FariaMillsSherdog

Invicta FC 54 Adds Strawweight Veteran Kalindra Faria to Fight Card

BOSTON — The fight card Invicta Fighting Championships 54 has added more star power for the promotion’s debut in Boston on Friday, Oct. 27.

Brazilian Kalindra Faria (19-9-1) brings a wealth of combat sports experience into the night’s co-main event, as she squares off with her countrywoman Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (12-4) in a strawweight collision. Machado’s original opponent, Isis Verbeek, has been forced off the card, setting up the all-Brazil showdown. Faria, a three-fight UFC veteran, has faced a who’s who of competition during her 14-year career including former Invicta titleholders Jennifer Maia and Vanessa Porto, as well as strawweight contenders Cláudia Gadelha, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Joanne Calderwood.

Also joining the card is a bantamweight match-up between Canadian “Sweet” Maria Djukic (2-1) and Massachusetts-based Brazilian “Ferocious” Fernanda Araujo (2-3). Djukic aims to rebound from a spirited battle at Invicta FC 48 opposite the hard-hitting Auttumn Norton. Araujo carries with her a judo black belt and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt into the bout in her own backyard.

Invicta FC 54 will take place from the Citizens House of Blues and features the first title defense for strawweight champion Danni “Mac” McCormack (7-2), who meets Polish challenger Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (11-3). Both fighters were in action at Invicta FC 52 in March, with McCormack making history as the promotion’s first Irish champion by dethroning the aforementioned Machado. After falling short in the Invicta FC 50 title tournament, Wójcik edged out Brazilian Ediana Silva in March to cement herself as the No. 1 contender for the 115-pound belt.

The night’s action kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook PageAXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa. Tickets to the event are available now through Ticketmaster.

The full fight card can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Danni McCormack vs. Karolina Wójcik
Strawweight: Valesca Machado vs. Kalindra Faria
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Dee Begley
Strawweight: Hilarie Rose vs. Andrea Amaro
Featherweight: Julia Dorny vs. Riley Martinez
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Fernanda Araujo


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC Makes East Coast Debut on Oct. 27 in Boston with McCormack-Wójcik Title Clash

BOSTON — Invicta Fighting Championships is headed to Beantown. The world’s premier combat sports organization for women will make its East Coast debut on Friday, Oct. 27 at Citizens House of Blues.

The event will feature the first title defense for strawweight champion Danni “Mac” McCormack (7-2), who collides with Polish challenger Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (11-3). Both fighters were in action at Invicta FC 52 in March, with McCormack making history as the promotion’s first Irish champion by dethroning Brazilian Valesca Machado after five hard-fought rounds. Wójcik, meanwhile, edged out Brazilian Ediana Silva in the co-main event to claim No. 1 contender status.

In the night’s co-main event, the aforementioned former champion Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (12-4) will meet Isis “Fight Queen” Verbeek (4-2). Machado’s title defeat snapped a four-fight winning streak and the 28-year-old will be eager to get back into title contention. Holland’s Verbeek, who now calls Florida home, will make her third appearance under the Invicta banner and hopes to build off a decision win over Melissa Oddessa at Invicta FC 48.

Also on the card, recent flyweight title challenger Kristina “Warhorse” Williams (6-4) welcomes Ireland’s Dee Begley (4-2) to the organization, Massachusetts native Hilarie Rose (6-6) takes on fellow strawweight newcomer Andrea Amaro (3-2) of Texas, Germany’s Julia Dorny (2-1) collides with “Rad” Riley Martinez (2-0) of Idaho in a featherweight contest, and Canadian bantamweight “Sweet” Maria Djukic (2-1) returns to the Invicta cage opposite Massachusetts-based Brazilian “Ferocious” Fernanda Araujo (2-3).

Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik will kick off at 8 p.m. ET, airing live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook PageAXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa. Tickets to the event will go on sale Thursday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. ET through Ticketmaster.

The full fight card can be found below:

Strawweight Title: Danni McCormack vs. Karolina Wójcik
Strawweight: Valesca Machado vs. Isis Verbeek
Flyweight: Kristina Williams vs. Dee Begley
Strawweight: Hilarie Rose vs. Andrea Amaro
Featherweight: Julia Dorny vs. Riley Martinez
Bantamweight: Maria Djukic vs. Fernanda Araujo


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 53 Results: Dos Santos Dethrones DeCoursey to Capture Atomweight Belt

DENVER — On Wednesday, May 3, Invicta Fighting Championships returned to the Mile High City, hosting Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos from ReelWorks Denver.

Rayanne dos Santos is now the third Brazilian fighter to hold the atomweight title, after dethroning Jillian DeCoursey over five, hard-fought rounds. Both fighters flicked their jab early to gauge range. A head kick attempt from DeCoursey caught the gloves of the evading Brazilian. A counter left from dos Santos found the mark and DeCoursey retreated. A flurry from dos Santos finished with a slapping leg kick. The speed of dos Santos was apparent in the exchanges, but DeCoursey was undeterred. A looping right hand from DeCoursey allowed dos Santos to drop levels and drive into a takedown. It was short lived as DeCoursey sprung to her feet and pinned dos Santos against the fence. DeCoursey locked her hands for a double-leg and dumped dos Santos to the mat, but was forced to defend a guillotine attempt as the round came to a conclusion. DeCoursey began round two with a straight right hand and drove dos Santos to the fence. Dos Santos spun DeCoursey and dropped for a takedown, only for DeCoursey to hit a switch. After jostling in the clinch, the pair separated to reveal a cut above the left brow of DeCoursey. A massive left hand stunned DeCoursey and dos Santos followed with a pair of rights. DeCoursey instinctively dove for a takedown, which dos Santos stuffed. The Brazilian moved to top position along the fence and punished DeCoursey from half guard. Dos Santos scrambled to the back of DeCoursey as the frame expired. Confidence oozed from dos Santos to start the third round. She marched forward and kept DeCoursey on the back foot. DeCoursey remained composed and looked for openings. Dos Santos tried to flurry against the cage for a second time, but DeCoursey defended well. DeCoursey opened up her kicking arsenal and began to frustrate the Brazilian. The momentum shift was obvious to start the fourth as it was DeCoursey coming forward. Dos Santos answered with an overhand right to keep DeCoursey honest. A deep single-leg attempt from DeCoursey was unsuccessful, as dos Santos scrambled to her back. As DeCoursey tried to escape, dos Santos moved to half guard. She finished the round on DeCoursey’s back. Dos Santos flicked her jab to start round five and then marched right through a head kick attempt from DeCoursey. She flurried along the cage as she kept her foot on the gas. DeCoursey fired punches, hoping to secure a comeback. Dos Santos did not give her the opportunity, calmly throwing combinations at range. A late head kick from DeCoursey clipped dos Santos, but it was too little, too late for the American. Dos Santos celebrated wildly as the final horn sounded. The result was not in question as the scorecards were read, giving dos Santos the title.

Bantamweights Olga Rubin and Claire Guthrie fought hard to establish themselves as the No. 1 contender in the night’s co-main event. Rubin came out firing a variety of strikes. Guthrie closed the distance and looked to muscle the fight to the ground. As Rubin separated, Guthrie rushed back to a single-leg attempt against the fence. From striking range, Guthrie connected with a heavy body kick. Her repeated level changes appeared to frustrate Rubin. Another body kick from Guthrie landed as Rubin walked forward. Guthrie was active from the clinch with short knees and punches. Rubin opened round two with a takedown attempt but was unsuccessful. Guthrie returned to the clinch and continued to score with volume. The heavy clinch work slowed the output from Rubin. Guthrie moved to Rubin’s back for a moment, but she couldn’t keep the fight on the ground. Rubin showcased great balance to stay on her feet, but she eventually landed on her back after a failed trip attempt. From her back, Rubin went straight to work, slapping on a buggy choke. Guthrie fought hard to escape, but ultimately succumbed to the submission. Rubin’s second-round finish was the first buggy choke in Invicta history.

Former atomweight champion Jéssica Delboni moved up in weight to take on former strawweight title challenger Danielle Taylor. The pair gauged range with low kicks to start the contest. A stiff left hook from Delboni clipped Taylor clean. A lead hook from Taylor found the jaw of Delboni and slowed her march for a moment. The pair clinched and exchanged short knees before separating. The Brazilian Delboni switched her attack to the legs of Taylor, landing both inside and outside of the thigh. A strong jab from Taylor popped the head of Delboni. A late trade of punches closed out the frame. From the southpaw stance, Delboni kicked the body of Taylor in round two. The inside leg kick of Delboni landed at will and kept Taylor moving away from range. The jab of Taylor was her most effective weapon, but she struggled to match the volume of the Brazilian. Taylor countered the low kicks with ones of her own. A clean left hook from Taylor caught Delboni clean to close the middle frame. Delboni’s forward pressure did not stop in the final five minutes. She walked through the punches of Taylor and fired ones of her own. The corner of Taylor implored her to move forward, which nearly resulted in the fight’s first takedown. Delboni settled for the clinch before separating to the middle of the cage. Both fighters threw until the final bell, but it was Delboni who took home the unanimous decision.

Brazil’s Monique Adriane spoiled the perfect record of previously unbeaten Mexican Nicole Geraldo in an atomweight clash. After a brief feeling-out process to gauge their range, Geraldo delivered a body kick. Adriane responded with a double jab. A leg kick from Geraldo was countered with a right hook from the Brazilian. Geraldo drew a reaction from the crowd with a spinning backfist, but it only found the arm of Adriane. A combination from Adriane landed and put Geraldo on her back foot for a moment. The Mexico product landed an overhand right to slow Adriane’s advance. A body kick from Geraldo found Adriane’s midsection late in the round. The pair went straight back to boxing range in round two. Adriane continued to find success with her counterstrikes. The right hand of Geraldo snuck through the Brazilian’s guard on multiple occasions to keep the fight close. Adriane fired a combination from the pocket that backed up Geraldo. The Mexican again looked for a spinning attack, but the Adriane was wise to it and evaded. A takedown attempt from Geraldo was stuffed by Adriane. The left eye of Geraldo swelled from the punches of Adriane as the fight progressed. The fight’s final frame featured an increase in Geraldo’s kick output. Adriane matched it with punches flush to the damaged eye of the Mexican. A deep shot from Geraldo nearly brought the contest to the mat for the first time, but it was Adriane who scrambled to take the back and apply a rear-naked choke. Geraldo fought hard to avoid the finish, but could not escape the perilous position. The judges were called upon to render a verdict, but there was no doubt as Adriane swept the scorecards.

The third bout of the night featured veteran flyweights Elise Pone and Liana Pirosin. The American Pone fired multiple heads kick prompting Pirosin to secure a body lock and drive the fight to the fence. Pone looked to toss the Brazilian but ended up on her back. Pirosin quickly attacked with an armbar and then took Pone’s back. Pone fought the hands of Pirosin, but was caught in a body triangle and could not escape the position. Pone began the second round with a purpose, scoring with strikes. Pirosin countered with a throw along the cage, but this time Pone was able to work back to her feet. Pone delivered elbows from the clinch. The nose of Pirosin began to bleed from the onslaught. Pirosin worked hard for a trip, but Pone kept the fight upright. After an exchange of head kicks, Pone initiated the clinch and landed more strikes. Pone landed with clinch combinations in the third round. Pirosin broke free to striking range, but absorbed more punishment in the process. Pirosin spun Pone to the cage before the American returned the favor. Pirosin changed levels for a double but Pone shrugged her off. Pirosin drove forward into the clinch but Pone inflicted more and more damage. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Pone who walked away with victor.

Brazilian atomweight Lili Ferreira welcomed Mexico’s Flor Hernandez to the Invicta cage in the second contest of the evening. A stiff jab from Hernandez was answered by a flurry from Ferreira. Hernandez pressed forward, eating looping hooks from Ferreira. From the clinch, Ferreira worked hard for a trip from double underhooks. She softened up Hernandez with knees to the body before dragging her to the ground. Ferreira quickly took the back of Hernandez and secured a body triangle. Hernandez rolled to her stomach, but Ferreira held the position. A powerful push from Hernandez spun her into the full guard of Ferreira. Hernandez dropped a series of punches from top position to close the frame. There was significant swelling under the left eye of Hernandez to start the second round. Ferreira connected with a heavy kick to the liver of Hernandez and drove into a takedown. Hernandez tried to tie up the arms of the Brazilian and was slammed to the canvas. The fight returned to the feet and Ferreira again attacked the midsection. A kick from Hernandez was caught by Ferreira and she cracked Hernandez with punches. Another heavy body kick from Ferreira found its mark to end the round. The final stanza opened with more forward pressure from Hernandez, but Ferreira was able to counter with punches. A head kick from Hernandez brushed the face of Ferreira and was followed by a right hook. The aggression of Hernandez worked against her later in the round as Ferreira ducked under her punches and took her to the ground. Ferreira pinned Hernandez against the fence and stayed heavy from top position. The fight would goes the distance and Ferreira captured the decision victory.

A flyweight clash between Ky Bennett and Kendal Holowell opened the night’s action. The pair wasted little time engaging with strikes. Holowell missed with a spinning backfist and Bennett flurried forward with punches. In the clinch, Bennett connected with multiple elbows. Holowell spun the fight to the fence, but absorbed a huge knee to her midsection. More elbows followed from Bennett as Holowell tried to recover from the body strike. Holowell latched onto a single along the fence before switching to a double and lifting Bennett to the mat. Bennett rained elbows to the side of Holowell’s head. A scramble saw Holowell take Bennett’s back and apply a body triangle. She worked for choke, but gave up position while transitioning for a triangle attempt. Bennett sprung to her feet and then earned a takedown of her own. She dropped punches from back mount to close the round. Bennett was the aggressor to start round two, marching forward with strikes. She continued to punish Holowell in the clinch with elbows. Holowell looked for a takedown, but Bennett stuffed it and delivered knees to the body. Bennett was relentless with elbows, keeping Holowell from mounting offense and driving her to the mat. A steady stream of right hands from Bennett forced the referee to intervene and halt the contest, giving her the TKO victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Rayanne dos Santos def. Jillian DeCoursey by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Olga Rubin def. Claire Guthrie by submission (buggy choke). Round 2, 4:23
Jéssica Delboni def. Danielle Taylor by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Monique Adriane def. Nicole Geraldo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Elise Pone def. Liana Pirosin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Flor Hernandez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ky Bennett def. Kendal Holowell by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:04


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

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Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos Official Weigh-in Results

DENVER — On Tuesday, May 2, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos, which takes place Wednesday, May 3 from ReelWorks Denver.

In the night’s headliner, recently crowned atomweight champion “Lionheart” Jillian DeCoursey (6-3) puts her strap on the line opposite Brazil’s Rayanne dos Santos (13-6). New York’s DeCoursey cemented herself atop the 105-pound division with a pair of dominant first-round finishes. After crushing Lindsey VanZandt in 61 seconds at Invicta FC 47, DeCoursey dethroned Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 49 to capture gold. The 27-year-old Dos Santos made a quick impression on the division in January, besting veteran Katie Saull to earn her sixth victory in her last seven bouts and establish herself as the No. 1 contender.

The co-main event will take place in the bantamweight division as former title challenger “Big Bad” Olga Rubin (8-3) collides with Denver native “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (5-1). Both fighters were victorious at Invicta FC 51 in January, with Rubin topping Serena DeJesus and Guthrie besting Auttumn Norton, both via decision.

Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. It airs live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook PageAXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa.

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

Atomweight Title: Jillian DeCoursey (104.8) vs. Rayanne dos Santos (104.3)
Bantamweight: 
Olga Rubin (135.7) vs. Claire Guthrie (135.7)
Strawweight: 
Jéssica Delboni (115.6) vs. Danielle Taylor (114.9)
Atomweight: 
Monique Adriane (105.5) vs. Nicole Geraldo (105.9)
Flyweight: 
Liana Pirosin (126) vs. Elise Pone (125.3)
Atomweight: 
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (105.3) vs. Flor Hernandez (105.8)
Flyweight: 
Ky Bennett (124.8) vs. Kendal Holowell (125.4)


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.

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Invicta FC 53 to Feature All-Women Commentary Booth

DENVER — Invicta Fighting Championships is once again breaking barriers in the world of women’s sports.

On Wednesday, May 3, the world’s premier combat sports organization for women will write a new chapter in sports history. At Invicta FC 53, the promotion will become the first major MMA organization to feature an all-women commentary team when play-by-play announcer Aly Trost Martin joins analysts Julie Kedzie and Megan Anderson on the broadcast.

Women have been a staple of the Invicta booth since its inception in 2012, with the MMA pioneer Kedzie providing invaluable insights to over 50 events. Anderson — a former Invicta FC featherweight champion — has been a regular on broadcasts for the past five years. Now, Trost Martin, who has served as an in-cage interviewer and backstage analyst for the promotion, steps into the booth to complete the veteran ensemble.

This is not Trost Martin’s first foray into a play-by-play role, as she has served in the same capacity for Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City franchise. The University of Missouri-Columbia graduate, along with her colleagues Kedzie and Anderson, will join the likes of Mary Shane (MLB), Gayle Sierens (NFL), Sherry Ross (NHL), Leandra Reilly (NBA) and Kathy Long (UFC) as trailblazers in sports commentary history.

Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos takes place from Reelworks Denver and kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. It airs live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook PageAXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa.

The current fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Jillian DeCoursey vs. Rayanne dos Santos
Bantamweight: Olga Rubin vs. Claire Guthrie
Strawweight: Jéssica Delboni vs. Danielle Taylor
Atomweight: Monique Adriane vs. Nicole Geraldo
Flyweight: Liana Pirosin vs. Elise Pone
Atomweight: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Flor Hernandez
Flyweight: Ky Bennett vs. Kendal Holowell


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos Title Showdown Headlines Invicta FC 53 in Denver

DENVER — The next action-packed fight card from Invicta Fighting Championships has taken shape. The world’s premier organization for women athletes returns on Wednesday, May 3 for Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos from Reelworks Denver.

In the night’s headliner, recently crowned atomweight champion “Lionheart” Jillian DeCoursey (6-3) puts her strap on the line opposite Brazil’s Rayanne dos Santos (13-6). New York’s DeCoursey cemented herself atop the 105-pound division with a pair of dominant first-round finishes. After crushing Lindsey VanZandt in 61 seconds at Invicta FC 47, DeCoursey dethroned Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 49 to capture gold. The 27-year-old Dos Santos made a quick impression on the division in January, besting veteran Katie Saull to earn her sixth victory in her last seven bouts and establish herself as the No. 1 contender.

The co-main event will take place in the bantamweight division as former title challenger “Big Bad” Olga Rubin (8-3) collides with Denver native “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (5-1). Both fighters were victorious at Invicta FC 51 in January, with Rubin topping Serena DeJesus and Guthrie besting Auttumn Norton, both via decision.

Also on the card, former atomweight queen Jéssica Delboni (12-4) moves up to strawweight against UFC veteran “Dynamite” Danielle Taylor (11-8), São Paulo native Monique Adriane (5-2) welcomes undefeated Mexican atomweight Nicole Geraldo (5-0) to the promotion, flyweight Liana “Li” Pirosin (8-5) takes on striking specialist “The Piece” Elise Pone (2-1), Brazilian Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (5-2) faces off with Flor “Compean” Hernandez (4-0) of Mexico in an atomweight match-up, undefeated Colorado product Natalie Salcedo (1-0) meets Brazil’s Dayane Cristine (1-0) also at 105 pounds, and Colorado flyweight Ky “Kobra” Bennett (2-2) will take on a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos will be overseen by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission and will feature open scoring. The event will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. MT, with the night’s main card beginning at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. The main card will air live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook PageAXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa. Tickets to the event are on sale now through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Atomweight Title: Jillian DeCoursey vs. Rayanne dos Santos
Bantamweight: Olga Rubin vs. Claire Guthrie
Strawweight: Jéssica Delboni vs. Danielle Taylor
Atomweight: Monique Adriane vs. Nicole Geraldo
Flyweight: Liana Pirosin vs. Elise Pone
Atomweight: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Flor Hernandez
Atomweight: Natalie Salcedo vs. Dayane Cristine
Flyweight: Ky Bennett vs. TBD


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 52 Results: McCormack Becomes First Irish Champion, Bannon Dominates

DENVER — On Wednesday, March 15, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack from ReelWorks Denver.

The strawweight belt is now around the waist of Ireland’s Danni McCormack after dethroning Brazilian Valesca Machado after five rounds. McCormack flicked her jab to start, but was immediately dropped by a right hand from Machado. A left straight from McCormack connected and was answered by a short left hook from the Brazilian. The nose of McCormack bled from the early power shot. A devastating right hand from Machado dropped McCormack again and the Brazilian smelled blood in the waters. She rained punches as McCormack desperately tried to recover. Machado took the back and slapped on a body triangle. She worked for a choke attempt, but McCormack was able to scramble back to her feet. McCormack tried to change levels to no avail. The clinch position allowed her to recover further from the damage and survive the round. McCormack’s strategy shifted toward closing the distance in round two. Machado sought a takedown and was easily stuffed by the Irish fighter. McCormack secured double under hooks along the fence and hung on the Brazilian. Machado looked for slicing elbows, but was largely forced to jostle for position throughout the round. A right hand from Machado caught McCormack in the jaw to start round three. She was able to walk through it and clinch. The punches of Machado landed with more regularity and McCormack fought hard to clinch. Both fighters connected in the center of the cage, but McCormack did not change her clinching strategy. She powered into a double-leg attempt, which Machado stopped. The championship rounds featured a more patient counterstriking attack from Machado and a few crisp shots prompted McCormack to clinch. Machado failed at a takedown attempt before McCormack pressed her to the cage yet again. The pair traded more punches and McCormack responded with a takedown off her own. She tried to mount the Brazilian, who quickly countered with a leg lock from the bottom. McCormack escaped as the round expired. After a pair of right hands from Macahdo, McCormack looked to grapple. She muscled Machado to the mat. The Brazilian struggled to find any space against the relentless clutch of McCormack. Machado slapped on an armbar from her back that McCormack defended well. McCormack applied offense until the final horn and was rewarded for her efforts by the judges, becoming the first Irish champion in Invicta history.

In the night’s co-main event, strawweights Karolina Wójcik and Ediana Silva battled in an effort to establish themselves as contenders. The pair gauged their range in the fight’s opening minutes. The stalemate was briefly interrupted by a right hand from Silva. Wójcik fired a calf kick. The referee paused the action and implored the fighters to engage. Wójcik continued to circle on the outside and Silva struggled to cut her off. Wójcik landed a heavy right hand to open round two, but quickly returned to circling Silva. When the two entered boxing range, each was able to evade the other’s strikes. Silva found a home for her right body kick as she tried to stop the orbit of the Polish fighter. With a minute left in round two, Silva secured a body lock and pushed Wójcik to the cage, but could not secure a takedown. Wójcik inadvertently poked Silva in the eye early in the third round. The Brazilian quickly recovered and the bout was able to continue. Neither fighter was able to find much offense as both were quick to evade one another. The closely contested bout went to the judges. They were split in their verdict, with Wójcik eking out the win.

Undefeated Irish fighter Shauna Bannon welcomed former atomweight title challenger Minna Grusanader to the strawweight division. Bannon pressured forward, looking to find her range. Grusander sat back and hoped for openings to flurry. She cracked the Irishwoman with a big hook at the end of an exchange. Bannon fired back with a combination of her own before the Finnish fighter took the fight to the ground. Grusander was heavy from the top position, but could not keep Bannon on the mat. Bannon’s left leg became a weapon, repeatedly landing to the body of Grusander. The Finn was unfazed and fired back with punches. Grusander looked for a takedown late, but was countered by Bannon, who finished the round on top. Bannon went to the well one too many times with her left kick in round two, allowing Grusander to power into the clinch along the fence. Bannon’s takedown defense held true and she muscled her way to the top. Grusander looked for a kneebar but absorbed heavy punches in the process. Bannon began to look for an arm-triangle with Grusander quickly locking her down. Bannon moved to the crucifix and dropped elbows. Grusander tried to spin to her belly and Bannon repeatedly punched her in the back of the head, forcing the referee to intervene and take away the position. Round three started with an onslaught of left-leg side kicks from Bannon. Grusander tried to drag Bannon into a brawl with looping combinations. Bannon did well to keep the fight at range and score with her kicks. A push kick to the midsection of Grusander sent her to the mat and Bannon followed her down. Grusander latched onto a deep kneebar. Bannon did not panic, battering the body of Grusander with punches to eventually escape the submission attempt. Once free, Bannon moved to half guard and landed punches. The fight saw the scorecards and Bannon’s undefeated record remained intact.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mayra Cantuária picked up submission win over veteran Calie Cutler in their bantamweight clash. Cantuária flung looping hooks immediately, forcing Cutler to circle away from range. A left straight from the Brazilian caught Cutler flush and she retreated. Cutler recovered quickly and looked to clinch. Cantuária shrugged her off before powering into a double-leg takedown. She allowed Cutler to stand and returned to landing heavy punches. Blood began to trickle from the nose of Cutler and Cantuária brought her to the canvas. She took her back before Cutler spun free into her guard. Once on top, Cutler was able to pass to side control. Cantuária dropped back for a leg lock as the round came to a close. The left straight of Cantuária continued to find the mark in round two, but Cutler repeatedly walked through it. A takedown attempt from Cutler was stuffed by the Brazilian, who spun to Cutler’s back and dragged her to the ground. She moved to the back once more and locked in a rear-naked choke to coerce the tap.

Undefeated strawweight sensation Fatima Kline gave Olympic judo bronze medalist Natalia Kuziutina a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Kline marched forward with kicks and closed the distance. She avoided a throw from the judoka and looked to take her back. Kuziutina broke free and returned to striking range. Kline caught a kick and tried to take Kuziutina to the ground, but went for a ride, summersaulting all the way back to standing. Kuziutina scored with a head-and-arm throw and began to crank on Kline from the scarf hold position. Kline was patient and was able to transition to Kuziutina’s back. The fight found its way back to the feet, but only momentarily as Kuziutina looked for another takedown. Kline countered and finished the round strong. The second round featured some wild techniques from Kuziutina and Kline capitalized with a heavy body kick and takedown. She tried to posture up from the half guard, but Kuziutina neutralized her from the bottom. Kline looked to pass to mount and Kuziutina scrambled, giving up her back in the process. Kline slapped on a body triangle and went searching for a rear-naked choke. She abandoned the choke in favor of heavy punches. Kline finished the round in the advantageous position. The aggression of the Russian fighter did not stop in the last stanza. She pressed forward and was punished for it by Kline’s counterstrikes. Kuziutina again secured the head-and-arm position along the fence, but Kline did not succumb to a throw. A deep single from Kuziutina was finished with a trip. Kline did not panic and moved to top position. A thunderous overhand right dropped Kuziutina with 90 seconds left in the contest. Kline flurried for the finish, firing heavy punches. Kline took the back and sunk in a rear-naked choke. She squeezed hard for the submission, but was ultimately forced to settle for the decision win.

Colombian Sayury Cañon and knockout artist Amanda Macioce engaged in a three-round war in their strawweight match-up. Macioce quickly went on the attack, but Cañon countered with a right hand. Macioce stuck with it and briefly stunned the Colombian fighter. She changed levels for a takedown, which Cañon stuffed. Blood poured from the nose of Cañon from the heavy hands of Macioce, but she was undeterred in her clinch work. Macioce powered Cañon against the fence and landed a big knee. A powerful low kick sent Cañon to her back for a moment. Cañon caught a kick from Macioce and slammed her violently to the mat. Macioce was unfazed and bounced straight back to her feet. Round two began with a trade of low kicks. Macioce connected with a body kick as Cañon came forward. The nose of Macioce also began to leak. Cañon pinned Macioce to the fence and jostled for under hooks. Cañon changed levels and secured a perfectly timed double leg takedown. She could not hold Macioce down, but continued to impose her will. A big flurry from Cañon had Macioce retreating late in the round. The last five minutes opened with a quick clinch battle. Cañon punished Macioce with a knee square to her already bloodied nose. The lead leg of Cañon turned purple from the heavy kicks of Macioce and she was forced to switch stances. Cañon latched onto a single in the middle of the cage and put Macioce on her back. She delivered a series of punches as Macioce worked back to her feet. Cañon slammed Macioce to the ground once more in the closing moments of the bout to seal the decision win and remain undefeated.

The action began with a 120-pound catchweight affair between newcomers Diana Sanchez and Kendra McIntyre. McIntyre was aggressive to start, firing kicks and pushing Sanchez to the cage. Sanchez clinched and spun the fight to the fence. She muscled McIntyre to the mat, but only for a moment. Sanchez changed levels and locked her hands to score another brief takedown. McIntyre forced Sanchez to her back and rained hammerfists before letting her return to her feet. A massive right hand from the former IKF champion rocked Sanchez late in the round, but she was able to stay upright. With seconds left in the round, Sanchez delivered another takedown. McIntyre stalked Sanchez to start the second stanza, but was taken to the mat with a single-leg. She worked hard to get back to her feet with Sanchez sticking to her like glue. The pair separated and traded strikes from range. A late exchange saw both fighters land, prompting Sanchez to secure another takedown. In the final frame, McIntyre delivered a heavy right hand and followed with a body kick. She caught a kick from Sanchez and kicked out her back leg. The pair traded heavy knees in the center of the cage and then scrambled for position. Sanchez looked to take McIntyre’s back, but McIntyre was able to spin to the top. A thunderous elbow greeted Sanchez as she worked back to her feet. With only a minute left, Sanchez looked for a desperation leg lock. McIntyre was wise to it and defended. The fight saw the scorecards and McIntyre walked away with a victory in her professional debut.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Danni McCormack def. Valesca Machado by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – for strawweight title
Karolina Wójcik def. Ediana Silva by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Shauna Bannon def. Minna Grusander by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mayra Cantuária def. Calie Cutler by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:16
Fatima Kline def. Natalia Kuziutina by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sayury Cañon def. Amanda Macioce by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Kendra McIntyre def. Diana Sanchez by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.

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Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack Official Weigh-in Results

DENVER — On Tuesday, March 14, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack, which takes place Wednesday, March 15 from ReelWorks Denver.

The event will feature the first title defense for strawweight champion Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (12-3), who collides with Ireland’s Danni “Mac” McCormack (6-2). Both fighters were in action at Invicta FC 50 in November, with Machado defeating both Karolina Wójcik and Ediana Silva to capture the 115-pound tournament and championship belt. McCormack was also victorious that night, besting Brazilian Maira Mazar on the scorecards.

In the night’s co-main event, the aforementioned Karolina “Polish Assassin” Wójcik (10-3) and Ediana “Mel Pitbull” Silva (12-3) look to rebound after falling short in their most recent bouts. Wójcik topped UFC veteran Gloria de Paula to reach the strawweight tournament final before dropping a decision to the champion Machado. Silva similarly pushed Machado to the limits in their semifinal match-up, but ultimately fell short in the eyes of the judges.

Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack will be overseen by the Colorado Combative Sports Commission and will feature open scoring. The event will kick off at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT, airing live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook PageAXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, Globo’s Combate in Brazil, DirecTV across Latin America, Viaplay and Match TV in Europe and Star Times across Africa.

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

Strawweight Title: Valesca Machado (114.1) vs. Danni McCormack (114.2)
Strawweight: Karolina Wójcik (115.8) vs. Ediana Silva (115.8)
Strawweight: Minna Grusander (115.7) vs. Shauna Bannon (115.8)
Bantamweight: Calie Cutler (135.5) vs. Mayra Cantuária (135.8)
Strawweight: Fatima Kline (116) vs. Natalia Kuziutina (115.4)
Strawweight: Sayury Cañon (115.2) vs. Amanda Macioce (115)
Catchweight (120 pounds): Diana Sanchez (121) vs. Kendra McIntyre (120.4)


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.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.