The championship for Invicta FC’s lightest division changed hands when the all-women’s MMA promotion returned to the Reelworks in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday night.
Rayanne dos Santos dethroned Jillian DeCoursey in a five-round contest to earn the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship, getting the unanimous decision nod after a dominant performance. The victory for dos Santos came mainly due to her sharp and quick striking, which was one step ahead of DeCoursey for most of the fight.
The punches from dos Santos provided a nasty visual in the second round, as a right hook opened up a cut around the left ear of DeCoursey. While this was a nasty image, it was cleaned up in-between rounds and didn’t risk a stoppage, unlike what happened at a UWC event last weekend.
DeCoursey was appearing for the first time since earning her championship. She took the belt off Jessica Delboni with a quick performance last year, catching hear in the first round wit a rear naked choke.
Dos Santos, a Dana White’s Contender Series alum, has now won two fights in Invicta FC. She won her promotional debut earlier this year, beating Katie Saull on scorecards.
“I went through many things. I had a broken jaw and said I’d never fight again. And I’ve come back,” said dos Santos through a translator during her post-fight interview.
Rubin earns sudden, rare buggy choke submission
Olga Rubin picked up a sneaky victory in the co-main event, erasing a lead that Claire Guthrie had with a buggy choke on the ground.
Rubin looked for a buggy choke while on her back with Guthrie in side control. This choke was able to get fully applied from Rubin, who forced a tap late in the second round.
“The moment she took me down, I was like ‘OK, this is my time now.’ I feel very comfortable off my back,” said Rubin during her post-fight interview.
Guthrie was previously controlling the fight, putting Rubin up against the cage for most of the first and second rounds.
Rubin now has a pair of wins in the Invicta FC bantamweight division. Her sole loss came last year when she fought Taneisha Tennant for the 135-pound title. After her victory on Wednesday, Rubin called for another shot at the belt.
Atomweights Geraldo, Ferreira shine
Invicta FC is one of the few promotions in the world that has an active division at atomweight. Apart from Invicta FC’s atomweight fighting, RIZIN’s 108-pound super atomweight division also comes to mind.
Along with the 105-pound limit title fight that took place in Wednesday’s main event, the division was showcased twice lower on the card as well.
Monique Adriane put an end to an undefeated record in her bout, getting a scorecard nod over promotional newcomer Nicole Geraldo. Adriane showcased a well-rounded skillset in the match, proving to be the better fighter on the feet and also on the ground. Most of the bout took place at striking distance, but she briefly brought the fight to the canvas and earned back control.
Adriane was appearing for the first time in over a year. Her previous Invicta FC bout, a decision win over Paulina Granados, took place in March 2022.
Another record received its first blemish earlier in the night, as Lili Ferreira overcame Flor Hernandez in a decision outcome.
Ferreira controlled a large portion of the fight on the ground, using dominant positions to land strikes frequently. She now has two consecutive wins in Invicta FC, with her previous victory being a split decision over Marisa Messer-Belenchia in January.
Hernandez was making her promotional debut this week. She was coming off a strong rookie year as a pro, scoring four wins on the regional scene.
Quick results
A total of seven bouts went down on Wednesday night. The card also included former atomweight champ Jessica Delboni winning her strawweight debut against UFC alum Danielle Taylor. Here’s a short look at the results:
Invicta FC Atomweight Championship: Rayanne dos Santos def. Jillian DeCoursey via unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Olga Rubin def. Claire Guthrie via Submission (Buggy Choke) 4:23 in Rd 2
Strawweight: Jessica Delboni def. Danielle Taylor via unanimous decision
Atomweight: Monique Adriane def. Nicole Geraldo via unanimous decision
Flyweight: Elise Pone def. Liana Pirosin via unanimous decision
Atomweight: Lili Ferreira def. Flor Hernandez via unanimous decision
Flyweight: Ky Bennett def. Kendal Holowell via TKO (Strikes) at 4:04 in Rd 2
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