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The UFC has finally jumped into the female MMA pool with UFC 157, but Invicta FC can be responsible for bringing up the next generation of fighters. The company is headlining it’s fifth effort with a pair of championship bouts and the debut of “Cyborg.†Also, a former Bellator champion makes her Invicta FC debut and a former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion debuts as well.
Kicking off the action is a strawweight division battle as “Impressive†Jasminka Cive (5-0-0) is in action against “Rowdy†Bec Hyatt (4-2-0). Cive is an undefeated fighter who had a two fight run in the Fight Of The Night promotion, defeating both Aniko Levi and Lilla Vincze. Hyatt was in the main event of Invicta FC IV, dropping a decision to Carla Esparza for the promotions strawweight title. This should be one of the better striking battles of the entire event, but it will be Hyatt ending her foe’s undefeated streak.
Bantamweights will be entering the cage next as Lauren Taylor (5-0-0) does battle against Kaitlin Young (7-7-1). Taylor is an undefeated fighter who has yet to see any of her five professional bouts go to the judge’s scorecard. Young is currently winless in Invicta FC competition, dropping fights to both Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith. Taylor has been looking like a beast thus far in her MMA career and she will continue to impress as she defeats Young.
A flyweight division bout is taking place next as Zoila “Warrior Princess†Gurgel (12-2-0) competes against Jennifer Maia (6-2-1). Gurgel will be competing for the first time since leaving Bellator, where she was the current Bellator Women’s Flyweight Champion. Maia has rotated wins and losses in her last four fights, with her last fight being a victory over Jessica Andrade. Gurgel has not looked too sharp since returning from her injuries in late 2012, which is why Maia will pull the upset.
Another bantamweight division fight is up next as Sarah Kaufman (15-2-0) stands across the cage from Leslie “The Peacemaker†Smith (5-2-1). Kaufman is competing for the first time since losing a Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Title fight to champion Ronda Rousey. Smith is currently undefeated in Invicta FC competition, defeating both Kaitlin Young and Raquel Pennington. Kaufman is competing in Invicta FC once before heading to the UFC and she will get the victory over Smith.
We move to the featherweight division for the next fight as Fiona Muxlow (6-2-0) battles Cristiane “Cyborg†Santos (10-1-0-1NC). Muxlow has won three of her last four bouts, with that lone loss coming to Marloes Coenen at DREAM 18. Santos will be competing for the first time in well over a year, as she was suspended after a failed drug test following Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. This could be one of the more anticipated female bouts outside of the UFC right now, but it will be Santos dominating her opponent.
Up next is a fight to determine the inaugural Invicta FC Flyweight Champion as Barb “Little Warrior†Honchak (7-2-0) takes on Vanessa Porto (15-5-0). Honchak is currently undefeated in Invicta FC competition, gaining victories over both Bethany Marshall and Aisling Daly. Porto has won five of her last six professional MMA bouts, most notably defeating Tara LaRosa at Invicta FC III. Port is coming off of the biggest victory of her career and she will get another landmark victory as she gets the championship.
Headlining the card is a Invicta FC Atomweight Title Fight as champion Jessica Penne (10-1-0) defends against “The Karate Hottie†Michelle Waterson (10-3-0). Penne will be making the first defense of her championship, which she won by defeating Naho Sugiyama at Invicta FC III. Waterson earned her opportunity at the championship when she defeated Lacey Shuckman by decision at Invicta FC III. These are two fighters who are almost identical in every way statistically, but it will be Penne holding onto the belt in the end.
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