Next Friday night, December 5th, Invicta FC puts on their third show on UFC Fight Pass, and their tenth overall with Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs Tiburcio, live from the Arena Theatre in Houston, Texas. Originally, the card was supposed to feature the bantamweight debut of human tornado Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, but she fell off the card with an injury, opening the way for the new main event of atomweight champion Michelle Waterson making the second defense of her championship against challenger Herica Tiburcio. Below, a brief preview of what to expect in each fight:
Invicta FC Atomweight Championship
Michelle Waterson (c) vs Herica Tiburcio
The main event of the evening features “The Karate Hottie” Michelle Waterson making her fourth appearance for Invicta, and her third straight main event. Across the cage from the champion will be Herica Tiburcio, a 22-year-old Brazilian prospect. Tiburcio opened up her career with a flawless 5-0 record, with four submission wins, before losing back-to-back decisions, including one to top UFC strawweight Claudia Gadelha. She has righted the ship though, winning her last three, including two by armbar. The champion Waterson is arguably her biggest test to date. Waterson is 12-3, and hasn’t lost since 2009. She has won six straight, including an April 2013 title win over then-champ Jessica Penne. Waterson trains out of the Jackson/Winkeljohn gym in Albuquerque, NM, and has finished her opponents in ten of her twelve career wins. With Waterson’s all-action style combined with the fact that Tiburcio has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, the main event should be a stellar fight.
Bantamweight
Tonya Evinger vs Cindy Dandois
In the co-main event slot on the card, veteran fighter Tonya Evinger matches up with Belgian Cindy Dandois. Evinger has been a professional MMA fighter since 2006, with wins over the likes of Julie Kedzie, Sarah D’Alelio and Ediane Gomes. Evinger has finished her opponent in eleven of her fourteen wins, and she’s a perfect 2-0 under the Invicta banner. Dandois is a striker, with a 5-1 record in MMA. She was supposed to make her Invicta debut at Invicta FC 9, but had to pull out due to visa issues. She’s four years younger than her American foe, but she hasn’t fought since 2011, so rust may be a factor. Evinger is a crafty vet, and she’ll want this bout to hit the mat. Whichever woman can dictate where the fight takes place should win this one.
Flyweight
Roxanne Modafferi vs Andrea Lee
Originally, this was supposed to be Roxanne Modafferi against Vanessa Porto, with the winner earning a title shot against Invicta FC flyweight champion Barb Honchak. But Porto had to pull out with an injury, and it’s unclear if her replacement, Andrea Lee, gets a title shot with a win. Modafferi is one of the most well-like fighters in the sport, and she was one of the first females to get involved in MMA professional, fighting since 2003. Her record is an ugly 16-11, including a six fight losing streak from July of 2010 to November of 2013. She turned things around in September though, defeating her longtime rival and friend Tara LaRosa via unanimous decision. Her opponent, Lee, is a mere 2-0 in her young MMA career, plus a 3-1 amateur record. It will be very interesting to see which wins out: the wealth of experience of Modafferi, or the youth and athleticism of Lee.
Flyweight
Jennifer Maia vs DeAnna Bennett
In another flyweight bout, undefeated DeAnna Bennett locks horns with Brazilian Jennifer Maia. Maia is 9-3-1, with five of her wins coming by way of submission. Coming off of back-to-back wins over notables Jessica Andrade and Zoila Frausto Gurgel, Maia met Leslie Smith in July of 2013 with a title shot on the line. Smith soundly defeated her, but Maia has rebounded with two straight wins outside of the promotion. She makes her return to Invicta against the up-and-coming DeAnna Bennett. A perfect 5-0, Bennett has finished all but one of her opponents, and already owns wins over notables Michelle Ould, Colleen Schneider, and TUF 18 winner Juliana Pena. Not even three years into her MMA career yet, if Bennett can beat Maia, her future looks extremely bright.
Featherweight
Charmaine Tweet vs Faith Van Duin
At featherweight, one of the best nicknames in the game, Charmaine “Not So Sweet” Tweet, takes on Faith Van Duin, a New Zealander making her Invicta FC debut. Since losing her professional debut to current UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey in June of 2011, Tweet has won six of her nine fights, including an upset knockout of knockout artist Veronica Rothenhausler at Invicta FC 8. The 37-year-old Canadian has experience and size on her side in a big way, and Van Duin will most likely be the underdog coming into the contest. Van Duin is 4-1, but has fought just once in the past fifteen months, and it was the first loss of her young career. This should be an interesting fight, and it’ll most likely be ending in a knockout.
Bantamweight
Irene Aldana vs Marion Reneau
In a bantamweight bout, top prospect Irene Aldana takes on Marion Reneau. Invicta has high hopes for Mexico’s Aldana, and they’re right to think she’s a star in the making. Aldana is 4-1, with all four victories being first round finishes, including an amazing spinning wheel kick knockout from October of 2013. Her opponent, Reneau, is also 4-1, and all of her wins have come by way of stoppage as well. With both woman’s penchant for finishing fights, this should be one of the best, and possibly quickest, fights of the night.
Bantamweight
Peggy Morgan vs Andria Wawro
Peggy Morgan is a veteran of TUF 18, who had a combined 4-0 professional and amateur record before going on the show. Since the end of TUF 18 though, she’s 0-2, and looking to stay above .500 in her career with next weekend’s fight versus Andria Wawro. Wawro is 36, but has only been fighting professionally since 2011. She’s 3-1 overall. Wawro is coming off of a 19 second victory, so maybe we’ll see another quick finish here.
Strawweight
Alexa Grasso vs Alida Gray
Buried deep at the beginning of the card is one of the evening’s most anticipated fights: Alexa Grasso vs Alida Gray. Grasso, like her teammate Irene Aldana, is a top Mexican prospect. She has an unblemished 5-0 record, including three knockout wins in 36 seconds or less. Her opponent, Gray, is 4-1, with a finish in each of her wins, and her only loss in a title fight with WSOF strawweight champion Jessica Aguilar. This will be a great fight.
Atomweight
Jinh Yu Frey vs Cassie Robb
At atomweight, it’s the return of hard-hitting Jinh Yu Frey. She’s 2-1, with her only loss a contentious split decision defeat at the hands of Jodie Esquibel at Invicta FC 9. She looks to get back into the win column against Cassie Robb. Robb is 0-2 professionally, and 4-2-1 on the amateur circuit. This should be another exciting, action-packed fight.
Flyweight
Rachel Ostovich vs Evva Johnson
Opening up the night is a flyweight contest, pitting 1-1 Rachel Ostovich against 1-0 Evva Johnson. Both ladies have extensive amateur backgrounds, with Ostovich holding a 6-0 amateur record, and Johnson coming in at 8-1. This should be a fun fight, with both ladies looking to end 2014 with a win, and start off Invicta FC 10 with a bang.
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