Kansas City, Mo. — On Friday, May 4, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo. The event streamed live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
There’s a new champion in the bantamweight division as veteran Sarah Kaufman secured the first submission victory of her storied career, choking Germany’s Katharina Lehner in the third round. There was no feeling-out process as the pair exchanged punches in the center of the cage following the opening bell. Kaufman was fluid with her combinations, but Lehner responded with heavy right hands of her own. Round two saw Kaufman secure double underhooks and earn a takedown. She attacked with an arm-triangle choke, but Lehner was able to survive and escape. Kaufman again secured a takedown in the third round and opened up a large cut on Lehner with ground and pound. She sensed the finish was near and attacked the neck of the German fighter. Once the rear-naked choke was locked in, Lehner tapped and Kaufman claimed the title.
In the night’s co-main event, veteran Pannie Kianzad returned to the win column, defeating Brazilian newcomer Bianca Daimoni. The boxing skills of Kianzad were on display early and often, as she lit up Daimoni with combinations on the feet. Daimoni tried to answer with kicks, but Kianzad stayed out of range. A left hook from Kianzad dropped Daimoni in the second stanza. Kianzad was confident in the final five minutes, snapping the head of Daimoni frequently with her jab. There was no doubt on the scorecards as Kianzad earned every round from each of the judges.
The flyweight bout between Pearl Gonzalez and Brazil’s Bárbara Acioly did not last long as Gonzalez secured a first-round armbar finish. Gonzalez wobbled Acioly with a left hand in the first exchange, but the Brazilian was able to recover. The pair traded body kicks, but Gonzalez earned a takedown and moved to mount. She looked for an armbar, but Acioly scrambled to top position. Gonzalez threatened with a triangle choke before again switching to the armbar and coercing the tap from Acioly.
Marciea Allen made a successful return to the promotion, scoring a first-round TKO after opponent Julia Avila suffered an injury to her finger. Within the fight’s first minute, Allen fired a kick that caught Avila in the hand. She tried to shake it off, but the referee realized she was injured and waved off the contest.
Flyweight veterans Liz Tracy and Cheri Muraski went the distance, with Tracy capturing the decision nod. Tracy’s forward pressure was the story of the fight, as she closed the distance and forced Muraski to work in the clinch. Tracy was able to move to Muraski’s back on multiple occasions, scoring with short shots. Tracy used her wrestling to secure takedowns in each of the first two frames. Muraski’s face wore the damage of Tracy’s punches, but she fought back hard in the final round. It was too little, too late as Tracy left victorious.
Making her professional debut, Lisa Spangler edged Sarah Kleczka in a back-and-forth affair. Spangler did damage to the lead leg of Kleczka with leg kicks in the opening stanza. Kleczka answered with frequent overhand rights and kicks to the body of Spangler. As the fight wore on, Spangler capitalized on Kleczka’s takedown attempts, scoring with heavy hammerfists. When the scorecards were read, it was Spangler who walked away with the win.
In a battle of featherweights, Macy Chiasson topped Allison Schmidt after three, hard-fought rounds. Chiasson used her height and reach advantage, as well as switching stances, to puzzle Schmidt early. She repeatedly scored with punches from range, causing the face of Schmidt to swell. Schmidt looked to bring the fight to the mat often, but Chiasson’s takedown defense held up, as she continued to score on the feet. After three rounds, Chiasson swept the scorecards.
Strawweight Helen Peralta picked up her second straight win in the Invicta cage, handing newcomer Cheyanne Vlismas her first professional defeat. Peralta’s kicks were the story in round one, as Vlismas looked to counter. In round two, it was the hands of Peralta that did the damage, as she dropped Vlismas with a right straight-left hook combination. Vlismas was game, surviving the onslaught and pressing the action in the final frame. It wasn’t enough, however as Peralta claimed the decision victory.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Sarah Kaufman def. Katharina Lehner by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 4:30 – for bantamweight title
Pannie Kianzad def. Bianca Daimoni by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Pearl Gonzalez def. Bárbara Acioly by submission (armbar). Round 1, 1:30
Marciea Allen def. Julia Avila by TKO (finger injury). Round 1, 0:49
Liz Tracy def. Cheri Muraski by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Lisa Spangler def. Sarah Kleczka by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Macy Chiasson def. Allison Schmidt by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Helen Peralta def. Cheyanne Vlismas by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 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.
