Invicta FC puts on their final card of 2017 this Friday, bringing a flyweight title fight and the promotional debut of Mackenzie Dern to the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City.
All women’s MMA promotion Invicta FC returns on December 8, with the absolutely stacked Invicta FC 26. The card will be headlined by a flyweight championship match that sees Jennifer Maia putting her title on the line against hot Polish prospect Aga Niedzwiedz. Maia will be back in action after a healthy year and a half year lay-off when she faces the unbeaten challenger.
“Kuma” earned the title shot after beating MMA pioneer and former Invicta FC flyweight title challenger Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision at Invicta FC 23. What makes the fight interesting is that fact that the UFC on December 1 crowned its first ever women’s flyweight champion, as Nicco Montano, not ranked in world top ten, defeated third ranked Roxanne Modafferi. The winner of the Invicta FC 26 main event will become world’s top-ranked flyweight, hence making her the most likely that first challenger to the UFC flyweight title.
Ergo, the winner of this match gets a once in a life-time opportunity of becoming both a world champion, as well as the number one contender to UFC flyweight championship.
The co-main event, meanwhile, will be a strawweight clash between BJJ world champion and unbeaten hot-prospect Mackenzie Dern and former strawweight title challenger Kaline Medeiros. The card will also be hosting a strawweight battle between Kinberly Novaes, who steps in as a short notice replacement, against hot-prospect Janaisa Morandin. Vanessa Porto will also be making her return to the Invicta FC cage as she takes on former UFC fighter Milana Dudieva in a highly anticipated flyweight clash. The two will be entering the fight on losing streaks, and will try to get back in the win column.
With all that said, here’s our complete analysis of the card.
Kay Hansen vs. Emilee Prince
Kay Hansen and Emilee Prince will be making their debuts here, so nothing much is known about them. Kay Hansen enters the fight with an amateur record of 1-0 and a height of 5’3. The 18-year-old will be the underdog in the fight due to a lack of experience when compared to her opponent. Emilee Prince comes into the bout with an amateur record of 2-3. The 24-year-old will have an inch height advantage. She’s 5’4 and is ranked 12th of 34 active Tennessee women (pound for pound). The winner of this bout will establish herself as a prospect to watch for.
Prediction: Expect Emilee Prince to take this one
Karina Rodriguez vs. Christine Ferea
This one is going to be a war. Muay Thai standout Christine Ferea (1-1) will try to get back in the win column when she takes on Mexican ultra-tough contender Karina Rodriguez (5-2). Rodriguez enters the encounter on a two fight winning streak. Her only two losses came to future UFC fighters, Alexa Grasso and Polina Bothelo. Christine Ferea, meanwhile, is is a tough Muay Thai fighter. She last fought at Invicta FC 23 where she lost a questionable decision to kickboxing world champion Tiffany Van-Soest. Rodriguez will enter the fight as a favorite but it’s doubtful she gets the win. Ferea has a deadly stand-up game and for a life-long striker has a great ground game too.
Prediction: Christine Ferea by TKO
Amber Brown vs. Tessa Simpson
Both fighters will enter this atomweight fight on a losing streak. Amber Brown (6-4) will head into the night on career low when she takes on Tessa Simpson. Brown has lost her last three to Ashley Yoder, Ayaka Hamasaki, and Ashley Cummins. That’s a tough stretuch, however, as Hamasaki is a pound-for-pond consideration, and Yoder a UFC vet.
Tessa Simpson enters the fight hoping to bounce back from a recent loss Herica Tiburcio. Simpson, for her part, is one of the strongest prospects in the atomweight division. Both women are strong fighters, and will most likely put on an entertaining fight. Simpson will probably be the favorite, but this could go either way.
Prediction: I expect Brown to take this one, but it’s a toss up.
Amy Montenegro vs. Virna Jandiroba
Montenegro vs. Jandiroba is a battle of prospects. Team Alpha Male’s Amy Montenegro will take on undefeated Virna Jandiroba at strawweight, and someone’s career will get a boost. Montenegro last fought on Invicta FC 21 where she picked up a super controversial win over Celina Haga. The Ultimate Fighter alum was rendered unconscious by Haga via an RNC in the last minute of the fight, but the referee decided to let the fight go to the judges. Montenegro picked up a unanimous decision win as a result. She then lost to Haga in the EBI grappling tournament.
This is a must win situation for Montenegro if she wants to remain on the list of prospects to watch out for. Virna Jandiroba is one of the brightest and highest ranked strawweight prospects. If she gets a win here, she rockets herself to a position where she can be a part of the Invicta FC title talks.
Prediction: Virna Jandiroba via Submission
Vanessa Porto vs. Milana Dudieva
This is arguably one of the most important women’s flyweight match-ups of the year. Both fighters enter the cage on losing streaks. Former UFC fighter Milana Dudieva takes the fight on short notice, as Porto’s originally scheduled opponent Jessy Jess got an opportunity to fight in the UFC. Dudieva enters the fight with a record of 11-6, in which she’s managed to rack up wins over the likes of Elizabeth Philips, Daniella West and Sheila Gaff. She’s an accomplished grappler, but has hit hard times of late. Vanessa Porto enters the fight with a record of 18-8, which includes wins over Roxanne Modafferi, Kalindra Farai, Jennifer Maia and many more. Porto is a seasoned striker. The end result? This will be a fun scrap
Prediction: Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision
Kinberly Novaes vs. Janaisa Morandin
The second straight bout on the card to undergo a late shake-up sees Kinberly Novaes step up as a short notice replacement. She’s set to lock horns with Janaisa Morandin. Both fighters will enter the fight coming off a loss. To date, Novaes is 9-3 in her pro MMA career. Her only losses are to top fighters, UFC fighter Syuri Kondo, UFC fighter Juliana Lima and former Invicta FC champion Herica Tiburcio.
Janaisa Morandin will return to the Invicta FC cage after Invicta FC 25, where she lost to Livia Reneta Souza. Morandin currently holds a record of 9-1 as a pro, with the Souza defeat representing her first loss as a professional. She holds wins over the likes of Paula Vieira. Morandin is an accomplished grappler and is one of the most decorated women’s MMA prospect today. You can expect her to rack up the win.
Prediction: Janaisa Morandin via unanimous decision
Mackenzie Dern vs. Kaline Medeiros
In the co-main event of the evening, former ADCC world champion Mackenzie Dern will lock horns with former Invicta FC strawweight title challenger Kaline Medeiros. Dern today is one of the brightest MMA prospects. She’s already amassed a record of 4-0, which includes wins over The Ultimate fighter vet Montana Stewart. The 23-year-old is also a former two-time BJJ world champion, and is far and wide regarded as the best female grappler in MMA. She will be facing a serious step up in competition when she faces Kaline Medeiros. Kaline is a veteran of the sport. She holds a decorated record of 8-5, which includes wins over Manjit Kolekar and Aline Serio. That could spell upset for Dern.
Dern is currently an MMA darling with the spotlight on her; she has, however, struggled to make the strawweight limit, but thus far has resisted a move to flyweight (despite her last bout being at 125lbs). Invicta FC 26 may just be too-much, too-soon. We’ll soon find out.
Prediction: Kaline Medeiros
Jennifer Maia vs. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź
The main event of the evening at Invicta FC 26 will see Jennifer Maia put her Invicta FC title on the line against undefeated challenger Agnieszka Niedzwiedz. The two will enter the fight with heavy momentum behind them. ‘Kuma’ has gone 10-0, and has looked very impressive in her first two Invicta FC fights, where she defeated Christine Stanley and Vanessa Porto.
What’s her take on the champion? “Maia is a really good fighter and has experience in fighting five-rounders. She is a complete MMA fighter so I am preparing myself for a real war.” –Kuma on Maia
Maia too has managed exciting title matches against Roxanne Modafferi and Vanessa Porto. She has been out for some time, however, so ring rust could be a factor. Both are young and exciting fighters, which makes the main event a can’t-miss fight.
“I feel happy because I will fight with someone talented. I feel well prepared to come out victorious.”-Maia on Kuma
The main event will be a war. It could also see a new champion crowned. Don’t miss it.
Prediction: Agnieszka Niedzwiedz by stoppage
