Invicta FC 15 results: 'Cyborg' wins again, crushing Ibragimova in first

Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino

Once again, Invicta FC featherweight champion Cristiane Justino (15-1) proved she has no equal at 145 pounds, scoring a first-round knockout of Daria Ibragimova (9-2) with relative ease.

The contest served as the main event of Saturday’s Invicta FC 15 event, which took place at The Hangar at OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. The entire card streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.

Ibragimova was able to close the distance early, moving inside and grabbing her opponent’s left leg and looking for a takedown. Justino defended the takedown in fine fashion, balancing against the cage and actually landing a few solid punches and elbows inside. Ibragimova refused to let go of the leg, even as she struggled to complete the takedown, though after a few minutes, she had to relent. On the restart, Justino punished Ibragimova with strikes, and the damage was immediately evident in her opponent’s body language.

Ibragimova tried again for a takedown in the final minute, simply latching on to the left leg and trying to find a way to get it to the floor, but Justino patiently waited and defended until she could have space to strike. Once she got it, Justino capitalized, landing a crushing right hand that sent her opponent to the floor. Justino jumped on top with big hammerfists that landed with bad intentions, and referee John McCarthy mercifully called off the fight with two seconds left in the first frame.

Strawweight champ Souza remains perfect

Invicta FC strawweight champ Livia Renata Souza (9-0) kept her belt and her undefeated record with an impressive first-round finish of DeAnna Bennett (8-1).

Bennett, the bigger fighter, looked to stay at range early and strike from distance. And while it seemed a wise choice, it didn’t pay off, as Souza scored with a thunderous kick to the liver that sent Bennett to the floor. Souza jumped on top with punches, sealing the surprising result just 90 seconds into the fight.

Schneider edges Pa’aluhi, Brown downs VanHoose

In bantamweight action Colleen Schneider (10-6) battled through a lengthy delay due to a missing ambulance that had transported another fighter, as well as a very tough Raquel Pa'aluhi (5-5) to gut out a hard-fought victory.

Both women exchanged kicks to open the fight before Pa’aluhi drove forward and pressed the action to the cage. She eventually scored a takedown, but Schneider answered with an upkick and worked her way back to the feet. Pa’aluhi’s face showed blood in the early going, and Schneider moved well on the feet as she picker her opponent apart. Pa’aluhi had one shining moment at the end of the frame, hopping on her opponent’s back, but the round ended before she could truly capitalize.

Pa’aluhi scored a quick takedown in the second, but Schneider climbed right back to her feet. Pa’aluhi kept looking to press, working hard to take the action to the floor. While Schneider defended well, she was unable to counter with any real volume of offense. Schneider’s best moments came in the final minute, as she was able to strike from range and attack the badly swelling left eye of Pa’aluhi.

Schneider scored with a big left hand to open the third and then worked quickly back to her feet after another Pa’aluhi takedown. Schneider appeared confident on her feet, throwing spinning strikes and shimmying on her feet. But Pa’aluhi continued to press forward, looking to grind out a win. Schneider stayed in the pocket and answered with strikes until the end.

Schneider appeared to have done enough to take the fight, though she had to sweat out a split-decision reading.

In an atomweight contest, Amber Brown (6-1) earned her fourth consecutive victory with a submission of Invicta FC newcomer Shino VanHoose (4-4).

Late replacement VanHoose tried to work the fight to the floor early by pulling guard, but Brown remained upright and avoided the effort. As they continued to battle in the clinch, Brown wrapped her arm around the neck and kept it in position as VanHoose scored a trip to the floor. VanHoose tried desperately to work free, but Brown continued to cinch up the hold and scored the first-round tapout.

Inoue, Hill impress in early action

In a strawweight contest, 21-year-old Japanese fighter Mizuki Inoue (10-4) picked up an impressive win, dominating Lacey Schuckman (11-9) before scoring a third-round finish.

Schuckman worked past her opponent’s striking early in the first, taking the action to the floor and briefly taking the back. But Inoue calmly worked out of the danger and quickly reversed the position. Once in control, Inoue briefly worked to mount before turning off for an armbar. But in a great sequence, Schuckman battled through the hold and then worked herself in for an inverted triangle attempt that may have earned a tap from her opponent, though it wasn’t recognized by referee Jason Herzog, and the two continued their thrilling grappling exchanges until the final bell.

Inoue took the fight to the floor with a quick hip toss to open the second, working methodically into mount and unleashing ground-and-pound shots from the top. Schuckman rolled, exposing her back, but not having her face sliced open from Inoue’s attacks. Inoue briefly looked for an armbar, though Schuckman was able to fight through it. Still, Inoue controlled the entirety of the frame.

Inoue took it to the floor again in the third, and though Schuckman briefly threatened with a guillotine, she couldn’t get pressure on the neck. Inoue waited through the hold and resumed her ground-and-pound attack before turning to the armbar and eventually securing the finish.

In additional strawweight action UFC veteran Angela Hill (3-2) impressed in her Invicta FC debut, destroying Alida Gray (4-3) in just 99 seconds.

Hill looked quick on the feet to start, darting in and out of range and scoring with her hands. With Hill in complete control of the action, a big right stunned Gray, and the finish came shortly after. Hill saw the opening, and unleased a barrage of punches before a big knee to the body sent Gray crashing to the canvas and leading to the first-round finish.

In the night’s first contest, Australian featherweight Megan Anderson (5-2) picked up an impressive win over Amber Leibrock (1-1), establishing herself as a potential prospect at 145 pounds.

Anderson took the center to start, though it was the right hand of Leibrock that found its mark in the early going. After one such shot wobbled Anderson, the two took turns teeing off on the feet. After a few big barrages, Anderson controlled from the clinch for the remainder of the opening frame.

Anderson returned to the clinch in the second, though her most effective strikes came once they were separated by referee John McCarthy, as she battered the legs and scored with punches up top. Leibrock’s nose was bloodied from the work, and Anderson captured the momentum.

Anderson worked to top position in a scramble to the floor in the third. However, Leibrock turned quickly to a potential triangle choke, giving Anderson a few tense moments before she worked free and back to her feet. Once there, Anderson poured on the offense, including a big knee that sent Leibrock crashing to the floor, sealing the TKO result.

Complete Invicta FC 15 results include:

• Cristiane Justino def. Daria Ibragimova via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:58 to retain featherweight title
• Livia Renata Souza def. DeAnna Bennett via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:30 to retain strawweight title
• Colleen Schneider def. Raquel Pa’aluhi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Amber Brown def. Shino VanHoose via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:36
• Mizuki Inoue def. Lacey Schuckman via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 3:41
• Angela Hill def. Alida Gray via knockout (strikes) – Round 1, 1:39
• Megan Anderson def. Amber Leibrock via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:33

For more on Invicta FC 15, check out the MMA Events section of the site.