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PFL champ Kayla Harrison was successful in her Invicta launching. What played out last night at Invicta FC 43 was a far cry from what the promo was hoping to place on. Originally this card boasted a pair of title fights; Pearl Gonzalez vs. Erin Blanchfield for the vacant flyweight title and Montserrat Ruiz vs. Emily Ducote for the vacant strawweight title.
The flyweight title bout was ambushed when Gonzalez evaluated positive for COVID-19 and the and strawweight title fight was canceled yesterday, with the vague description of ‘due to COVID-19 limitations’.
With those two battles canceled the event ran with 5 bouts and PFL loanee Kayla Harrison in the primary occasion versus Courtney King.
Harrison entered this featherweight battle as PFL’s lightweight champ. This was the very first time the two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist had actually ever appeared at this weight. But that didn’t appear to matter much.
In the preliminary the 7-0 Harrison and the 4-1 King traded leg kicks, prior to Harrison had the ability to step inside and strike her challenger with a crisp 2 punch combination. She followed that up with a kick to the body and a huge overhand. King tried to fire back in kind, however was unable to strike Harrison– who made use of good footwork and head movement.
After evading some offense Harrison rumbled forwards and tried a takedown, which King stuffed. Harrison then pushed King back to the cage and held her there while she threw knees and punches. Moments later, after they separated, Harrison had the ability to get a huge takedown by the fence. From there Harrison started landing tough and nasty ground and pound. Among her elbows smashed King throughout the bridge of her nose, opening a big cut that soon bloodied King’s entire face.
With a lot of time left in the round, Harrison continued to tee off against an opponent who was essentially blinded. The battle could have been stopped there and no-one would have complained. Harrison opted to quit on the punches, however, and rather opted for her trademark armbar. King had the ability to protect that and see the end of the round.
Between rounds we got a great look at King’s face and it looked like she was in a horror movie, with a substantial vertical cut in between her eyes. The doctor had an excellent appearance, however decided the fight might go on.
Harrison got another takedown early in the second. From there she tossed more of those hard elbows. King, to her credit, likewise fired off some punches from the bottom and made Harrison’s job tough by grabbing her wrists and assaulting with a kimora. For some reason the referee stood the action up, in spite of both women putting operate in on the ground.
It didn’t take wish for Harrison to get the battle back on the mat, though. This time thanks to a slam, which ended with Harrison getting side control. From there Harrison wanted to establish an armbar, however then went with complete install. King turned away, offering Harrison lots of chances to drizzle down punches and elbows. That opened the cut on King’s face again, leading to huge smears of crimson being painted across the canvas.
Harrison then locked up a crucifex position and kept on punching. The referee had actually seen enough.
Harrison gets the TKO win in what was, if we’re honest, a ruthless mismatch. Harrison stays among the most amazing prospects in the sport, but no one requires to see her fight this level of competitors ever once again.
After the battle Harrison said she was dissatisfied that she didn’t get to do more stand-up. Here’s hoping, whether she gets another Invicta bout or the PFL has the ability to reboot, she gets the chance to eliminate somebody who can offer her a difficulty on the feet and on the ground.
In the co-main event Stephanie Geltmacher continued to reveal why her fights are can’t- miss out on entertainment. The Oklahoman rebounded from a thrilling decision loss to Victoria Leonardo at Invicta FC 36, to score a first round knockout over Caitlin Sammons.
The finish came after some backward and forward in the clinch. Geltmacher consumed some huge knees and shoulder strikes from Sammons prior to being able to turn her opponent into the fence. With Geltmacher wanting to change levels for a takedown, the referee actioned in and made both ladies separate. When the action rebooted in the center of a cage, after a few swings and misses, Geltmacher landed a substantial overhand right that laid Sammons flat out on her back. Geltmacher had the ability to toss a couple more strikes prior to the referee made it over to call off the battle.
With the win Geltmacher enhances to 5-1 and cements her case for function in the Invicta FC flyweight title image.
Prior To that Hope Chase handled Brittney Cloudy in the bantamweight department. Cloudy cut Chase early, above the best eye, with a crisp jab. Chase responded with flurry of punches and then some knees to the body. There were then some intense exchanges versus the fence with both women landing solid shots. Chase would then score a takedown. On the ground Cloudy utilized her long legs to threaten with an armbar effort. After breaking totally free, Chase attempted assaulting with a cartwheel, which was enjoyable.
The mad rate of the battle continued in the 2nd round, with both females scoring with kicks and punches. Cloudy’s strikes were more clean, but Chase’s had an extra ferocity factor. Midway through the second the battle made its method to the ground and Cloudy was able to get on Chase’s back. From there she worked for a choke, however Chase had the ability to crawl to the fence and ultimately turn herself into top position. Cloudy then chose a triangle, however Chase had her stacked too tightly to allow that to happen.
After some rushing Chase ultimately found herself on Cloudy’s back. That’s when she chose a rear naked choke. It appeared quite loose in the beginning, but she slowly secured the position and Cloudy tapped with 30 seconds left in the round.
On the card Meaghan Penning had a successful professional debut, beating Alexa Culp by consentaneous decision after a really close battle. In the pivotal final round, Culp had the ability to get Penning down. But, thanks to her offense off her back– consisting of tough strikes, Penning had the ability to declare the round and the fight together with it.
Opening the occasion was a fast submission win for Juliana Miller. She snagged pro debutante Kendal Holowell with an armbar to move her record to 2-0.
Complete outcomes:.
Featherweight: Kayla Harrison def. Courtney King by means of TKO (ground and pound), round 2 (4: 48).
The consequences! #InvictaFC43 pic.twitter.com/VZWMcV7XTy— UFC BATTLE PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 21,2020
Flyweight: Stephanie Geltmacher def. Caitlin Sammons by means of KO (punch), round 1 (4: 28).
Huuuuuuuuge right! WOW! #InvictaFC43 pic.twitter.com/dshuSEOJwM— UFC BATTLE PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 21,2020
Featherweight: Hope Chase def. Brittney Cloudy by submission (rear naked choke), round 2 (4: 37).
Strawweight: Meaghan Penning def. Alexa Culp via consentaneous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Flyweight: Juliana Miller def. Kendal Holowell by means of submission (armbar), round 1 (2: 49).
Nabbed the arm! Did not give it back! #InvictaFC43 pic.twitter.com/hYAsrAiCaZ— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 21,2020