Swinny
11-24-2012, 06:18 AM
Invicta FC 4 official with Esparza-Gadelha title fight, Baszler-Davis and more
by Dann Stupp on Nov 23, 2012 at 3:00 pm ET
The lineup is nearly compete for the all-female Invicta Fighting Championships' next card.
Invicta FC 4 takes place Jan. 5 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The card is expected to stream online.
Headlining the 12-bout lineup is undefeated Claudia Gadelha (9-0) vs. Carla Esparza (8-2) for the organization's first-ever 115-pound strawweight championship.
Gadelha takes a spot initially expected to feature Ayaka Hamasaki (8-0), who instead will defend her Jewels title in December. Gadelha, a 23-year-old Brazilian submission specialist, makes her U.S. debut against Esparza, a Bellator vet who earned the title shot after recent Invicta victories over Sarah Schneider and Lynn Alvarez, both via TKO.
In the co-headliner, world-ranked bantamweights and Strikeforce veterans Alexis Davis (12-5) and Shayna Baszler (15-7) square off. Combined, 20 of their 27 wins have come via submission.
Other main-card fights include bantamweights Amanda Nunes (7-2) vs. Sarah D'Alelio (6-3), featherweights Hiroko Yamanaka (12-2) vs. Ediane Gomes (8-2), and strawweights Joanne Calderwood (4-0) vs. Bec Hyatt (4-1). Additionally, bantamweight Leslie Smith (4-2-1) will fight an opponent to be determined.
The night's prelims include featherweights Veronica Rothenhausler (0-0) vs. Katalina Malungahu (2-1), atomweights Stephanie Frausto (4-4) vs. Cassie Rodish (3-3), featherweights Tamikka Brents (1-0) vs. Amanda Bell (0-0), atomweights Jodie Esquibel (2-0) vs. Liz McCarthy (1-0), strawweights Emily Kagan (2-0) vs. Rose Namajunas (0-0), and strawweights Paige VanZant (2-0) vs. Tecia Torres (1-0).
The latest Invicta FC 4 card includes:
MAIN CARD
Carla Esparza vs. Claudia Gadelha - for inaugural strawweight title
Shayna Baszler vs. Alexis Davis
Leslie Smith vs. TBA
Sarah D'Alelio vs. Amanda Nunes
Ediane Gomes vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Joanne Calderwood vs. Bec Hyatt
PRELIMINARY CARD
Katalina Malungahu vs. Veronica Rothenhausler
Stephanie Frausto vs. Cassie Rodish
Amanda Bell vs. Tamikka Brents
Jodie Esquibel vs. Liz McCarthy
Emily Kagan vs. Rose Namajunas
Tecia Torres vs. Paige VanZant
by Dann Stupp on Nov 23, 2012 at 3:00 pm ET
The lineup is nearly compete for the all-female Invicta Fighting Championships' next card.
Invicta FC 4 takes place Jan. 5 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The card is expected to stream online.
Headlining the 12-bout lineup is undefeated Claudia Gadelha (9-0) vs. Carla Esparza (8-2) for the organization's first-ever 115-pound strawweight championship.
Gadelha takes a spot initially expected to feature Ayaka Hamasaki (8-0), who instead will defend her Jewels title in December. Gadelha, a 23-year-old Brazilian submission specialist, makes her U.S. debut against Esparza, a Bellator vet who earned the title shot after recent Invicta victories over Sarah Schneider and Lynn Alvarez, both via TKO.
In the co-headliner, world-ranked bantamweights and Strikeforce veterans Alexis Davis (12-5) and Shayna Baszler (15-7) square off. Combined, 20 of their 27 wins have come via submission.
Other main-card fights include bantamweights Amanda Nunes (7-2) vs. Sarah D'Alelio (6-3), featherweights Hiroko Yamanaka (12-2) vs. Ediane Gomes (8-2), and strawweights Joanne Calderwood (4-0) vs. Bec Hyatt (4-1). Additionally, bantamweight Leslie Smith (4-2-1) will fight an opponent to be determined.
The night's prelims include featherweights Veronica Rothenhausler (0-0) vs. Katalina Malungahu (2-1), atomweights Stephanie Frausto (4-4) vs. Cassie Rodish (3-3), featherweights Tamikka Brents (1-0) vs. Amanda Bell (0-0), atomweights Jodie Esquibel (2-0) vs. Liz McCarthy (1-0), strawweights Emily Kagan (2-0) vs. Rose Namajunas (0-0), and strawweights Paige VanZant (2-0) vs. Tecia Torres (1-0).
The latest Invicta FC 4 card includes:
MAIN CARD
Carla Esparza vs. Claudia Gadelha - for inaugural strawweight title
Shayna Baszler vs. Alexis Davis
Leslie Smith vs. TBA
Sarah D'Alelio vs. Amanda Nunes
Ediane Gomes vs. Hiroko Yamanaka
Joanne Calderwood vs. Bec Hyatt
PRELIMINARY CARD
Katalina Malungahu vs. Veronica Rothenhausler
Stephanie Frausto vs. Cassie Rodish
Amanda Bell vs. Tamikka Brents
Jodie Esquibel vs. Liz McCarthy
Emily Kagan vs. Rose Namajunas
Tecia Torres vs. Paige VanZant