The next Invicta card has been announced and it will be headlined by Cris “Cyborg” Justino in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, the same weekend rival Ronda Rousey will be in action against Cat Zingano in the same city.
According to a press release acquired by Bleacher Report, the card, which will air exclusively on Fight Pass, will take place from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The following night, UFC 184 will air live from the Staples Center, also in Los Angeles.
Cyborg, long considered the best female fighter in the world, puts her Invicta Featherweight Championship on the line against Canadian challenger Charmaine Tweet, considered the top lightweight in the world by most, as well as one of the top featherweights.
Cyborg was supposed to headline the Invicta 10 card in December, but an injury prevented her from competing in that event. That was to be her bantamweight debut, which is on hold for now until she can make weight.
Her time in Invicta has been a success thus far. After slamming Fiona Muxlow in the first round of her debut, she dismantled Marloes Coenen to claim the vacant 145-pound title.
The reputed knockout artist finds a new challenge in Tweet, who has shown vast improvements in her most recent fights, despite a so-so record. She is 5-1 in her last six bouts, with her only loss coming to top-three featherweight Julia Budd.
She put her stamp on top contention status in her most recent bout, running through top prospect Veronica Rothenhausler with ease. Using her improved striking and a voracious top game, she absolutely crushed the Team Alpha Male member.
In the co-main event, uber-prospect Mizuki Inoue will look to get back in the win column after a loss in her most recent Invicta bout, as she takes on rising prospect Alexa Grasso. It figures to be a pivotal bout for both women, as they both inch closer to a title fight or a potential move to the UFC.
Other top fighters on the card include DeAnna Bennett, who was likely the top contender at 125, dropping to 115 to take on Lynn Alvarez; Mexican striker Irene Aldana, who will be looking to move up to the UFC as she takes on Melanie LaCroix; and a bevvy of prospects gracing the undercard, from Brianna Van Buren to Emily Corso to Kristi Lopez.
All of these fights are likely to be great matchups, and the card has a great mixture of top contenders and up-and-coming talent. Plus, with its proximity to the UFC card in town, it figures to draw a good audience and viewing crowd.
Here is the full eight-fight card:
145: Cris “Cyborg” Justino (c) vs. Charmaine Tweet
115: Mizuki Inoue vs. Alexa Grasso
115: DeAnna Bennett vs. Lynn Alvarez
135: Irene Aldana vs. Melanie LaCroix
115: Jamie Moyle vs. JJ Aldrich
115: Brianna Van Buren vs. Amy Montenegro
125: Christine Stanley vs. Emily Corso
125: Kristi Lopez vs. Aspen Ladd
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