Tag: Kristina Williams

Invicta FC 51 results: Talita Bernardo, Ketlen Souza emerge as new champions

Two new champions were crowned at the first Invicta FC event of the year.

The first Invicta FC event of 2023 is in the books.

Invicta FC 51 took place at ReelWorks Denver, featuring an eight-fight card with two title fights in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions at the top of the bill.

In the main event, [autotag]Taneisha Tennant[/autotag] (5-2) sought to defend her bantamweight title for the second time as she took on UFC veteran [autotag]Talita Bernardo[/autotag] (10-4), who entered on a three-fight win streak.

It was a close back-and-forth bout that was tied 38-38 going into the final round, leaving just five minutes to decide who would emerge as champion. Bernardo leaned on her grappling game and controlled Tennant from top position for most of the last round, earning the judges’ favor. To make things worse for Tennant, she was docked a point for keeping her toes in the cage, resulting in a 10-8 final round.

Bernardo ends Tennant’s reign, becoming the new Invicta bantamweight champion, and extending her current win streak to four.

The vacant flyweight title was up for grabs in the co-main event.

Ketlen Souza (13-3) outpointed, outgrappled, and even opened a nasty cut above the right eye of Kristina Williams (6-4) en route to a unanimous decision win. After just her second appearance in Invicta, Souza begins a flyweight title reign while stretching her current win streak to five.

Watch a replay of the entire card above and check out the full official results below.

Official results of Invicta FC 51 include:

  • Talita Bernardo def. Taneisha Tennant via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) – for bantamweight title
  • Ketlen Souza def. Kristina Williams via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47) – for flyweight title
  • Olga Rubin def. Serena DeJesus via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Claire Guthrie def. Auttumn Norton via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Elisandra Ferreira def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Rayanne dos Santos def. Katie Saull via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Fatima Kline def. Laura Gallardo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Photos: Invicta FC 51 official weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 51 official weigh-ins in Denver.

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 51 official weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs ahead of the dual title fight event at Reelworks Denver in Denver. (Photos courtesy of Invicta FC)

Invicta FC 48: Best photos from Denver

Check out these photos from Invicta FC 48 in Denver.

Check out these photos from the six-fight card of Invicta FC 48 in Denver, which featured a bantamweight title fight between Taneisha Tennant and Olga Rubin. (Photos courtesy of Dave Mandel, Invicta FC)

Photos: Invicta FC 48 official weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 48 in Denver.

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 48 weigh-ins ahead of Thursday’s event at ReelWorks Denver which features a bantamweight title fight between champion Taneisha Tennant and challenger Olga Rubin. (Photos courtesy of Dave Mandel, Invicta FC)

Kristina Williams reinvented, refreshed after leaving ‘toxicity’ behind before Invicta FC debut

A six-fight Bellator alum, Kristina Williams discusses the adversities she’s battled since last in the spotlight.

Since she was last in the spotlight, [autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] pressed restart. She felt she needed it – and the major changes she made already are proving beneficial.

In 2020, Williams (4-3) was cut from Bellator. In 2021, she suffered a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury. Nearing her first fight of 2022, Wednesday at Invicta FC 46, Williams switched up her training situation.

“This is probably one of the best training camps that I’ve had,” Williams told MMA Junkie. “I switched gyms recently before my camp started pretty much. I’m training at a couple of new gyms now that are really low drama. It’s very nice and relaxed, so I feel like I’m very ready for this fight.”

Williams didn’t dive into too many details about exactly what the toxicity was that she dealt with, but she spoke about how difficult it was to make the decision to pack up and move her preparation away from the place and people with whom she was so familiar.

“It was a lot of toxicity at the gym, drama and pressure,” Williams said. “I just wasn’t in a good space with my gym and everything. It was a really bad situation. … It was hard because those people kind of become your family, and you have to decide to walk away because it’s not good for you even though you love them. It’s really hard. It definitely has paid off, and I’m in a much better place now.”

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Now a bit removed from her decision, Williams already can see the improvements in her game. She’s improved noticeably, in her estimation, since her six-fight stint with Bellator that included wins over Heather Hardy, Bruna Ellen, and current Invicta strawweight champion Emily Ducote.

Despite also fighting the likes of current Bellator women’s flyweight champion Juliana Velasquez and former title challenger Denise Kielholtz, Williams has no regrets about her time with Bellator or the difficult road she took as a beginner.

“I learned a lot of performing under pressure and how much I needed to evolve my ground game and everything. I definitely think I fought up really fast. That kind of played into it a lot. I don’t regret fighting there. It just put me in a different spot than I would’ve.”

Invicta FC 46 takes place Wednesday at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The card can be watched live and free on MMA Junkie. Williams takes on Flore Hani (4-1) in a three-round flyweight bout. She’s eager to display a culmination of mental and physical adjustments, proper recovery, and a new team’s backing.

“I feel like I’ve improved technically a whole lot, not just in striking but everywhere,” Williams said. “… I really want to get as far as I can in Invicta right now. I want to go up the ladder and take hard fights and get better.”

Bellator 239 post-event facts: Yaroslav Amosov extends remarkable streak

Check out all the facts and figures from Bellator 239, which took place Friday in Thackerville, Okla.

Bellator hosted its second event of the year on Friday with Bellator 239, which took place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., with a main card that aired on Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) continued the longest MMA winning streak among Bellator fighters when he edged [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] (8-2 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) by unanimous decision in the matchup of welterweight contenders.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 25 post-event facts to come out of Bellator 239.

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General

Betting favorites went 3-1 on the main card.

Betting favorites improved to 2-0 in Bellator main events this year.

Total fight time for the four-bout main card was 47:35.

Main card

Amosov’s 23-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active Bellator fighters.

Amosov has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

Ruth fell to 2-2 in his past four fights after starting his career 6-0.

Ruth fell to 3-2 since he dropped to the Bellator welterweight division in June 2018.

Ruth suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Myles Jury. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

[autotag]Myles Jury[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) snapped his three-fight losing skid for his first victory since December 2017.

Jury improved to 1-1 since he returned to the lightweight division in September.

[autotag]Brandon Girtz[/autotag] (16-9 MMA, 8-7 BMMA) fell to 2-5 in his past seven Bellator appearances dating back to November 2016.

Girtz has suffered four of his seven Bellator losses by decision.

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[autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has earned 10 of his 13 career victories by stoppage.

[autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMA) had his eight-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

[autotag]Valentin Moldavsky[/autotag]’s (9-1 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) four-fight Bellator winning streak at heavyweight is the second longest active streak in the division behind Tyrell Fortune (eight).

Moldavsky has earned three of his four Bellator victories by decision.

[autotag]Javy Ayala[/autotag] (11-8 MMA, 6-5 BMMA) fell to 3-5 in his past eight fights dating back to June 2015.

Preliminary card

[autotag]J.W. Kiser[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Gaston Bolanos[/autotag] (5-3 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) suffered the first decision loss of his career.

[autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag]’s (5-2 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) five victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Juliana Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (10).

Kielholtz’s three-fight Bellator winning streak at women’s flyweight is the third longest active streak in the division behind Macfarlane (10) and Velasquez (five).

Kielholtz’s four stoppage victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (seven).

Kielholtz’s three submission victories in Bellator women’s flyweight competition are tied with Emily Ducote for second most in divisional history behind Macfarlane (six).

[autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] (3-3 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) suffered the first submission loss of her career.

[autotag]Shawn Bunch[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 6-4 BMMA) fell to 2-2 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in November 2018.

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Kristina Williams wants to make impression in final fight of contract at Bellator 239

Kristina Williams will be a free agent after Bellator 239, which puts extra emphasis on her fight.

THACKERVILLE, Okla. – [autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] will be a free agent after Bellator 239, and she hopes the promotion will bring her back.

Williams (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has fought all of her career bouts under the Bellator banner. She completes her current contract Friday with a matchup against kickboxing standout Denise Kielholtz (4-2 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), and thus far hasn’t been offered anything new.

It appears her performance against Kielholtz will influence what type of offers come her way going forward, and from whom.

“This is my last fight on my contract so I kind of want to see if Bellator is going to re-sign me,” Williams told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I would like to be re-signed. I would just like to stay very active in the division.”

Bellator 239 takes place at WinStar World Casino and Resort. The women’s flyweight bout between Williams and Kielholtz is part of the prelims, which stream on MMA Junkie prior to the main card on Paramount.

Williams, who hasn’t fought since a TKO loss to Juliana Velasquez at Bellator 224 in July, said the matchup should bring out the best of her.

“I think she’s a really good opponent for me,” Williams said. “I think our styles are going to match up really well to make a really exciting fight for everyone.”

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4 burning questions heading into Bellator 239

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head picks out four notable storylines to follow through fight night at Bellator 239.

The Bellator cage returns to the familiar surroundings of the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla., on Friday  for Bellator 239 as a pair of surging welterweight contenders face off in the main event looking to position themselves for a shot at reigning 170-pound champion Douglas Lima.

The welterweight clash between [autotag]Ed Ruth[/autotag] and [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] headlines a packed card that features a range of narratives worth following as a host of rising stars look to make an impact.

Without further ado, here are our four burning questions heading in.

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Which rising welterweight star will move one step closer to a title shot?

Ruth (8-1 MMA, 8-1 BMMA) has been considered a blue-chip prospect from the moment he inked his first fight contract with Bellator. Now nine fights into his MMA career, the former Penn State wrestling standout has the well-rounded skillset to make him a legitimate threat to the very best in the division.

With the dust still settling after the Bellator welterweight grand prix tournament, Ruth is eyeing a run at Lima’s 170-pound title but faces an acid test in the form of undefeated Ukrainian Amosov (22-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who followed up decision wins in his first two Bellator outings with an impressive submission of tough veteran David Rickels in his most recent appearance.

Amosov’s grappling-based attack should make for a fascinating contest with wrestling phenom Ruth, and the fight might end up being decided by whomever has the better striking.

The welterweight division is wide open right now, and a decisive win for either man could push them toward the front of the queue to face Lima later in the year. But who will leave Thackerville with the win?

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Bellator 239 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams

Two more fights are official for the growing Bellator 239 lineup.

Two bouts have been added to Bellator’s return to WinStar World Casino.

Heavyweights will collide when [autotag]Tyrell Fortune[/autotag] meets [autotag]Timothy Johnson[/autotag] on the main card. Women’s flyweights [autotag]Denise Kielholtz[/autotag] and [autotag]Kristina Williams[/autotag] will square off on the prelims.

A Bellator official informed MMA Junkie of both bookings on Wednesday.

One of Bellator’s rising heavyweight stars, Fortune (8-0 MMA, 8-0 BMMA) looks to keep his undefeated record going against Johnson (12-6 MMA, 0-2 BMMA). The two were briefly linked for a matchup in 2019, but the pairing never came to fruition.

Johnson is seeking his first promotional victory since joining Bellator in mid-2018. He’s suffered back-to-back first-round knockout losses since his UFC departure.

As for Kielholtz (4-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA), the kickboxing star travels into enemy territory to face her most experienced opponent to date. Oklahoma’s Williams (3-2 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) looks to rebound following a TKO loss to Juliana Velasquez in July.

Bellator 239 takes place Friday, Feb. 21 at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

With the addition, the updated Bellator 239 card includes:

  • Yaroslav Amosov vs. Ed Ruth
  • Brandon Girtz vs. Myles Jury
  • Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson
  • Cris Lencioni vs. Salim Mukhidinov
  • Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams

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