Invicta FC Interim Flyweight Champion Jennifer Maia puts her title on the line on September 23rd at Invicta Fighting Championships 19 in Kansas City, Missouri. Maia, who captured the interim championship in March, takes on veteran Roxanne “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi in the main event.
Invicta FC officials announced the headliner today. Modafferi has earned her shot at Maia’s interim title by winning four of her five fights since joining the Invicta FC roster two years ago. In the Invicta FC 19 co-feature, atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki defends against top contender Jinh Yu Frey.
Maia (13-4-1) rebounded from a highly controversial decision loss to DeAnna “The Argentine Assassin” Bennett at Invicta FC 10 by winning three straight fights in her native Brazil. She returned to the U.S. in March to battle rival Vanessa Porto in a rematch at Invicta FC 16, and avenged a past loss to Porto by taking a five-round Unanimous Decision victory. The win earned Maia the interim title in the absence of Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak.
Modafferi (19-12-0) has completely turned her career around since a six-fight losing streak left her on the brink of retirement in late 2013. She relocated back to the United States and has since put together a stellar 4-1 run for Invicta FC, including key victories over Tara LaRosa and Bennett. Once known only as a grappler, Modafferi has made great strides in her striking game, and her well-rounded skill set has propelled her to becoming one of Invicta FC’s top flyweights.
Hamasaki (13-1-0) became Invicta FC Atomweight Champion in July 2015 when she took a hard-fought Split Decision victory over Hérica Tibúrcio at Invicta FC 13. In doing so, she became the first Japanese fighter to capture an Invicta FC title. On March 11th, Hamasaki returned to the U.S. to make her first title defence at Invicta FC 16, and she survived early scares en route to a third-round submission win over Amber “The Bully” Brown in the main event.
Frey (5-1-0), one of the atomweight division’s most skilled technical strikers, has won three straight bouts since dropping a contentious Split Decision to Jodie Esquibel in her Invicta FC debut. Her biggest victory came in her most recent fight at Invicta FC 16 when she upset former champion Tibúrcio via Unanimous Decision. The win established Frey as the undisputed number one contender, and she now competes for title gold next month.
Invicta Fighting Championships 19 takes place on September 23rd at Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Missouri. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass.
(Photo Credit: Invicta Fighting Championships)