Five events in Invicta FC continues to be one of the most consistently entertaining MMA promotions around
The main event atomweight title fight proved to be a thriller with Michelle Waterson and Jessica Penne engaging in a back-and-forth battle on the mat right into the championship rounds before Waterson emerged victorious with a hard-fought armbar mid-way through the fourth.
The flyweight belt was also up-for-grabs in the co-main event and was seized by Barb Honchak who got the better of Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision in a fight fought largely on the feet.
Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos made her return to the cage in typically devastating fashion, laying seige to Fiona Muxlow with hard punches, dropping her with a straight right at one stage, and then again with more blows against the cage. Muxlow showed her toughness to hang in for the majority of a torrid round, but in the end a further sustained assault of vicious knees and punches forced a TKO stoppage.
Sarah Kaufman will head to the UFC with a win over Leslie Smith, but this one was extremely close as was reflected by the split decision verdict.
Elsewhere, former Bellator champ Zoila Gurgel lost out to Jennifer Maia in a fight fought largely from the clinch, her second defeat in a row.
Wins for Lauren Taylor, Julia Budd and Bec Hyatt wrapped up an eventful main card, while a special mention goes to Rose Namajunas in the prelims who produced a spectacular flying armbar submission in just 12 seconds against Kathina Catron!
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Main Card:
Michelle Waterson def. Jessica Penne by submission (arm bar) at 2:31, R4
Barb Honchak def. Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47)
Cris Cyborg Santos def. Fiona Muxlow by TKO at 3:46, R1
Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Jennifer Maia def. Zoila Frausto Gurgel by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lauren Taylor def. Kaitlin Young by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Julia Budd def. Mollie Estes by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:04, R3
Bec Hyatt def. Jasminka Cive by submission (arm bar) at 3:30, R1
Prelims:
Simona Soukupova def. Cassie Rodish by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:20, R2
Miriam Nakamoto def. Jessamyn Duke by KO at 2:20, R1
Katja Kankaanpaa def. Juliana Carnerio Lima by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Rose Namajunas def. Kathina Catron by submission (flying arm bar) at :12, R1
Alex Chambers def. Jodie Esquibel by submission (rear naked choke) at 1:35, R1
