Invicta FC 38 saw a last minute switch in main events, making the story more about the strawweights on Friday night. After Karina Rodriguez missed weight for her flyweight title fight with Vanessa Porto, Kanako Murata threw down with Emily Ducote in the main event. The vacant strraweight title was on the line, and Japan’s Murata did just enough to win the split decision and capture gold.

Vanessa Porto, who would have headlined the card, took home a unanimous decision against Rodriguez in the end. It’s a bittersweet victory for the Brazilian, however, as she was denied the opportunity to defend her title for the first time.

Check out video and photo highlights of the event below, courtesy of Invicta FC!

Invicta FC 38 Results:

Strawweight: Kanako Murata def. Emily Ducote by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) – for the Invicta FC strawweight title
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto def. Karina Rodríguez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – originally a five-round title fight, became three-round non-title fight after Rodriguez missed weight
Strawweight: Mallory Martin def. Cynthia Arceo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
Flyweight: Shanna Young def. Maiju Suotama by unanimous decision (29-27, 28-27, 28-26)
Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa def. Kerri Kenneson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Auttumn Norton def. Shaianna Rincon by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Bantamweight: Taneisha Tennant def. Serena de Jesus by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Strawweight gold was on the line in the main event of Invicta FC 38, when Kanako Murata took on Emily Ducote. The latest offering from Shannon Knapp’s all-female fighting outfit had originally stacked the deck with two title fights. But flyweight challenger Karina Rodriguez came in heavy at Thursday’s weigh-in, depriving fans of a championship fight that had originally been scheduled as the main event.

With the Rodriguez miss, Vanessa Porto lost out on what would have been her first title defense. Instead, Porto met Rodriguez in a three-round contest, while the previously scheduled co-main event, featuring Kanako Murata taking on Emily Ducote for the vacant strawweight championship, served as the evening’s new headliner.

Check back from fight time (8PM ET) for full results and a recap of all the action!

Invicta FC 38 Results:

Strawweight Title: Kanako Murata def. Emily Ducote via split-decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)  – for the vacant Invicta FC strawweight championship

Kanako Murata started out the first round by pressuring Ducote, however, it was Ducote that was actually throwing strikes, snapping back Murata’s head with a right straight. Murata would quickly get the takedown, however, and Ducote would throw up an armbar attempt but it wouldn’t be enough. Murata would then have success for the rest of the round on top, with dominating top pressure and some nice elbows.

Round two was an interesting one, Ducote continued with her stand up success, and began really finding the range in the second frame. She started chewing up Murata’s leg, and Murata’s takedown attempts were foiled by Ducote until the final 90 seconds of the round. However Murata would get the takedown, but due to an armbar attempt by Ducote, she was unable to mount much offense.

Round three saw more success for Ducote on the feet. Murata landed a good combination early, but that was about it. Ducote stuffed two takedowns throughout the duration of the round, and it seemed like the tide was turning in the Oklahoman’s favor. However, in the final minute, Murata would get the takedown and would end the round on top.

The fourth round was more standing success by Ducote, however it was the final moments that would define the round. Murata would get the takedown with a minute to go, and Ducote would go for an armbar as Murata looked to be resting. The armbar looked deep but Murata would roll out of it, go back to her feet, then try to cartwheel her way into Ducote’s guard. Ducote would then get back to her feet, and takedown Murata, and get her back. All before time expired heading into the fifth round.

The fifth round was another very close round, where Ducote had success on the feet, especially early. She appeared to rock Murata as she caused the latter to start bleeding. As she was going for the kill, Murata got a takedown and proved she couldn’t be submitted as she got out of another armbar. In the end, they would go to a decision, in one of the most entertaining Invicta fights all year.

Flyweight: Vanessa Porto def. Karina Rodríguez via unanimous decision (29-28 3x) – non-title fight, Rodriguez missed weight

After the three-round fight, it was hard to not be sad that we didn’t see more. Vanessa Porto began the fight by taking Rodriguez to suplex city, throwing the challenger around the cage. Getting takedowns at will, but Rodriguez was not stirred. Round two saw Rodriguez battle back, and stuff all of Porto’s takedowns, and tune her up on the feet, leading to a decisive third round. The third round saw success for both women, with Porto landing takedowns, while Rodriguez still did her best work at range, landing plenty of volume.

An amazing fight, and with a win by Porto, we avoid any title controversy.

Strawweight: Mallory Martin def. Cynthia Arceo via unanimous decision (30-26 2x, 30-27)

Mallory Martin made her return to Invicta FC in style after a victory on Dana White’s Contender Series. Making a name for herself there but not getting the contract, she returned to Invicta to take on newcomer Cynthia Arceo, and put a beating on the newcomer. Martin was getting outstruck on the feet for the entirety of the 15-minute contest, but Martin continually got takedowns and dominated on the ground anytime it landed there. What a win by Martin.

Flyweight: Shanna Young def. Maiju Suotama via unanimous decision (29-27, 28-27, 28-26)

Maiju Suotama started off the fight red hot, getting the takedown and the back almost instantly, it looked like the fight would be over quickly. Instead, Young would survive, and make it to round two after having Suotama on her back the whole round. Young would then drop Suotama en route to a dominating round two, where she bloodied up with Finland fighter. Round three was much like the second, as Young dominated Suotama, on the feet, and on the ground. Nearly getting the finish from mount in the final seconds. A great comeback by Young.

Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa def. Kerri Kenneson via unanimous decision (29-28 3x)

Lisa Verzosa and Kerri Kenneson came to scrap. Kenneson opened with an impressive first-round where she dropped Verzosa with a short punch, and nearly got the finish. However, Verzosa would survive and would have a good second round where she put in some work on the feet of her own. Landing brutal body shots, she worked her way into the third round. Those famed body shots would show up in the third round, where she would rock Kenneson, and likely secure her the victory.

Featherweight:  Auttumn Norton def. Shaianna Rincón via unanimous decision (30-26 3x)

Auttumn Norton put on as dominating performance as you’ll ever see. The day after Halloween, she made Rincon look like a horror film victim. Round one had loads of brawling, with Norton landing right hooks at will that would make Wanderlei Silva blush. The second and third rounds were fantastic ground displays by Norton, where she bloodied up Rincon. By the end of the fight, Shaianna Rincon had massive swelling on her right eye, in addition to the blood, while Norton had no scratches on her. Fantastic win.

Bantamweight: Taneisha Tennant def. Serena DeJesus via unanimous decision (29-28, 3x)

Taneisha Tennant and Serena DeJesus was a much better fight than it had a right to be. With a combined two fights between them, they put on an absolute scrap. From the opening bell, they were throwing full power shots. Tennant rocked DeJesus very early with a right hand, but DeJesus recovered to make it a fight. In round two, DeJesus rocked Tennant with an impressive kick to left-hand combination. Tennant would recover and make it to round three, where she would have great success following a punch that opened DeJesus up. From there on, it was Tennant that won the round with nice volume, and ultimately secured the victory.

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Invicta FC returns to action Friday with Invicta FC 38. A card originally scheduled to see two title fights go down, a miss at the scales by Karina Rogriguez bumped her challenge against Vanessa Porto to a non-title, three round affair.

Into the main event slot, as a result, went the strawweight title fight between Japan’s Kanako Murata, and former Bellator MMA contender Emily Ducote. With the title sitting vacant, one woman had a chance to make history Friday night.

Check out full weigh-in results and a gallery of highlights from Thursday’s weigh-in below, as well as video highlights above, courtesy of Invicta FC.

Invicta FC 38 Weigh-In Results

Strawweight Title: Kanako Murata (114.9) vs. Emily Ducote (114.2)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (124.2) vs. Karina Rodríguez (126.1)*
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (115.8) vs. Cynthia Arceo (116)
Flyweight: Shanna Young (125.7) vs. Maiju Suotama (124.2)
Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa (135.5) vs. Kerri Kenneson (135.6)
Featherweight: Shaianna Rincón (143.8) vs. Auttumn Norton (146)
Bantamweight: Serena DeJesus (135.7) vs. Taneisha Tennant (135.9)

* – Rodríguez missed the flyweight championship limit of 125 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse. Her bout against Porto is now a three-round, non-title bout.

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Invicta FC was set to return to action Friday night in Kansas City, with two title fights topping the Invicta FC 38 card. Well, there were supposed to be two. At weigh-in on Thursday, what was supposed to be a main event flyweight title fight was demoted to the co-main event, after challenger Karina Rodriguez missed weight. Coming in at 126.1lbs for the 125lb limit in title bouts, Rodriguez lost a shot at gold. Champ Vanessa Porto will still face her, however the bout is now a three-round non-title affair.

What was supposed to be the co-main event now tops the show, as Kanako Murata faces Emily Ducote for the 115lb title. Ducote, a flyweight title contender in Bellator MMA, was in her second bout for Invicta, following her successful debut against Janaisa Morandin, which ended in a knockout.

Invicta FC 38 Weigh-In Results:

Strawweight Title: Kanako Murata (114.9) vs. Emily Ducote (114.2)
Flyweight: Vanessa Porto (124.2) vs. Karina Rodríguez (126.1)*
Strawweight: Mallory Martin (115.8) vs. Cynthia Arceo (116)
Flyweight: Shanna Young (125.7) vs. Maiju Suotama (124.2)
Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa (135.5) vs. Kerri Kenneson (135.6)
Featherweight: Shaianna Rincón (143.8) vs. Auttumn Norton (146)
Bantamweight: Serena DeJesus (135.7) vs. Taneisha Tennant (135.9)

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Recently crowned flyweight champion Vanessa Porto will defend her title for the first time at Invicta FC 38, on a night that will see two titles up for grabs. Promotion officials announced the news Wednesday via press release, confirming that Porto would face flyweight tournament winner Karina Rodriguez in the night’s main event.

Porto (21-8) defeated Pearl Gonzalez to win the title at Invicta FC 34. That capped a 3-fight win streak for the Brazilian. Rodriguez (8-3), meanwhile, won both her fights this year, part of the organization’s flyweight contenders tournament.

The quest for gold, however, begins in the co-main event for Emily Ducote and Kanako Murata, who will throw down for the promotion’s vacant 115lb title. Ducote (8-5) is a former title challenger in Bellator, where she went head-to-head with Ilima-Lei Macfarlane for that promotion’s inaugural flyweight title. Murata (10-1) has not tasted defeat since a loss in RIZIN against UFC vet Rin Nakai in 2015.

The full Invicta FC 38 card as announced can be found below.

Flyweight Title: Vanessa Porto vs. KarinaRodríguez
Strawweight Title: Kanako Murata vs. Emily Ducote
Strawweight: Mallory Martin vs. Cynthia Arceo
Flyweight: Shanna Young vs. Maiju Suotama
Bantamweight: Lisa Verzosa vs. Kerri Kenneson
Bantamweight: Shaianna Rincón vs. TBA
Bantamweight: Serena de Jesus vs. Taneisha Tennant

Invicta FC 38 takes place Friday, November 1, from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The event will air on UFC Fight Pass.

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