Jandiroba

Nine Athletes Join Invicta FC Roster

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships has added nine new faces to its roster.

Joining the strawweight division will be undefeated Brazilian Virna Jandiroba (11-0). The 28-year-old, dubbed “Carcará,” most recently defeated UFC veteran Ericka Almeida. She also holds a submission victory over UFC and Invicta FC veteran Lisa Ellis.

The flyweight division has six new fighters, including four who are unbeaten: Mara Romero Borella (10-4, 1 NC), Chan-Mi Jeon (5-0), Bárbara Acioly (4-0), Karina Rodríguez (4-2), Cheri Muraski (3-0) and Tracy Cortez (0-0).

  • Italy’s Borella will join the promotion having won four of her last five fights.
  • At just 19 year old, South Korea’s Jeon has finished four of her five wins with strikes, capturing ALL FC’s flyweight championship in the process.
  • The 28-year-old Acioly also hails from Brazil and has stopped three of her four wins inside the first round.
  • Mexico’s Rodríguez has stopped her opponent in three of her four wins and has faced the likes of Invicta FC veteran Alexa Grasso.
  • Colorado’s Muraski, who was 6-1 as an amateur before turning pro in late 2016, submitted Invicta FC veteran Shannon Sinn in her last outing.
  • Cortez, a Tuff-N-Uff flyweight titleholder, fights out of Arizona and will make her professional debut inside the Invicta cage after going 6-0 as an amateur.

“There are a lot of eyeballs on the 125-pound weight class right now,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp. “We have a card coming up on May 20 that showcases some of the best flyweights in the world.

“Being able to add such a talented group of athletes to that flyweight mix will only push the entire division further. We’re expecting to see great match-ups right away, while also looking ahead to the exciting opportunities our younger prospects will have as they develop here at Invicta.”

Finally, two fighters slated to make their professional debuts have joined the atomweight division. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Jillian DeCoursey (0-0) compiled a record of 8-1 as an amateur. California’s Ashley Medina (0-0) went 4-1 in the amateur ranks, including two wins via armbar.

All of the new athletes are expected to make their promotional debuts later in 2017.

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.

Gomes

Two Bouts Added to Invicta FC 23 Fight Card

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Kansas City, Mo. — As revealed by Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp on Invicta FC All-Access, two new match-ups have joined the fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 23.

Joining the previously announced main event between former flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto (18-7) and undefeated Agnieszka Niedźwiedź (9-0) of Poland will be a featherweight contest between Brazil’s Ediane “India” Gomes (10-4) and Pam “Bam” Sorenson (5-1), as well as a bantamweight affair featuring newcomers Shaianna “Yaya” Rincon (0-0) and Brooksie “The Bear” Bayard (1-1).

Gomes will be making her fifth appearance in the Invicta cage. She’ll return to 145 pounds for the first time since 2013 after two fights at bantamweight. The Brazilian has faced many of the sport’s biggest names including current Invicta champion Tonya Evinger, current UFC champion Amanda Nunes and former champion Ronda Rousey.

Minnesota’s Sorenson will compete for the second time under the Invicta banner. She claimed a split decision win over Australia’s Jessy Rose-Clark at Invicta FC 20 last November.

The 23-year-old Rincon will be making her professional debut at the event. Hailing from California, the MMA Gold fighter compiled a perfect 4-0 record as an amateur.

Bayard enters the event having split her two professional outings. The Louisiana native, who now trains in California, is coming off a first-round submission win in her most recent bout.

The event takes place Saturday, May 20, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. It streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET.

The updated Invicta FC 23 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-7) vs. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź (9-0)
Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi (20-13) vs. Sarah D’Alelio (11-6)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (10-4) vs. Tessa Simpson (5-1)
Bantamweight: Elizabeth Phillips (6-5) vs. Kelly Faszholz (3-2)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (6-2) vs. Liz Tracy (3-1)
Featherweight: Ediane Gomes (10-4) vs. Pam Sorenson (5-1)
Strawweight: Tiffany Van Soest (0-1) vs. Christine Ferea (1-0)
Bantamweight: Shaianna Rincon (0-0) vs. Brooksie Bayard (1-1)

Tickets for Invicta FC 23 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.

Porto

Vanessa Porto vs. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź Set For Invicta FC 23 Main Event

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 23 has finalized six fights, including three in the flyweight division.

In the night’s main event, former flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto (18-7) meets undefeated Agnieszka Niedźwiedź (9-0) of Poland. Brazil’s Porto will look to rebound from her back-and-forth battle with champion Jennifer Maia last spring at Invicta FC 16. Niedźwiedź will be making her second promotional appearance, having defeated veteran Christine Stanley at Invicta FC 18.

The co-main event also takes place in the flyweight division as veteran Roxanne Modafferi (20-13) faces off with Sarah D’Alelio (11-6). Modafferi will aim to get back into title contention, having fallen short in her title conquest at Invicta FC 19. D’Alelio returns to the promotion riding a four-fight winning streak that includes a submission win at Invicta FC 16.

A third flyweight contest between Andrea Lee (6-2) and promotional newcomer Liz Tracy (3-1) will complete the spotlight on the 125-pound division.

Joining the flyweight match-ups are three additional bouts. Former atomweight champion Herica Tiburcio (10-4) takes on Tessa Simpson (5-1), UFC veterans Elizabeth Phillips (6-5) and Kelly Faszholz (3-2) square off in a bantamweight affair, and striking stalwarts Tiffany Van Soest (0-1) and Christine Ferea (1-0) clash at strawweight.

The event takes place Saturday, May 20, from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET.

The current Invicta FC 23 fight card can be found below:

Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (18-7) vs. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź (9-0)
Flyweight: Roxanne Modafferi (20-13) vs. Sarah D’Alelio (11-6)
Atomweight: Herica Tiburcio (10-4) vs. Tessa Simpson (5-1)
Bantamweight: Elizabeth Phillips (6-5) vs. Kelly Faszholz (3-2)
Flyweight: Andrea Lee (6-2) vs. Liz Tracy (3-1)
Strawweight: Tiffany Van Soest (0-1) vs. Christine Ferea (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 23 will go on sale Monday, April 17 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.

Tonya Evinger

Invicta FC 22 Results: Evinger Submits Kunitskaya, Souza Stops Hamasaki

by NewsOfficial Results

Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, March 25, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger erased any doubt from her first meeting with Yana Kunitskaya, earning a second-round submission victory to retain her 135-pound title. The opening round featured Evinger earning a takedown, but was quickly forced to defense submission attempts. Kunitskaya attacked with a guillotine choke, then an armbar and finally, a myriad of leg lock attempts. Evinger defended and dropped heavy punches from the top position. In the second stanza, Evinger again worked hard to get the fight to the mat. She gained top position and methodically worked to dominant positions. She passed to side control and then took the back of Kunitskaya. Once there, Evinger slapped on the fight-finishing rear-naked choke and coerced the tap from the Russian challenger

Former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza needed less two minutes to remind the 115-pound division she’s still among the best. The Brazilian crushed current atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki with a right hand. Hamasaki crashed to the mat and Souza flurried hard to earn the first-round stoppage.

Veterans Jodie Esquibel and DeAnna Bennett engaged in a tactical, three-round fight that resulted in Esquibel taking home a narrow, split decision victory. Esquibel’s boxing on display early, but the first round swung toward Bennett’s favor after a deep armbar attempt. Esquibel survived the submission attempt and began to open up with her striking. She remained on the outside, scoring with punches to the body of Bennett and kicking the lead leg. The pair battled it out until the final bell, with Esquibel doing enough to convince two of the three judges at cageside to hand her the win.

After nearly three years away from the Invicta cage, atomweight Ashley Cummins returned and scored a big win over former title challenger Amber Brown. Cummins raced to the center of the cage and fired combination after combination. Brown answered with a takedown and moved to mount. Cummins recovered her guard and threatened with an inverted triangle choke. Brown countered with an inverted triangle choke of her own, but neither fighter found a finish. Round two was all Cummins as she earned a takedown and threatened to finish Brown with an arm-triangle choke. Brown gutted it out, but again found herself on her heels in round three. Cummins closed the fight by attacking with a rear-naked choke and cruising on the scorecards.

Iceland’s Sunna Davíðsdóttir survived a three-round war with newcomer Mallory Martin, scoring a unanimous decision win. Davíðsdóttir was active early with her punches, but Martin pressed forward. Martin ate a heavy shot and her left eye began to swell, but turned the tide in round two, rocking Davíðsdóttir with punches and opening a cut over her left eye. Both fighters dug deep in the final frame, but Davíðsdóttir was able to take’s Martin’s back for a moment, sealing the win with the judges.

Missouri’s Miranda Maverick remained undefeated, scoring a first-round submission of Kal Holliday. Holliday marched forward to open the contest, but Maverick fired strikes to keep the distance. Holliday closed the distance and scooped Maverick to the canvas. Once there, Maverick showcased an active guard, throwing up a triangle choke attempt before transitioning to an armbar. Holliday fought hard to escape, but Maverick coerced the tap, three minutes into the bout.

The night kicked off with a featherweight battle between Felicia Spencer and Madison McElhaney. The pair skipped the feeling out process and began trading heavy shots from the opening bell. Spencer’s pressure and clinch work were the story early, as she was able to put McElhaney on her back multiple times. She attacked with armbar attempts, but McElhaney was able to defend. The hard-fought bout went the distance, with Spencer remaining unbeaten with the unanimous decision victory.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Tonya Evinger def. Yana Kunitskaya by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 4:32 – for bantamweight title
Livia Renata Souza def. Ayaka Hamasaki by TKO (strikes). Round 1, 1:41
Jodie Esquibel def. DeAnna Bennett by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Ashley Cummins def. Amber Brown by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Sunna Davíðsdóttir def. Mallory Martin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick def. Kal Holliday by submission (armbar). Round 1, 3:01
Felicia Spencer def. Madison McElhaney by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

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.

EvingerKunitskaya

Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2 Official Weigh-in Results

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Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, March 24, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2. The event takes place from Scottish Rite Temple on Saturday, March 25 and streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In the night’s headliner, bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) will once again put her title on the line against Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC). The match-up is rematch of the Invicta FC 20 main event which took place Nov. 18 and was initially ruled a first-round submission win for Kunitskaya. However, following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, the bout was overturned to a no-contest and Evinger retained her 135-pound championship.

The night’s co-main event will feature atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) moving up a weight class to take on former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-1).

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

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (134.8) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (134.8)
Strawweight: Ayaka Hamasaki (115.7) vs. Livia Renata Souza (115)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (117.6)* vs. Jodie Esquibel (115.5)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (105.9) vs. Ashley Cummins (105.6)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (115.8) vs. Mallory Martin (114.8)
Strawweight: Kal Holliday (115.9) vs. Miranda Maverick (120.5)*
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (146) vs. Madison McElhaney (146)

* – Bennett and Maverick were each fined 25 percent of their fight purse for missing weight. Both bouts will proceed as catchweights.

# – The bout between Jinh Yu Frey and Janaisa Morandin has been canceled. Frey weighed in at 106 pounds, while Morandin missed weight at 111.2 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.

Kelly Faszholz (Phil Lambert/Vital Imagery)

Three Fighters Join Invicta FC Roster

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Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships today announced the signing of three athletes to its roster.

Joining the flyweight division will be Russia’s Milana Dudieva (11-5). The 27-year-old UFC veteran has stopped nine of her 11 career victories — all inside the first round — including six by way of submission. She has shared the cage with the likes of fellow Invicta fighters Pannie Kianzad and Elizabeth Phillips during her 16-fight career.

Bolstering the 135-pound division is Kelly Faszholz (3-2). Like Dudieva, Faszholz is a UFC veteran with a propensity for finishes on the mat. All three of her career wins have come via submission. The 31-year-old battled former Invicta titleholder Lauren Murphy in a “Fight of the Night” performance last year.

The strawweight division has a fresh face in Missouri’s Kelly D’Angelo (2-0). In addition to her unblemished professional record, D’Angelo also went 5-0 as an amateur. She topped fellow Invicta fighter Samantha Diaz in her most recent outing.

Bouts for the new roster additions have not been finalized at this time. Check InvictaFC.com for future updates on all four athletes.

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.

Brown

Invicta FC 22 Fight Card Complete with Two Additional Bouts

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Kansas City, Mo. — The fight card for Invicta Fighting Championships 22 is now complete with the addition of two fights.

In the atomweight division, former title challenger Amber Brown (6-3) welcomes veteran Ashley Cummins (4-3) back to the promotion. Brown, whose last bout came at strawweight, returns to 105 pounds looking to make another run at gold. The 29-year-old Cummins is a four-time Invicta veteran competing out of her home state of Missouri.

Also added to the event is a featherweight match-up between undefeated Felicia Spencer (1-0) and promotional newcomer Madison McElhaney (1-0). Florida’s Spencer was last in action at Invicta FC 14, scoring a first-round stoppage of Rachel Wiley in a lightweight contest. McElhaney, who hails from California, made a successful professional debut in December.

Invicta FC 22 will be headlined by a bantamweight title rematch between champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) and Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC).

The event takes place Saturday, March 25 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET.

The complete Invicta FC 22 fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC)
Strawweight: Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) vs. Livia Renata Souza (9-1)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-2) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-2)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-0)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (6-3) vs. Ashley Cummins (4-3)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (1-0) vs. Mallory Martin (1-0)
Strawweight: Kal Holliday (1-0) vs. Miranda Maverick (1-0)
Featherweight: Felicia Spencer (1-0) vs. Madison McElhaney (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 22 can be purchased through 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.

Ayaka Hamasaki vs Amber Brown

Five Additional Bouts Added to Invicta FC 22

by News

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 22 has added five new bouts.

The night’s co-main event will feature atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) moving up a weight class to take on former strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (9-1). Hamasaki will enter the contest having won five straight fights, including back-to-back title defenses against Jinh Yu Frey and Amber Brown. Souza will compete for the first time since her Invicta FC 17 battle with Angela Hill.

Also at strawweight, former title challenger DeAnna Bennett (8-2) takes on Jodie Esquibel (5-2). The pair were originally slated to collide at Invicta FC 21, but the bout had to be rescheduled. Bennett 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.

Recent atomweight title challenger Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) battles undefeated Brazilian newcomer Janaisa Morandin (9-0). Frey came up short in her quest for gold at Invicta FC 19 after doctors stopped her bout due to a cut. Morandin has reeled off nine straight wins in her home country, including five by way of strikes.

Finally, two additional strawweight match-ups are slated for the event. Iceland’s Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (1-0), fresh off her decision win over Ashley Greenway at Invicta FC 19, welcomes newcomer Mallory Martin (1-0) to the Invicta cage, while unbeaten Kal Holliday (1-0) looks to build off her submission victory over Tiffany Van Soest when she takes on 19-year-old sensation Miranda Maverick (1-0).

The bouts join the previously announced bantamweight title rematch between champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) and Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC).

The event takes place Saturday, March 25 from the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET.

The current Invicta FC 22 fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC)
Strawweight: Ayaka Hamasaki (14-1) vs. Livia Renata Souza (9-1)
Strawweight: DeAnna Bennett (8-2) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-2)
Atomweight: Jinh Yu Frey (5-2) vs. Janaisa Morandin (9-0)
Strawweight: Sunna Rannveig Davidsdottir (1-0) vs. Mallory Martin (1-0)
Strawweight: Kal Holliday (1-0) vs. Miranda Maverick (1-0)

Tickets for Invicta FC 22 go on sale Saturday, Feb. 11 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.

EvingerKunitskaya

Tonya Evinger vs. Yana Kunitskaya Rematch Set For Invicta FC 22

by News

Kansas City, Mo. — Invicta Fighting Championships 22 has its headliner.

Bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) will once again put her title on the line against Russian challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC) on Saturday, March 25 from the the historic Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streams live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

The match-up is rematch of the Invicta FC 20 main event which took place Nov. 18 and was initially ruled a first-round submission win for Kunitskaya. However, following a ruling by the Missouri Office of Athletics, the bout was overturned to a no-contest and Evinger retained her 135-pound championship.

Evinger will enter the title defense riding a lengthy, 10-fight undefeated streak. Prior to the first meeting with Kunitskaya, Evinger had reeled off six consecutive wins inside the Invicta cage. The 27-year-old Kunitskaya, who made her promotional debut at the November event, has stopped seven of her nine wins by way of strikes.

The current Invicta FC 22 fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (18-5, 1 NC) vs. Yana Kunitskaya (9-2, 1 NC)

Additional bouts for the event, as well as ticketing information, 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.

Anderson vs Tweet_010

Invicta FC 21 Results: Anderson Stops Tweet, Claims Interim Featherweight Title

by NewsOfficial Results

Kansas City, Mo. — On Saturday, Jan. 14, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet from the historic Scottish Rite Temple. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Australia’s Megan Anderson is the interim featherweight champion after her second-round TKO finish of veteran Charmaine Tweet. The two towering fighters wasted little time throwing heavy punches. Tweet clipped Anderson with a right hand that saw the Aussie wobble briefly. Anderson remained calm and continued her forward pressure. Tweet found herself with her back against the fence and Anderson scored with combinations. Late in the opening round, Anderson scored with a big slam. Round two began with a big exchange and Anderson took the fight to the fence. She unloaded on her Canadian foe, forcing Tweet to retreat. Anderson delivered a head kick and Tweet covered up, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the title tilt.

Hawaii’s Raquel Pa’aluhi made short work of former No. 1 contender Pannie Kianzad, earning a first-round submission win. After both fighters landed kicks, Pa’aluhi latched onto a single-leg takedown to put Kianzad on her back. Pa’aluhi worked patiently from the top before taking Kianzad’s back. Once there, she softened up the Swede with punches to lock in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke.

Newcomer Leah Letson gave UFC veteran Elizabeth Phillips a rude welcome to the Invicta cage. Phillips scored with an overhand right early, but as she circled along the fence, Letson unleashed a left head kick that caught her flush on the chin. Phillips crashed to the mat and Letson finished her off with punches.

Two of the bantamweight division’s most promising fighters went to battle for three rounds with Aspen Ladd remaining undefeated by unanimous decision over Sijara Eubanks. Ladd fired jab-cross combinations throughout the opening round, but Eubanks was able to score with a late slam. The middle stanza saw both fighters score on the feet, but Ladd’s volume outpaced Eubanks. Ladd opened round three with a takedown, but Eubanks was able to reverse the position late. It was too little, too late for Eubanks, however as Ladd claimed victory.

Andrea Lee got back in the win column, needing just 74 seconds to stop fellow flyweight Jenny Liou. Lee pressured Liou from the opening bell, backing her up with punches. Liou tried to circle away, but Lee got her against the cage and delivered a heavy body shot that sent Liou to the canvas. Lee flurried and forced the referee to halt the contest.

Strawweights Amy Montenegro and Celine Haga put on one of the greatest fights in Invicta history with a back-and-forth battle. Haga was able to threaten Montenegro with multiple submissions in the opening round, but Montenegro countered with an armbar late in the round. Haga tapped, but it was after the bell had sounded. Round two saw Montenegro quickly gain top position and pound on Haga with elbows. Montenegro worked to top position again in round three, but it was Haga who attacked aggressively from her back. As time expired, Haga applied a schoolyard choke and Montenegro went unconscious, but it was after time expired. When the scorecards were read, Montenegro walked away with the decision win.

In her professional MMA debut, Muay Thai specialist Christine Ferea showcased her striking prowess against Hawaii’s Rachael Ostovich. Ferea scored at range early in the fight, but Ostovich turned the tide in round two by scoring a takedown and threatening to submit Ferea. In the final round, Ferea caught Ostovich with a clean head kick. Ostovich dove for another takedown, but Ferea smelled blood and flurried for the finish.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Megan Anderson def. Charmaine Tweet by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 2:05 – for interim featherweight title
Raquel Pa’aluhi def. Pannie Kianzad by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:40
Leah Letson def. Elizabeth Phillips by knockout (head kick and punches). Round 1, 1:18
Aspen Ladd def. Sijara Eubanks by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Andrea Lee def. Jenny Liou by TKO (punches). Round 1, 1:14
Amy Montenegro def. Celine Haga by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Christine Ferea def. Rachael Ostovich by TKO (head kick and punches). Round 3, 1:29

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.