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| (Image Source: FITE/Anthem Sports and Entertainment) |
Invicta Fighting Championships, the world's premier combat sports organization for women, returns to pay-per-view for the first time in eight years to host a historic night of women's mixed martial arts action on August 28, Saturday (Philippine time) with "Invicta FC 44: A New Era" which will emanate from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Missouri and be headlined by two championship matchups.
A new Invicta FC strawweight champion will be crowned as top contenders Emily "Gordinha" Ducote (9W-6L) and "Dynamite" Danielle Taylor (11W-5L) square off for the 115-pound belt. The second half of Invicta FC 44's double main event will see Lisa "Battle Angel" Versoza (6W-1L) taking on Phoenix Tournament winner Taneisha "Triple Threat" Tennant (3W-1L) to decide the new queen of Invicta's bantamweight division. “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,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp.
Haunted by two near misses in challenges for the Bellator and Invicta crowns in the past, Oklahoma strawweight Ducote is determined to become a world champion in her third opportunity. 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, Taylor who has beaten contenders such as Jessica Aguilar, Jessica Penne and Seo Hee Ham 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.”
Portland-based bantamweight Versoza has spent the majority of her professional MMA career under the Invicta banner, earning her fifth promotional win over Raquel Canuto in her last outing. The lone loss of her career came in a heartbreaking split decision in her previous Invicta title challenge in 2020 and "Battle Angel" is determined to go one better on Invicta FC 44. “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 by beating three opponents in one night, New York's Tennant is equally confident. “My style of fighting will have her looking like an amateur. She’s never been hit like I hit before.”
Also featured in the five-fight main card are a flyweight bout between Guam's Brogan "Killer Bee" Sanchez (6W-2L) and Italian UFC veteran Mara Romero Borella (11W-9L), the return of strawweight Jodie Esquibel (6W-6L) following her four-fight UFC run to face off with fellow firefighter Kelly "Wildfire" D 'Angelo (4W-4L), and Phoenix Tournament veteran Serena "The Southpaw Outlaw" De Jesus (3W-2L) taking on another Octagon veteran in Californian Lauren "Princess Tiger" Mueller (5W-3L). Invicta FC 44: A New Era will be broadcasted live online on FITE starting at 10:00 am (Philippine time) and is available via pre-order for only US$9.99.
Prior to the main card, the Invicta FC 44 Prelims will feature the following bouts: Caitlyn "Ginger" Sammons (3W-1L) vs. Helen "Ialsā" Peralta (3W-2L) (flyweight), Katie "Queen Of The North" Saull of Canada (3W-4L) vs. Brazil's Monique Adriane (4W-2L) (atomweight), and Mexico's Kayla "Danger" Yontef (debut) vs. Stockton, California's Carlene Chandler (debut) (featherweight). The live prelims will be streamed for free worldwide on Invicta FC's YouTube channel starting at 8:00 am (Philippine time). The said platform will also premiere a Countdown To Invicta FC 44 documentary a week before the live event.
