The Hangar at the OC Fair and Event Center was alive last night Saturday, January 17th as Invicta Fighting Championships opened their 2016 with a high profile card.
The event was broadcast on UFC Fight Pass and and featured the return of Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino to defend her belt against promotional newcomer Daria Ibragimova.
Ibragimova attempted take downs the whole night and was able to grab ahold of her leg but was never able to take her down. Justino was able to keep the fight standing and pilled on muai thai style kicks and knees until late in the first round she was able to break away and knock her out.
“When she hugged my leg she couldn’t take me down because she held it open arm,” said Justino in a media scrum after the event.
This fight marks Justino’s third title defense, all of which have ended in the first round. Justino is set to take time off before returning in July.
In the co-main event, Livia Renata Souza defended her Invicta FC Stawweight Championship against challenger DeAnna Bennett by showing a more well rounded fighting game.
“I always improve my skills, I’m always trying to be a better fighter,” said Souza who is still undefeated at 9-0 and is the first Strawweight Champion to defend her title since the inauguration of the title.
Also in a bizarre set of circumstances, not only did Colleen Schneider fight Raquel Pa’aluhi after missing weight the day before, but the match was delayed due to the fact that the ambulance had not returned to the venue after taking an early competitor to the hospital.
Performance of the Night bonus recipients were that of Mizuki Inoue, Angel Hill and Souza. Fight of the Night went to Megan Anderson and Amber Leibrock.
Complete results are below:
Featherweight Brazil Cristiane Justino (c) def. Russia Daria Ibragimova KO (punches) 1 4:58
Strawweight Brazil Livia Renata Souza (c) def. United States DeAnna Bennett TKO (body kick and punches) 1 1:30
Catchweight (136.2 lbs) United States Colleen Schneider def. United States Raquel Pa’aluhi Decision (split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) 3 5:00
Atomweight United States Amber Brown def. Japan Shino VanHoose Submission (guillotine choke) 1 2:36
Strawweight Japan Mizuki Inoue def. United States Lacey Schuckman Submission (armbar) 3 3:41
Strawweight United States Angela Hill def. United States Alida Gray KO (knee to the body) 1 1:39
Featherweight Australia Megan Anderson def. United States Amber Leibrock TKO (strikes) 3 2:33
Invicta FC will now head to Las Vegas in March tentatively scheduled for a flyweight tournament while champion Barb Honchak takes time off.