Invicta Fighting Championships showcased its bantamweight division with the third edition of the Phoenix Series tonight at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The event featured a one-night, single-elimination grand prix as eight women competed to become bantamweight tournament champion.
In addition to tonight’s tournament fights, “Phoenix Series 3” was headlined by a vacant bantamweight championship bout between undefeated rising star Lisa “Battle Angel” Verzosa and Lithuanian submission specialist Julija Stoliarenko. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for tonight’s card.
Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship
Julija Stoliarenko vs Lisa “Battle Angel” Verzosa
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Nick Berens. Stoliarenko was very aggressive right away and she followed up on a flurry of punches with two head kicks that staggered Verzosa. Stoliarenko was then dropped by a jab, but she attempted an armbar from the bottom and Verzosa had to act quickly to escape. Back on the feet, Stoliarenko landed another head kick and a right hook before Verzosa clinched once more. Stoliarenko broke free and she continued to find success with overhand rights and grazing head kicks. Big punches and another head kick landed for Stoliarenko in a subsequent exchange, but Verzosa remained on her feet. Stoliarenko took Verzosa’s back as the fighters hit the mat and she transitioned to an armbar. Verzosa eventually escaped and she closed out the round on top. 10-9 Stoliarenko.
Round 2:
Stoliarenko’s offence slowed down in the second round and that allowed Verzosa to counter her punches with uppercuts. Both women landed leg kicks and right hooks. Verzosa followed with another hard leg kick and a jab, then a lead left hook that briefly knocked Stoliarenko off-balance. Stoliarenko threw a head kick and Verzosa responded with a right hook. She stuffed a takedown attempt in the final minute and briefly struck from the top before standing up and forcing Stoliarenko to follow. A one-two landed for Verzosa in the final seconds and she followed with a right cross at the bell. 10-9 Verzosa.
Round 3:
Verzosa countered a leg kick with an overhand right to begin round three and she connected with another right hand soon after. Stoliarenko backed her up with jabs and a right hook, but Verzosa quickly answered back with another combination and Stoliarenko began to bleed from the nose. She landed a hard leg kick and Verzosa fired back with a one-two. Stoliarenko connected with a head kick and two hard punches, but Verzosa appeared to be unfazed and the fighters traded right hands. A step-in elbow landed for Verzosa, but Stoliarenko cut her on the bridge of the nose with an elbow of her own. Verzosa immediately bled heavily from the cut and Stoliarenko picked up the pace with her strikes. She landed jabs and lead elbow strikes in the final seconds as Verzosa’s face became covered in blood. 10-9 Stoliarenko.
Round 4:
The bloodied fighters continued to trade punching combinations in the fourth round and Stoliarenko opened two more cuts on Verzosa’s forehead and temple. Verzosa knocked her mouthpiece out with a punch and Stoliarenko bent down to pick it up before time was called. Verzosa allowed her to retrieve the mouthpiece and action resumed with Stoliarenko targeting Verzosa’s cut on her nose. A step-in elbow landed for Stoliarenko, but Verzosa knocked her off-balance with a counter left hook. Punches were exchanged in the final seconds of the round as the canvas of the cage became entirely stained with blood. 10-9 Stoliarenko.
Round 5:
Verzosa was the aggressor in the opening minutes of the final round and she landed jab-cross combos as Stoliarenko countered with overhand rights while circling to the side. Verzosa continued to land one-twos as she walked Stoliarenko down and she continued to get the better of the striking exchanges as time ticked down. Stoliarenko landed a hard leg kick, but Verzosa kept her backing up with one-twos and quick flurries. Both women landed right hooks shortly before the final bell as the cage canvas was almost completely covered with blood from both fighters. 10-9 Verzosa.
Winner: Julija Stoliarenko by Split Decision (49-46, 48-46, 46-49) after five rounds. She improves to 9-3-2 and becomes the Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion.
Bantamweight Tournament Final
Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant vs Taylor “No Mercy” Guardado
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Marcio Laselva. The pace was measured in the opening 90 seconds and neither fighter committed to any sustained offence. Guardado briefly looked for a takedown and pressed forward with a combination, but Tennant countered with leg kicks and long jabs. She followed with a grazing head kick and the fighters traded kicks to the body. Guardado took Tennant’s back in the final minute and Tennant grabbed the cage. Guardado dropped levels and tried to get Tennant down, but Tennant sprawled out in defence and she landed short left hands before the end of the close round. 10-9 Tennant.
Round 2:
Guardado opened round two with a combination and a leg kick, which Tennant countered with a kick to the body. She knocked out Guardado’s mouthpiece with a flurry of punches and avoided Guardado’s lunging counters. Time was called to replace Guardado’s mouthpiece and action resumed with Guardado just missing with a slashing elbow strike. She remained the aggressor as the round progressed and landed jabs and overhand rights, but Tennant was effective with her jab. She kicked to the body and Guardado fired back with a three-punch combo and a body kick. Tennant landed two quick punches and Guardado finished the round with one more combination. Another close round. 10-9 Tennant.
Round 3:
Guardado landed leg kicks and overhand rights early in round three. Tennant bloodied her nose with stiff jabs, but they did not slow down Guardado’s forward pressure and she landed jabs of her own. Both women landed leg kicks and Tennant followed with a spinning back kick to the body. With just over 90 seconds to go, Guardado pressed forward with three punches and a side kick to the body. Tennant maintained her distance and she blocked a looping right hook from Guardado. Tennant landed a jab-cross combo and circled away from Guardado’s late-fight punches. 10-9 Tennant.
Winner: Taneisha Tennant by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 3-0-0 and becomes the Invicta FC Phoenix Series bantamweight champion.
Non-Tournament Strawweight Bout
Kay Hansen vs Liana “Li” Ferreira Pirosin
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Marcio Laselva. Pirosin landed a hard leg kick early on and Hansen clinched soon after. Pirosin tried to throw her to the mat, but Hansen reversed it and she took Pirosin’s back on the ground. Pirosin defended well and turned into Hansen’s guard. She was unable to mount any offence from the top, however, as Hansen kicked her off and stood up. Hansen took Pirosin back down and passed to mount. Pirosin got back to half-guard, but Hansen scored with numerous punches and hammerfists from the top. Pirosin regained full guard in the final minute and Hansen picked her up and slammed her down twice. Pirosin scrambled up and Hansen got her down once more before the bell. 10-9 Hansen. Could be a 10-8.
Round 2:
Hansen secured another takedown early in the second round, but Pirosin escaped to her feet and she worked for a takedown of her own against the cage. Hansen reversed position and she took Pirosin down into half-guard. She landed short punches and elbows from the top and kept Pirosin down until the final minute. Pirosin briefly stood up, but she was quickly taken down again. Hansen spent the remainder of the round landing punches and an elbow from the top before attacking with a heel hook just before time expired. 10-9 Hansen.
Round 3:
Hansen immediately took Pirosin down in round three and she trapped her in a front headlock that set up a move to mount. Pirosin got back to half-guard again and she exploded up to her feet. A clinch battle ensued and Pirosin took Hansen’s back after a sloppy shot. Hansen quickly reversed into back control herself, but Pirosin scrambled free and the fighters stood up. Hansen caught a body kick and took Pirosin down against the cage. Pirosin attacked with an armbar and Hansen swiftly escaped. She struck from the top until the final ten seconds when Pirosin locked on another armbar. 10-9 Hansen.
Winner: Kay Hansen by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 6-3-0.
Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final #2
Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant vs “Hurricane” Hope Chase
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Nick Berens. After exchanging punches on the feet, Chase shot in for a takedown and drove Tennant back against the cage. Tennant balanced on one leg and fought off Chase’s takedown attempt before circling free of the clinch. Chase circled on the outside and Tennant landed a leg kick. Chase caught a kick and tried once again for a takedown, which Tennant countered with elbows to the temple. She followed with a hard right hand after the fighters separated and Chase punched her way into another clinch. Tennant once again defended with elbows to the side of Chase’s head and she escaped from Chase’s grasp again. Once more, Chase shot in for a takedown and Tennant fought her off with elbows. 10-9 Tennant.
Winner: Taneisha Tennant by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after one 5:00 round. She advances on to the tournament final.
Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final #1
Taylor “No Mercy” Guardado vs Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Marcio Laselva. Guardado landed a quick flurry of punches and followed with knees after securing an early clinch. DeJesus stayed on her feet and landed a left hook over the top that was countered by uppercuts from Guardado. DeJesus reversed the clinch and held Guardado agains the cage. She landed an elbow over the top and Guardado broke free. DeJesus kicked to the body and stayed outside of Guardado’s punching range. The fighters clinched again and DeJesus countered Guardado’s uppercuts with knees to the body and an overhand left. Late in the fight, Guardado landed a solid combination as DeJesus pressed forward and she countered DeJesus’s aggression with more punches in the final seconds. Close, back-and-forth fight. 10-9 DeJesus.
Winner: Taylor Guardado by Split Decision (10-9, 10-9, 9-10) after one 5:00 round. She advances on to the tournament final.
Bantamweight Tournament Reserve Bout #2
Mitzi “The Mauler” Merry vs Morgan Hickam
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Marcio Laselva. After an early exchange of punches, Merry landed overhand lefts and rights that snapped Hickam’s head back and forced her to retreat to the cage. Both fighters worked for takedowns and Merry landed elbows to the side of Hickam’s head. Hickam managed to get her down and she landed short strikes from the top before Merry countered with a triangle choke attempt. She switched to an omoplata and used it to transition to back control. Merry immediately attempted a no-hooks rear-naked choke and she sunk in both hooks soon after. Hickam defended well and threw punches backwards to the face of Merry before the bell. 10-9 Merry.
Winner: Mitzi Merry by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after one 5:00 round.
Bantamweight Tournament Reserve Bout #1
Kelly “Skittles” Clayton vs Florina “Count Cuddles” Moeller
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Nick Berens. Big right hands were exchanged right away and both women appeared to be rocked at separate points. Moeller clinched and worked for a takedown, but Clayton remained on her feet. The fighters briefly separated and Moeller rushed forward again with her hands down. Clayton repeatedly tagged her with left and right hooks before Moeller clinched. Clayton broke free with punches over the top and she teed off with overhand lefts and rights. Moeller showed no defence at all while walking forward and eating punches to the face. Clayton took Moeller down in the final 45 seconds and she flattened Moeller out. With mere seconds remaining, Clayton locked on a rear-naked choke and Moeller tapped out.
Winner: Kelly Clayton by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:51 of round one.
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal #4
Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant vs Brittney Victoria “Bombshell” Grizzelle
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Marcio Laselva. Grizzelle opened the fight with jabs and Tennant responded with leg kicks. Grizzelle remained the aggressor and she landed jab-kick combos, but Tennant countered nicely with right hooks and lead left hands. She rocked Grizzelle with a combination and followed up with more power punches and leg kicks while walking Grizzelle down. Grizzelle recovered with two minutes to go and she began to press forward with punches of her own. Tennant countered with a flurry and she avoided another takedown attempt. The fight ended with Tennant backing Grizzelle up with hard punches once more. 10-9 Tennant.
Winner: Taneisha Tennant by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after one 5:00 round. She advances on to the tournament semi-finals.
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal #3
“Hurricane” Hope Chase vs Julia “Chicago” Ottolino
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Marcio Laselva. Chase landed overhand rights and lefts in the opening minute that forced Ottolino to clinch in search of a takedown. Chase stuffed it and she backed Ottolino up with punches and elbows. Seconds later, Chase took Ottolino down and she struck from the top as Ottolino looked to set up submissions from the bottom. She threatened with an armbar and stayed busy with upkicks from the bottom. The fight returned to the feet and both women landed punches. Chase landed a flurry and Ottolino countered with knees from a Thai clinch. Chase landed more punches in close in the final seconds of the fight. 10-9 Chase.
Winner: Hope Chase by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after one 5:00 round. She advances on to the tournament semi-finals.
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal #2
Taylor “No Mercy” Guardado vs Claire “Grizzly” Guthrie
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Nick Berens. Guardado punched her way into a clinch and backed Guthrie up against the cage early on. She took Guthrie down and Guthrie countered with a triangle choke attempt. Guardado defended well and kept both of her arms in to prevent the choke from being sunk in. She punched from the top until the fighters were stood up. Guthrie landed a kick to the upper body and a right hand, but Guardado took her down into back control. Guthrie stood up and moved forward to the cage, but Guardado maintained her grip and threw knees to the legs. Guthrie turned into the clinch and the fighters traded more knees. Guthrie attempted a late takedown and Guardado stuffed it. Close fight. 10-9 Guardado.
Winner: Taylor Guardado by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after one 5:00 round. She advances on to the tournament semi-finals.
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal #1
Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus vs “Scary” Kerri Kenneson
Round 1:
Referee for this bout is Nick Berens. Kenneson immediately shot in and took DeJesus down against the base of the cage. She landed punches from the top, but DeJesus rose to her feet and countered with knees and uppercuts in the clinch. She followed with a head kick and a left cross before clinching with Kenneson again and punishing her with uppercuts and elbows. The fighters separated and both women landed kicks to the upper body. Kenneson followed with a right hand, but DeJesus caught a kick and took her down. More punches and elbows scored for DeJesus before Kenneson got back to her feet. Kenneson tripped DeJesus to the mat and struck from the top. She fought off a kimura attempt and took DeJesus’s back, but DeJesus reversed position and wound up on top at the bell. 10-9 DeJesus.
Winner: Serena DeJesus by Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) after one 5:00 round. She advances on to the tournament semi-finals.