Invicta FC 21 results and highlights: Anderson stops Tweet, becomes interim 145lb champ

Another exhilarating Invicta card is in the books. Last night at Invicta FC 21 the 14 fighters involved delivered a bevy of exciting fights loaded with stoppages and breakout performances. Atop the card Australian Megan Anderson proved the hype is real by defeating former title challenger Charmaine Tweet to lift the (interim) Invicta featherweight title.

Anderson versus Tweet was an dogged back and forth slug fest that saw Tweet catch and bloody Anderson in the first round. After feeling Tweet’s power, Anderson elected to clinch with the lanky Canadian before unleashing a flurry of her own that put Tweet on the back-foot. After some more clinching and potshotting Anderson landed a huge take-down to win the round. Both fighters came out aggressive in the second. Tweet landed a couple of solid single strikes to Anderson’s head, but the Australian responded with hard combinations which sent the durable Tweet reeling against the cage. Tweet was in desperation-mode when Anderson stalked her down and landed the fight ending head kick at the 2:05 minute mark. With the victory Anderson’s record moved to 8-2. Once Anderson had the interim title around her waist, she took the opportunity to tell UFC President Dana White she wanted in on the UFC’s new featherweight division. “Tell Holly or Germaine to keep my belt warm, because I’m f**cking coming for it,” said the new Invicta champ.

The co-main event saw well established bantamweights Pannie Kianzad and Raquel Pa’aluhi go at it in what was expected to be a very close fight. In somewhat of a surprise, Pa’aluhi ended the contest quickly after choking out former title challenger Kianzad in the first round. Pa’aluhi, who last fought a year ago, dominated Kianzad from the outset. The Hawaiian took Kianzad’s down with ease, softened her up with punches, moved to her back, and casually locked in the fight-winning submission. The eye-catching performance likely puts Pa’aluhi on the cusp of a shot at Invicta gold.

Among the slick finishes Invicta FC 21 also saw a strange (and highly entertaining) fight courtesy of Amy Montenegro and Celine Haga. The contest featured both women locking in deep submission attempts. On the last second of the first round Montenegro had Haga stuck in an armbar, forcing the trapped fighter to tap – just after the bell wrung. The fight continued. More flurries and scrambles ensued and at the end of the third round it was Haga who caught Montenegro in a tight submission – a choke. As the fight ended Montenegro fell unconscious. Instead of declaring Haga the victor, the fight went to the judges’ scorecards. The judges all scored it 29-28 for Montenegro. The crowd, and twitter, was not pleased.

Elsewhere on the card Aspen Ladd remained undefeated as she outpointed a tough Sijara Eubanks, Leah Letson torched Elizabeth Phillips with a first round head kick, the returning Andrea Lee tore through Jenny Liou for a first round KO, and debutante Christine Ferea upset Rachael Ostovich. See the full results below along with the finishes from Lee and Ferea.

Full Results:

Megan Anderson def. Charmaine Tweet via TKO (punches and head kick), Round 2 (2:05).

Raquel Pa’aluhi def. Pannie Kianzad via submission (rear-naked-choke), Round 1 (3:40).

Leah Letson def. Elizabeth Phillips via KO (head kick), Round 1 (1:18).

Aspen Ladd def. Sijara Eubanks via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Andrea Lee def. Jenny Liou via KO (body punch), Round 1 (1:14).

Amy Montenegro def. Celine Haga via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).*

Christine Ferea def. Rachael Ostovich via TKO (head kick and punches), Round 3 (1:29)

*Haga will likely appeal to Missouri’s Office of Athletics to change this outcome.

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