CYBORG VS. IBRAGIMOVA, SOUZA VS. BENNETT HEADLINE INVICTA FC 15 IN COSTA MESA ON JAN. 16
Kansas City, Mo. – Invicta Fighting Championships today officially announced its first show of 2016, Invicta FC 15, which streams live and exclusively via UFCFIGHTPASS.com at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST from The Hangar at OC Fair in Costa Mesa, Calif. on Saturday, Jan. 16.
Reigning Invicta FC Featherweight Champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (14-1-1) headlines Invicta FC 15, defending her belt against Russian-born grappler Daria Ibragimova (9-1).
Justino, undefeated since 2005, last competed at Invicta FC 13 in July, defeating Faith Van Duin via knockout in just 45 seconds. Indicative of her dominance, ‘Cyborg’ has ended 12 of her 14 career victories with a knockout.
Ibragimova, who was signed to the Invicta FC roster back in June, comes into the bout on a seven-fight winning streak, with five first-round submissions and a first-round TKO during that stretch.
Two undefeated fighters vie for Invicta FC’s Strawweight Championship in the co-main event of Invicta FC 15, as defending champion Livia Renata Souza (8-0) puts her title on the line against DeAnna ‘The Argentine Assassin’ Bennett (8-0).
The 24-year-old Souza made her debut for the organization at Invicta FC 12 in April, unseating former champion Katja Kankaanpaa with a fourth-round submission to capture Invicta FC gold. Seven of the Brazilian’s eight wins have come by way of submission, including five first-round finishes.
After making her strawweight debut in February, Bennett has strung together wins over tough competition in 2015, beating Norma Rueda Center and Katja Kankaanpaa en route to her shot at the 115-pound title.
Last month, Invicta FC announced the signing of 27-year-old UFC veteran Angela ‘Overkill’ Hill (2-2) to its strawweight division. Hill will make her promotional debut at Invicta FC 15, taking on experienced striker Jodie Esquibel (5-1) who comes up from atomweight riding a two-fight winning streak.
Invicta FC 15
Featherweight Title: Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (14-1-1) vs. Daria Ibragimova (9-1)
Strawweight Title: Livia Renta Souza (8-0) vs. DeAnna Bennett (8-0)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (5-1) vs. Lisa Ellis (15-10)
Strawweight: Angela Hill (2-2) vs. Jodie Esquibel (5-1)
Additional bouts for Invicta FC 15 will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for Invicta FC 15 go on sale starting today at 10 a.m. PST. Priced at $100, $75, and $55, tickets can be purchased by visiting fightcluboc.tix.com.