Invicta FC returns this weekend with another great offering. This event features a few newcomers, various returning fighters and compelling matchups that will help sort out the standings within each division.
At the top, we have rising star Megan Anderson taking on former title contender Charmaine Tweet in an interim featherweight title fight. The current official champion is still in the UFC, and whether or not she will return to Invicta or remain in the UFC are unclear at the moment.
The booking of this interim belt has some merit, as Cris “Cyborg” Justino hasn’t defended her belt since January of last year against Ukrainian grappler Daria Ibragimova. This event will be almost a year to the day of that event, and considering the UFC is opening a featherweight division of its own, Invicta is understandably working to keep the division active and viable with a set hierarchy.
As for the fight itself? It’s fantastic. Anderson is a 26-year-old Australian phenom that suffered a setback against clever veteran grappler Cindy Dandois in her Invicta debut. Since then, she’s had three sensational finishes in a row, including one against a woman that is probably the second hardest-hitter in that division, Amber Leibrock. Anderson’s last fight was an absolute destruction of former UFC fighter Peggy Morgan in July at Invicta 18.
Charmaine Tweet is a veteran striker that challenged Justino for the title back in February of 2015, suffering a first-round loss. Since then, she bounced back hard with two consecutive wins in her native Canada under the Prestige FC banner, then came roaring back to Invicta last may with a thunderous backfist knockout of heavy striker Latoya Walker. Tweet will look to test her Muay Thai base against a heavy-handed striker that has been implementing body kicks and dominant positional grappling to net her serious advantages in her fights.
The co-main event will see Hawaiian fighter Raquel Pa’aluhi (5-5) taking on European prospect Pannie Kianzad (8-1). Pa’aluhi had a three-fight win streak snapped by a loss to Colleen Schneider last January at Invicta 15, while Kianzad suffered her first professional setback against the seemingly unstoppable Tonya Evinger.
Other fights include the return of former TUF contestant Jodie Esquibel (5-2) against regional fighter and undefeated Roufusport talent Kali Robbins (4-0), and another former UFC moves up to featherweight as Elizabeth Phillips (5-4) takes on Leah Letson (3-1).
Hard-nosed Invicta talent Aspen Ladd (4-1) fights BJJ ace and Team Lloyd Irvin standout Sijara Eubanks (2-1), while notable flyweight Andrea Lee (4-2) faces Jenny Liou (6-4) in a match that should please striking fans. Amy Montenegro returns after her stint on TUF to face comeback kid Celine Haga, and the always-fun Rachael Ostovich fights newcomer Christine Ferea in her professional debut (3-1 amateur career).
Fights and order are as follows:
Megan Anderson vs Charmaine Tweet (interim featherweight title fight)
Raquel Pa’aluhi Canuto vs Pannie Kianzad (bantamweight bout)
Jodie Esquibel vs Kali Robbins (strawweight bout) (Canceled after Robbins missed weight)
Elizabeth Phillips vs Leah Leston (featherweight bout)
Aspen Ladd vs Sijara Eubanks (bantamweight bout)
Andrea Lee vs Jenny Liou (flyweight bout)
Amy Montenegro vs Celine Haga (strawweight bout)
Rachael Ostovich vs Christine Ferea (flyweight bout)
Invicta FC 21 takes place this Saturday, January 14th from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, KS and will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass. The card begins at 8:00pm EST.
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