In all honesty though, I do enjoy sharing some of my favorite captured moments from these fights. The fights are always so good, and so emotional, that if I weren’t watching them from inside of a viewfinder I would probably scream so hard I would pass out. Thirteen times in a row. And that sounds rough, so thank you to Kristin, Veronica, and everyone involved with Invicta FC for keeping me from passing out thirteen times in a row.

Barb Hornchak fights Vanessa Porto to win the Flyweight title

Barb Honchak is fast
Cat-like reflexes
Nimble warrior

No matter who she is fighting, it’s always a delight to see Barb Honchak throw around some leather. It’s even more delightful to watch her wrestle, as that is her specialty. But you know what is the most delightful? Watching Barb Honchak doing a crazy back-flip tumble thing in order to escape a wrestling battling with submission specialist Vanessa Porto is. E. Casey Leydon said that this photo (on the right) makes no sense. I agree with that statement – by all the laws of physics, this photo makes very little sense extracted from its context. When put into context – Honchak doing a crazy back-flip tumble thing in order to escape a ground battle – it makes a little more sense, and it begs to be seen in motion. With all of this combined logic, Barb Honchak still narrowly defies the laws of physics, because even though her five-round performance and deserved Flyweight championship title made perfect sense in the face of this strange and senseless photographic evidence, I still can’t manage to comprehend how awesome her style is. It’s mind-blowing. Simply put, Barb Honchak is amazing. Perhaps her walkout music should also be that Kanye West song that Joanne Calderwood and Frank Mir seem to love so much.

Rose Namajunas flying armbars Kathina Catron in like 12 seconds

Namajunas won
The only picture I caught
Just looks like a butt

Seriously, though. That fight happened so fast that I was barely able to process it with my brain, let alone capture it from behind a lens. This is the only photo I got of the actual submission – unpublished in my actual photos, but set aside for the comedic value I thought it might add to this very post. I’ll return to the subject of this impressive submission win later on though, I promise.

Cyborg happens

Cristiane Cyborg
Punch face Fiona Muxlow
Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow

Think what you will about Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, but she’s made her inevitable return to the cage, and did so in impeccable fashion. Cyborg’s original opponent for this bout was Ediane Gomes, but with Gomes suffering an injury, Australia’s Fiona Muxlow took the fight up on short notice. Major props to her for doing so, too – not a lot of women would have the metaphorical nuts to step up so quickly and take on the baddest woman on the planet. It was absolutely amazing for me to photograph a legend like Cyborg while she did her thing. I may not be over the fact that she basically retired my beloved Gina Carano from MMA (although Kristin assures me that Gina has gone to a better place), I can still appreciate her heart and athleticism amidst the swarming controversy that nearly put her career to an end. I, for one, am glad she’s back. Having just passed her Invicta drug screening, we can all expect a lot more punch face hijinks from the likes of Cyborg too, especially since we’re already slated to see the rematch between her and fellow Featherweight legend Marloes Coenen. I can’t wait!

Bec Hyatt armbars Jasminka Cive, gets excited about it

How did Bec Hyatt
Win her fight AND hijack truck
Full of Nutella?

In the post-fight press conference, Bec Hyatt proclaimed herself a secret fatty as she happily sat behind the larger size of Nutella that you can purchase at any local grocery store that is worth any merit. Apparently, over the same weekend, a Nutella heist in Germany took place whereby 5.5 metric tons of Nutella was stolen from a parked trailer. I suppose Bec Hyatt has a credible alibi, so we can safely say she’s not the culprit. However, I can only imagine that Bec and her camp use this delicious Italian superfood as a tool of motivation, with a jar of the chocolate-y spread dangling from a string in front of her on a treadmill as she jogs with arms extended towards it to the Joe Esposito classic “You’re The Best Around.” For real though, Bec Hyatt was firey during her fight, and wasted no time in backing up her beefy words against heated rival Jasminka Cive. She dominated the fight from its standing start to its gritty belly-down armbar ending. Watching this from behind the lens was great, seeing Hyatt emblazoned with passionate victory as she stood up and yelled in Cive’s face. She was probably yelling something like “Yeah bitch! Nutella! Get some!” Or at least, that’s what I pictured. And judging by the after photo of this exchange that I managed to snap, Jasminka Cive was probably like, “I don’t even like Nutella Bec, GTFO.”

Michelle Waterson pulls off upset over Jessica Penne

Karate Hottie
Rubber for arms, wins fight by
Ironic armbar

Did you guys know that Michelle “The Karate Hotte” Waterson was in a Megadeth video? Yeah, it’s old news, but I didn’t know it until now. Michelle, I’m going to be honest – I don’t know what to do with that information. But the more I learn about you, the more I love you.

I wasn’t really aware that Michelle Waterson was such an underdog coming in to this fight. Waterson was 13-3 in her professional career, so I guess this had to do with the quality of the wins. But, apparently she wasn’t aware of her underdog standings either. I guess this lack of knowledge worked out in her favor, since she managed to do what nobody expected her to do and submit the formerly 9-1 Atomweight champion Jessica Penne via armbar. The ironic thing, however, isn’t the paradox known as the Karate Hottie. It was the fact that in the round before her victory, Waterson herself was nearly submitted via armbar by Penne. For a moment there, Waterson’s arm was looking akin to something we see Ronda Rousey do on a regular basis, and somehow she just managed to grin and bear it, roll out, and in the fourth round lock Penne’s arm up in a mess the champion had no choice but to tap out to. I’m so happy this all happened right before me, as I was able to capture the monumental achievement in a photograph. Even better was Waterson’s reaction to the win, becoming so overwhelmed with emotion that she could barely compose herself long enough to stand. I had to present a diptych to show both the moment the fight ended, as well as the collapsing response from Waterson, and even though from my point of view there were so many people in the cage post-fight, I love that I was able to get a shot that showed Esther Lin crouched down behind ring officials in order to capture the very same moment. To me it speaks to the weight and value behind the outcome of this fight, not just for the fighters, but for everyone involved. I think most if not all of us watching had emotional investments coming in to this fight, so much so that we empathized with the emotions of the fighters themselves. My heart hurt for Penne’s loss, but beamed out such pride for Waterson’s win. It was truly, and arguably, one of the greatest moments in MMA this year.

Sarah Kaufman and Leslie Smith fight, everyone wins

Kaufman vs Smith
Like Garcia and Sung Jung
Except way better

Watching a Leslie Smith fight is like watching a Charles Bronson movie. You know what you’re getting in to, it’s exactly the kind of violence you’re looking for, and it never disappoints because it’s totally rad. With Smith coming in against former Strikeforce champion and recent UFC recruit Sarah Kaufman, a 16-2 veteran of the sport whose fights never fail to impress, you knew this was going to be a battle. Not just a battle, something to measure up to the Davis/Kaufman battle from Tate/Rousey in 2012 – if that was a battle, this one was a war. There was so much action that this particular fight dominated the bulk of photographs I took that evening, with each shot telling the story of how Kaufman traded with Smith and vice versa for three non-stop rounds of action that had the crowd going harder, better, faster, and stronger than ever before. Kaufman played the Leonard Garcia to Smith’s Chan-Sung Jung, except this match-up is light years better. This match-up was, does, and has, set the bar for what you want to see in a by-definition “slug-fest.” And when the end came, and the crowd unjustifiably booed a champion fighter based on a decision that was out of her control, I couldn’t help but feel a little bemused. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the decision, why would you boo an athlete for putting 150% into their performance? Oh well. At least it didn’t break the spirit of Leslie Smith or Sarah Kaufman, who I feel would gladly re-match if given the opportunity.

Miriam Nakamoto knocks out Jessamyn Duke with a knee (or two)

Miss Nakamoto
Didn’t use elbow number
Four – I saw Fight Girls

I will reference Master Toddy’s film and television legacy until the end of days. Miriam Nakamoto is among one of several fighters who are still active in mixed martial arts today that come from this legacy – her and Waterson, for instance, were both on Oxygen’s short-lived TV series Fight Girls, which followed their training and trip to Thailand for a Muay Thai championship fight. I was excited to see Miriam’s debut in Invicta, since I remembered how good she was from the show, and especially since she was set to face an undefeated powerhouse like Jessamyn Duke. I knew that the fight would get ugly, but I didn’t know it would go as quickly as it did, ending with a devastating knee thrown by Nakamoto straight to the head of Duke. It was hard to catch all of the quick action from behind a lens, though I did see the initial knee that struck Duke hard enough to crumple her down from a standing position. Nakamoto was pulled off by Big John McCarthy, and apparently there was some controversy as to whether or not a second knee that was thrown before McCarthy called the fight should render the decision a no contest.  Regardless of the stoppage, or the legality of the second knee, I know for certain that what I witnessed from the first knee seemed enough to have ended the fight based on principality alone. While I think there’s absolute validity in Duke’s appeal of the decision, I can’t say that I think the fight still had a course to run after that first knee had been thrown. Because, I mean… ow. I look forward to seeing the devastating striking of Miriam Nakamoto showcased by Invicta in future fights, and equally I look forward to Duke’s return.

Rose Namajunas, (possibly still) celebrating like this over her awesome victory

Congratulations
Overenthusiastic
Extravaganza

The night before the fights, I was challenged to write a three-word haiku about one of the fights that would be relevant to what happened. I gracefully accepted the challenge, because challenges are just a classy way of daring someone. Anyways, this is where I return to Rose Namajunas and her ridiculously amazing flying armbar and, almost more importantly, the epic celebration that followed. I captured a series of photographs from Rose’s flailing about as she won, but none were quite as good as this one. Sadly it will never top what is quite possibly the best photo I have ever seen of this very moment, but if it comes in second or third place, I’m ok with that. Namajunas had the absolute right to party as hard as she was in the cage post-fight because what she did managed to break records and, like Barb Honchak, defy all of the physical laws we as humans abide by every day. Rose, you had us at “Hello.” This girl is the new breed of mixed martial artist, to coin a phrase from Mike Goldberg, and I am absolutely humbled to be able to aid in documenting her stunning rise to stardom in MMA. Much like so many of these women who fight for Invicta, I have such emotional investments to their careers that I become empathic to their career highs and lows. So far, all I feel when I watch Rose is pure fire and electricity, though only a fraction of what she exudes both in a fight and outside of one – especially when she wins. She’s already a star, and to witness it from the start is an incredible thing because you can’t even begin to imagine where she’s going to go, and you know she hasn’t even begun to hit her peak yet. Miss Namajunas, I tip my hipster beanie to you with a three-word haiku that hopefully impresses with even a fraction of the amount of awesome that your incredible submission impressed upon the world.

• ALEX CHAMBERS vs. JODIE ESQUIBEL (105lb)
  Round 1: Alex and Jodie circle. Few light punches thrown and then they go to the ground. Alex clings onto Jodie’s back and get her hooks in. Jodie is able to regain half guard but Alex still has her head. Alex locks up the RNC and secures Jodie’s back again. She gets the tap!
  Result: Chambers defeats Esquibel by RNC at 1:35 in Round 1
• ROSE NAMAJUNAS vs. KATHINA CATRON (115lb)
  Round 1: A lot of love in the house for Thug! Rose comes at Kathina like a banchee and pops her a couple times. Rose swings for an impressive flying armbar and gets the tap. She then proceeds to breakdance around the cage while her boyfriend eggs the crowd on. Dynamite!
  Result: Namajunas defeats Catron by Armbar at 12 secs in Round 1.
• KATJA KANKAANPAA vs. JULIANA CARNEIRO LIMA (115lb)
  Round 1: Early on Juliana gets Katja in an arm-in guillotine attempt. Katja works to escape and takes Juliana down with a lateral. They fight in the clinch. Katja lands some nice knees to Juliana’s thigh. They end the round clinching against the cage.
  Round 2: Ladies are a little more fired up this round trading punches. Katja being the shorter fighter is having to work in close to land. Katja get the takedown and then goes textbook half guard to side control to full mount to armbar. Juliana slips out. Katja lands some knees to the side on the ground. As they scramble to get up Juliana accidentally upkicks her while Katja is still grounded. Round ends back against the cage. I’ve got Katja up 2 rounds.
  Round 3: Very grueling fight. The 3rd round was a lot more cage work, reversals, takedown attempts.
  Result: Kankaanpaa defeats Carneiro Lima by Unanimous Decision.
• JESSAMYN DUKE vs. MIRIAM NAKAMOTO (135lb)
  Round 1: Holy shit, dude. Lots of clinching. Jessamyn fights hard for the takedown. Miriam fights it and reverses. She lands a hard knee to the chin dropping Jessamyn. Miriam follows with another knee and Jessamyn falls to the mat as Big John jumps in pulling Miram off her.
  Result: Nakamoto defeats Duke by KO (knees) in Round 1.
• SIMONA SOUKUPOVA vs. CASSIE RODISH (105lb)
  Round 1: Lots of love for Sassy Cassie! Cassie pushes the pace going in for the take down. They fight against the cage and Cassie is unable to land it. Cassie shoots in from the outside for the single and Simona goes for the guillotine. After some ground transitions, Cassie goes for a long armbar attempt. Simona escapes and lands some gnp.
  Round 2: Some more grinding work against the cage. Cassie working hard for the takedown. Simona gets her in a long guillotine attempt. Cassie escapes and continues to work. She catches Cassie again in the guillotine and this time gets the tap.
  Result: Soukupova defeats Rodish by Guillotine in Round 2.
• BEC HYATT vs. JASMINKA CIVE (115lb)
  Round 1: Big cheers for Bec. The power of social media people. Both ladies are swinging. Bec going forward. Jasminka going backwards. Bec latches onto her, lifts her off the ground and slams Jasminka down. Bec moves to full mount. She lands some solid gnp. They scramble. Bec grabs on for the belly down armbar and gets the tap.
  Result: Hyatt defeats Cive by Armbar in Round 1. 
• JULIA BUDD vs. MOLLIE ESTES (145lb)
  Round 1: Mollie Estes is not a hollar back girl. Understood. Grueling round. Julia was all over Mollie on the ground. Still Mollie stayed smart and was able to escape and avoid gnp and submissions. Give it to Julia 10-9.
  Round 2: Julia is a game plan follower. Second round same as the first.
  Round 3: Julia immediately goes for the takedown. She lands it and quickly sinks in an RNC with no hooks.
  Result: Budd defeats Estes by Rear Naked Choke in Round 3.
• KAITLIN YOUNG vs. LAUREN TAYLOR (135lb)
  Round 1: Gah. This happens to me every Kaitlin fight. I get so engrossed in the action, I forget to type. Kaitlin gets round 1 with some nice ground work.
  Round 2: Lauren gets round 2 with some dominant gnp positions and finishing the round with a RNC attempt.
  Round 3: Lauren dominates the round again with top position and gnp.
  Result: Taylor defeats Young by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
• ZOILA FRAUSTO GURGEL vs. JENNIFER MAIA (125lb)
  Round 1: Great first round. Zoila looks very relaxed. Throwing some big punches and kicks but nothing landing. Jennifer gets her up against the cage and they fight for position. Zoila grabs onto her and throws her over. They both exchange some nice hits at the end of the round.
  Round 2: Nice stand up battle out of these two. Jennifer appears to be landing more strikes this round. She front kicks Zoila to the face and Zoila drops her hands and looks at her like “wtf.” It was a great moment. Jennifer also had a nice flying knee.
  Round 3: Zoila is getting out muscled and out struck by Jennifer.
  Result: Maia defeats Fausto-Gurgel by Unanimous Decision.
• SARAH KAUFMAN vs. LESLIE SMITH (135lb)
  Round 1: Sarah dominates most of the round with the ole 1, 2. Leslie starts landing some hard shots at the end and they both rock each other in a good exchange.
  Round 2: Amazing second round. This is an awesome stand up war and these girls are beating the shit out of each other. Leslie is finding her range and Sarah is staying in there consistently landing.
  Round 3: Some more great striking from both. Sarah gets a takedown, though. Crowd is on their feet!
  Result: Kaufman defeats Smith by Split Decision.
• CRIS CYBORG vs. FIONA MUXLOW (145lb)
  Round 1: Crowd is loving Cyborg. She drops Fiona with her first punch. Then moves in and basically pummels the shit out of Fiona throughout the rest of the round. Fiona refuses to give up til a few very solid knees sends Big John in to stop the fight.
  Result: Cyborg defeats Muxlow by TKO in Round 1. 
• BARB HONCHAK vs. VANESSA PORTO  (125lb Title)
  Round 1: Lot of dancing, a lot of swinging. A few kicks. But nothing to major landed. Ladies are pacing themselves for a 5 rounder.
  Round 2: Ladies are trading back and forth.
  Round 3: Vanessa’s left thigh is starting to show a lot of bruising.
  Round 4: I had to move away from my seat cause this dude behind me was talking non-stop about stupid shit in his life like I was sitting in his damn living room or something. Barb slipped and rolled back over herself to get up. That was exciting.
  Round 5: There was a take down! Oh wait, nope that’s over as soon as it happened. Ladies do not want to go to the ground for some reason. It’s a technical match, but not many fireworks. Very even. I wouldn’t want to score this.
  Result: Honchak defeats Porto by Unanimous Decision.
• JESSICA PENNE vs. MICHELLE WATERSON  (115lb Title)
  Round1: Nice first round. Michelle landed one very solid kick on Jessica’s thigh. After that Jessica moved in and took her down. They exchanged submission attempts. Jessica went for the triangle and then Michelle went for an armbar at the end. Finished out with a little gnp from Jessica.
  Round 2: Very intense grappling game from the ladies. Michelle spent a lot of time in top position. Giving the round to her.
  Round 3: Jessica came out firing third round. She took Michelle down hard and then set in on some good gnp. Jessica’s all like “I’ll make you do the splits and punch you in the face at the same time.” Oh damn. Jessica lands some hard elbows. Then she goes for an armbar that makes Michelle’s arm look busted. Michelle reverses. Crowd’s like whaaa???
  Round 4: Michelle surprises the shit out of all of us by armbaring Jessica. My word.
  Result: Waterson defeats Penne by Armbar in Round 4. New Invicta 105 champ!

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

By the way, it finally happened. Women have finally breached the boys club of UFC, and they nearly shook the walls down of Anaheim’s Honda Center at UFC 157. I should know, I was there, and my voice felt like I’d been gargling rocks and battery acid from the amount of wall-shaking gutteral screams I managed to produce. Thankfully (or not so – it is pretty f’n hilarious), Kristin and Veronica edited that part of the event out of their “Road Trip to UFC 157” video, but trust in me that it happened and that I was paying the price several days later. Don’t you judge me, you know you acted similarly.

I’d originally started racking my brain after the initial announcement of Ronda and Liz headlining a card as to what other women could stand a chance at stealing the UFC Women’s Bantamweight throne. The Bantamweights are next to the Strawweights in having the makes for an incredibly stacked division, which means there are plenty of opponents to choose from, all of which are both ready and willing. But then one has to ask themselves… who will Ronda fight next? Who could possibly beat this seemingly infallible armbar submission? What is going to happen when someone finally figures it out? Or, a potentially scarier thought if you really get into it, what will happen if nobody can beat her? Will women in the UFC become more exciting with someone who is Cynthia Rothrock levels of Undefeatable? Or will it become stale to watch the same thing happen time and time again?

It’s definitely an exciting moment in history for our sport, to say the least, which opens up the gamut for stimulating debate on the subject of worthy opponents for Ronda. If you are a person who likes MMA math, you’ve probably already done the calculations and deduced that if Rousey hasn’t already beat an opponent she’s likely to face, she’s already beat someone who has beat said opponent, and therefore that makes them less likely to take on the champ and come out the victor. It makes sense, even if statistical odds aren’t always something that matters in MMA. I’m only a fan of this kind of math when it comes to discussions I like to have loudly in bars over a beer with friends. Otherwise, I stick by my original feelings that “anything can happen” in this sport and, therefore, everybody deserves a chance. Also, if we rely on the high science of MMA mathematicians to take precedence, then we might as well start looking for that giant catapult I mentioned earlier.

For the sake of debate, and to be fair and judicious, I’ve tried my best at the MMA math game and compiled an opinion piece on what I think are the four most formidable opponents that we should probably throw at Ronda Rousey for our own hedonistic entertainment… but also, and mostly, because they really deserve a shot at that belt. This list was originally five, but I cut it down to four because four simply seems like a better number. I realize this defense is the same defense that Harland Williams used in There’s Something About Mary to justify his argument that his “invention” of the 6 Minute Abs system far surpassed that of the 7 Minute Abs legacy, but I’m sticking with this argument. 4 is the better number. 4! Now, on to the math!

4) Sara McMann

Notable Fights: Shayna Baszler (w), Hitomi Akano (w)
The Breakdown: Though her MMA record is still what some would consider “green”, she’s still gone undefeated in her pro and amateur career with 6-0-0 and holds almost as many wins under her belt as Ronda. A win over Sheila Gaff could give her an edge. Oh, yeah, and she’s an Olympic Silver Medalist in Women’s Freestyle Wrestling and has a career in grappling and amateur wrestling dating back 15 years. So basically, duh.

Right? This is the fight everybody went to as an obvious first choice because of the Olympic angle. Yes, both McMann and Rousey are former Olympiads. Both hold medals for said life accomplishment. Both are undefeated. Why isn’t this happening yet? I think partly due to exposure, partly due to marketing, and partly due to something that is as of yet unknown. What’s for certain is that McMann is a top prospect already being considered – after all, she is now a signed UFC fighter – so I wouldn’t count it out as being a near-future bout to be had. However, we have to think in terms of creating the first women’s division in the uncharted waters of the UFC.

Much as the title I’ve typed out suggests, we actually can’t just throw women at Ronda. We need to grow depth beyond her abilities and cache as a fighter, not only for her sake but for the rest of the athletes involved. Statistically, McMann could likely face the winner of Cat Zingano and Miesha Tate if she pulls a win out against Shiela Gaff. Or she could possibly be the first person Alexis Davis fights under the UFC banner, though I wouldn’t begin to wager on either of those options as a definite. I would love to see this fight before any of those others, though. It’s likely they’re holding on to the McMann/Rousey fight for the future of that deep division, and to see what exactly that future holds. Perhaps with a couple more notable wins under her belt, this obvious Rousey/McMann match-up will be the next great thing I lose my voice over.

Photo by Esther Lin

3) Sarah Kaufman

Notable Fights: Ronda Rousey (l), Alexis Davis (2w), Liz Carmouche (w), Marloes Coenen (l), Shayna Bazler (w), Miesha Tate (w), Roxanne Modafferi (w)
The Breakdown: She’s only lost twice, and though she’s already lost to Ronda, her wins over Carmouche and Tate, new and current UFC Bantamweights who have also recently fought Rousey, should keep her strong in title contention.

I, among many others, faithfully believed that Sarah had all the tools to beat Ronda back when they fought last August. Hell, she still has them. Her only losses come at the hands of two contenders who have previously fought in a heavier weight class, and both managed to best her via armbar. This is probably the break in the argument for Kaufman as a huge contender, but it’s not much of one if you ask me – I am pretty sure she learned a lesson from both of those fights, and it probably has something to do with defense against that armbar. Despite the loss against Ronda or any of the possible excuses that could be thrown out as to why it happened (having a bad night, psychological elements, Ronda being a possible villain of Carmen Sandiego, etc), Sarah is more than ready to rebuke the math, the claims, the haters, and whatever else anybody has to say about that fight and and take on a re-match with Ronda, one in which I believe she still has a strong advantage in if she plays it right. Sarah has knock-out power, and though this is something that keeps getting tested time and time again in opponents that matchmakers pit against Rousey – Ediane Gomes, Liz Carmouche, Julia Budd – Sarah probably emerges as one of the strongest contenders in terms of her KO/TKO record. Remember that time she bodyslammed Roxanne Modafferi at Strikeforce Challengers? Yeah, that happened. Remember that bloody brawl between Sarah and Alexis Davis on the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey undercard? Yeah, that happened too.

Also, taking into consideration her streak of wins that basically put her at a #2 spot in the Unified Womens MMA Rankings and the #3 spot in the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Rankings, Kaufman definitely qualifies statistically as one of the strongest and most worthy contenders to re-match Rousey. The likelihood that this will take a backseat to a re-match with Miesha Tate or a clash of Olympic styles with Sara McMann is pretty high though, so as much as I really would like to see this re-match take place, it may take some time for it comes to fruition. By then, who knows who will be the champ.

2) Alexis Davis

Notable Fights: Sarah Kaufman (2l), Shayna Baszler (1w 1l), Hitomi Akano (w), Amanda Nunes (w), Julie Kedzie (w)
The Breakdown: She has a fairly split record when it comes to first-round wins and third-round wins, as well as an equal number of subs/TKOs to decisions. Taking into consideration her recent impressive defeats in both of her Invicta fights, as well as wins over top Bantamweight contenders Julie Kedzie and Amanda Nunes, and a career spanning fights with seasoned vets, Alexis Davis just makes sense.

Doing your MMA math, you may have already come to the conclusion that since Sarah Kaufman has beat Alexis Davis not once, but twice, she shouldn’t be on this list. I reject this opinion. Why? Well first off, read Kristin’s piece on how Alexis Davis Is Not Your Mom, because it beautifully breaks down the reasons on why Alexis is, bar none, a top contender. Also, if you’ve been following Davis’ career with any vested interest, you’ll have noticed her rise to the top of the Unified Rankings list as well as an overall improvement in all aspects of her game.

Alexis just got her black belt in BJJ. Forgetting Ronda’s opinion on the validity of a few years of BJJ vs a lifetime of Judo, is this not worth something? Losses to Kaufman only serve to put Alexis Davis just below her in the multiple rankings lists, and the proof is in the pudding. She holds impressive submission wins as of recent over Hitomi Akano and Shayna Baszler, as well as a TKO win over Amanda Nunes. This is just as of recent, too. Taking a look at her record, she holds many impressive submission wins over several notable names in the history of the sport, not to mention she is hungry for this fight. I could easily see Davis taking any early pressure Rousey could put on her from the start, maintaining her calm, and gaining an advantage early on – which is, as we know, how Ronda tends to end her fights. Davis’ well-rounded set of skills put up against Ronda’s ever-growing superhero-like qualities would make her one of the best choices not likely to disappoint no matter what the outcome.

1) Marloes Coenen

Notable Fights: Miesha Tate (l), Sarah Kaufman (w), Liz Carmouche (w), Cristiane Santos (l), Romy Ruyssen (2w)
The Breakdown: Seasoned Veteran vs The New Hot Thing, almost like a female Lesnar/Couture match-up. Submission specialist. Wins over Kaufman and Carmouche should put her in contention. Only one loss from submission occurring during a championship round. The only one on the list to have fought Cyborg, including Rousey, even if it was a loss – Cyborg notes as “hardest fight she’s ever faced” or something of that nature.

Sure, we all want to see Cyborg do what she does and come out swinging at Ronda like a young Vitor Belfort. Sure, it’s the likeliest choice for people who are basically have yet to be defeated by anyone else in the history of ever. But you know who else I think would make a bad-ass graceful cut back to 135 just to take on the new UFC champ? RUMINA! RUMINA, I CRY! I may be biased. I am a HUGE fan of Marloes Coenen, but the facts still stand that she could totally do it. Rousey isn’t the only one to have made the weight cut from 145 to 135, and become the champ at that weight class. Throwing that factor into the mix really only brings one name to mind when I apply the logic, Marloes Coenen.

Despite her recent statements that the 135 cut became harder to maintain after a bit of time, I think it would be worth her time and efforts to make the cut and take that shot. Marloes is a submission specialist with YEARS of pioneering experience under her belt. Years that could measure up to the years Rousey has put into her Judo career. Marloes doesn’t given in to pressure easily, she has the skillset to change the pace of a fight to her advantage, and she’s freakin’ Dutch. What more do I need to say, really? Coenen has called out Rousey before, though I’m not entirely certain in what capacity that was meant for – a drop in weight? Ronda, come up to 145? Who knows. What organization would hold this superfight? We already know Ronda’s standing on this subject, so it’s likely not going to happen and Coenen would have to make the cut. Her loss to Miesha Tate, a loss that caused her to lose the championship title that inevitably circulated on to Rousey, is probably the singular negative mark in this argument against an otherwise highly impressive and nearly irrefutable record. Whether it was Tate or the weight cut that got the best of her, it’s still something to think about. Could Marloes stand a chance against Rousey’s arm collecting skills? I think so, and I would pay to see it. Marloes, like Alexis, and like any of the women in the 135 lb division, is hungry for the fight, and if the Golden Glory ties with Zuffa weren’t so shaky, I believe this would be THE match worth serious consideration. If it is possible, many would love to see her in the UFC.

Both Ronda and Dana White have hinted that the next viable challenger for the title could emerge from the Miesha Tate vs Cat Zingano bout in April. While I believe there is something interesting in that match up, my vote lies with a different Zuffa signee.

Alexis Davis has made her desire to challenge the champion well-known. She took her most recent interview opportunity with Ariel Helwani to state rather boldly that she believes she should be the next to have a shot at the title. And I whole-heartedly agree.

All you have to do is look at her last 5 fights.

1. January 5, 2013 – Davis scored a third round rear-naked choke victory over catch wrestling specialist Shayna Baszler. This was after nearly securing a deep first round leg lock that sent Baszler scrambling for a solid minute, fighting the urge to tap to one of her very own signature moves. This was only the second time Baszler has been finished by submission in her 10-year career. (She lost by armbar to Amanda Buckner in 2005.) Baszler’s submission game is considered to be the one of the best with 14 submission victories on her record. Davis dismantled that game in less than 15 minutes.

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2. July 28, 2012 – Davis finished Judo specialist Hitomi Akano with a rear-naked choke in round 2. For the first time in her 9-year career, Akano tapped. Holding a similar record as Baszler, the Judo black belt is known as one of the top submission specialists in the game with 14 submission victories to her credit as well. Davis was able to avoid the Judo throw and land a number of takedowns. She dismantled Akano’s game in less than 10 minutes.

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3. March 3, 2012 – Davis lost a Majority Decision to Sarah Kaufman. Buried on the undercard of the much publicized Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey title fight was arguably one of the most talked about bouts of the evening. The fight was a bloody three-round brawl that generated nearly as much buzz as Miesha Tate’s elbow pointing the wrong direction. Davis was able to take Kaufman to the mat and dominate ground position complete with an armbar attempt and some GnP through the slippery mess to secure the 3rd round. The fight finished out with 29-28, 29-28, 29-29 scores in Kaufman’s favor.

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4. September 11, 2012 – Davis dominated heavy-handed striker Amanda Nunes with a TKO victory in round 2. Post-knockout of Muay Thai champ Julia Budd, many believed that Nunes had the most potential to be the next Cyborg. So when Davis stepped in, shut down Nunes’ striking through superior clinch work, and then broke Nunes’ game with overwhelming ground and pound, the MMA world stood up and took notice.

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5. July 30, 2011 – Davis controlled Julie Kedzie for 3 rounds, scoring a Unanimous Decision win. Before this fight, Davis was mostly known for her aggressive style and precision submission game. This fight revealed a level of clinch work in her repertoire that added a whole new dimension to her game. Davis (wo)man-handled Kedzie for 15 solid minutes shutting down any of Kedzie’s game plans and securing a very dominant performance for the Canadian fighter.

There are other fighters currently on the UFC Bantamweight roster that have elements to their game that could prove a challenge to Rousey. But Davis is the only one with the experience, striking, clinch work, and the BJJ blackbelt-level ground game to truly give her a run for her money.

Rousey has stated that part of what made her so proficient at armbars was her mother’s surprise submission attacks. Dr. Ann Maria’s competitive nature and mystical armbar talents most certainly added to her daughter’s drive and ability to become a champion, but Alexis Davis is not your mom’s MMA fighter (and she’s certainly not your mom). Davis brings a wealth of skill and experience to the table that makes this fight interesting on more than just the “ARMBAR: []YES or []NO” level.

Do I believe that Davis will shut down Rousey’s game and secure a dominant win? I honestly don’t know. I wouldn’t be in shock if Rousey rounds out her career finishing every one of her future opponents with the same skill and accuracy as she has in the past. What I do believe is that Davis has the most compelling ground game in the division next to Rousey. In my head, this fight makes the most sense. This is the fight I want to see next.

Yours Truly,
Kristin

Most Watched Video

This year’s top viewed Roundup video (2,800+ views) was our pre-fight interview with Nicdali Calanoc from Invicta FC 1. There are 3 things I love about this:
1.) Nicdali is a bad ass chick and a friend of the Roundup from way back.
2.) This was the very first interview we did at the very first Invicta event.
3.) In classic form, I plugged the damn microphone into the wrong jack for like the 100th time.

An honorable mention from this year, while not technically a Roundup video, is the video Veronica and I created for Sarah Kaufman’s video contest. We threw together this piece all within 2 hours–from concept to launch. With Ronda Rousey’s help, it got 11,500+ views. Plus, we won the contest. The whole thing was pretty epic… watch it here.

Most RTed Tweet

Often the things that I tweet that get retweeted the most have nothing to do with the ladies. I’m pretty sure most of you can quickly guess who I’m commenting on this winning tweet (received 24 RTs):

BREAKING: Old man injured during training. Young man refuses to fight white collar criminal. Call me maybe.

— Women's MMA Roundup (@wmmaroundup) August 24, 2012

Most ‘Liked’ Photo

The winning photo was uploaded in multiple places, so I’m not sure of the exact number of ‘likes’ it received. But I do know between our facebook page and Invicta’s postings we saw about 230 or so. I think that’s enough to give it the nod. Special thanks goes out to our photog, Jade, for remembering Gina’s fashion choices.

Most Viewed Article

I somewhat even hesitate to mention this piece, because it was so controversial at the time of posting. It’s the only instance that I’ve written a negatively tinted piece about a female fighter. In turn, I received a few permanent trolls and some high fives for stating what a lot of WMMA fans were struggling with at the time. So for better or worse, the winner is Editorial: The Curious Case of Ms. Ronda Rousey

Fav Fight of 2012

Julie Kedzie vs Miesha Tate on Strikeforce: Rousey vs Kaufman

Often what captivates us the most as MMA fans is the excitement that comes along with the unexpected. It’s those amazing moments where fighters perform above and beyond or simply just outside of our expectations. Julie Kedzie vs Miesha Tate on the Strikeforce prelims did just that.

Both Julie and Miesha have been involved in defining moments in WMMA for many years. Julie was 1/2 of the first female fight shown on Showtime back in 2007. Her match against Gina Carano was considered in many ways to be the women’s equivalent to Griffin vs Bonnar moment. And Miesha was coming off the losing end of an armbar that redefined everyone’s interpretation of toughness and human durability.

This was expected to be a match between a veteran that was potentially past her prime and a woman whose arm could potentially never function again. What we got was one of the most compelling and genuine displays of fighting.

Julie set the tone coming out of the gate strong and aggressive. And to put it plainly, she knocked the hell out of Miesha that first round. The precision and power we saw in her strikes and kicks was like a whole new Julie Kedzie. I was sitting in a section of the crowd that seemed to be mostly unfamiliar with her. (Shout out to Zuffa and their lovely “alternate” press seating!) Fans were immediately engaged with Julie’s fighting style and energy.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect out of Miesha. I believed that she was fighting way too soon after the whole Rousey event. I didn’t think she could be in a well enough place physically or mentally to take on a challenge like Julie. Miesha did seem a little hesitant and perplexed on how to approach this fight. But her chin and her sheer will to survive this kept her in the game. She pressed forward with her wrestling and some solid submission attempts. After taking a fair number of hard strikes to the noggin, as well as a kick that dropped her with a flash KO, Miesha held on tight and managed to wrench out an armbar on Julie to win the fight in the final round.

Typically, I do my best to write a mini play-by-play at any live events we cover. I was so enthralled I couldn’t even type a word. So much was happening there wasn’t any time for me to translate it in a meaningful way. At the end of the fight, everyone in my section stood and cheered and engaged and reminded me of why we were all there in the first place.

Fav Moment of 2012

It’s a draw! Y’all know I always love it when everyone gets to win. I’ve spent way too much time in California.

1. Julie Kedzie’s post fight fans – My first winner connects closely to my pick for fight of the year. After that amazing bout against Miesha, Julie was hanging out in the arena during the Strikeforce main card. From the moment she showed up, she had a line of fans waiting to meet and take pictures with her. Some were familiar with her career and some were brand new fans from the fight they had just witnessed. Veronica and I stopped by quickly to tell her congrats. Julie downplayed her skills mocking herself for getting caught in the armbar. But it was clear that that one slip didn’t matter to the fans. Through all the fights, all the way up to the main event, there was just this steady flow of people so excited to meet her. Witnessing this left me smiling ear to ear.
2. Getting props from Mauro – After Invicta 1 (and after a mini ghost hunt in the ballroom), the Roundup crew was chilling on the stairs of the lobby of our haunted hotel. We were talking with some other journalists and fighters when commentator Maura Ranallo walks up. He thanks Veronica and I for our videos and tells us he used them for research on the show. He said it in the most gracious, humble way possible, and at that moment I could only mutter a shy, “thanks.” Really, the most significant thing I ever hoped to achieve with the show was that we could maybe make some small-town geeky girl feel not quite so alone in her interest in MMA. So to have a professional tell us he uses our info for broadcast just tickled me pink.

Fav Interview of 2012

We have the amazing luck of having so many great interviews to choose from in 2012. I started going through a list of stand outs in my head and found myself getting too carried away. So I decided to scale it back and pick one video that really hit all the notes for me. I chose our interview with Germaine de Randamie post-fight at Strikeforce: Rousey vs Kaufman. This was actually the 5th interview we’ve shot with Germaine. She’s always game and so full of energy. She’s comfortable and open with us, and shares great insights. I’m so happy we were able to track her down at the event:

It really has been one of the best years we’ve had in our time covering the sport. So much changed this year between Invicta and women in the UFC. We had the great privilege of traveling to cover shows. I finally got credentialed by Zuffa (technically under MiddleEasy creds, but it sort of counts). We added an awesome new photographer to the team (yay Jade! You’ve been the perfect addition). Things are blossoming! Welcome to 2013.

But enough about me.

Invicta Fighting Championships keep getting better and better as each new event comes to fruition, and I couldn’t be happier or feel luckier to have been there from the start. I hope to continue to be able to witness the success of such an amazing organization, and lend my support in any way possible – especially with photographs. I like photographs. I like taking them, because I like the story they can tell. They are like live-action paintings, where any small detail, moment, or imperfection can completely change how one might remember things in the long run. The beauty of fighting is in the eye of the beholder. I want to be able to share the beauty that I see in fighting with anybody else who might be interested in such a thing. With that said, here are six of my favorite moments that I captured in photo from Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt. With haikus!

It’s like every time
I see Alexis fighting
Lots of blood is spilled

This isn’t entirely true, but allow me to explain myself in the sloppy fashion I’m known best for. I saw Alexis fight at Invicta 2 and gain a win against Hitomi Akano via everyone’s favorite submission to recite, the rear-naked choke. I guess that wasn’t an absolute bloodbath by any conventional standards of bloodbath rules – I checked my “Bloodbaths 101″ handbook just to make sure. However, I also saw (live!) Alexis and Sarah Kaufman fight at Tate vs. Rousey last March in Columbus, OH, which was pretty brutal and amazing for a fight of the night, fight of the year, and possibly one of the bloodiest battles of MMA since Kazushi Sakuraba’s ear or Hendo vs. Shogun. Alexis is a bleeder!!! At the immediate sighting of gushing plasma from the nose of Alexis during this fight, the words “Oh, man” were falling out of my mouth as I excitedly snapped photos in succession, thinking about animated GIFs and Twitter conversation surrounding the impending sea of redness people were about to behold. I was thrilled when I looked through my photos and had managed to catch several action shots that depicted all of the gushing. The GUSHING. I’ll stop now.

Leslie Smith was like
“Hey Rocky, come at me bro”
That was pretty rad

The swell of the crowd was innumerable from start to finish as these two brawled it out over a secret beef that I never knew existed until the promotional video dropped earlier that day. It spoke of backstabbing, disloyalty, and other stuff that drives people to want to break difficult-to-heal bones in the bodies of others. Those are a paraphrase of Leslie Smith’s words, not mine. She says them with a smile, too, so it should be no surprise that during the warchant of “Rocky” from Raquel Pennington’s family and the controlling of the cage in large part from Leslie Smith emerged that Diaz brothers attitude that makes her so uniquely exciting to watch. Seriously, on more than one occasion was she seen throwing her hands up in that “COME AT ME BRO” position, which got the crowd exercising the accoustics of Kansas City’s historic Memorial Hall more than a Slayer concert. I’ve seen Slayer at that place, too. Trust me – it was loud. I felt like the energy of the crowd lent to this being a strong contender for fight of the night, and a huge turning point in my mind and surely others was this moment.

D’Alelio waits
For like ten minutes in cage
while Lioness sings

Prior to this, I thought Amanda Bell had held the Invicta record for longest entrance to the cage. I think she entered to an Otep song? I don’t know, I once knew a girl who also lived in Medford, OR who also listened to Otep so I figured it was kismet… but I digress. Amanda Nunes is one hell of an exciting fighter to watch, from start to finish, usually very explosive and dominant in her performances. “Lioness” is an appropriate name, and you can tell that she loves what she does down to the core. Such is the case with her lively and animated entrance into the cage every time. But Sarah D’Alelio, The Kung Fu Panda, was not amused. So much so that she stood there, staring, waiting. Just like this photo tells it. From my perspective cageside, it seemed as though Sarah fixed her gaze upon Amanda as she sang and danced around to her walk-out tune, the calm before the storm, perhaps trying to devise some kind of elaborate time device to speed things up and get this fight started. If that is the case, I hope she remembered the blueprints for such a contraption, it would really come in handy the next inevitable time I’m stuck in an airport for 13 hours.

Joanne Calderwood
One hundred and fifteen pounds
Elbow number four

If you’ve seen that diamond-in-the-rough movie about Master Toddy and his Muay Thai girls, aptly titled “Ring Girls,” then you know what “elbow number four” means. I’m pretty sure Joanne has it down, even if she hasn’t seen it. In all honesty, my favorite photo from this particular match-up is this one – something about its blurry imperfection, the extension of her leg and entire body into that kick, it just speaks to me as to how the pace of this 3-round battle went. Lots of elbows. Lots of knees. Lots of quickness. No wonder she’s on a fight team called “Dinky Ninjas.” It was a quick three rounds of stalking around the cage, mixed with more of that calm but quick demeanor that Calderwood is becoming synonymous with in a fight. I’m very happy that amid the fray, I was able to catch a few moments of elbow brutality. At this point, who ISN’T impressed with Joanne Calderwood? Show of hands? Anyone? If you’re not impressed with her, she’s reading this and she knows. And she’s coming for you. I’m just saying. Underneath this quiet, calm, Scottish exterior lies a new breed of superhuman, bent on taking over the world one knee at a time. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Rose Namajunas
Wins with sweet rear-naked choke
Pat Barry is stoked

Many are claiming that Pat “HD” Barry nearly stole the thunder of Rose Namajunas in her pro debut with his enthusiastic cornering. I’m not one of those people – I absolutely loved it. I think these two are probably the embodyment of what a perfect relationship should be, and that’s solely based on whatever they choose to post on Twitter and stuff that I happen to see when I’m working my day job. I was kind of in the same boat as Pat as far as the level of excitement for Rose’s win is concerned, had I not been focused so intently on the task of capturing these moments in a series of photographs, I’d have also totally jumped out of my seat with a mangled water bottle in hand and made a series of noises that constitute a new language only few might understand. I’ve been white-knighting for Namajunas to be in Invicta for a little while – having payed attention to her amateur career (probably because of MiddleEasy or something), I felt like she displayed all of the qualities that I would consider as being of “the new breed of MMA.” She’s obviously got the accuracy and speed of someone with a deep Taekwondo background (I’m talking Tiny Tigers), she’s got a lot of power behind her petite but lanky frame, and after seeing what she can do on the ground, I feel pretty confident that Thug Rose is going to excel in the ranks of the Straweight division faster than Rick Ross can destroy a bucket of assorted crustaceans. The day her and Joanne Calderwood have to fight is going to be like Sophie’s Choice for me. Anyways, Rose’s emphatic and emotional celebration of this win charmed over the likes of many, as did surely one of my other favorite moments from the night, when Pat and Rose embraced in the cage over said win. I love that I could capture some of this.

Ediane Gomes and
Hiroko Yamanaka
..All the syllables

I ran out of syllables, you guys. So I’m just going to talk about how I enjoyed this fight simply because I love seeing the Japanese fighters come over to America to fight. LOVE IT. It may have been a three round exchange of heavy hits, mostly dominated by Gomes, and lacking any notable “wow” factor to make it stand out, but I had to bring it up because at the end of this fight, what happened to take place was one of my favorite things about this sport in general. I managed to capture it in a photo, and I’m so glad I did. After the bell rang, Gomes and Yamanaka hugged it out, emphatic in their reverence for one another’s performance. A grounded Hiroko Yamanaka looks up at now-standing Ediane Gomes, who reaches down before her to offer a hand up. The heart, respect, and determination of these two international fighters, whose shared language is at the very least least undoubtedly the language of fighting, manages to transcend this photograph and come alive. They may have just finished trying to take each other’s heads off, but the clear appreciation for the skill each other posesses can be seen. This is the reason I love MMA – in the end, after the visceral act of the fight has taken place, the proof of what each fighter is made of having been exposed in one way or another, in most cases there lies nothing but a high feeling of honor and regard for one another. It’s a warrior spirit that only those of us who are into this sport can understand. And it’s pretty amazing.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt photos on Flickr or on the WMMA Roundup Facebook page.

Invicta FC 4 is live at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS at 6pm CT. Watch the live stream on internet PPV for $7.95 at invictafc.com.

Prelims

Laura Marcusse vs Cassie Robb (105lb)

Round 1: Laura moves in quickly and pops Cassie with a quick jab. Cassie goes for the shot and gets caught in guillotine. They clinch and Cassie pops her head out. Cassie goes in again for the takedown and works Laura off the cage to get it. They scramble and Laura pushes Cassie up against the cage and lands some knees. Cassie takes it back down to the mat. Cassie opens up Laura with some gnp and takes her back. They scramble again and Laura gets back up. Back to the ground. They’re up and down this whole round. Give Cassie the 10-9 for her takedowns and ground and pound.

Round 2: They clinch and Laura gets the takedown and moves to side control. She then works to mount slides to her back and locks on the RNC. Cassie taps.

Result: Laura Marcusse defeats Cassie Robb by Rear Naked Choke in Round 2 at 1:07.

Katalina Malungahu vs Veronica Rothenhausler (145lb)

Round 1: Veronica comes out looking for the big KO. Both are swinging for the fences. Katalina is not the least bit afraid of the reach advantage and is swinging right along with Veronica. They both land a couple sweet shots. Then finally Veronica winds up the right hand and Katalina steps right into the KO. She was not completely out. Ref steps in anyway. I think it was early stoppage, but whatevs.

Result: Veronica Rothenhausler defeats Katalina Malungahu by KO in Round 1 at 1:12.

Tecia Torres vs Paige Van Zant (115lb)

Round 1: The ladies are circling. They end up in a clinch with Paige pushing Tecia against the cage. Tecia lands a nice knee to Paige’s face. They back off and Tecia seems to be getting the better of the striking. Paige looks a little dazed. Tecia is landing some standing elbows. They’re circling and Tecia is content to stand and trade landing a decent number of her strikes. They clinch against the cage where Paige is able to stifle a little of Tecia’s aggression. I give the round to Tecia 10-9, landing a number of effective strikes.

Round 2: Tecia lands a couple one-twos, and then Paige clinches and drags her to the mat. Tecia takes Paige’s back and works the RNC. Paige continues to turn and and pepper Tecia’s head with shots. Paige works hard and long and finally escapes from the RNC to land in a triangle and then armbar attempt. She escapes and they scramble. Tecia lands a some solid strikes at the end of the round. Give this round to Tecia 10-9 for submission attemps and striking.

Round 3: Ladies come out strong. Paige throws Tercia in a cartwheel hip toss. They scramble and are back to their feet. Tecia is getting the better of the strikes knocking back Paige again and again. Both ladies appear a little tired, but are looking for the big punch! Finish out the round on their feet. Give the round 10-9 to Tecia once again.

Result: Tecia Torres defeats Paige Van Zant by Unanimous Decision (30-27).

Emily Kagan vs Rose Namajanuas (115lb)

Round 1: Major props for Kagan walking out to 99 problems. Emily is not waiting for a damn thing. She runs across the cage and immediately throws a few strikes. They work into the clinch. They go to the ground and Rose locks on the triangle and works to finish it. She transitions to armbar. Emily survives and slams her. Rose works through armbar and Kimura attempts and Emily rolls out of all of them. Emily stands they clinch against the cage. The scrambles are rocking my world. They end with Rose in Emily’s guard. Emily is impressive, but give the round to Rose 10-9 for aggression and dominant position.

Round 2: Another scramble-submission-attempt-a-thon with Rose being the aggressor. Give the Rose the round for control, even though Emily was pushing the pace.

Round 3: Rose lands some strikes and then they clinch. Rose controls the position and works Emily against the cage. A few knees are thrown but no major damage. Rose uses the cage to move onto Emily’s back. She sinks in the RNC and jerks them to the ground. Emily taps.

Result: Mama Jama! defeats Emily Kagan by RNC in Round 3 at 3:44.

Liz McCarthy vs Jodie Esquibel (105lb)

Round 1: Jodie’s looking like a rockstar with that footwork and clean boxing. Liz doesn’t really have an answer for her but to wait for the opening and get the take down. Liz moves smartly and finally lands it and stays in side control. Jodie works back up to her feet and ends the round throwing strikes. Give the round to Jodie 10-9.

Round 2: Liz is moving forward and both ladies are swinging. They’re both landing but nothing hard enough to stop either of them. Jodie is using some font kicks to keep Liz at bay. Give it to Jodie 10-9 based on effective striking.

Round 3: The ladies are working close in the cage landing strikes on each other and really staying right in the pocket. Jodie pushes Liz down with a front kick. They clinch against the cage and Liz jumps Jodie’s back and tries hard for the RNC. She’s unable to finish it. Give the round to Liz 10-9.

Result: Jodie Esquibel defeats Liz McCarthy by Split Decision (29-28 Esquibel, 29-28 McCarthy, 30-27 Esquibel).

Tamikka Brents vs Amanda Bell (145lb)

Round 1: Tamikka comes in and immediately takes it to the ground. Bell attemps a leg lock a submission and Tamikka goes for one in kind. They spend the rest of the round with Tamikka pushing forward in Bell’s guard. Give the round to Tamikka 10-9.

Round 2: Tamikka moves forward again, lands the trip, and they go to the ground. Timikka is pushing forward in Amanda’s guard asking to be armbared, but Amanda can’t seem to turn her hips for the position. Ref stands them up and they trade a few punches. Tamikka picks Amanda up and slams her to the ground. Amanda transitions on the ground and takes Tamikka’s back. Give the round to Tamikka 10-9 for takedowns.

Round 3: Amanda is looking to strike and moves in landing quite a few punches and knees. She clinches Tamikka against the cage. Ref separates them after a while. Tamikka looks spent and is taking punches from Amanda. They spend the round fighting against the cage both landing strikes but nothing to finish the fight. Give the round to Amanda 10-9.

Result: Tamikka Brents defeats Amanda Bell by Unanimous Decision (29-28).

Stephanie Frausto vs Cassie Rodish (105lb)

Round 1: Cassie and Stephanie move towards each other quick working to find their range. Cassie is landing some kicks to Stephanie’s general face area. Stephanie moves into the clinch and flips Cassie ass over tea kettle onto the mat. Stephanie works from the top but isn’t able to establish anything. They stand and Cassie lands a big trip taking them both to the mat. A few submission attempts and we see the end of the round. Give the round to Cassie 10-9.

Round 2: Ladies are keeping it standing and Cassie is getting the better of the stand up landing a strong right. Cassie grabs onto Stephanie a couple times with a plum clinch and whips Stephanie around. They work down to the mat and Cassie lands some ground and pound. Cassie is very dominant from the top and they end with Stephanie turtled up. Give the round to Cassie 10-9.

Round 3: Cassie lands a couple head kicks and Stephanie moves in latches on to her arm and goes for a hip toss. She doesn’t quite have her hips and ends up on the bad end of an armbar attempt. She escapes and Cassie moves to mount. She lands some solid ground and pound from high mount and the ref waves it off.

Result: Cassie Rodish defeats Stephanie Frausto by TKO at 1:04 of Round 3.

That’s it for me on here folks. Off to do film main card post fight interviews! Enjoy!

Laura Marcusse-Sanko (105.6) vs Cassie Robb (105.6)

Katalina Malungahu (145.8) vs Veronica Rothenhausler (146.6)
*At her second attempt Veronica made 146.0.

Tecia Torres (115.6) vs Paige VanZant (114.8)

Emily Kagan (115.6) vs Rose Namajunas (114.6)

Liz McCarthy (104.2) vs Jodie Esquibel (104.2)

Tamikka Brents (145.0) vs Amanda Bell (145.0)

Stephanie Frausto (105.0) vs Cassie Rodish (105.8)

Joanne Calderwood (116.0) vs Livia Von Plettenberg (116.0)

Ediane Gomes (143.2) vs  Hiroko Yamanaka (145.6)

Amanda Nunes (135.8) vs Sarah D’Alelio (135.8)

Leslie Smith (135.8) vs Raquel Pennington (134.8)

Shayna Baszler (134.8) vs Alexis Davis (135.8)

Carla Esparza (114.8) vs Bec Hyatt (115.6)

It’s been quite the week for our sport. Ronda Rousey officially got invited to be a champion in the UFC. Dana has kindly agreed to allow her to bring a plus one to her party. I’m officially making plans to go to Disneyland and my first UFC event in one day. It’s a brave, brave new world.

Tweets!

Too soon??? Nah. Lol. Sh*t Happens. ???? twitter.com/ZoilaGurgel/st…

— Zoila Frausto Gurgel (@ZoilaGurgel) December 9, 2012

Just blew @jonnybones a kiss and he caught it…@julesk_fighter are you jealous? Lol #fb

— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) December 9, 2012

I love it. @zoilagurgel is getting up at the crack of dawn and driving two hours to enter a Grapplers Quest tournament.

— Derek Bolender (@MMAjunkieDerek) December 8, 2012

I won decision. Yuiga was super tough. I got to play on my feet and have a stand up battle. Possible broken nose… ????

— Amanda Lucas (@amandalucasmma) December 8, 2012

Dana White: Tito Ortiz advised ‘Cyborg’ Santos not to face Ronda Rousey dlvr.it/2bXw1d

— MMAjunkie.com MMA (@MMAjunkie) December 7, 2012

History. instagr.am/p/S6KnjgPKSV/

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 6, 2012

Feels good to be back @fitzperformance @teamvaghi1

— Ashley Cummins (@SmashleyMMA) December 4, 2012

Its OFFICIAL, I am signing my contract for Bellator Fighting Championships 84. It is a rematch and I am grateful… fb.me/2xXslOav0

— Patricia Vidonic (@LilPatriciamma) December 2, 2012

Pics!

Videos!

For full event coverage, check out our Invicta FC 3 event page.

Katalina Malungahu vs Ediane Gomes (145lb)

Round 1: Katalina came out swinging heavily favoring her right hand. Enough knocks up the side of the head and Ediane decided it was time to go to the ground. She took her down effortlessly and fell back for a heel hook. Katalina escapes. Ediane continues to work submission attempts, transitions, and solid ground and pound on her. She finishes it RNCing an overwhelmed Katalina.

Result: Ediane Gomes defeats Katalina Malungahu by RNC at 4:20 of Round 1.

Tecia Torres vs Kaiyana Rain (115lb)

Round 1: Lots of bouncing for the 115 pro debut-ers and a matching set of head kicks to boot! Lots of cage work, both pummel for position, landing short strikes and knees. Near the end of the round Tecia lands some solid strike stunning Kaiyana and sending her moving backwards. Round ends against the cage.

Round 2: The girls are pretty much just kicking the shit out of each other. Kaiyana looks a little dazed going into the round and Tecia a little more confident. The tide starts to turn has Kaiynan lands some hard hits. Tecia comes back with a nice hand and leg striking combo. Tecia is flurrying, pretty much dominating the end of the round. I say 10-9 Tecia.

Round 3: More of the same with the back and forth. They go up against the cage and Tecia lands some solid knees leaving Kaiyana looking pretty rough. Tecia continues to run her. Kaiyana goes for a botched throw and ends up on the ground with Tecia taking her back. Tecia lands some ground and pound from her back as the round ends. 10-9 Tecia.

Result: Tecia Torres defeats Kaiyana Rain by 30-27 Unanimous Decision.

Jessamyn Duke vs Marciea Allen (135lb)

Round 1: So it turns out that if the ref doesn’t stop the fight to let Jessamyn put her mouth guard back in, she’ll just tap her opponent so she has time to. Interesting fight. Started out kind of timid, but when Jessamyn flips that switch its pretty impressive to see.

Result: Jessamyn Duke defeats Marciea Allen by Armbar at 4:42 of Round 1.

Amy Davis vs Stephanie Frausto (105lb)

Round 1: Bell rings and Stephanie runs hard across the cage and punches Amy right in the face. It was LOL. They go to the ground, scramble and then Stephanie locks on a guillotine that finishes it up.

Result: Stephanie Frausto defeats Amy Davis by guillotine choke in Round 1.

Ashley Cummins vs Joanne Calderwood (115lb)

Round 1: They spend a lot of time circling both trying to find their range. Then Joanne lands this sharp, very effective knee to Ashley’s midsection that sends her crumbling to the mat. The ref waves it off.

Result: Joanne Calderwood defeats Ashley Cummins by TKO in Round 1.

Lynn Alvarez vs Carla Esparza (115lb)

Round 1: Carla’s scrambles are ridiculous. Once she got it to the ground, she established and maintained top position and worked her ground and pound. Her strikes weren’t devastating but overwhelming. Ref waves it off.

Result: Carla Esparza defeats Lynn Alvarez by TKO at 2:53 in Round 1.

That’s it for prelims! Off to do interview time!