A new Invicta FC strawweight champion emerges from this late-Summer event. Top contenders Emily Ducote and Danielle Taylor test skills for the 115-pound belt.

The second half of Invicta FC 44’s double main event sees Lisa Verzosa take on Phoenix Tournament winner Taneisha Tennant. This decides who helms Invicta’s bantamweight division for the foreseeable future.

Invicta FC 44

Kicking at 10 p.m. eastern time on Friday, August 27th,  Invicta FC 44: A New Era goes live on pay-per-view via traditional cable and satellite carriers. Also, digital customers around the world can pre-order the event immediately from FITE TV.

The live Invicta FC 44 Prelims broadcast in the U.S. on AXS TV and stream for free internationally on Invicta FC’s YouTube channel. The preliminary pugilism begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Both platforms also premiere a special Countdown to Invicta FC 44. A documentary piece set to go the week before the live event.

Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp stated, “I’m excited for our athletes to showcase their skills on pay-per-view again. These title fights feature some of the most talented women in mixed martial arts and I can’t wait to watch these amazing match-ups.”

Invicta Fighting Championships

With prior misses in challenges for the Bellator MMA and Invicta crowns, Oklahoma strawweight Ducote is looking to prove third time’s the charm.

She said, “It’s my time to show off everything I’ve been working on. Danielle’s tough. We’ve both fought the best and this is a good match-up. But I will walk through whatever I need to walk through to get this championship.”

Meanwhile, Danielle Taylor has beaten well-regarded contenders including Jessica Aguilar, Jessica Penne, and Seo Hee Ham. Taylor responded, “At the end of day she has never faced my speed and power. I believe I can stop everything she throws at me then put her out. They will announce me as the new Invicta strawweight champion.”

Verzosa has spent the bulk of her pro-MMA career under the Invicta banner. She earned her fifth promotional win against Raquel Canuto in her last contest. The sole defeat of her career came in a tight split decision in a prior Invicta title bid in 2020.

Invicta FC

“I’m super excited to have another title shot and prove to myself I can be champion,” expressed the 25-year-old. “Nobody has the heart that I do — that’s why I win.”

Having earned her title shot by beating three opponents in one night, Tennant has tremendous momentum heading into late-August. “My style of fighting will have her looking like an amateur. She’s never been hit like I hit before.”

Also, a five-fight main card features a flyweight bout with Brogan Sanchez and UFC veteran Mara Romero Borella going to war.

We’ll see strawweight Jodie Esquibel return to the promotional fold after a four-fight run in the UFC. She faces off with a proven warrior in Kelly D’Angelo. Unbeaten Hawaiian 135 pounder Monica Franco takes on a another UFC vet in Lauren Mueller.

Prior to the pay-per-view card, the Invicta FC 44 Prelims showcase a flyweight tilt featuring Caitlin Sammons and Helen Peralta vying for supremacy. Also on the preliminary card, Katie Saull and Monique Adriane meet in atomweight action. Plus, rising featherweight Kayla Yontef makes her professional debut opposite fellow newcomer Carlene Chandler.

The current fight card for Invicta FC 44: A New Era

Strawweight Title: Emily Ducote vs. Danielle Taylor

Bantamweight Title: Lisa Verzosa vs. Taneisha Tennant

Flyweight: Brogan Sanchez vs. Mara Romero Borella

Atomweight: Jodie Esquibel vs. Kelly D’Angelo

Bantamweight: Monica Franco vs. Lauren Mueller

Flyweight: Caitlin Sammons vs. Helen Peralta

Atomweight: Katie Saull vs. Monique Adriane

Featherweight: Kayla Yontef vs. Carlene Chandler

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Silva was in just her second fight since an extended layoff, during which she had undergone knee surgery.

Borella opened up Saturday’s affair with a jab, then drove Silva into the cage before throwing her down, hands clasped. Borella found herself in an active guard, however, as Silva threatened with an arm-bar and triangle. Borella, meanwhile, slipped in some hammerfists. However, in something of a critical mistake, Mara Romero Borella hopped to hang out way too long in Silva’s guard. The Brazilian, not surprisingly a strong fighter on the ground, continued to throw up the submission attempts. Eventually, one took. Borella found her arm trapped which in a triangle, and was soon forced to tap!

Clinical precision!

🇧🇷 Bueno Silva locks in the armbar from the triangle positon!

[ Prelims continue on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Il7Bwn0lFb

— UFC (@ufc) September 19, 2020

A disappointing end after a good start for Borella, who has now lost four straight inside the octagon. As for Silva, she’s back in the win column after a loss to Maryna Moroz last time out.

Official Result: Mayra Buena Silva def. Mara Borella Silva by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:29

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At flyweight in the women’s division the UFC has signed Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2 tournament winner Miranda Maverick. She will be debuting against Italy’s Mara Romero Borella (12-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC) who needs a win in the most important way as she’s riding a three-fight skid.

Miranda Maverick
5’3″
Flyweight
22-years-old
Norfolk, Virginia, US
Martinez BJJ
7-2
5 Submissions

How will Maverick fare in the UFC:

Compared to when Maverick first started he pro career she’s come a long way. On the feet she is getting better. She throws well in bursts and more and more is starting to kick the leg. She does get walked down fairly easily and will throw naked kicks with her hands low. Her movement has improved but her head still is very stationary.

While Maverick is improving, just about any good striker in the UFC will probably pick her apart. She’s a better grappler, but I’m not sold on her wrestling. Maverick relies on her strength to just pull girls down. She will grab a single leg but will a lot of times just lead headfirst to the mat which gives openings for her back being taken. She has been getting better at using trips and getting her hands together but more so relies on strength over technique. On the mat, she is very strong on top and will dominate the position up until she takes the back and sinks in the choke. Even off her back Maverick is a threat and she does find herself on her back often because her takedown defense isn’t where it needs to be. Maverick will immediately throw her legs up and it really dangerous attacking the armbar. However, she may be less effective off her back in the UFC because there are better BJJ fighters. The best attribute Maverick has is youth. She’s only 22-years-old and has so much room for growth. She’s already improved so much so in the next few years she’s you may find that she’s reached another level.

How Maverick matches up with Borella:

Miranda Maverick is matched up well here in her UFC debut. Borella is definitely tough but is on a three-fight skid and overall is 2-4 in the UFC. On the feet, Borella doesn’t have a lot of output and Maverick probably has the advantage. Montana De La Rosa was able to muscle down Borella in their fight and dominated her in the grappling department. If De La Rosa can do that to Borella then a more physical, better grappler, and a much more aggressive Maverick can easily do it. The pick is Maverick and I’m thinking she can finish Borella inside the distance.

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MMA DNA was first to report the pairing.

Maverick (7-2), who when not fighting studies Industrial Psychology in university, has been in force in Invicta for some time. Eight out of her nine pro fights have come within Shannon Knapp’s promotion, as well as two exhibition bouts that made up part of the Phoenix Series II tournament.

Most recently, Maverick picked up a win over former UFC fighter and Invicta FC title challenger Pearl Gonzalez.

In her debut later this month, Maverick will be taking on Mara Romero Borella (12-8, 2NC). The Italian fighter has lost three straight, most recently to Cortney Casey last month. Which means she’ll have her back to the wall when she makes a quick turnaround at UFC on ESPN 12.

The June 27 card is expected to be headlined by top lightweights Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier. Also slated for the event are:

Mike Perry vs. Mickey Gall
Gian Villante vs. Maurice Greene
Aspen Ladd vs. Sara McMann Luis Peña vs. Khama Worthy
Philipe Lins vs. Tanner Boser
Sean Woodson vs. Kyle Nelson
Viviane Araújo vs. Jennifer Maia
Brendan Allen vs. Kyle Daukaus

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Cortney Casey was making the move to flyweight at UFC on ESPN 8 in Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday. There to welcome her, Italy’s Mara Romero Borella. Casey had built a reputation at strawweight as a fighter difficult to finish — “Cast Iron” had never been finished inside the Octagon, despite fighting some of the best the strawweight division has to offer like Claudia Gadelha, Michelle Waterson, and Angela Hill. Borella, for her part, was looking to snap a two-fight skid and had lost three of her last four.

Cortney Casey started out her flyweight tenure with a few leg kicks. Mara Romero Borella closed the distance, pushed Casey against the cage and took her down. Borella was working for side control, but Casey was able to retain guard and began climbing the ladder to look for an armbar. She nearly had it, but Borella broke free and returned to guard. Casey accepted the first failed attempt and went for it again. This time, Borella yelped and tapped as Casey had it locked in.

🅲🅰🆂🆃 🅸🆁🅾🅽 🍳@CastIron_Casey locks in the RD1 sub!

➡️ Tune in now on @ESPN! pic.twitter.com/pv0vvDhjzL

— UFC (@ufc) May 16, 2020

Since a 2016 armbar submission over Randa Markos, it’s been a string of close decisions for Casey. A first-round armbar in a new division is definitely a welcomed change of pace for Casey, who is looking to take the wide-open 125-pound weight class by storm.

Cortney Casey def. Mara Romero Borella by Submission (Armbar) in Round 1 (3:36)

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In addition to Casey vs. Borella, two other fights are also expected for the event: Giga Chikadze vs. Mike Davis has been added at featherweight, while at heavyweight, Don’Tayle Mayes vs. Rodrigo Nascimento is anticipated. Chikadze confirmed his involvement in the card on social media on Tuesday.

The May 16 event is expected to air on ESPN and ESPN+, and TSN in Canada. Currently nameless, the show will take place at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris is expected to headline.

Casey (8-7) has long plied her trade at strawweight, and is 1-1 across her last two fights. Those consist of a win over Angela Hill, and a loss to Cynthia Calvillo. She’ll face Mara Romero Borella at flyweight, however, after a prior fight with Lara Procópio fell through in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic hitting U.S. shores.

For her part, Borella (12-7) has lost two straight, to Lauren Murphy and Montana Del La Rosa.

Mayes (7-3) and Nascimento (7-0) were set to fight twice in April, at both UFC Portland and UFC Lincoln. With the coronavirus issuing knockout blows to those cards, the third time might just be the charm for the heavyweight pair.

Mike Davis (8-2) will enter his bout with Chikadze (9-2) off a win over Thomas Gifford, in a rather lopsided fight last fall. Chikadze, meanwhile, has won four straight.

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The second half of a history making pair on Saturday, Montana De La Rosa was taking on Mara Romero Borella in women’s flyweight action at UFC Rio Rancho. Her husband, Mark, had fought earlier on the card, making the pair the first husband and wife duo to enter the octagon in the same evening.

Unfortunately, things did not turn out so well for Mark. Leaving Montana to pull out a victory for the pair.

De La Rosa took to the outside early, with Borella moving in to throw a combo. Back on the outside, Montana fired off a high kick. Moments later another kick was caught, and De La Rosa went to her back, only to scramble right back up. However, Borella would end up taking De La Rosa’s back, and spent a good chunk of time there, working to isolate an arm. De La Rosa would eventually break free and transition to Borella’s own back, but it turn could not make anything happen. They would head to the second.

De La Rosa let her hands go early in round two, backing Borella up. Borella, unfazed, circled out of harm’s way. Then moved forward with her own combo, much crisper. De La Rosa then worked for a trip and took her opponent’s back. Borella tried to fight her opponent’s hands, but De La Rosa to get a hook in. She then added a second, and focused on getting her hands in place for a rear-naked choke. Borella wouldn’t make it easy, and eventually De La Rosa transitioned back to the top. Then to the back again, in a scramble. This time, at her corner’s urging, Montana let her hands go, landing several punches and elbows before the end of the round.

Borella came out swinging to open the third round. She was more than likely behind on the scorecards. However, while Borella had the edge in the striking, she wasn’t connecting with anything clean, and De La Rosa held her own, even connecting with a right hand. She’d connect again minutes later, which just over half the round remaining — and that punch sat Mara Romero Borella on her backside. De La Rosa moved into guard, and that certainly felt like things were  done deal.

Official Result: Montana De La Rosa def. Mara Romero Borella by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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The UFC is set to return to New Mexico for the first time since 2014, while making their debut in the city of Rio Rancho. On Monday, the promotion officially announced a Fight Night event for the city on February 15, 2020. While no fights were announced for the card, MMA Junkie was first to report the news that Montana De La Rosa vs. Mara Romero Borella had been booked for the show.

The last time the UFC headed to New Mexico, it was for UFC Fight Night 42 in 2014, a card headlined by Benson Henderson vs. Rustam Khabilov. That show, in Albuquerque, NM, remains the promotion’s one and only trip to the state known as the Land of Enchantment.

The promotion’s return to New Mexico figures to have a much different look, not only because the show will be airing on ESPN+ stateside. A number of top fighters on that 2014 card are no longer with the company, including Henderson (Bellator), Ross Pearson, Bryan Caraway, Erik Perez, and others.

UFC Rio Rancho will take place at the Santa Ana Star Center on February 15. Expect fight announcements to begin trickling out in the coming weeks. Tickets for the event will go on sale Friday, December 20.

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A women’s flyweight bout between Montana De La Rosa and Italy’s Mara Romero Borella has been booked for February 15, 2020. De La Rosa confirmed the date and opponent following an initial report by MMA Junkie on Friday. Although no official location or event title has been announced, the card is expected to take place in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

De La Rosa (10-5), originally from Helena, Montana and fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas, is 3-1 in the UFC’s flyweight division. She was recently served up her first defeat in the promotion, falling to KGB Lee back in June at UFC Greenville.

Scheduled opponent Mara Romero Borella (12–6, 2NC) is 2-2 in her UFC tenure. Most recently, she suffered a loss at the hands of Lauren Murphy at UFC Newark.

Borella shot to infamy when the National Anti Doping Agency of Italy banished her from competition for 26 years after she pleaded guilty to charges related to distributing and selling cocaine and cannabis in 2012. Her initial suspension of 15 years had an 11-year suspension added to it when Borella opted to use Italian sporting facilities while under suspension.

However, USADA later ruled she was allowed to compete in the UFC as her criminal case was not related to performance enhancing substances, and did not occur while she was under the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy.

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Lauren Murphy started her career at 8-0 with an Invicta FC title to her name before making her UFC debut in 2014. After going 1-3 at bantamweight in the Octagon, Murphy signed on as a castmember for the flyweight season of The Ultimate Fighter. After losing to eventual champion Nicco Montano, Murphy was given another shot and defeated Barb Honchak in her UFC flyweight debut. Shell be looking to bounce back from a loss to Sijara Eubanks.

Mara Romero Borella is 2-1 in the UFC thus far including a first-round submission of Kalindra Faria. She last fought in February with a split decision over Taila Santos.

Lauren Murphy landed a combination to start the bout, and Borella answered with her own. Borella was focusing on kicking the leg of Murphy, then ate another punch combination. It was a tale of two styles early on, with Murphy sticking to punches, and Borella sticking with kicks. Murphy landed an overhand, and Borella couldn’t quite match her output early.

Cageside Press scored the first round 10-9 Lauren Murphy

After a tentative start to the round from both fighters, Borella landed a strong double leg takedown. Murphy immediately scooted out and stood up to clinch Borella against the cage. Not much happened after that, as for two minutes, Murphy pinned Borella to the fence to ride out the round.

Cageside Press scored the second round 10-9 Mara Romero Borella

A takedown attempt from Borella was thwarted by Murphy early in the final round. An uppercut then rocked Borella and Murphy pursued the finish with heavy punches. Borella shot for a takedown, Murphy stuffed it with ease, lifted her up then landed a picture-perfect knee to knock the Italian out. A fantastic finish for the veteran.

Nothing lucky about it!@LaurenMurphyMMA gets the finish in round 3 with a HUGE knee! #UFCNewark pic.twitter.com/w4weHV9CFB

— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2019

Lauren Murphy def. Mara Romero Borella by TKO (Knee and Punches) in Round 3 (1:46)

Check out all the results from UFC Newark here!

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