I love Leslie Smith, but there’s no way I’m not using this kickface. PhotoProps: Esther Lin / Invicta FC
Invicta continues to impress with good matchmaking and stellar action in its latest card, and for the first time, Invicta is available widely through pay per view, leaving behind any old issues with UStream. Apparently this is the first all-female MMA pay per view, so it’s a historic night, and the fights delivered, as usual.
Since I’ve already effectively spoiled the main event for you, why not follow along as I talk out loud about how cool the show was and which ladies be scary.
CagePotato’s Professional Gangsta “Thug” Rose Namajunas was glorious in defeat last night, putting on a highly entertaining bout with Tecia Torres that was an early pick for Fight of the Night. Namajunas looked for a flying armbar, but I guess Torres had heard something about it.
Also, Thug Rose gives zero fucks about your stupid resets, Big John:
Seriously, Namajunas is awesome. I would have beaten her boyfriend in a dance-off and claimed her hand and probably given her my team jacket by now, but her boyfriend has tree trunks for legs and he smiles a lot. You don’t fuck with a guy like that.
Miriam Nakamoto is NASTY, son.
A former Muay Thai champ, Nakamoto leaves a wake of knee-shaped dents everywhere she goes, and now carries a 2-0 record (plus this one NC versus Jessamyn Duke on the last Invicta card, on account of one of her vicious knees being illegal). ”The Queen of Mean” is just one of the bright spots on the horizon at 135.
Also looking bright is the strawweight division.
Mizuki Inoue is a new prospect out of Japan. Her striking looked very crisp against fan favorite Bec Hyatt — at just eighteen years old, she looks like she’s been boxing since she was a zygote. Inoue took a decision win for the upset, and now stands at 6-1. Keep an eye on her.
Also at 115: Claudia Gadelha, JoJo Calderwood and the aforementioned Torres-Namajunas scrap all looked like talented athletes coming up in the sport. Gadelha will get a title shot against current strawweight champ Carla Esparza; Calderwood and Torres both move up in the pecking order. Namajunas gets to vlog for you assholes. So really, who wins?
That’s Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith up top getting footed in the face, in her first fight at 125. Her opponent Jennifer Maia is coming off an upset victory over Zoila Frausto, and the two will turn in a thrilling three-rounder.
You may have heard me say good things about Smith when she fought at 135, now ten pounds lighter at flyweight she’s a beast. As suspected, Smith’s decision victory was good enough to earn her the next crack at 125 pound champ Barb Honchak (although turn in another Fight of the Night performance — Smith’s third — probably doesn’t hurt).
Atomweight standout Jessica Penne got back on track with a first round sub of Nicdai Rivera-Calanoc, but there’s a bit of chatter about her shove after the tap. Check it out and you tell me.
Kind of a dick move, right?
Ediane Gomes did not fight, because like twenty fighters pulled out of this card and it was all kinds of crazy. Also no one wants to get worked by the scary Brazilian lady that doesn’t have a big name. At least if Cyborg knocks you out, people can be like “Well yeah, it was Cyborg, the fuck did you expect?”
Full results:
145 lb. title: Cris Cyborg Justino def. Marloes Coenen via TKO (punches and elbows) in round four
115 lbs.: Claudia Gadelha def. Ayaka Hamasaki via TKO at 3:58 of round three
135 lbs.: Lauren Taylor def. Sarah D’Alelio via UD (30-27, 29-28×2)
125 lbs.: Leslie Smith def. Jennifer Maia via UD (30-27×2, 29-28), Fight of the Night
105 lbs.: Jessica Penne def. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:57 of round one, Sub of the Night
115 lbs.: Joanne Calderwood def. Norma Rueda Center via UD (30-27, 29-28×2)
115 lbs.: Mizuki Inoue def. Bec Hyatt via UD (29-28 x3)
135 lbs.: Miriam Nakamoto def. Duda Yankovich via KO in round one, KO of the Night
115 lbs.: Tecia Torres def. Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28)
Prelims
115 lbs.: Emily Kagan def. Ashley Cummins via split decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
115 lbs.: Livia von Plettenberg def Kathina Catron via UD (30-27, 29-28×2)
Oh and for the record, pretty much all these ladies be scary.
[RX]