(Leslie Smith vs Kaitlin Young, via Budo-Zone.com)
Invicta FC 1 wasn’t the first promotion to feature an all-female fight card, nor did they invent the MMA livestream, but last night they paired the two beautifully for a groundbreaking show that will undoubtedly do wonders for WMMA. The online broadcast is said to have peaked at 100k viewers, some four-times their initial projection.
Overall the show had a professional, polished appearance. The familiar voice of Mauro Renallo carried the commentary team with the sort of obvious, gender-based puns that we would never personally sink t…oh, right. The recently unemployed “King Mo” kept it 100 on the mic, but casual doesn’t always equal comfortable or competent, and Jon Anik can breath a little easier this morning. Alongside Lawal, Julie Kedzie called the fight from a fighter’s perspective, and with a little more experience she could transition well into that roll.
While one of Invicta’s stated goals is to develop clearly defined weight classes, the fighters will have to do their part when it’s time to step on the scales. With four fighters missing weight for the inaugural event, some of them badly, there’s still much work to be done.
As for the fights, it was an overall entertaining card. Videos and a recap are after the jump.
Leslie Smith and Kaitlin Young threw down for three full rounds, taking home the evening’s $1500 ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses . The two bantamweights left the ‘feeling out’ process to Rex up in the stands. They pulled the trigger from the opening bell, exchanging heavy strikes in a back and forth slugfest. The evening’s most exciting fight was also the most controversial; neither fighter got her hand raised as the bout ended in a Split Draw. Both were given their win bonuses.
(Randi Miller vs Mollie Estes, via Budo-Zone.com)
2008 Olympic wrestling bronze medalist Randi Miller disappointed in her victorious pro-debut. Aside from the heavy, backyard ground and pound that earned her the win over Mollie Estes, she showed little to get excited over and exhibited none of the wrestling skills one would naturally expect given her background.
(Liz Carmouche vs Ashleigh Curry, via Budo-Zone.com)
It would take you longer to read a review of the Liz Carmouche-Ashleigh Curry bout than it would to watch it. Just check out the video to catch the ‘Girl-Rilla’ bulldoze Curry real quick like. Carmouche, along with Penne, scored a $1000 ‘Social Media’ bonus for her efforts to promote the event online.
(Jessica Penne vs Lisa Ellis, via Budo-Zone.com)
Atomweights (105 lb’ers) Jessica Penne and Lisa Ellis put their matwork on display in the evening’s co-main event. The pair employed takedowns and reversals, and submissions and sweeps as they battled to gain control on the ground. Penne landed a pair of knees from the clinch to open up Ellis’ nose like a spigot and seize control in the third. From there she gained top position on the canvas and further pounded her bloody opponent, drawing the TKO.
In the evening’s main event, former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Marloes Coenen earned her second victory over Romy Ruyssen, though the rematch would go the distance. Coenen injured her hand in the first round, but still maintained a decisive advantage throughout the bout. The Frenchwoman tried to take Coenen down in vain, losing a point in the first round for grabbing the cage, but even when she pulled guard she found no success on the ground. Coenen scored the win 30-26 on all three judge’s scorecards.
Full Results: (via MMAJunkie.com)
- Marloes Coenen def. Romy Ruyssen via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Jessica Penne def. Lisa Ellis via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:48
- Liz Carmouche def. Ashleigh Curry via TKO – Round 1, 1:58
- Kaitlin Young vs. Leslie Smith ruled a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 29-29)
- Sarah D’Alelio def. Vanessa Mariscal via submission (punches) – Round 2, 3:19
- Sarah Schneider def. Sally Krumdiack via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:01
- Amy Davis def. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 3:47
- Sarah Maloy def. Michele Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Randi Miller def. Mollie Estes via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 3:27
- Ashley Cummings def. Sofia Bagherdai via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Cassie Rodish def. Meghan Wright via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:36