Saturday, July 28th, 2012, Kansas City fight fans came to see an awesome action packed all pro women’s mma event Invicta Fighting Championship. It was the second event for the promotion, and the second time at Memorial Hall in Kansas City. Fourteen fights were on this explosive card that included the main event featuring Shayna Baszler taking on Sara McMann in a 135 pound bout.
In the main event Baszler, and McMann fought to a close decision. The fight began with the two exchanging quickly. After the exchange, Baszler threw a kick, and McMann responded back with punches of her own. The two would feel each other out with small exchanges. McMann pressed the action throwing punches pressing Baszler against the cage ending round landing shots to Baszler’s body.
In the second round, McMann landed strikes followed by a kick. Baszler threw a kick that was caught by McMann who used it to take her down. Baszler managed to get on top holding McMann’s leg to attempt a leg lock, but failed. McMann got to her feet, and the two combatants would exchange with McMann taking down Baszler and getting her back ending round two.
The third, and final round began with the two fighters touching gloves. McMann and Baszler would get into a quick exchange. McMann would get another take down on Baszler. McMann continued to press Baszler up against the cage landing knees and punches causing Baszler to spit her mouth piece out. Action slowed down and the referee separated the two fighters allowing Baszler to get her mouthpiece back in. In the final seconds Baszler opened up with strikes stunning McMann, then dropping her to one knee. McMann got up but Baszler would finish the fight strong ending the final round. McMann defeated Baszler by unanimous decision in what many observers felt was the fight of the night. Baszler, and McMann was definitely a fight that observers, and fans will be talking about for a long time.
The co-main event was a 135 pound fight that featured Alexis Davis taking on a well known fight veteran from Japan, Hitomi Akano. The fight began as a feel out process with Davis pressing. Akano went forward, but ended up on her back. Davis stood over Akano landing kicks to her leg as she looked for top position. Akano got back to her feet and Davis landed a kick followed by a knee. The two slowed down trying to find their range on one another. Akano went for a spinning backfist, but missed, allowing Davis to take her down. Davis landed knees to her body while in top position. The two got back to their feet and exchanged for the remainder of the round. Davis won the round as she landed more through out.
The second round began with Davis coming out aggressive quickly taking Akano down. Davis dominated the top position landing knees and punches. Davis got Akano’s back and started landing shots while working for a submission. Davis took her time waiting for the opportunity to sink in the choke. After several strikes that softened Akano up, she was able to lock in the rear naked choke and forced Akano to tap. Davis defeated Akano at 3:41 of round 2 by rear naked choke.
The first of the three featured 135 pound fights of the night sawLiz Carmouche taking on Kaitlin Young. The fight started off with Young catching Carmouche with a quick right. The two circled and Young seemed to land her one-two combo at will. Carmouche was quick to close the distance and the two fighters clinched against the cage. The two would separate and Carmouche was quick to throw more leg kicks. Carmouche got a takedown on Young with time running out and finished on top throwing punch after punch.
In the second round Young pressed early, but was taken down. Carmouche stayed on top landing multiple punches. She passed to side mount then landed knees to Young’s body. Young attempted to get back to her feet, but was quickly taken down by Carmouche. Carmouche would get the mount on Young and started to throw punches. Young tried to escape and gave up her back. Carmouche held the position and sunk in a fight ending rear naked choke at 3:34 of round two.
In a 115 pound bout Japan’s Akaya Hamasaki took on Lacey Schuckman. Hamasaki took Shchuckman down almost. Schuckman landed an upkick on Hamasaki while she was standing over her. Schuckman seemed to power her way back to her feet, but was immediately taken down again by Hamasaki. Hamasaki would remain busy in the guard of Schuckman landing strikes till the end of the first round.
In the second round, Hamasaki pressed the action taking Schuckman down. Hamasaki again would get caught by an upkick standing over Schuckman, but would get back on top. The remainder of the fight would be the same with Hamasaki dominating the ground game landing shots.
The third round was much of the same as the previous two as Hamasaki scored a takedown and Schuckman did her best to try and escape, though unable to. Hamasaki saw an opening and attacked Schuckman’s arm. At first she was able to defend the submission, but after a readjustment, Hamasaki extended her arm and forced Schuckman to tap with just fifteen seconds remaining in the fight.
Amanda Nunes took on late replacement Raquel Pa’ aluhi. Nunes started out landing kicks. Pa’aluhi scored a takedown and was able to get Nunes’s back. She looked to find a choke, but Nunes wasn’t allowing anything to put her in danger. Nunes turned into Pa’aluhi, then was able to get her back. Nunes was more successful as she got her arm under the chin of Pa’aluhi. Pa’aluhi refused to tap and was choked unconscious at 2:24 of the first round.
In another 135 pound bout Sarah D’ Alelio took on Vanessa Porto. The fight began with the fighters feeling each other’s range out. D’Alelio landed shots against Porto. Porto took D’Alelio down, but then transitioned to an armbar. D’Alelio escaped, getting top position on Porto and rained down punches. D’ Alelio got Porto’s back and went hunting for a submission. Porto tried to escape by going to her back, but was caught in an armbar and forced to tap.
A 125 pound fight took place featuring Barb Honchak taking on Bethany Marshall. The fight began with Marshall missing a high kick followed by Honchak taking her down. Honchak would get Marshall’s back working a submission, but failed on the attempt. Marshall reversed Honchak, but would get reversed back with Honchak getting a full mount. Honchak started landing strikes and stayed busy with punches and elbows ending round one.
Round two began with Honchak stunning Marshall with strikes during the stand up. Honchak pressed Marshall to the fence and then took her down landing in mount. Honchak continued her assault of punches and after several unanswered strikes the referee was forced to halt the action at 1:22.
The first bout of the evening’s main card was a 145 pound fight that featured Julia Budd going up against Elina Nilsson. The fighters started out a little slow as they were trying to find their distance. Budd scored a takedown with a single leg attempt on Nilsson. Budd landed small shots while in top position. Budd passed to full mount and began to rain down elbows and strikes. Nilsson attempted to roll out of from under Budd, but was overwhelmed with a second batch of heavy strikes coming down by Budd. She wasn’t intelligently defending herself and Budd was awarded the tko victory at 3:29 of round one.
Quick Results
Liz McCarthy defeated Jessica Philippus by technical knockout at 5:00 of round 1
Jocelyn Lybarger defeated Cheryl Chan by unanimous decision 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Jessamyn Duke defeated Suzie Montero by technical knockout at 2:32 of round 3
Raquel Pennington defeated Sarah Moras by unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28
Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc defeated Angelica Chavez by unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 29-28
Carla Esparza defeated Sarah Schneider by technical knockout at 4:28 of round 2
Julia Budd defeated Elina Nilsson by technical knockout at 3:49 of round 1
Barb Honchack defeated Bethany Marshall by technical knockout at 1:22 of round 2
Sarah D’Alelio defeated Vanessa Porto by armbar at 3:13 of round 1
Amanda Nunes defeated Raquel Pa’aluhi by rear naked choke at of round 1
Ayaka Hamasaki defeated Lacey Schuckman by armbar at 4:45 of round 3
Liz Carmouche defeated Kailin Young by rear naked choke at 3:34 of round 2
Alexis Davis defeated Hitomi Akano by rear naked choke at 3:41 of round 2
Sara McMann defeated Shayna Baszler by unanimous decision 29-28, 30-27, 29-28
