” said Hardy. “But good thing I’m a mom, because I’m accustomed to stuff that is way overwhelming.

“It’s completely different from a boxing training camp. I fired my strength-and-conditioning coach because I don’t have time to be lifting weights. I’m lifting people four days a week! Even running, I used to do a sprint day [and] a long run day, just for stamina. But with all the grappling and MMA sparring, I don’t have time for all the other workouts. My training has been 90 percent learning, not just working out.”

With so much to learn, Hardy has experienced a gamut of emotions. What once seemed like just another fight camp has led to Hardy questioning her sanity at times when the cage door shuts.

“In the beginning, people were asking if I was crazy or nervous. But I was like, no, I’m fighting. It’s just a fight,” recalled Hardy.

“When I had my very first amateur fight, I remember the girl I was fighting owned her own karate school. I told my mom she owns her own karate school, and [my mom] asked me, ‘If you were on the street and she stole your wallet, would you give a damn what she owned?’

“[So] when I said I was going to do this fight, I thought to myself that it’s just like the street. Now, I’m getting inside the cage and I’m asking myself, ‘What is wrong with you, Heather Hardy?’”

Hardy might have a light-hearted approach regarding her mental state while training, but make no mistake, she isn’t taking MMA lightly. Her boxing career set one hell of a precedent for the New York fighter, but she believes she can repeat her success in MMA.

“I rushed my boxing career and that turned out all right,” she quipped with a laugh. “I had my first amateur boxing fight within three weeks of first putting on gloves. Within 18 months, I had won every title you could win at 125 pounds as an amateur. This is my third year as a pro boxer and I’m 18-0, undefeated, with a string of accomplishments. Maybe some people are just meant to have a fire under their feet.

“I’m a very focused person. It’s not that I expect to find the same success, but I expect to do the best I can do. I’ve never gotten into a fight and said, ‘I wish I had trained that extra day.’ I never leave it to chance. Anything I can do, I do. So far, it’s worked. We’ll see how MMA turns out.”

Dubbed “The Heat” by her trainers, Hardy used to rely on her heart every time she stepped into the ring. Over time, her skill set began to grow and technique took over. If things don’t go as planned in her MMA debut at Invicta FC 21, she plans to fall back on her experience in the ring and the advice of uncrowned boxing legend Leon “Cat” Taylor.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know sh*t, so I was just in there surviving. Now I have a lot more fighting sense,” said Hardy. “I’m a pressure fighter. I throw a lot of punches and I don’t get tired. I’ll stay right up in your ass every minute of every round. I bring the heat.

“Leon Taylor used to tell me, ‘Box smart and use your jab, but if that fails, you take it to the streets.’ I’m always ready to do some smart boxing, but if I have to, I’m ready to take it to the streets.”

Hardy’s frequent references to the streets shed light on her upbringing, as well as one of the toughest moments of her life. At just 12 years old, she was raped. Fearing repercussions, she largely kept it secret. Now, as one of the world’s elite female combat athletes, Hardy wants to make sure no one has to live through a similar situation.

“In the beginning, I thought there was a fine line between being an advocate and someone who people thought was complaining and crying,” admitted Hardy. “But someone told me once to imagine the girl who didn’t fight through it. It’s still eating her up inside. She’s still afraid.

“To be in a position where I’m a successful female athlete — they think I’m strong, I’m tough, independent — I think it’s important for them to know where I came from and how hard I had to work to get here. Even though these things happened, not only did I survive, but I’m thriving. I use it to fuel me, to do better, to have better, to be better, to make better for my child.”

Hardy’s traumatic experience is hardly the only adversity she’s faced. After graduating with a degree in Forensic Psychology, Hardy became pregnant. Eventually she divorced and began raising her daughter alone. That’s no easy task for a boxing world champion and aspiring MMA fighter.

“Oh my gosh, it’s hard to do anything while raising a daughter. My daughter is almost 13. As much as I love her, she’s a massive pain in the ass,” Hardy joked. “[She] takes all my money, wears all my clothes.

“It’s challenging for any single parent to have a career, especially a fighting career. There’s travel, selling tickets, training, working. Female boxing doesn’t get the same recognition, so we don’t get the same pay the guys do. I may be 18-0, but I’m still working a full-time job, taking my daughter back and forth to school, and trying to train and win my fights.”

With such a full plate, it would be easy for Hardy to fear her upcoming Invicta debut. But having battled through so much in life, she’s relishing the moment.

“I’m not nervous; I’m excited,” said Hardy. “When you’re in the amateurs, you get that whole ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this’ feeling like it’s Christmas Eve. I haven’t gotten that feeling in so long. With pro boxing, I have so many things, but now I’m still learning. It’s a different kind of nerves [and] excitement.

“But I don’t worry about the big stage; I love it. I’d like to thank Shannon [Knapp, Invicta President] for giving me the opportunity. I won’t let anybody down. I’m looking forward to this next part of my life with Invicta.”

If Hardy’s past is any indication, MMA won’t be too much to handle for the Brooklyn native. In fact, she’s likely to continue to help set the bar for women in combat sports. After all, she’s never faced a change or adversity she couldn’t overcome.

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Megan Anderson vs. Charmaine Tweet Elevated To Interim Featherweight Title Fight

Kansas City, Mo. — A title will be on the line at Invicta Fighting Championships 21.

The previously announced main event between Megan Anderson (7-2) and Charmaine Tweet (9-5) will now be a five-round affair for the interim featherweight championship.

The fight will mark Anderson’s first chance at Invicta gold. The Australian, who now resides in Kansas City, enters the match-up having won three straight fights. The streak, which includes back-to-back, first-round knockout victories over Peggy Morgan and Amanda Bell, earned the 26-year-old the 2016 Invicta FC Fan Choice Awards for “Fighter of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year.”

A former title challenger, Canada’s Tweet returned to the promotion in May, delivering her own “Knockout of the Year” contender with a first-round finish of Latoya Walker via spinning backfist. The victory extended her current winning streak to three.

Additionally, former strawweight title challenger DeAnna Bennett (8-2) has been forced out of her bout with Jodie Esquibel (5-2). Replacing Bennett will be undefeated newcomer Kali “Pop Tart” Robbins (4-0), and the match-up with Esquibel will now be a 120-pound catchweight. Robbins, who hails from Milwaukee, has finished all four of her professional wins, including three inside the first round.

Invicta FC 21 will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The updated fight card for Invicta FC 21 can be found below:

Interim Featherweight Title: Megan Anderson (7-2) vs. Charmaine Tweet (9-5)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-1) vs. Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5)
Catchweight (120 pounds): Jodie Esquibel (5-2) vs. Kali Robbins (4-0)
Bantamweight: Sijara Eubanks (2-1) vs. Aspen Ladd (4-0)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (4-2) vs. Jenny Liou (6-4)
Flyweight: Heather Hardy (0-0) vs. Brieta Carpenter (0-0)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (7-2) vs. Celine Haga (10-13)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (3-2) vs. Christine Ferea (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 21 can be purchased via Ticketfly.com.


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.

Lee

Invicta FC 21 Fight Card Complete with Addition of Three Fights

Kansas City, Mo. — The lineup for Invicta Fighting Championships 21 is complete.

Joining the previously announced five bouts will be three additional match-ups.

Flyweight Andrea Lee (4-2) will welcome Jenny Liou (6-4) back to the Invicta cage. Lee will be making her fifth appearance with the promotion, while Liou will compete at 125 pounds after two previous bouts at strawweight under the Invicta banner.

Also at flyweight, Hawaii’s Rachael Ostovich (3-2) will take on newcomer Christine Ferea (0-0). The 25-year-old Ostovich will look to build off her win at Invicta FC 17 over Ariel Beck. Ferea will make her professional MMA debut after compiling an amateur MMA record of 3-1. “Misfit” also has professional Muay Thai experience with the Las Vegas-based Lion Fight promotion.

Finally, strawweight Amy Montenegro (7-2) will fight for the third time in the Invicta cage against veteran Celine Haga (10-13). Montenegro has won four of her last five, with the lone loss coming via split decision against current UFC fighter Jamie Moyle at Invicta FC 13. Norway’s Haga rides the momentum of nine wins in her last 11 bouts, including four straight first-round submission victories.

Invicta FC 21 will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. The night’s main event will feature a featherweight clash between Megan Anderson (7-2) and Charmaine Tweet (9-5).

The complete fight card for Invicta FC 21 can be found below:

Featherweight: Megan Anderson (7-2) vs. Charmaine Tweet (9-5)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-2) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-2)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-1) vs. Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5)
Bantamweight: Sijara Eubanks (2-1) vs. Aspen Ladd (4-0)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (4-2) vs. Jenny Liou (6-4)
Flyweight: Heather Hardy (0-0) vs. Brieta Carpenter (0-0)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (7-2) vs. Celine Haga (10-13)
Flyweight: Rachael Ostovich (3-2) vs. Christine Ferea (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 21 can be purchased via Ticketfly.com.


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.

Pa'aluhi

Invicta FC 21 Adds Four Additional Bouts

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 21 has added four bouts.

Swedish bantamweight Pannie Kianzad (8-1) will return to action against Hawaii’s Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5), undefeated Aspen Ladd (4-0) will take on grappling ace Sijara Eubanks (2-1), also at 135 pounds, veteran strawweights DeAnna Bennett (8-2) and Jodie Esquibel (5-2) square off, and newcomer Brieta Carpenter (0-0) will welcome boxing champion Heather Hardy (0-0) to the Invicta cage.

Kianzad returns to the Invicta cage after falling short against champion Tonya Evinger are Invicta FC 14 last year. Pa’aluhi, meanwhile, has won three of her last four, including wins over veterans Ediane Gomes and Kaitlin Young.

The 21-year-old Ladd has continued her winning ways since moving up to bantamweight, defeating Jessica Hoy and Kelly McGill in her last two appearances. Eubanks, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, earned her second career win via strikes at Invicta FC 18, stopping Amberlynn Orr in the first round.

Bennett, a former strawweight title challenger, will return for the first time since Invicta FC 16, where she engaged in a back-and-forth battle with veteran Roxanne Modafferi. Esquibel headlined Invicta FC 18 in July against Mexico’s Alexa Grasso.

Hardy, 34, carries an undefeated record of 18-0 in the boxing ring and currently holds the WBC international featherweight and super bantamweight titles. Carpenter signed with the promotion in June after compiling an 8-2 amateur record, including a 10-second knockout in her most recent outing.

Invicta FC 21 will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass. The night’s main event will feature a featherweight clash between Megan Anderson (7-2) and Charmaine Tweet (9-5).

The current fight card for Invicta FC 21 can be found below:

Featherweight: Megan Anderson (7-2) vs. Charmaine Tweet (9-5)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (8-1) vs. Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-2) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-2)
Bantamweight: Aspen Ladd (4-0) vs. Sijara Eubanks (2-1)
Flyweight: Heather Hardy (0-0) vs. Brieta Carpenter (0-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 21 go on sale Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. CT via Ticketfly.com. Additional bouts for the event will be announced at a later date.


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.

Evinger

Tonya Evinger Remains Invicta FC Champion After Missouri Commission Ruling

Kansas City, Mo. — Tonya Evinger is still the Invicta Fighting Championships bantamweight champion.

Following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, Evinger’s first-round submission loss to challenger Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 20 has been overturned to a no-contest.

The bout, which took place on Friday, Nov. 18, ended less than two minutes after it started, with Kunitskaya being ruled the winner via armbar. However, Evinger filed an appeal with the Missouri Office of Athletics and today the result of that appeal was decided.

As a result, the 135-pound title remains around the waist of Evinger.

Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp added that the promotion is “working on scheduling a potential rematch” of the bantamweight championship bout between Evinger and Kunitskaya as soon as possible.


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.

Megan Anderson and Charmaine Tweet

Megan Anderson vs. Charmaine Tweet Headlines Invicta FC 21

Kansas City, Mo. — The main event for Invicta Fighting Championships 21 is set.

As announced during the Invicta FC 20 broadcast, featherweights Megan Anderson (7-2) and Charmaine Tweet (9-5) will square off on Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

Australia’s Anderson, who now resides in Kansas City, rides a three-fight winning streak into the match-up. The 26-year-old has stopped five of her seven wins, including back-to-back, first-round knockout victories over Peggy Morgan and Amanda Bell inside the Invicta cage.

Tweet returned to the promotion in May, earning a first-round knockout win over Latoya Walker via spinning backfist. The victory extended her current winning streak to three. A former title challenger, Tweet has finished eight of her nine wins inside the first round.

The fight will be joined by the promotional and MMA debut of boxing world champion Heather Hardy.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 21 can be found below:

Featherweight: Megan Anderson (7-2) vs. Charmaine Tweet (9-5)
Flyweight: Heather Hardy (0-0) vs. TBA

Ticket information and additional bouts for Invicta FC 21 will be announced at a later date.


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.

Yana Kunitskaya

Invicta FC 20 Results: Kunitskaya Unseats Evinger, Hill Bests Medeiros

Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, Nov. 18, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Russia’s Yana Kunitskaya stunned the bantamweight division by submitting champion Tonya Evinger in the first round to become the new titleholder. Evinger immediately took Kunitskaya to the ground as the fight began and she started to work from side control. Kunitskaya recovered her full guard and attacked with an armbar. Evinger tried to stand and escape, but Kunitskaya locked on and forced Evinger to submit less than two minutes into the fight.

UPDATE: On Thursday, Dec. 1, the Evinger-Kunitskaya fight was overturned to a no-contest by the Missouri Office of Athletics.

The strawweight title stayed around the waist of Angela Hill after five hard-fought rounds against challenger Kaline Medeiros. Medeiros came out looking to bring the fight to the ground, but once there, she was forced to defend a deep triangle attempt from the champion, as well as numerous elbows. The takedowns of Medeiros were the story of the second round, as she was able to keep Hill down on the mat. As the fight turned toward the championship rounds, it was Hill’s footwork and efficiency in her striking that were the story. She was patient and selective with her offense, frustrating Medeiros from the outside. Medeiros showed heart, coming forward until the final bell, but it wasn’t enough, as all three judges gave Hill the decision.

Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio showcased an improved striking attack to get the best of Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision. The Brazilian Tiburcio’s speed advantage was evident from the opening bell as she fired combination after combination. She then took Soukupova to the ground and punished her with ground and pound. It was more of the same in the middle frame as Tiburcio peppered Soukupova with punches and outside leg kicks. Soukupova found her range late in round two and carried it into round three. She pinned Tiburcio to the fence and scored with knees. It was too little, too late, however, as Tiburcio claimed victory.

Making her Invicta debut, strawweight Ashley Yoder ruined the 115-pound debut of former atomweight title challenger Amber Brown. Brown lived up to her “Bully” moniker early in the fight, powering Yoder to the canvas and moving to the mount. Yoder stayed composed, recovering her half guard and then using an omoplata to sweep to the top position. Once on top, Yoder turned the tide of the fight. The second stanza saw Yoder score with a beautiful hip toss along the cage. Brown tried to escape out the back, but Yoder used her hips to pin Brown to the mat and rained punches. Brown left her arm exposed and Yoder slapped on a deep armbar to coerce the tap.

The match-up between Pam Sorenson and Australia’s Jessica-Rose Clark was a grueling affair, with Sorenson earning a split decision win in her Invicta debut. The pair jostled for position along the fence throughout the first round as both fighters tried to wrestle the other to the ground. In round two, Clark muscled Sorenson to the mat, but it was Sorenson that went on the offensive. She repeatedly threatened with armbar attempts, preventing Clark from attacking. Sorenson’s striking was on point in the final round, as Clark’s output waned. When it was all said and done, Sorenson walked away victorious.

In her return to the promotion, strawweight J.J. Aldrich put on a boxing clinic against veteran Lynn Alvarez. Alvarez did her best to control the distance with kicks, but Aldrich was patient with her counter striking. Once Aldrich found her range with her left hand, she peppered the face of Alvarez with straight punches. Midway through the fight, the left eye of Alvarez was heavily bruised. Aldrich never slowed down; delivering a steady stream of strikes that further damaged the face of Alvarez. There was never any doubt on the scorecards as Aldrich swept the scorecards.

Bantamweight Alexa Conners got in the win column, spoiling the promotional debut of Swiss judoka Stephanie Egger. The pair spent the majority of the fight on the feet, with Conners pressing the action. Egger frequently found herself with her back to the cage, but she used her reach to keep Conners at range. As the fight progressed, Conners began attacking the body and nearly earned a stoppage in the final frame. On the scorecards, two of the three judges rewarded Conners with the split decision verdict.

Kicking off the action, strawweight Miranda Maverick submitted fellow newcomer Samantha Diaz by rear-naked choke in the first round. The pair tried to gauge their range on the feet, but Maverick eventually took the fight to the mat. She was forced to defend an armbar attempt from Diaz, but she eventually took Diaz’s back and locked in the fight-finishing choke.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Yana Kunitskaya def. Tonya Evinger by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:59 – for bantamweight title
Angela Hill def. Kaline Medeiros by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Herica Tiburcio def. Simona Soukupova by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ashley Yoder def. Amber Brown by submission (armbar). Round 2, 2:31
Pam Sorenson def. Jessica-Rose Clark by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
J.J. Aldrich def. Lynn Alvarez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alexa Conners def. Stephanie Egger by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Samantha Diaz by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:26


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.

Heather Hardy vs Kirstie Simmons

Boxing World Champion Heather Hardy Signs With Invicta FC

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has added a new face to its flyweight roster.

Two-division boxing world champion Heather Hardy has signed with the promotion and is expected to make her MMA debut at Invicta FC 21.

Hardy, 34, carries an undefeated record of 18-0 in the boxing ring. She currently holds the WBC international female featherweight and super bantamweight titles and has a background in kickboxing and Muay Thai. “The Heat” is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.

An opponent for Hardy’s debut has not been finalized at this time.

Invicta FC 21 will take place Saturday, Jan. 14 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event will air live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.


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.