This article is the play-by-play to accompany the live coverage happening for the Invicta FC 41 card. Live coverage of the show can be viewed here.
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)
Play-by-Play:
Bout 1: Natalya Speece (0-0) vs. Alexa Culp (0-0) (Flyweight)
Space was the aggressor to start, coming forward with strikes. Speece fell and landed on her back after Culp caught a leg kick. Culp got on the back of Speece, putting in two hooks, wrapping her legs around the torso of Speece. She stayed on her back for the entire fight, trying for a rear naked choke in the later half. Culp was able to try for a rear naked choke, however she never got it under the chin. Speece tried to get out of the position in the final minute, although Culp transitioned quickly to get back on the back.
Speece had a similar start in the second round, coming forward with strikes to start the fight. Culp clinched up with Speece for a minute or so. Culp tripped Speece by catching a leg in the second minute. Culp kept full guard on top for a couple of minutes. Culp got on the back of Speece in the fourth minute of the fight, putting in a rear naked choke eventually that made Speece tap out.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Speece | 9 | |||
| Culp | 10 |
Bout 2: Caitlin Sammons (2-0) vs. Claire Guthrie (1-0) (Flyweight)
Sammons put Guthrie against the cage in a clinch after a minute or so of stand-up. Guthrie threw some palm strikes against the cage. Power changed hands during the round, as both fighter had their back placed against the fence before they separated with three minutes left in the round. They stayed on the feet striking for the rest of the round, where Guthrie was more active with singular shots.
Sammons put Guthrie against the cage again in the second minute of the second round, keeping Guthrie there for a few minutes while trying to take the fight down. Sammons connected with leg kicks throughout the round. They returned to stand-up with just over a minute to go in the fight.
Sammons got her first takedown of the fight in the second minute of the bout, taking Guthrie down after a minute against the cage. Guthrie got ahold of a leg when Sammons stood up for a moment. Sammons got on the back of Guthrie halfway through the round. Sammons got into full mount for a moment where she landed some elbows to the head. Whether it was full mount or being on the back of Guthrie, Sammons stayed in control until the fight ran out of time. Going to the judges, Sammons got the win (29-28 Guthrie, 29-28 Sammons & 30-27 Sammons).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Sammons | 9 | 10 | 10 | 29 |
| Guthrie | 10 | 9 | 9 | 28 |
Bout 3: Kaitlin Young (10-10-1) vs. Latoya Walker (5-1) (Featherweight)
The fighters traded strikes early. Walker threw jabs and hooks early, while Young mixed more kicks into her fighting. A slight reach and height advantage went the way of Young. The fast tempo of strikes from both fighters continued through to the end of the round.
The kicks of Young continued to connect in the second round. Young got a takedown from a clinch in the third minute, staying in the position for a few moments before getting back up. Young connected with a head kick in the fourth minute of the fight. The damage on Young’s face from punches were showing clearly once the second round ended.
Walker landed some hard punches early in the round. Young clinched with Walker, staying in the position for many minutes. They both scored strikes from the position, although it was Young who landed a higher volume of knees and elbows. Young kept Walker against the cage until the fight ran out of time. Young won the fight after three rounds (30-26, 30-26 & 30-27).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Young | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Walker | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 |
Bout 4: Erin Blanchfield (5-1) vs. Brogan Sanchez (6-1) (Flyweight)
Sanchez got hurt halfway through the round, being dropped by a two-punch combination from Blanchfield. Sanchez got up quickly, backtracking while Blanchfield continued with punches. Blanchfield got a takedown with a minute left in the round, going into half guard from the position. She stayed in the position until the round concluded.
Sanchez was aggressive at the start of the second round, charging forward with striking. Blanchfield got a takedown in the third minute after coming close to Sanchez with a combination of punches. Blanchfield was able to move into full mount on the ground, moving into side control with a minute left. She stayed in the position until the round ran out of time
Blanchfield started the final round by trying for another takedown, getting on the back of Sanchez on the feet. They eventually went down, with Blanchfield in half guard. She moved into side control. Blanchfield moved into full mount in the closing seconds of the fight, throwing a flurry of dozens of punches before the round ran out of time. The judges all gave the fight to Blanchfield afterwards (30-26, 30-26 & 30-26).
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Blanchfield | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| Sanchez | 9 | 9 | 8 | 26 |
Bout 5: Janaisa Morandin (10-3) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (8-1) (Atomweight)
Ruiz had a strong moment in the third minute, hurting Morandin with a series of punches to the head. Ruiz got a takedown through a judo throw, landing more punches on the ground from side control. Trapping an arm from the position, Ruiz made Morandin tap out to end the fight.
My Scorecard:
| Fighter | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Total |
| Morandin | ||||
| Ruiz |
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