Michelle Waterson (right) dethroned Invicta FC atomweight champ Jessica Penne (left), submitting Penne with an armbar in the fourth round of their main event matchup on April 5. Photo credit: Esther Lin/Invicta FC

Barb Honchak Earns Unanimous Decision Over Vanessa Porto To Become First Invicta FC World Flyweight Champ In History

Cris Cyborg Stops Fiona Muxlow In First Round, Setting Up Rematch With Marloes Coenen

Courtesy of Invicta FC

In an unforgettable night of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action, Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (11-3) of Albuquerque, N.M. submitted Jessica Penne (10-2) of Huntington Beach, Calif. with an armbar in the fourth round of their main event showdown to become the new Invicta Fighting Championships world atomweight (105 pounds) champion at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City on Friday, April 5, live on InvictaFC.com.

In the co-main event of the star-studded, 13-bout women’s world championship doubleheader, Pat Miletch-protégé Barb Honchak (8-2) of Bettendorf, Iowa earned a unanimous decision over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vanessa Porto (15-6) of Sao Paulo, Brazil to become the first Invicta FC flyweight (125 pounds) champion in history.

In her first start since Dec. 2011, pound-for-pound sensation Cris Cyborg (11-1) of Curitiba, Brazil showed no signs of rust, pulverizing a courageous Fiona Muxlow (6-3) of Townsville, Queensland Australia in a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup.

A victorious Waterson (photo via Esther Lin / Invicta FC)

Cyborg dropped Muxlow in the opening seconds of the contest with a right hand and smothered Muxlow, who made it to her feet but couldn’t fend off the relentless attacks of Cyborg.  A final barrage of punches prompted the referee to step in and stop the fight, giving Cyborg the TKO win in the first round and earning her a second meeting with fellow superstar Marloes Coenen, whom Cyborg stopped by way of third round (3:40) TKO (punches) on Jan. 30, 2010.

Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (5-3-1) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. and Sarah Kaufman (16-2) of Victoria BC, Canada engaged in an all-out slugfest for three straight rounds in a bantamweight (135 pounds) barnburner highlighted by Smith putting Kaufman on the canvas with a head kick.  Kaufman rallied in the third round with a double leg takedown and, after they stood up, a hard right hand before being declared the winner by split decision.

Jennifer Maia (7-2) of Curitiba pulled off a stunning upset, earning a unanimous decision over Zoila Frausto Gurgel (12-3) of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Maia neutralized Gurgel’s offense against the cage fence for the majority of the first two rounds and, in the third stanza, opened up with kicks and punches before the bout came to a close.
In the opening main card bout of the night, “Rowdy” Bec Hyatt (5-2) of Brisbane, Australia took the fight to previously undefeated Jasminka Cive (5-1) of Graz, Austria from the outset of their strawweight (115 pounds) matchup, mounting Cive and unloading a storm of punches to the head.  From mount, Hyatt secured Cive’s arm and transitioned to armbar, forcing Cive to tap from the hold.

Complete Invicta FC 5 Results:

Main Card:

Bec Hyatt def. Jasminka Cive via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:30

Julia Budd def. Mollie Estes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:04

Lauren Taylor def. Kaitlin Young via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Jennifer Maia def. Zoila Frausto Gurgel via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Cris Cyborg def. Fiona Muxlow via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:46

Barb Honchak def. Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47)

Michelle Waterson def. Jessica Penne via submission (armbar) – Round 4, 2:31

Preliminary Card:

Alex Chambers def. Jodie Esquibel via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:35

Rose Namajunas def. Kathina Catron via submission (flying armbar) –  Round 1, :12

Katja Kankaanpaa def. Juliana Carnerio Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Miriam Nakamoto def. Jessamyn Duke via KO (knee) – Round 1, 2:20

Simona Soukupova def. Cassie Rodish via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:20