This Saturday marks the 2017 debut of Invicta FC. After much of the top end talent from Invicta was lost to the UFC since the inception of the women’s divisions in 2013 and 2014, the last couple of years have been something of a rebuilding process for the all-female promotion. Now with the 115 and 135 divisions firmly entrenched in the Octagon, Invicta has been able to rebuild their stable of fighters, and 2017 should be a solid year. Invicta FC 21 kicks things off by crowning an interim featherweight champion, as Cris Cyborg is stuck somewhere between UFC catchweight bouts and USADA limbo. Megan Anderson and Charmaine Tweet will vie for the strap in her absence. Anderson has looked impressive, winning three straight in 2016 following her disappointing Invicta debut the previous year. Tweet brings the same streak in to this matchup, with her unsuccessful title challenge against Cyborg her most recent loss. The co-main event will go a long way to determining a future contender for Tonya Evinger’s bantamweight title. Pannie Kianzad was previously granted a title shot, but missed weight and the bout was changed to a catchweight contest which she dropped by second round TKO. Raquel Pa’aluhi dropped a number one contender’s bout to Colleen Schneider back in January 2016, and this will be her first appearance since. The winner could very likely take on the winner of the yet-to-be scheduled Evinger-Yana Kunitskaya rematch. Invicta FC 21 also features TUF 23 competitor Jodie Esquibel taking on undefeated Kali Robbins, UFC vet Elizabeth Phillips welcoming Leah Letson to Invicta, undefeated prospect Aspen Ladd facing talented grappler Sijara Eubanks, and Andrea Lee’s latest attempt to translate her talent into results in the cage. MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting lines for Invicta FC 21 today at Several Bookmakers. You can check them out below: ——————– Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet JANUARY 14, 2017 Scottish Rite Temple | Kansas City, Missouri Main Card UFC Fight Pass, 8 p.m. ET Interim Featherweight Title: Charmaine Tweet +235 Megan Anderson -315 Raquel Pa’aluhi +190 Pannie Kianzad -270 Kali Robbins +155 Jodie Esquibel -195 Leah Letson +145 Elizabeth Phillips -185 Sijara Eubanks +250 Aspen Ladd -350 ——————– Brad’s Analysis: It has no bearing on my breakdown of this fight, but in her five career losses, Charmaine Tweet has either been stopped in the opening minute of the bout or gone the distance. Eight of her nine victories have also come in the opening round. That is more applicable here, as her aggression pursuing takedowns will tell us very early whether she gets Megan Anderson down and dominates, or she gets stranded on the feet against a much better striker. I think that Anderson’s physical advantages over the nearly 40-year-old Tweet will allow her to keep this standing, and I expect a stoppage somewhere in the middle rounds. Raquel Pa’aluhi’s struggle has generally been with strong grapplers throughout her career, and while Pannie Kianzad hasn’t proven to be much of a submission threat, she is good at dragging fights to the ground and controlling position. That’s exactly what I see happening here, as she works her way back up for another title challenge. Kali Robbins is a late replacement for DeAnna Bennett, and is yet to face an opponent with more than 3 fights. Esquibel doesn’t have the most experience in the world, but she’s been in with much tougher competition and has a grinding style that can be difficult for an inexperienced fighter who has generally finished opponents quickly. That experience should play a factor as she wrestles her way to a victory here. Despite being outmatched skillwise, Elizabeth Phillips managed to be competitive in the UFC against decent competition. Leah Letson’s four pro opponents have a combined record of 5-15 (3-8 when she fought them) and has a loss in there. Granted, I haven’t watched any of Letson’s fights and have no intention of betting this fight, but I have to side with the woman who has only lost to good fighters over the woman who has never stepped in the cage with a quality opponent. Aspen Ladd is one of the fighters Invicta is probably hoping has a breakout year in 2016, and it’s quite possible as she seems to have some decent talent. Invicta didn’t do her any favors with this booking however, as Sijara Eubanks is a very solid grappler whose only loss came against Kaitlyn Chookagian (who it turns out is pretty good). The 21-year-old Ladd should be able to keep this on the feet enough to score a victory, but it’s probably going to be a case where the line is inflated and Eubanks does have a path to pull off the upset.
