Wednesday night saw all-female fighting organization Invicta FC kick off their 2023, with two title fights topping the night in Denver, Colorado.
Invicta FC 51 was set to unfold at Reelworks Denver, with bantamweight champion Taneisha Tennant putting her title on the line against UFC vet Talita Bernardo in the main event.
Tennant’s run as a bantamweight had been perfect to date, with the only blemish on her record coming up a weight class on Dana White’s Contender Series, where she had lost a decision against boxing standout Danyelle Wolf. Yet while Wolf had gone 0-1 in the UFC since, “Triple Threat” Tennant first won, then defended, Invicta’s 135lb strap.
Bernardo, meanwhile, left the UFC following a disappointing 1-3 run, but was 3-0 since, picking up wins over fellow UFC ex-pat Lucie Pudilova, and TUF 28 alum Katharina Lehner.
Invicta FC’s vacant flyweight title was up for grabs in the co-main event on Wednesday. That match-up saw Bellator vet Kristina “War Horse” Williams paired up with Brazil’s Ketlen Souza.
Williams had won three straight to start the night, with two of those victories under the Invicta banner. Souza had won four straight, and made her promotional debut last time out.
Full results and a live stream of the action from Invicta FC 51 can be found below!
Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo Results
Bantamweight: Talita Bernardo def.Taneisha Tennant (c) by unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) – for the Invicta FC bantamweight championship
Flyweight: Ketlen Souza def. Kristina Williams by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for the vacant Invicta FC flyweight championship
Bantamweight: Olga Rubin def. Serena DeJesus by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bantamweight: Claire Guthrie def. Auttumn Norton by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Atomweight: Elisandra Ferreira def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Atomweight: Rayanne dos Santos def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Strawweight: Fatima Kline def. Laura Gallardo by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
