Invicta Fighting Championships has had a big week dropping several announcements about their upcoming Invicta FC 5 event that takes place in early April.
So far two Invicta FC title fights as well as a former Strikeforce champion and Bellator champion are scheduled to appear on the card. It will be hard to say that this will not be the most talent heavy product to date for Shannon Knapp and company.
Jessica Penne will defend her Invicta atomweight title for the first time against Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Watterson in the main event.
Penne (10-1) captured the crown when she defeated Naho Sugiyama back in October at Invicta FC 3. Penne has been on a tear since dropping to 105 pounds. She is undefeated at atomweight and has finished 8 of her 10 victories. Watterson is also undefeated at atomweight and sits at 10-3 overall.
The Invicta flyweight title will be up for grabs as they will crown the division’s first champion. Barb Honchak (7-2) will meet Vanessa Porto (15-5) in the co-main event. Honchak and Porto are both coming off wins in their last outings. Invicta FC 3 saw Honchak defeat Aisling Daly, and Porto get the victory over Tara LaRosa.
In a shocker to many, Invicta announced the signing of Bellator women’s champion and 115 pound tournament winner Zoila Frausto Gurgel. A multi-fight deal came to light and it was revealed that Gurgel will make her Invicta FC debut against Jennifer Maia.
Gurgel looks to rebound from her first loss in her last eight fights. A rocky relationship with Bellator ensued during Gurgel’s stint on the sidelines with a knee injury. She bounced back with a win in Dayton but lost to Jessica Eye in December. Maia, a Brazilian up and comer, won two of her three fights in 2012 and will make her Invicta debut as well.
Also on the card, former Strikeforce bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman will take to the cage against Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith. Kaufman was last in action against Ronda Rousey in which she, of course, fell victim to the armbar of the champion.
Smith has been impressive in her Invicta tenure to date. After a draw in her first fight with Kaitlin Young, Smith was able to get the win in the rematch and come away with a decision victory over Raquel Pennington.
Several other top names in women’s mixed martial arts have also been announced for the April 5th Invicta FC 5 card that is said to more than likely take place back in Kansas City.
Bec Hyatt will make her return after her main event loss to Carla Esparza at Invicta FC 4. Amanda Nunes will face Kaitlin Young, Julia Budd will take on Ediane Gomes as well as others.
Invicta has announced additional fighters that will be on the card such as undefeated Jessamyn Duke, Veronica Rothenhausler and more. We will keep you updated on the fight card as it finished out and for more news on Invicta FC 5 stay close to ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com).
Here is a look at the fight card as it stands .
- Jessica Penne vs. Michelle Waterson – for 105-pound title
- Barb Honchak vs. Vanessa Porto – for 125-pound title
- Sarah Kaufman vs. Leslie Smith
- Zoila Frausto Gurgel vs. Jennifer Maia
- Amanda Nunes vs. Kaitlin Young
- Julia Budd vs. Ediane Gomes
- Jasminka Cive vs. Bec Hyatt
- Alex Chambers vs. Jodie Esquibel
- Mollie Estes vs. Veronica Rothenhausler
- Lauren Barefoot vs. River Jones