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Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (5-3-1) has signed a new, multi-fight agreement with the Invicta FC all women’s MMA promotion and will drop from bantamweight (135 pounds) to flyweight (125 pounds) and challenge Jennifer Maia (7-2) at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City on Saturday, July 13.
The winner of the Invicta FC 6 matchup between Smith and Maia will be awarded a title shot against newly crowned Invicta FC World Flyweight Champion Barb Honchak (8-2).
“We are excited to bring Leslie under the Invicta Fighting Championships umbrella for the long-term and to watch her compete in a new weight class that is becoming super competitive in our promotion,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp. “Since we launched our live event series last year, Leslie has demonstrated incredible tenacity and athleticism by putting on some of the most memorable fights in our cage. She is a true warrior as is her opponent Jennifer Maia, so we are looking forward to an explosive matchup between two of the sport’s stars on what will be Invicta FC’s biggest fight card to date.”
Smith is coming off a very close split decision loss against former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman at Invicta FC 5 in April. Maia is coming off an upset unanimous decision win over former Bellator women’s champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel at the same event in her promotional debut.
Former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg (11-1, 1 NC) will take on former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen (21-5) in the first-ever Invicta FC world featherweight (145 pounds) championship bout. The fight will be a rematch from their 2010 encounter in which Cyborg won via third round TKO.
In the co-main event, reigning Invicta FC world strawweight (115 pounds) champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (9-2) will put her title on the line against undefeated JEWELS champion Ayaka Hamasaki (9-0).
Invicta FC 6 tickets are set to go on sale soon. Stay tuned to ProMMANow.com for more Invicta FC 6 news and coverage.
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