Tag: Kay Hansen

Invicta FC announces new broadcast partner, 2024 events schedule

The world’s most prominent women-only fight promotion, Invicta FC has a new broadcast home.

Invicta FC is back from an eight-month hiatus and it’s found a new broadcast home.

Tuesday, its parent company Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced the promotion has signed an exclusive deal with CBS Sports to air five Invicta FC events in 2024. Invicta FC 55 will be the first of those events and marks the promotion’s first card since October. It takes place June 28 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.

“CBS Sports is the perfect partner for Invicta FC,” Invicta FC founder Shannon Knapp said in a written statement “By joining forces with their global platform, we’re set to bring our world-class events to an even larger audience. 2024 will be a landmark year for us, packed with unparalleled matchups and title fights exclusive to Invicta. We are excited to showcase our world-class events and demonstrate why Invicta FC is the leading brand in women’s MMA, giving fans around the world a front-row seat to the action.”

The full Invicta FC 24 schedule includes

  • Friday, June 28 – Invicta FC 44 – Kansas City, Kan.
  • Friday, August 9 – Invicta FC 56 – TBA
  • Friday, September TBD – Invicta FC 57 – TBA
  • Wednesday, November 6 – Invicta FC 58 – TBA
  • Friday, December 13 – Invicta FC 59 – TBA

Since its conception in 2012, Invicta FC has served as the most established women-only mixed martial arts promotion in the world. Anthem Sports and Entertainment acquired the brand in April 2021. Its president is former Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

As it stands, Invicta FC 55 features seven fights including a headlining women’s bantamweight title fight between [autotag]Talita Bernardo[/autotag] (10-4) vs. [autotag]Olga Rubin[/autotag] (9-3). Also on the card, former UFC fighter [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] (7-6) battles [autotag]Sayury Canon[/autotag] (3-0).

The full Invicta FC 55 fight card includes:

  • Champion Talita Bernardo vs. Olga Rubin – for women’s bantamweight title
  • Sayury Canon vs. Kay Hansen
  • Saori Oshima vs. Andressa Romero
  • Taylor Guardado vs. Yako Higashi
  • Elisandra Ferreira vs. Katie Saull
  • Zoe Nowicki vs. Josiane Oliveira
  • Fallon Johnson vs. Violeta Mendoza

Kay Hansen: MMA was escape after ‘I was raped and sexually assaulted by my father as a teenager for years’

Kay Hansen details traumatic ubringing “to inspire courage in someone who is, or once was, in a similar situation.”

Former UFC fighter [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] opened up about trauma she says she experienced during her rise as a youth athlete to a teenage professional fighter and beyond.

“My successes and struggles have all been in the public eye for many years, but everyone has a story behind the scenes,” Hansen wrote on social media Tuesday with a link to a new mini-documentary video. “I was raped/SA [sexually assaulted] by my father as a teenager for years. Fighting/training was my escape, and the only form of reality I really had control over.”

The 23-minute video project created by the team of Jorge Barbosa, Cynthia Vance and Mark Johnston, among others, in conjunction with Invicta FC released Tuesday. The documentary paints a harrowing and emotional journey that led Hansen to separate herself from her father, who served as her longtime coach, and emotional relief and a rebuilding process afterward.

“I never spoke up about the abuse I endured due to the fear of repercussions that may follow,” Hansen wrote. “I tell my story, not to ‘help people get to know me,’ but to use the platform my sport has given me to inspire courage in someone who is, or once was, in a similar situation. Sexual abuse is far too common, but often times swept under the rug. You do not have to go through this alone. You deserve peace and justice. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Check out the documentary in full above.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CrML_QKPDI7/

Hansen, 23, has not competed since her UFC departure in 2022 after a 1-3 stint. After her release from the UFC, she signed with Invicta FC, but hasn’t fought for the promotion yet in her return. Eight of her first nine pro fights were under the Invicta banner. Hansen entered the UFC when she wass 21, making her one of the youngest women to compete in the promotion’s history.

How OnlyFans page has helped Kay Hansen support MMA career: ‘I don’t have to get another job’

Although she’s received quite a bit of criticism for it, OnlyFans has helped former UFC fighter Kay Hansen’s MMA career.

LAS VEGAS – Although she’s received quite a bit of criticism for it, OnlyFans has helped [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag]’s MMA career.

Hansen (7-6) recently parted ways with the UFC after dropping three consecutive fights and will return to Invicta FC. But the 23-year-old hasn’t competed since April and has been sidelined by a hand injury. What has kept her afloat and allowed her to put all her attention into fighting is her OnlyFans account.

“I feel like a lot of people knock it, and I understand everyone has their opinion, but at the end of the day, it allows me to make the training schedule I want,” Hansen told MMA Junkie on the World MMA Awards red carpet. “I don’t have to get another job working a 9-to-5, you know what I mean? So it allows me to structure my camps and focus on what really matters, and that’s fighting.”

Hansen suffered her hand injury a few months ago while wrestling. She expects it to take another 8-12 weeks to heal and hopes she can return in the first quarter of 2023.

“Right now I have a fractured hand, so I’m waiting on that to heal,” Hansen said. “And once that heals, I’m looking to fight as soon as possible in the beginning of 2023. But I have to make sure my hand is healed before I do that.”

Hansen had four octagon appearances before her release. After a win over Jinh Yu Frey in her UFC debut in June 2020, Hansen lost three straight fights to Cory McKenna, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and most recently Piera Rodriguez at UFC 273, a fight where she missed weight by 2.5 pounds.

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On heels of UFC departure, Kay Hansen inks multifight deal with Invicta FC

Former UFC fighter Kay Hansen is hitting the reset button – but she isn’t done yet.

[autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] has hit the reset button but isn’t done yet.

Weeks after her UFC departure, Hansen (7-6) already has a new home – or an old one depending on how it’s viewed. Hansen has signed a multifight deal with Invicta FC, the promotion which propelled her into the UFC in the first place.

Hansen’s manager, Julian Gregorio, of Upgrade Management, first revealed the news in an Instagram post Friday. No opponent, date, or location for her Invicta FC return has been revealed at this time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc88Vl7vTjP/

Hansen, 22, competed four times under the UFC banner since her promotional signing in early 2020. After a debut win over Jinh Yu Frey, Hansen lost three straight fights to Cory McKenna, Jasmine Jasudavicius, and Piera Rodriguez before her UFC departure. Her most recent loss, the defeat to Rodriguez, came in April at UFC 273. Hansen missed weight for the bout, before she dropped a unanimous decision to the UFC debutant.

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UFC 270 post-event facts: Deiveson Figueiredo makes history by reclaiming gold

The best facts and figures to come out of UFC 270, which marked the first UFC pay-per-view of the year and had several historic results.

UFC opened its 2022 pay-per-view schedule on Saturday with UFC 270 at Honda Center in Anaheim.

A pair of championship fights topped the card, and while both went to the judges, only one belt managed to change hands.

[autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) successfully defend the heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in the main event, while [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (21-2-1 MMA, 10-2-1 UFC) reclaimed the flyweight title in the co-headline courtesy of a unanimous decision win over [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (19-6-2 MMA, 7-3-2 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the title fights, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 post-event facts to come out fo UFC 270.

UFC 270 salaries: Francis Ngannou, four others take home six-figure paydays

Much was made in the lead-up to UFC 270 about Francis Ngannou’s contract. So what was his disclosed purse?

UFC 270 featured two title fights and all four of the participants walked out of the cage with six-figure disclosed paydays.

Heavyweight champion [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] and former interim champion [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] led the way. Former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and current flyweight champion [autotag]Deiveison Figueiredo[/autotag] were not far behind in the co-main event.

MMA Junkie obtained a full list of disclosed UFC 270 payouts from California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster immediately following the event. The purses listed do not include discretionary bonuses, pay-per-view points, or performance bonuses.

UFC 270 took place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

Check out a full list of UFC 270 disclosed salaries below.

LFA 107 results: Kamuela Kirk shines, retires Daniel Swain on the stool – literally?

An action-packed LFA 107 main event ended with one fighter uttering the words, “I’m retired” on the stool.

Eleven finishes in as many pro victories, [autotag]Kamuela Kirk[/autotag] kept his streak alive in the LFA 107 main event.

In his first LFA headliner, Kirk (11-4) defeated fellow Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus [autotag]Daniel Swain[/autotag] via TKO due to retirement in between Round 2 and 3.

Swain (20-11-1), who had lost in between rounds on DWCS in 2020, uttered the words “I’m retired” to his corner, which indicated to the LFA commentary team that Swain’s fight Friday would be his last. Swain took off his gloves for the decision but was not interviewed post-fight and thus did not provide clarity on the situation.

The stoppage came after an action-packed opening 10 minutes. Kirk landed multiple flurries of significant strikes in Round 1 that appeared to have Swain in trouble. Just when it looked like he was in a bad spot, Swain shot up with an armbar – foreshadowing of the theme of Round 2. Much of the second round was spent with Kirk on top of Swain, who shot up and looked for submissions.

Kirk, 27, has now won back-to-back fights since losses to Bruno Silva and Billy Quarantillo temporarily halted his momentum toward a major promotional deal. After the victory, Kirk called for a meeting with his “business partner” Dana White, and expressed interest in fighting at UFC 263 in his home state of Arizona.

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The undercard was highlighted by [autotag]Ricardo Dias[/autotag], who landed a nasty flying knee on [autotag]George Garcia[/autotag] in the co-main event. Also, former collegiate football player [autotag]Jordan Heiderman[/autotag] kept his undefeated record intact against former [autotag]Jake Hager[/autotag] opponent [autotag]Anthony Garrett[/autotag].

In the women’s divisions, [autotag]Taylor Mauldin[/autotag] became the first female to end a fight via kneebar in LFA history after [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] confidant [autotag]Alandria Brown[/autotag] won her highly-anticipated professional debut by rear-naked choke.

LFA 107 took place Friday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The main card streamed on UFC Fight Pass after prelims on Facebook.

The full LFA 107 results include:

  • Kamuela Kirk def. Daniel Swain via TKO (retirement) – Round 2, 5:00
  • Ricardo Dias def. George Garcia via TKO (flying knee) – Round 2, 0:25
  • Allan Bergoso def. Samarbek Sabyrzhan via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:23
  • Jordan Heiderman def. Anthony Garrett via submission (arm-triangle) – Round 1, 3:40
  • James Wilson def. Daniel Jefferson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Taylor Mauldin def. Ambar De La Herran via submission (kneebar) – Round 1, 1:30
  • Ray Waters def. L.J. Portee via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:02
  • Corey Davis def. Thomas Powell via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:50
  • Alandria Brown def. Shania Arredondo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:54

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Cheyanne Buys vs. Kay Hansen added to UFC Fight Night card on March 20

An interesting strawweight matchup has been added to the UFC’s March 20 event.

An interesting strawweight matchup has been added to the March 20 UFC Fight Night.

[autotag]Cheyanne Buys[/autotag] will meet [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] during the event, which does not yet have a location announced. Both fighters confirmed the booking on Instagram after an initial post from “I Like Who I’m Becoming MMA.”

Buys (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) earned her spot in the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series. She was given a UFC contract after an impressive unanimous decision win over Hilarie Rose at DWCS 29 on Aug. 18. The victory gave the Fortis MMA product four straight wins.

Hansen (7-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), meanwhile, is a 21-year-old prospect who has proven herself capable of exciting fights, win or lose. Hansen lost an entertaining scrap via decision against Cory McKenna on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas. That ended a three-fight win streak which included a “Performance of the Night” bonus in her UFC debut, a submission finish of former Invicta champion Jinh Yu Frey.

While much of the card has yet to be signed, the March 20 event features a highly anticipated middleweight showdown between Derek Brunson and Kevin Holland.

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UFC Fight Night 182 medical suspensions: Paul Felder, four more face potential 180-day terms

Paul Felder and three others could be out 180 days unless they’re cleared by a doctor.

[autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] is among four UFC Fight Night 182 combatants facing six-month suspensions from injuries sustained during Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Felder, who took the main event fight vs. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] on days’ notice, suffered an elbow injury that could knock him out of MMA competition until May.

On Tuesday, MMA Junkie obtained the full list of suspensions from MixedMartialArts.com, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

Joining Felder at the top of the suspension-length list is Team Alpha Male’s [autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag], who won a unanimous decision over fellow up-and-comer [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] on the main card. McKenna faces a six-month suspension due to a left ankle sprain.

Welterweight [autotag]Alex Morono[/autotag] and heavyweight [autotag]Roque Martinez[/autotag], who competed on the prelims also are facing 180-day terms for knee injuries.

Check out the full list of UFC Fight Night 182 medical suspensions below:

  • Rafael dos Anjos: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to a “hard fight.”
  • Paul Felder: Suspended 180 days or until x-ray/MRI of right elbow is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days due to a laceration.
  • [autotag]Khaos Williams[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Abdul Razak Alhassan[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days.
  • [autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Miranda Granger[/autotag]: No suspension.
  • [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Brendan Allen[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • Cory McKenna: Suspended 180 days or until left ankle sprain is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 30 days.
  • Kay Hansen: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days.
  • [autotag]Kanako Murata[/autotag]: Suspended 21 days with no contact for 14 days due to a “hard fight.”
  • [autotag]Randa Markos[/autotag]: Suspended 60 days with no contact for 45 days.
  • [autotag]Tony Gravely[/autotag]: Suspended for 30 days with no contact for 21 days due to a “hard fight.”
  • [autotag]Geraldo de Freitas[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • Alex Morono: Suspended 180 days or until right knee MRI is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • [autotag]Rhys McKee[/autotag]: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days due to a “hard fight.”
  • [autotag]Don’Tale Mayes[/autotag]: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days.
  • Roque Martinez: Suspended 180 days or until left knee MRI is cleared by a doctor; also suspended 60 days with no contact for 21 days.

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UFC Fight Night 182 results: Cory McKenna decisions Kay Hansen in strawweight prospects fight

The youngest women’s fight in UFC history in terms of combined age saw two strawweight prospects deliver.

The UFC Fight Night 182 main-card opener between [autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag] and [autotag]Kay Hansen[/autotag] wasn’t just a battle of intriguing strawweight prospects. It was also the youngest combined fight in UFC women’s history, with both fighters entering the octagon Saturday at age 21.

Both fighters, as it turned out, lived up to the hype, as McKenna (6-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Hansen (7-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) put on a solid, back-and-forth scrap. McKenna earned a unanimous nod at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, getting 29-28 scores across the board.

The first two rounds featured fast-paced action, but McKenna was simply a step quicker in the standup and both threw and landed with heavier volume, particularly in the opening round, which was McKenna’s most clear-cut round of the fight.

Hansen is best known for her ground skills, and she had her moments on the ground. But even there, McKenna had answers, such as late in the second round, when Hansen sinked in a rear-naked choke that looked tight, but McKenna managed to not only escape, but also sweep into top position and re-assert control. That late sequence may have been what sealed things for McKenna in what was the fight’s closest round.

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In the third, Hansen fought like someone who knew she probably needed a finish. She scored a takedown, demonstrated solid ground-and-pound, and got a head-and-arm choke which nearly finished the fight. That was enough to give Hansen the round, but not the fight, ending her four-fight win streak.

McKenna, whose amateur career started at age 15, won in her UFC debut, having previously fought on Contender Series.

“Kay’s an amazing fighter, it was a good fight, I was expecting the best version of her, and I got it, I think we proved we both belong.”

McKenna, at 7,797 days old is the youngest fighter currently on the UFC roster. She’s just a bit over a month older than Hansen at 7,763 days.

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