April 4th, Shawnee Oklahoma, Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira defended her Invicta FC Atomweight Championship vs Ana Palacios in the main event of Invicta FC 61. Ferreira (9-2 1KO) controlled the fight with lightening-fast combinations, excellent footwork, and slick head movement. The challenger, Ana Palacios (10-4 1KO) showed she belonged in there with Ferreira, pushing the pace for most of the 5 rounds, but was ultimately outgunned and knocked down in the 3rd round.
Beginning with 3 first-round submissions, the undercard featured a night full of great scraps between some of the best fighters in the world including UFC vet Emily Ducote Bellator vet Claire Lopez, and PFL vet Marilia Morais.
Invicta FC 61 Full Fight Card Live results:
Atomweight Title: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Ana Palacios via unanimous decision
RD 1- Ferreira throwing many subtle faints but Palacios begins landing from the outside. Palacios does a great job jumping in and out but Ferreira ends up landing a few combinations closing out a razer close round.
RD 2 – Fighters exchange kicks to start round 2 the Ferreira lands a nasty combination that temporarily stunned Palacios. Palacios answers with a right to the body and an overhand left that echos through the arena. Palacious continues pressing forward but Ferreira showing slick defense with her back against her cage. She avoids most strikes but a few are getting through. Palacios continues the pressure and goes for a takedown that’s stuffed.
RD 3 – Palacios scoring in and out again but is caught on the inside and is dropped with an overhand right. Ferreira jumps in her guard and goes to work with some short ground and pound. Palacios fights back up before being tossed back to the ground and Ferreira immediately takes her back
RD 4 – Fighters come out firing early in the round with some very even exchanges. Ferreira starts to take control with some sharp two-punch combos that knocks Palacios off her rhythm. Ferreira then lands a takedown controlling Palacios against the cage. Palacios sweeps her and mounts her where she locks in a tight armbar that Ferreira narrowly escapes at the end of the round.
RD 5 – Ferreira defends Palacios’ takedown and tosses her to the canvas. Ferreira dominates most of the round with top control.
Featherweight: Jamie Edenden def. Jackie Cataline via KO RD 2
RD 1- Edenden and Cataline felt each other out for much of the first round. Edenden landed a few solid leg kicks, stuck her jab upstairs and to the body, and defended Cataline’s takedowns. Cataline showed good timing in and out, but didn’t land much more than a few right hands.
RD 2 – Edenden scored with a hard leg kick but Cataline got her respect with a combination upstairs. Edenden appears to get her rhythm with a few leg kicks which causes Cataline to rush in where she’s met with a right hand that ends the night.
Catchweight (120 pounds): Emily Ducote def. Thaiane Souza via KO RD 1
RD 1 -Emily Ducote lands an early right hand on Souza who is pushing the pace and looking to engage early and often. Ducote remains calm and picks her shots before landing a takedown 2 minutes into the opening round. Souza fights back to her feet and presses Ducote again before she’s tossed to the ground and faceplanted with a short left hook. Ducote scores her 2nd-straight victory – this time by knockout.
Featherweight: Jaeleen Robledo def. Riley Martinez via TKO RD 2
RD 1 – Martinez initiated a takedown but Robledo reversed her with a well-timed judo throw. For much of the round Martinez maintained top position landing elbows from the crucifix and threatening with 3 deep submissions to which Riley Martinez refused to tap.
RD 2 – Martinez successfully secured the takedown this time and begins to pepper Robledo with ground and pound before she’s swept by Robledo. Robledo moves to the mount where she rains down nasty elbows forcing the stoppage. This marks Robledo’s 4th-straight victory who proclaims herself a “new breed of mma.”
Atomweight: Taynara Silva def. Claire Lopez via Sub. RD 1
Lopez pushes Silva against the cage but is careful trying to avoid the guillotine. Silva turns Lopez, secures an arm-in guillotine and uses it to lift Lopez forcing her to submit. Silva improves to (8-5 1KO) in her second consecutive submission victory.
Featherweight: Joy Pendell def. via Sub. RD 1 Marilia Morais
Pendell presses Morais against the cage and drags her down for an early takedown. She slides to half guard, then a crucifix. Pendell secures an arm triangle choke for the first-round submission. This is Pendell’s second consecutive submission and she tells Megan Anderson that she wants to get back in there soon and often. Pendell improves to (5-2 1KO) and secures her second submission in a row.
Flyweight: Zoe Nowicki def. Kellie Marin via Sub. RD 1
Nowicki lands early takedown after solid exchanges, passes right to mount and goes to work with smothering ground and pound. Marin regains half guard but Nowicki locks in an Americana for the first-round submission. Nowicki improves to (3-0) earning her first stoppage as a professional.
