Invicta FC 27: Kianzad vs. Kaufman Recap and Results

January 13, 2018

Pannie Kianzad and Sarah Kaufman, Invicta FC 27 Credit: Dave Mandel/Invicta FC

Invicta FC kicked off 2018 with a card topped by its biggest free agent signing to date, Canada’s Sarah Kaufman.

Going down at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, MO, Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad featured former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman in her return to the Invicta FC fold. After a single 2013 bout against Leslie Smith, Kaufman jumped to the UFC, but when her four fight deal expired, she was not re-signed. A single (and unpaid) stop in Korea’s Battlefield FC earlier this year saw Kaufman pick up a win over ‘Jessy Jess’ Jessica-Rose Clark. On Saturday, she was looking to start the march toward the Invicta FC bantamweight title.

Opposite Kaufman in the cage at Invicta FC 27 was Pannie Kianzad. Kianzad was a hot prospect a couple of years back, but ran into trouble against the top of the 135lb division, dropping bouts to Tonya Evinger and Raquel Pa’aluhi.

Adding to her troubles, Kianzad missed weight for Saturday’s bout, the second time in her past three fights that the Iranian-Swede had come in heavy.

Also on Saturday’s Invicta FC 27 card, flyweight standout Vanessa Porto took on Mariana Morais, while Canadian featherweight prospect Felicia Spencer looked to keep her undefeated streak intact.

Check back come fight time for full results and a recap from Invicta FC 27: Kianzad and Kaufman.

Jade Ripley vs. Helen Peralta

A strawweight battle between Jade Ripley (6-0 as an amateur) and Helen Peralta (8-1 as an amateur) opened up the Invicta FC 27 card. Both fighters were making their professional debuts Saturday night.

In what turned out to be a quick battle, Jade Ripley came out switching stances and looking for a home for her right hand. Helen Peralta chopped at the legs of her opponent, and this was the story for the opening minute or so of the bout. Then, in a clinch, Peralta landed a pair of right hands to the head of Ripley. That set up the finish. Ripley was on her heels, looking to escape. Peralta cornered her against the cage, and unleashed a flurry of punches rock ’em, sock ’em style. The ref came in to wave the fight off, and that was all she wrote!

Helen Peralta def. Jade Ripley by TKO, Round 1, 2:22

Loma Lookboonmee vs. Melissa Wang

Highly touted Muay Thai champ Loma Lookboonmee made her MMA debut Saturday against Melissa Wang, who was making her Invicta FC debut. The bout was contested at atomweight.

Round one proved that Loma Lookboonmee has been working her overall MMA game. Wang attacked early, driving forward with punches to set up a takedown. Lookboonmee stuffed that attempt. In the clinch, as expected, she had the edge, and was able to trip Wang to the ground. Loma opted to keep things standing; later, however, she used an elbow and knee to set up another ground sequence, and this time, she quickly took the back of Wang. Locking in a rear-naked choke, it appeared Lookboonmee might have the submission. Instead, Wang got her chin free. Lookboonmee briefly had mount, then transitioned to the back, looking for another RNC attempt. Wang, however, reversed, and finished out the round on top.

The second round saw a less frantic pace, if only slightly. Lookboonme got on top of Wang early in the ground, dropping some hammer fists, but opted to stand back up. A short time later an illegal knee by the Muay Thai fighter halted the action. Inadvertent, it was basically a knee to the throat. The ref opted not to take a point, while Wang was given time to recover. Back underway, Lookboonmee was winning the clinch battles, and landed a slick standing elbow. Wang was successful at tying her up but couldn’t get the same level of offense in.

Round three saw an illegal knee factor in again. Lookboonmee was dominate in the clinch once more, landing a flurry of knees that seemed to hurt Wang in the first half of the frame. A right hand connected off the break, and Wang answered by looking to secure a double leg takedown. She was stuffed, as Loma displayed an excellent sprawl. Then, while Wang was grounded, having dropped down for the takedown attempt, another Lookboonmee knee connected. That forced the ref to halt the action again. This time, he took a point, and while Wang chose to continue, she looked worse for the wear. She’d try to secure a takedown before round’s end, but couldn’t, and on the scorecards, the point deduction didn’t matter.

Loma Lookboonmee def. Melissa Wang by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26)

Mallory Martin vs. Tiffany Masters

Tiffany Masters missed weight for her strawweight contest with Mallory Martin, giving up a chunk of her purse as a result. The catchweight battle saw the pair trading on the feet early. Mallory Martin pressed the action, pushing forward on the attack while Tiffany Masters circled out of harm’s way. After a fair bit of this, she decided to push back, going on the offensive. However, just as Masters was getting going, Martin scored a single leg takedown. Masters looked to initiate a scramble but couldn’t; she reverted to a leg lock attempt. Martins, however, finished the round dropping elbows on her foe.

Round two saw Martin take the fight back to the ground early, finishing her takedown attempt with a trip. Martin maintained control for the first half of the round, moving to side control, and dropping punches sporadically. With just over two minutes remaining in the round she moved to full mount and began turning up the heat on Masters, who could not escape and soon had a cut opened up. Masters was rolling to her side, with Martin wailing away, raining punches from the top. The ref had seen enough, and Martin had the TKO!

Mallory Martin def. Tiffany Masters by TKO, Round 2, 3:36

Felicia Spencer vs. Akeela Al-Hameed

Undefeated featherweight Felicia Spencer met a tough out in Akeela Al-Hameed at Invicta FC 27 on Saturday. Spencer opened the action with a high kick, but Al-Hameed quickly proved dangerous on the feet, getting the better of an early exchange. That forced Spender to tie up the action along the fence for a while, employing some wall n’ stall. Back in the center, Al-Hameed against got the better of the standup war, but Spencer landed a head kick, and a second before the end of the frame.

Round two saw Spencer continue to struggle to overcome the puzzle of Al-Hameed. Spencer continued to work kicks to the head and body. However, off a takedown attempt Al-Hameed caught Spencer in a guillotine attempt. She muscled back up, holding onto the choke. Spencer then began throwing knees to her opponent’s head while still caught in the guillotine attempt! She’d break free, and actually manage to get in top position as the round wore down. A curious frame to score with those defensive knees from within a submission attempt.

Spencer looked to throw more high kicks to start round three, but Al-Hameed finally had her timing down, and caught one, taking her down. Spencer was comfortable off her back, however, and managed to reverse, getting on top. She spent most of the round there, working to side control, though Al-Hameed would regain top position as the seconds wore down. Most of the third was spent this way, stacked up along the fence. In the end, it went to the judge’s scorecards.

Felicia Spencer def. Akeela Al-Hameed by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Brogan Walker-Sanchez vs. Cheri Muraski

Cheri Muraski scored a trip earlier, but the pair were quickly back up. Off an exchange, Brogan Walker-Sanchez went down, but it was more of a slip than a knockdown. Walker-Sanchez found some success on the feet, with knees and an elbow, but wound up on the ground with Muraski in her guard for most of the remainder of the round. Muraski, however, was unable to pass guard. In the final moments, Muraski would look to take the back.

Round two saw most of the action play out along the cage. Walker-Sanchez was able to fire off an elbow when the pair were out in the open. However, it wasn’t until late in the round that Muraski, who controlled in the clinch, was able to get the fight down.

A front kick dropped Muraski early in round three. Walker-Sanchez looked for a takedown, but Muraski was able to control from the clinch and press the action up against the fence. With double underhooks in Muraski was able to dictate where the fight played out. Walker-Sanchez managed to take the back of Muraski in the dying seconds of the round, but there was no time left to look for a choke. It went to the judges, with a split decision going to Brogan Walker-Sanchez.

Brogan Walker-Sanchez def. Cheri Muraski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Ashley Cummins vs. Stephanie Alba

In atomweight action, round one of Cummins vs. Alba saw Ashley ‘Smashley’ immediately imposing her will. Pressing Alba up against the fence, she dropped levels and finished a double leg takedown, getting her opponent to the canvas. Cummins found herself in half guard, and was working to pass. Alba, meanwhile, had her hands clasped, and her legs tied up with one of Cummins’ own. She’d keep Cummins from getting to mount, but Cummins was in control and managed to add in a little damage.

Round two saw Cummins go high with a kick, then take the fight back to the ground. Alba was again on her back, exactly where she didn’t want to be. Cummins worked in some elbows and short punches to the side of Alba. When they did get back to their feet, things didn’t go any better for Alba, who ate a big Cummins elbow. And then back down they went. Rinse and repeat. Either standing or on the ground, Alba was getting beat up.

One again, in round three Cummins took the fight to the ground early, this time catching a kick after throwing a pair of her own. She worked from within Alba’s closed guard. Alba was unable to escape or threaten any submissions off the bottom. Right hands from the top were taking their toll, and Alba looked exhausted. She’d eat a few more shots, but survive to the final bell only to lose a one-sided unanimous decision.

Ashley Cummins def. Stephanie Alba by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Sharon Jacobson vs. Ashley Nichols

Right off the opening bell of their strawweight battle, Sharon Jacobson caught a kick from Ashley Nichols and dumped her on her back. That set the tone for a back-and-forth striker vs. wrestler battle. A wardrobe malfunction on Jacobson allowed Nichols to get back up. Nichols displayed great accuracy with her hands, and chopped at Jacobson’s leg. A left hand by Nichols later stunned Jacobson. Jacobson would score another takedown, but Nichols managed to fight her way free. Back on the feet, Jacobson would launch an uppercut, but eat a pair of knees.

Jacobson got the action down early in the second, and was able to keep it there through the first two minutes of the round. When Nichols did make it back to her feet, she was immediately fighting off another takedown attempt. Jacobson would complete it; Nichols briefly reversed before Jacobson regained control. Jacobson’s wrestling was the story in round three; three takedowns saw her in control most of the frame. Nichol’s best moment came from a standing back elbow as Jacobson tried to take her back.

Round three, and again Jacobson took Nichols down, this time a minute in. Her wrestling was becoming the story, as Nichols was spending too much time on her back, and not threatening much from that position. Jacobson began working Nichols over with elbows from the top, and ate a lot of time. Nichols finally did make it back to her feet, but with only seconds remaining, was unable to get any offense off, and was taken down while defending with a guillotine.

Sharon Jacobson def. Ashley Nichols by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Vanessa Porto vs. Mariana Morais

A little over a month since Vanessa Porto picked up a win over ex-UFC star Milana Dudieva, the Brazilian was back in action at Invicta FC 27. This time, she finished off Mariana Morais in under a round. Porto scored an inside leg kick early that knocked Morais off-balance. She recovered, but soon enough Porto had her on the ground, and was on her back. Porto was able to land a few shots from there, but wasn’t in a position where she could make anything happen. Morais, for her part, couldn’t seem to escape. Porto, wisely, re-adjusted, stepping around briefly then re-taking the back, this time getting hooks in. An initial rear-naked choke attempt was fought off, but a second one saw Morais tapping in short order!

Vanessa Porto def. Mariana Morais by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:19

Sarah Kaufman vs. Pannie Kianzad

Headliner Pannie Kianzad missed weight, but her main event scrap with former Strikeforce champ Sarah Kaufman was still on. Dictating the action early, Kaufman came on strong. The Canadian pressed forward, throwing combos while Kianzad circled out of danger. Kianzad was looking to land a counter left hand, while Pannie added in some leg strikes as well. It was Kaufman, however, who had the edge in the round, thanks to a right hand that landed repeatedly. A pair of elbows along the fence by Sarah Kaufman connected to the face of Kianzad, and the ex-UFC fighter clearly took the round.

In the second, it was more of the same from Kaufman. Meanwhile, Kianzad came out kicking and threw a spinning back elbow; the latter was blocked. Soon enough, it was Kaufman who was back in control. She’d look for a single leg, but Kianzad fought it off. Kaufman then swept Pannie’s leg out from under her, securing the takedown. They landed in a north-south position, with Kaufman landing elbows to the thigh of Kianzad. Kianzad looked for an arm-bar, but the veteran was hip to the submission attempt and quickly escaped. Back on the feet, Sarah Kaufman attempted a standing kimura, but lost it. This was becoming a fun, creative scrap.

Round three saw Pannie Kianzad start things off with a spinning attack again. Pannie’s left hand remained a threat, but ultimately, she was being backed up, and Sarah Kaufman’s right hand continued to land. Kaufman simply refused to back up, keeping the pressure on until the final bell. While she couldn’t get the finish, she captured a clear unanimous decision.

After the bout, she called for another fight as soon as possible, and said she was looking for the Invicta FC title, since she “likes shiny things.”

Sarah Kaufman def. Pannie Kianzad by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)