What an incredible way in which to mint yourself as the new undisputed Invicta FC strawweight champion. Emily ‘Gordinha’ Ducote — renowned for her submission ability, launched a huge, thudding left high-kick less than three minutes into the opening round — dropping a stiff challenger, Danielle ‘Dynamite’ Taylor to the canvas, clinching 115lbs gold in the process.
Headlining the Shannon Knapp-led Invicta FC 44: A New Era card from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas — American Top Tema Oklahoma staple, Ducote stole the headlines last night in her vacant championship pairing against Taylor — stunning the UFC alum with a brisk overhand right before resetting and landing a picture-perfect left high-kick, stiffening Taylor who collapsed on her back to the canvas, before wheeling away in celebration as the new undisputed Invicta FC strawweight queen.
In slow motion.
#InvictaFC44@ducote_brunette is a savage! pic.twitter.com/Lcb9oK6WiH
— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) August 28, 2021
With the victory, Ducote clinches her first major championship as a professional and improves to 10-6 professionally with the win, nabbing her second straight win following a prior unanimous decision win over former UFC contender, Juliana Lima.
Ducote is also a former Bellator MMA title challenger — twice dropping losses against former flyweight champion, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, the second of which came in the promotion’s inaugural flyweight championship match.
Rounding out the card with a massive high-kick knockout victory, Ducote’s win came off the back of a co-headlining bantamweight title bout between Taneisha Tennant and Lisa Verzosa. Herself clinching the bantamweight crown, Tennant managed a largely comfortable unanimous decision win over the two-time title challenger, Washington native, Verzosa.
Invicta 44 Results:
Emily Ducote def. Danielle Taylor via first round (2:52) KO (high-kick)
Taneisha Tennant def. Lisa Verzosa via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, and 49-46)
Brogan Sanchez def. Emilee King via first round (4:28) submission (rear-naked choke)
Liz Tracy def. Jodie Esquibel via split decision (29-28, 28-29, and 29-28)
Serena DeJesus def. Lauren Mueller via split decision (28-29, 29-28, and 29-28)
Heland Peralta def. Cailtin Sammsons via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, and 30-27)
Marisa Messer-Belenchia def. Katie Saull via split decision (27-30, 29-28, and 29-28)
Natalie Salcedo def. Katie Perez via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, and 29-28)
Kayla Yontef def. Carlene Chandler via second round (3:13) TKO (punches)