Tag: Valesca Machado

Video: Unconscious fighter slumps forward, crashes into canvas after blistering KO at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 18

Holy crap, this might be an early candidate for Knockout of the Year.

[autotag]Valesca Machado[/autotag]’s right hand had a little something extra in it Thursday night.

Machado, AKA “Tina Black,” scored an absolutely blistering knockout at Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat 18 at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, Calif., where she sent [autotag]Taylor Mauldin[/autotag] into another dimension less than a minute into their strawweight championship headliner.

With Mauldin’s back against the cage, both women started to exchange rapid punches, but it was Machado (13-4) who connected flush across the chin. The result was Mauldin (2-1) fading to black, slumped over and crashing into the canvas head first for what could be considered an early Knockout of the Year.

You can watch the knockout in the video below (via UFC Fight Pass on X):

Invicta FC 52 results: Danni McCormack rallies for strawweight title win on her birthday

Ireland’s Danni McCormack came back from two early knockdowns to win the Invicta FC strawweight title.

It wasn’t easy, but [autotag]Danni McCormack[/autotag] is bringing the strawweight title home to Ireland.

In the main event of Invicta FC 52, which took place at ReelWorks Denver in Denver Wednesday evening, [autotag]Valesca Machado[/autotag] aimed to defend her strawweight throne for the first time. McCormack (7-2), however, had other plans.

When it was all said and done, McCormack gave herself the best birthday present by overcoming early adversity to win a unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 to take the strawweight title.

It was a dominant first round for Machado (12-4), who dropped McCormack twice with sharp punches, busting her nose open in the process. It appeared a finish was possible after the second knockdown, but McCormack gathered herself and put together some offense of her own before the conclusion of the round.

In the second, McCormack continued to prove she would not be an easy out, as she gave the champ some trouble on the feet and in the clinch against the cage. It was a much better round for McCormack, who tied the fight up on all three scorecards.

The fight began to even out in the third round, where both fighters had their moments over the course of five minutes before the championship rounds. Two judges believed McCormack turned in the better frame.

Fatigue on the side of Machado began to really show in the first championship round. McCormack was able to implement solid grappling and end the round on top raining down heavy punches.

With just five minutes to go, McCormack kept the pressure high to put a stamp on the fight in the clinch, leaving no questions when the scorecards were read.

In just two fights with the promotion, McCormack claimed Invicta gold. Her first fight under the banner was in November at Invicta FC 50, a unanimous decision win over Maira Mazar. Machado claimed the vacant strawweight title by defeating [autotag]Karolina Wojcik[/autotag] by unanimous decision at the same event, but was unable to record her first defense.

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Watch a replay of the event in the video above, and check out the full official results of the card below.

Official results of Invicta FC 52 include:

  • Danni McCormack def. Valesca Machado via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – for strawweight title
  • Karolina Wojcik def. Ediana Silva via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Shauna Bannon def. Minna Grusander via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Mayra Cantuaria def. Calie Cutler via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:16
  • Fatima Kline def. Natalia Kuziutina via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Sayury Canon def. Amanda Macioce via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Kendra McIntyre def. Diana Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with March wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator, or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • A fighter who lost on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 has become the focal point for the UFC president to scout a local show in Boston.
  • An Invicta champion from Brazil continues to build notoriety and her first title defense could propel her to the next level.
  • A rising, 25-year-old welterweight has competed in martial arts for 22 years already, but has bigger and better aspirations on his mind – including being one of the highest-paid athletes ever.
  • An undefeated heavyweight from the northeast United States looks to keep his pristine winning percentage maintained and catch some eyeballs in the process.
  • A former UFC fighter on an incredible win streak hopes another win against a nationally-imported UFC alumnus is enough to get him another opportunity in the biggest of big leagues.

Invicta FC 50 results: Valesca Machado wins one-night tournament to become strawweight champion

Watch the replay of Invicta FC 50 from Denver, where Valesca Machado won a one-night tournament.

Invicta FC returned to action Wednesday to crown a new strawweight champion.

The promotion traveled to Colorado for Invicta FC 50, which took place at Reelworks Denver, featuring a one-night, four-woman tournament with the winner claiming the strawweight title.

After winning their first bouts of the evening, Karolina Wojcik and Valesca Machado advanced to the main event tournament final. In their semifinal bouts, Wojcik (10-3) defeated Gloria de Paula by unanimous decision and Machado (12-3) edged out Ediana Silva by split decision.

With the title up for grabs, Machado stuck with a calculated approach, sticking and moving on Wojcik over three rounds. With open scoring in use, Wojcik knew she had to get a finish in the final round, with Machado winning the first two frames. Despite her best efforts, Wojcik could only win the round on two judges’ cards as Machado crossed the finish line.

The official scores were 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 for Machado, making her the winner of the one-night tournament and the new strawweight champ.

The co-main event took place in the bantamweight division. UFC veteran Talita Bernardo (9-5) took on former Invicta bantamweight title challenger Katharina Lehner (7-4). After a close first round, Bernardo was able to crank on a kimura in the second to force a tap.

Bernardo’s win sets her up for a shot at the bantamweight title. As announced during her post-fight interview, she will take on the champ Taneisha Tennant at Invicta FC 51 on Jan. 18.

Watch a recap of the event in the video above and check out the full results below.

Official results of Invicta FC 50 include:

  • Valesca Machado def. Karolina Wojcik via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) – tournament final for strawweight title
  • Talita Bernardo def. Katharina Lehner via submission (kimura) – Round 2, 4:26
  • Claire Guthrie def. Brigid Chase via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Danni McCormack def. Maira Mazar via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – strawweight tournament reserve bout
  • Valesca Machado def. Ediana Silva via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) – strawweight tournament semifinal
  • Karolina Wojcik def. Gloria de Paula via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)  – strawweight tournament semifinal
  • Elise Pone def. Melissa Oddessa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Photos: Invicta FC 50 weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 50 weigh-ins in Denver.

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 50 official weigh-ins and faceoffs in Denver. (Photos courtesy of Dave Mandel/Invicta FC)

Invicta FC announces one-night, four-woman tournament for vacant strawweight title on Nov. 16

Invicta FC 50 is set to host a one-night tournament.

A one-night, four-woman tournament is headed to Invicta FC.

The promotion announced on Wednesday in a press release that they’re hosting a tournament to crown a new strawweight champion. The 115-pound tourney will take place at Invicta FC 50, which is set to go down on Nov. 16 in Denver.

The four fighters competing for 115-pound title are [autotag]Valesca Machado[/autotag] (10-3), UFC veteran [autotag]Gloria de Paula[/autotag] (6-5), 20-year-old Brazilian [autotag]Ediana Silva[/autotag] (12-2) and newcomer [autotag]Karolina Wojcik[/autotag] (9-2).

The event will also include two strawweight tournament reserve match-ups –[autotag]Sharon Jacobson[/autotag] (6-5) vs. [autotag]Melissa Oddessa[/autotag] (3-2) and [autotag]Fatima Kline[/autotag] (2-0) vs. Ireland’s [autotag]Danni McCormac[/autotag]k (5-2).

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Both the semifinals and final bout will consist of three, five-minute rounds. Tournament match-ups will be drawn during the event’s weigh-ins on Nov. 15.

Apart from the tournament and tournament reserve matchups, Invicta FC 50 will also feature two women’s bantamweight bouts.

Former Invicta FC title challenger [autotag]Katharina Lehner[/autotag] (7-3) takes on ex-UFC fighter [autotag]Talita Bernardo[/autotag] (8-4), and Denver’s own [autotag]Claire Guthrie[/autotag] (3-1) looks to hand Brazili’s [autotag]Marilia Morais[/autotag] (3-0) her first professional loss.

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Invicta FC 49: Best photos from Oklahoma

Check out these photos from Invicta FC 49 at Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, Okla.

Check out these photos from Invicta FC 49 at Sugar Creek Casino in Hinton, Okla. which featured an atomweight title fight between Jillian DeCoursey and Jessica Delboni. (Photos by Dave Mandel, Invicta FC)

Photos: Invicta FC 49 official weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 49 weigh-ins.

Check out these photos from the Invicta FC 49 official weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs in Hinton, Okla. (Photos courtesy of Dave Mandel, Invicta FC)