With undefeated prospect Manjit Kolekar sidelined due to visa issues, Deep Jewels Strawweight Champion Mizuki Inoue has stepped in to compete on July 29th at Invicta Fighting Championships 18 in Kansas City, Missouri. Inoue is set to face the returning Lynn “Lights Out” Alvarez on the card.
Invicta FC officials announced the change on Thursday. Inoue has racked up three straight wins including a January submission victory over Lacey “The Ladie” Schuckman at Invicta FC 15. Veteran Alvarez now makes her first appearance for Invicta FC since the promotion’s third event in 2012.
Inoue (11-4-0) captured Deep Jewels title gold in mid-2014 and she had planned to add an Invicta FC championship to her collection soon after, but a pair of razor-thin decision losses against undefeated strawweight stars Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Alexa Grasso put Inoue’s Invicta FC title hopes on hold for the time being. Since then, she has rebounded with a trio of victories and thrilled Invicta FC fans in January with her late-fight finish of Schuckman. Now stepping in on short notice, Inoue looks to continue her climb back towards title contention.
Alvarez (6-3-0) has fought just twice in close to six years, but the skilled striker and grappler has picked up a number of key wins during her career, which dates back to a December 2007 submission victory over former Invicta FC champion and current UFC star Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson. More recently, Alvarez suffered disappointing setbacks against Jessica “Jag” Aguilar and former Invicta FC and UFC champion Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza, but she is coming off of a quick and dominant stoppage win over Amber “The Apex Predator” Stautzenberger.
Invicta Fighting Championships 18 takes place on July 29th at the Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Missouri. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass.
Invicta Fighting Championships 18 Fight Card (to date; subject to change):
– Alexa Grasso vs Jodie Esquibel (115)
– Irene Aldana vs Taila Santos (135)
– Agnieszka Niedźwiedź vs Claudia Rey (125)
– Cindy Dandois vs Jessamyn Duke (135)
– Megan Anderson vs Peggy Morgan (145)
– Tessa Simpson vs Simona Soukupova (105)
– Mizuki Inoue vs Lynn Alvarez (115)
– Aspen Ladd vs Jessica Hoy (135)
– Sijara Eubanks vs AmberLynn Orr (135)
(Photo Credit: Deep Jewels)