Marloes Coenen rebounded from her 2011 Strikeforce bantamweight title loss, out-working France’s Romy Ruyssen in a unanimous decision in the main event of the inaugural Invicta Fighting Championships card.
Coenen took all three rounds, sweeping the judges’ scorecards by 30-26 scores.
Coenen’s signature strike during the fight was the short elbow, as she hurt Ruyssen repeatedly with it while against the fence. It became a key for her partly because she hurt her hand in the first round, saying she thought she broke a finger.
“It was a long hiatus since my last fight,” said Coenen, who hadn’t competed since her July 2011 defeat at the hands of Miesha Tate. “I’m not too happy with my performance, but I promise you, next time I will do better.”
Coenen never came close to finishing Ruyssen, as she did during their first match nearly four years ago. In that one, Coenen (20-5) won via rear naked choke. In the rematch, Ruyssen (5-2) wanted to get the fight to the ground, but was unsuccessful in getting it there on her own terms. Ruyssen also had one point deducted during the fight for illegal fence grabbing.
Coenen capitalized on the win by calling out current Strikeforce bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey.
“Ronda, I’m coming for you,” she said.
The landmark 11-fight card featuring all women’s matches was held at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.
In the co-main event, Jessica Penne outlasted Lisa Ellis in a bloody encounter, winning by third-round TKO.
Ellis was in trouble from the beginning, getting bloodied early on, but she fought bravely and even put Penne in trouble at times, but in the third, the fight’s momentum shifted Penne’s way after bloodying Ellis’ nose.
Finally, Penne got her back and landed punches from the top until the fight was stopped.
Other notables in action included Liz Carmouche, who smashed through Ashleigh Curry, earning a first-round TKO, as well as Sarah D’Alelio, who beat Vanessa Mariscal in a second-round TKO.
Invicta also announced that its second event would take place on July 28, with veteran Shayna Baszler (14-6) facing 2004 Olympic wrestling silver medalist Sara McMann (5-0) in the main event.
Full Results
Marloes Coenen def. Romy Ruyssen via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Jessica Penne def. Lisa Ellis via TKO, Rd. 3, 2:48
Liz Carmouche def. Ashleigh Curry via TKO, Rd 1, 1:58
Kaitlin Young vs. Leslie Smith ruled a draw (29-28, 28-29, 29-29)
Sarah D’Alelio def. Vanessa Mariscal via TKO, Rd 2, 3:19
Sarah Schneider def. Sally Krumdiack via armbar submission, Rd 1, 3:01
Amy Davis def. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via kimura submission, Rd 2, 3:47
Sarah Maloy vs. Michele Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Randi Miller vs. Mollie Estes via TKO, Rd 3, 3:27
Ashley Cummings vs. Sofia Bagherdai via decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Cassie Rodish def. Meghan Wright via arm triangle submission, Rd 1, 0:36