Invicta FC 29 was back last night at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, headlined by Sarah Kaufman and Katharina Lehner who battled it out to see who would become the Invicta FC Bantamweight champion.
Results:
Bantamweight Main Event – Vacant Bantamweight Title Sarah Kaufman defeats Katharina Lehner via submission (RNC) – Round 3, 4:30 to become the new Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion
Catchweight Bout (139.6 lbs) Pannie Kianzad defeats Bianca Daimoni via UD (30-27 x 3)
Catchweight Bout (126.3 lbs) Pearl Gonzalez defeats Barbara Acioly via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:30
Bantamweight Bout Marciea Allen defeats Julia Avila via TKO (injury) – Round 1, 0:49
Flyweight Bout Liz Tracy defeats Cheri Muraski via UD (29-28, 30-27 x 2)
Bantamweight Bout Lisa Spangler defeats Sarah Kleczka via UD (29-28 x 3)
Featherweight Bout Macy Chiasson defeats Allison Schmidt via UD (30-27 x 3)
Strawweight Bout Helen Peralta defeats Cheyanne Vlismas via UD (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
Pannie Kianzad will be making her second appearance for the all female promotion Invicta Fighting Championships later tonight (12th September) in Kansas City, as the challenger for the Bantamweight Championship Title, which is currently held by newly crowned and long time veteran of WMMA Tonya Evinger.
Born in Iran, 23-year-old Pannie Kianzad and her family moved to Sweden when she was young. Having three older siblings (1 sister and 2 brothers) whom all used to train in Taekwondo and would often compete in competitions.
“My sister competed in taekwondo when she was younger, although she doesn’t want to admit it, but there are the movies (laughs). My older brother is a black belt in taekwondo and he don’t talk about it either – no-one wants to admit it, and he was really good, he had the early Jean-Claude Van Damme thing going on. Persian style, with the long, dark hair (laughs), whilst my other brother did MMA then moved over to boxing.”
Deciding not to waste anytime herself, Pannie started boxing at the of 13 and also competing, week in, week out all the way up until she was 18 years old when she decided boxing was not for her anymore.
“When I turned 18 I was really sick of boxing. It became a burden instead of having fun and training. There was a lot of things going on and I did not get the right support from my trainer, so when I was 18 I decided I was not going to do this anymore.”
After deciding boxing was no longer for herself, Pannie came across Mats Nilsson who convinced her to train in MMA where he was currently training at Kaisho Martial Arts and subsequently moved to Rumble Sports, Copenhagen early 2012 as it also happened to be close to her house. Pannie packed all her stuff from the boxing gym and left, she has not stepped foot back into the boxing gym to this day.
Having no prior MMA experience Pannie decided to take part in grappling tournaments as she had lost her love her striking and was adamant this was not something she was going to go back to. This only lasted four months before Pannie took part in her first shootfighting tournament championships for where she brought home a Silver and then the Gold the following year.
Overall, Pannie was competing in BJJ, Thai, Submission Wrestling, K1 and Shootfighting every other week to gain her transition into MMA as there were no females around at the time for her to have a ‘amateur’ MMA career as such with, for the 2 years she was gaining her experience.
“I couldn’t get any amateur fights in Scandinavia with punches on the ground, there was nothing, but once I went Pro then there were the females coming into the Pro scene who wanted to do the sport. Although technically I have no ‘amateur’ MMA record I do class the 2 years of my transition fights as my amateur record.”
Making her Pro debut on April 14th 2012 in Estonia and winning, continuing to win five straight fights, Pannie was then signed to UK and European promotion Cage Warriors which is where she found her new manager Graham Boylan and is now part of the Intensiti Fight Management Team. Along with her new fight nickname ‘Sexy Scramble’.
Pannie faced Megan Van Houtum at Cage Warriors 71 in a catchweight bout of 140 lbs having previously fought her MMA career at 145 lbs Featherweight, for which she won in the third round via TKO; taking no time she called out Agnieska Niedzwiedz for the vacant Bantamweight Title. Although that fight was scheduled Niedzwiedz later pulled out of the fight injured and was replaced by Eeva Siiskonen (3-1) on Cage Warriors 74, 15th November at The Copper Box Arena London.
The title fight went the distance with Pannie Kianzad gaining a Unanimous Decision and becoming Cage Warriors Female Bantamweight Title Holder in the process.
“I’m not really proud of that fight really just because it wasnt my fight, I didn’t feel it. I felt sharp and everything, I just didn’t feel strong and I felt I could finish her but I didn’t. I was really disappointed with that fight and it actually really bugged me for a long time, so much so I was like I really need to get another fight and not have this feeling.”
Having the longest lay off in her MMA career due to a hiatus that her former promotion Cage Warriors was on, Pannie states she took to eating lots of ‘ice-cream’.
“First of all I was getting fat (as if that is possible – I say) I was growing a third arse. When it disappeared my coach was like – ‘its happened, its gone’. I got so fat because I was so depressed, then I got a bit injured in between so I was even more depressed but then I got the Invicta contract so it was time to get lean again (laughs). I was hanging out with my family more as they are very supportive in what I do and my dad is so supportive he loves MMA, he loves me competing. He saw how miserable I was in boxing and was a bit scared when I first started doing MMA and competing and was like oh ‘she’s gonna get so sad when she loses.”
He told me when I went to the TUF 18 tryout if you’re going to do this do it 100% don’t do it half way just go for it. After I didn’t make it to TUF I just kept on working then caught a few good fights.”
Being signed to all female promotion Invicta FC in March this year, Pannie made her promotional debut against Jessica-Rose Clark on July 9th at Invicta FC 13 in Las Vegas, which was also her first fight on American soil, winning via Unanimous Decision, Pannie was well and truly welcomed to America when her fight went viral on social media after using a unique move phrased by veteran fighter, match-maker and commentator for Invicta Julie Kedzie as the ‘ Butt-Bomb’.
Pannie goes on to describe how she is transferring her body from one position to more dominant position and the move is quite rightly so legal; whilst being in reverse mount and how hard it is to actually push over your opponent’s chest. Although she does admit that she does end up in this position a lot in training and wonders herself how she gets there?!
Pannie doing the ‘Butt Bomb (C) MMAnytt
Talking of signature moves for which I’m sure Pannie will now be fully associated with the ‘Butt Bomb’ we talk about her other love – Pro Wrestling and Rikishi as his signature move was also a form of a ‘Butt Bomb’ but she assures me that move is all hers or maybe watching some footage of UFC fighter Mark Hunt! 😉
If Pannie was not doing MMA she would be a Pro wrestler called ‘Persian Fury’ decked out in full Techno clothing. Neon Green with Orange Fur to go with her Purple hair and of course her love of Buffalo Boots. Playing the part of a good girl gone bad 😉
Back to the task in hand. Tonight September 12th, Invicta FC 14 Pannie will again be in America but this time for a crack at the Bantamweight Title against her toughest opponent to date in that of veteran Tonya Evinger.
“Of course were gonna go to war. I think were gonna show two different styles and that’s going to go well together. It’s going to be tricky because she is very unorthodox and I’m not I think our different styles will match up really good. I’m on enemy turf. I’m going into Kansas City. Its going to be fun. I like being the underdog and I like going to someone elses turf to fight. I like to be the underdog as I like to surprise people. Its like when I went to Russia I had no chance of winning on paper but totally fucked her up! Then I was like, I like this, I like being the under dog, I like coming in there – Fuck things up then walk away 🙂
Being only the second fight for the promotion some may argue that it was a quick turn-around for Pannie yet alone being offered a title shot in the mix.
“I thought they would give it to Raquel Pa’aluhi first but when they asked me I was like YEAH.”
I don’t have time to be polite anymore. I’m working 2 jobs here (Mon – Fri in a school and weekends in Security) and also training here full-time. I’m not wasting anybodies time here. It’s like a lot of those girls just do training and they don’t do anything else. I’m not waiting for anything, I’m working. I’m working myself to the top. I’m not waiting to give somebody else a shot just because she was maybe inline first, but if she was maybe inline she would have got that chance.”
Having already won Cage Warriors Gold but never the chance to defend that title the Invicta Fighting Championships Gold is a hard task to follow especially with such a seasoned veteran in Tonya Evinger (16-5).
“Tonya is already a much more already higher level of opponent, both on paper and as a fighter. She has a lot of experience behind her and in the people she has fought. I think that would put me in line of being one of the greatest female fighters at the 135 lb division outside of the UFC (as im not in the UFC). Its called a title fight but it’s just a name, it’s still just a fight, it’s still just an opponent in front of you. If I would have faced Tonya in a non title fight it would still be the same work, it would still be the same effort, it would still be the same fight. The ‘Title fight’ name is just making it sound more dangerous.”
You can watch Invicta FC 14 live on UFC Fight Pass on September 12th or the early hours of September 13th if you’re watching from the UK.
Pannie would like to say a thank you to the following:
Rumble Sports, her family, her team, Fit4Fight, Dirty Rebel, Massage Templet, MMAnytt, K.O.Store, Revolutionary Fitness Sweden, Intensiti Fight Managment, Tip-a-Fighter, and all of her fans from all around the world.
You can also follow Pannie on the following social media sites:
Invicta FC held their eleventh event last night, Friday February, 27th at the Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, where Chris ‘Cyborg’ Justino proved again why she is the Invicta Featherweight champion, when she faced Charmaine Tweet in the main event.
Team Cyborg
The card was full of action from the very first preliminary bout, right through to the main event.
Here are the results:
Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino Def Charmaine Tweet Via TKO (punches) 0.46 secs Rnd 1 Still Featherweight Champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino
Still Featherweight Champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino
Alexa Grasso Def Mizuki Inoue Via UD 30-26, 29-28,29-28
DeAnna Bennett Def Norma Rueda Center Via UD 30-27, 29-28,29-28
Irene Aldana Def Colleen Schneider Via RNC 1 min 05 secs Rnd 1
Jamie Moyle Def J.J. Aldrich Via RNC (Technical Sub) 2 mins 20 secs Rnd 1
Amy Montenegro Def Brianna Van Buren Via UD 30-27, 29-28, 29-29
Christine Stanley Def Laura Salazar Via TKO (strikes) 2 mins 59 secs Rnd 1
Aspen Ladd Def Aspen Ladd Via TKO (GnP) 4 mins 21 secs Rnd 1
Invicta FC will hold their eleventh event tonight, Friday February, 27th at the Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, where Cris Cyborg takes on Charmaine Tweet in the Main Event.
Invicta announced earlier in the week, that their first four fights will sream for free on youtube, with the whole card streaming on UFC Fight Pass.
First of all it was time for all the female athletes to step onto the scales!
Invicta FC hold their eleventh event this Friday 27th February at the Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, where Cris Cyborg takes on Charmaine Tweet in the Main Event for this exclusive UFC Fight Pass Event.
Invicta FC will hold their eleventh event this Friday, February 27th, at the Shrine Expo Hall, Los Angeles, where Cris Cyborg takes on Charmaine Tweet in the Main Event packed with a full supporting card.
Invicta FC 11 Full FIght Card
INVICTA FC 11 FIGHT CARD
Featherweight Title Fight:
Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino (12-1, 1 NC) vs. Charmaine Tweet (6-4)
Strawweight:
Alexa Grasso (6-0) vs. Mizuki Inoue (8-3)
Strawweight:
DeAnna Bennett (6-0) vs. Norma Rueda Center (3-1)
Bantamweight:
Irene Aldana (4-1) vs. Colleen Schneider (6-5)
Strawweight:
Jamie Moyle (1-0) vs. J.J. Aldrich (1-0)
Strawweight:
Brianna Van Buren (3-1) vs. Amy Montenegro (5-1)
Flyweight:
Christine Stanley (3-1) vs. Rachael Cummins (2-2)
Flyweight:
Ana Carolina Vidal (0-0) vs. Aspen Ladd (0-0)
HOW TO WATCH
If you have not already subscribed to UFC Fight Pass you can take up a 7 day free trial here.
Invicta FC the all female WMMA promotion has signed a deal with UFC Fight Pass to stream all of their content on the UFC Fight Pass digital streaming service.
The official press release from The UFC was released last night and as follows:
The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Invicta Fighting Championships are excited to announce that UFCFIGHTPASS.com, the UFC’s digital streaming service, is now the exclusive digital broadcaster of the world’s leading all-female MMA organization.
UFC FIGHT PASS chief content officer Marshall Zelaznik said: “This is a historic multi-year, multi-event deal. When we launched UFC FIGHT PASS last Christmas, we said that we would never rest in bringing the best value to our subscribers. The addition of live and archived Invicta programming is going to be of enormous interest to our existing subscribers and bring in new subscribers, too.”
He added: “UFC FIGHT PASS already has subscribers in over 155 countries, which is a huge platform the Invicta athletes. Invicta fighters are now sharing the same stage as elite UFC fighters like Alexander Gustafson, Conor McGregor, Cung Le and Michael Bisping. For any UFC fans that haven’t seen these women compete before – I guarantee they will be blown away when they see what Invicta is all about.”
Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp said: “This is a great day for my company. Since the start of Invicta, I’ve been committed to providing the biggest and best possible platform for women athletes and, with this distribution deal with UFC FIGHT PASS, Invicta will reach the most passionate MMA fans, wherever they are in the world.”
In addition to every upcoming Invicta event screening live, the entire Invicta archive will be made available anytime, anywhere, on UFC FIGHT PASS.
That means subscribers will be able to check out fights featuring talents like atomweight world champion Michelle Waterson and flyweight title-holder Barb Honchak, as well as Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, former Strikeforce champ Marloes Coenen and early-career fights of UFC stars like Alexis Davis, Cat Zingano and Liz Carmouche.
The Invicta FC library joins the libraries of PRIDE FC, Strikeforce, WEC, WFA, EliteXC, Affliction Entertainment and the UFC on UFCFIGHTPASS.com.
Invicta will be announcing the first event to be screened on UFCFIGHTPASS.com shortly.
Knapp said: “We are targeting a late-summer event, headlined by a world title fight. This is an historic event for myself, the company and my athletes, and every one of them is going to want to be on this first card.”
With the addition of Invicta being added to UFC Fight Pass, viewers can also get familiar with eight of the TUF 20 competitors who the UFC had acquired the contracts from Invicta specifically for TUF 20 to reign a champion at its new Stawweight Division. It was originally eleven but three of those due to UFC rulings gave them a straight pass into the UFC where they will compete but not under TUF bouts.
The original eight females from Invicta are:
Carla Esparza (9-2) – Former Invicta Strawweight Champion
Alex Chambers (4-1)
Felice Herrig (9-5)
Bec Rawlings (was Hyatt) (5-3)
Emily Kagan (3-1)
Rose Namajunas (2-1)
Tecia Torres (4-0)
Joanne Calderwood (8-0)
The rest of the TUF 20 cast members will be announced soon with only 8 slots available, having already held the castings back on April 28th.
For now though you can log onto http://www.ufc.tv/page/fightpass and see what UFC Fight Pass is all about if you do not already subscribe. What better time to start your 7 day free trial than now.
At the weekend, Shannon Knapp President of the all- female fighting organisation Invicta FC went on a signing spree and signed up 15 new fighters.
Ranging from Atomweight up to the Featherweight divison, with the biggest chunck of new signee’s coming into the Strawweight and Flyweight Division having 5 new signings each.
Here, you can meet all 15 new Invicta FC Fighters and read a little bit about their ‘Fight’ history courtsey of sherdog.com.
You will notice that Roxanne Modafferi will now be fighting at 125lbs not 135lbs.
Invicta FC continue to strive to be the forefront of Female Mixed Martial Arts and has been doing so since 2012 by President and CEO Shannon Knapp and not forgetting former Match Maker Janet Martin.
The new signee’s will give new Match Maker Julie Kedzie something exciting to put together for everyone involved with Invicta FC and more importantly keeping the fans wanting to see more from WMMA.
Accoring to a report by MMAJunkie.com Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp is looking to hold the next instalment of the all female fighting promotion sometime in March this year, exact date to be confirmed.
In the past, Invicta FC have avoided going head-to-head with the UFC, this being said the UFC have events on March 1st, 8th, 15th and 23rd already booked. However Invicta FC officials could do what they did for Invicta FC 7, by booking a show on the same weekend as one of the UFC’s international shows, China, Brazil and of course here in the UK on March 8th.
Invicta FC are seeking to have hard-hitting knockout artist Cris ‘ Cyborg’ Santos (12-1-,1 NC) in defending her featherweight title against Ediane ‘India’ Gomes (10-2) as the Main Event, again this is yet to be confirmed.
This will be ‘Santos’ first defence of her inaugural featherweight title under the Invicta FC banner since winning the title against Marloes Coenen in July last year.
Shannon Knapp also hinted that they may also hold the next Invicta FC outside of Kansas City, Missouri where the promotion has been home to the previous last seven outings.
GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA
BRAGANCA PAULISTA, SAO PAULO
NETHERLANDS
LODZ
TOKYO
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
BELGIUM
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO
PAPAMOA
