Invicta FC 4 Loses Main Eventer to Surgery; Carla Esparza Awaits New Opponent

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is far from the only fight promotion that’s been bitten by the injury bug. The latest is Invicta FC, the fast-rising upstart women’s fight promotion.

Claudia Gadelha has been knocked out of the Invicta FC 4 main event, due to suffering a broken nose in training.

“Claudia broke her nose and is out of the main event,” Invicta president Shannon Knapp told MMAWeekly.com on Friday. “She underwent surgery for it already. We are working on a replacement.”

Gadelha was supposed to have taken on Carla Esparza for the inaugural Invicta strawweight championship on Jan. 5 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City.

Esparza is still expected to remain in the headliner, as Invicta is close to firming up a 115-pound replacement for Gadelha.

This marks the second change of opponent for Esparza, whose original opposition, Ayaka Hamasaki, backed out of the fight to instead defend her Jewels title in Japan.

There is one other change for Invicta as they head into their first Internet pay-per-view offering. The promotion’s usual lead broadcaster, Mauro Ranallo, will not be on the mic.

“Bas Rutten will be stepping in for Mauro and will being doing commentary along with Julie Kedzie and Mo Lawal for this event,” added Knapp.

News of Gadelha’s injury was first reported by MMAFighting.com.

Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for all the latest Invicta FC 4 news and updates.