Invicta FC returned on Thursday night with Invicta FC 41. Headlining the show from the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kansas, USA was a three-round battle between strawweights Janaisa Morandin and Montserrat Ruiz. Follow along throughout the evening for live coverage.
Invicta FC, Police Athletic League, Kansas City, Kansas, USA, Janaisa Morandin, Montserrat Ruiz, Erin Blanchfield, Brogan Walker-Sanchez, Kaitlin Young, Latoya Walker, Kelly D’Angelo, Itzel Esquivel, Caitlin Sammons, Claire Guthrie, Natalya Speece, Alexa Culp,
Quick Results:
Bout 1: Alexa Culp def. Natalya Speece via Submission, Rear Naked Choke (RD 2, 3:59)
Bout 2: Caitlin Sammons def. Claire Guthrie via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 3: Kaitlin Young def. Latoya Walker via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 4: Erin Blanchfield def. Brogan Sanchez via Decision, Unanimous
Bout 5: Montserrat Ruiz def. Janaisa Morandin via Submission, Keylock (RD 1, 3:28)
Live Coverage:
Bout 5: Janaisa Morandin (10-3) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (8-1) (Atomweight)
Coming back from an 18-month layoff, Montserrat Ruiz won her returning bout against Janaisa Morandin with a first round stoppage.
Ruiz’s win came after a long series of punches that landed, giving her the chance to get a takedown. Ground and pound and a keylock being done by her legs caused Morandin to tap out, ending the fight.
The previous fight for Ruiz was a loss in December of 2018 to Danielle Taylor.
With the loss, Mordandin has now lost her last three Invicta FC fights.
Morandin missed weight for the fight, coming in 0.9 pounds over the non-championship atomweight limit.
Ruiz versus Morandin play-by-play.
Bout 4: Erin Blanchfield (5-1) vs. Brogan Sanchez (6-1) (Flyweight)
Blanchfield Sweeps Scorecards Against Sanchez
A one-sided performance went the way of Erin Blanchfield, who defeated Brogan Sanchez via unanimous decision. Blanchfield had lots of high moments throughout the fight.
The first round saw Blanchfield drop Sanchez with strikes, although Sanchez was quick to recover. Blanchfield finished the fight strong, throwing a flurry of punches from full mount before the fight ran out of time.
Bout 3: Kaitlin Young (10-10-1) vs. Latoya Walker (5-1) (Featherweight)
Young Returns With Win Over Walker
Bouncing back from a loss last year to Pam Sorenson, Kaitlin Young returned with a clean sweep on the scorecards against Latoya Walker. The striking battle saw Young throw a wide variety of knees, punches and elbows against Walker, who scored best with her punches.
The fight was Walker’s return from an absence, with her previous fight coming from a 2016 Invicta FC show.
After the fight, Young said she wants to stay active in any combat sport.
“I just wanna fight, I don’t care,” said Young.
Young versus Walker play-by-play.
Bout 2: Caitlin Sammons (2-0) vs. Claire Guthrie (1-0) (Flyweight)
Sammons Gets Third Win
Getting her third win as a pro, Caitlin Sammons defeated Claire Guthrie via decision. The win saw the fight go to a split decision with one of the judges giving all three rounds to Sammons.
Sammons worked for a takedown throughout, having her best round late when she landed a takedown and stayed in control on the ground. Guthrie was at her best when striking on the feet.
Sammons versus Guthrie play-by-play.
Bout 1: Natalya Speece (0-0) vs. Alexa Culp (0-0) (Flyweight)
Culp Wins Pro Debut
Alexa Culp won her professional debut to start the card, catching Natalya Speece with a rear naked choke late in the second round. The fight was also Speece’s debut as a pro.
The submission win came after two dominant rounds from Culp, staying on the back of Speece for most of the first round.
“This really just rocketed the rest of my career. It’s not just another amateur win,” said Culp, reflecting on her first win as a professional MMA fighter.
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