Invicta FC 5 took place tonight and the event was a huge success, as it provided a ton of action via some awesome knockouts and submissions. Overall, from a betting perspective, five favorites won, while three underdogs cashed. Here’s a betting recap for the event based on the closing MMA odds: INVICTA FC 5 BETTING FAVORITES THAT WON In the co-main event of the evening, Barb Honchak won a clear-cut unanimous decision over Vanessa Porto to win the first-ever Invicta FC flyweight championship. The fight was a technical striking match and it was fairly competitive but ultimately the Miletich Fighting Systems product prevailed. Honchak closed as a -155 favorite (bet $155 to win $100), while Porto closed as a +115 dog (bet $100 to win $115). In a “Fight of the Year” candidate, Sarah Kaufman narrowly outpointed Leslie Smith to win a split decision. It was an extremely competitive fight and fans on social media and media members were split on who to give the fight for. Ultimately, Kaufman won the fight and now she will move on to the UFC, but expect Smith to also get the chance to fight in the Octagon. Kaufman was a -350 favorite to win, while Smith closed at +250. In a women’s featherweight bout, Cris Cyborg torched Fiona Muxlow in order to get a first-round knockout win in her return trip to the cage after a year-long-plus layoff due to a suspension for taking a PED. Cyborg looked just as good as ever in dispatching of Muxlow, who never stood a chance. Cyborg closed an absolutely enormous -3000 favorite, while the comeback on Muxlow was +1300. In a featherweight fight, Julia Budd absolutely owned Mollie Estes on the ground for the first two rounds before finally getting a submission finish in the third. While Budd definitely showed she was strong in the fight, the bout wasn’t very entertaining and it left a lot to be desired for the fans. Budd closed at -335, while Estes closed at +245. In the opening fight of the main card, Bec Hyatt submitted Jasminka Cive with a beautiful armbar. The two women talked a lot of trash to each other leading up the fight, but it was Hyatt who absolutely dominated the fight from the opening bell with her heavy top game and submission prowess. Hyatt closed as a -125 favorite, while Cive was -115. INVICTA FC 5 BETTING UNDERDOGS THAT WON In the main event of the evening, Michelle Waterson defeated Jessica Penne via fourth-round armbar in an unbelievable back-and-forth fight. The fight was extremely close for the first three rounds and it looked like Penne was in the clear, but out of nowhere Waterson pulled off the armbar in the fourth to win the fight and become the new Invicta FC atomweight champion. Waterson closed as a gigantic +384 underdog, while Penne was a -580 favorite. In a women’s bantamweight bout, Lauren Taylor defeated Kaitlin Young via decision in a small upset. Although Young came out in the first round strong and explosive as usual, she started to gas and Taylor took advantage by landing some huge takedowns and then working hard for ground-and-pound on the mat. Taylor closed at +120, while Young was a -160 favorite to win. In a women’s flyweight bout, Jennifer Maia upset the favored Zoila Gurgel via a grinding three-round decision. The majority of the fight consisted of Maia shoving Gurgel up against the fence, and the smaller Gurgel not being able to get her off. Maia cashed as a decent +140 underdog, while Gurgel fell as a -180 favorite. Gurgel, the former Bellator women’s champion, has now lost two-straigt fights.
