Penne/Sugiyama headlines, LaRosa and Daly make debuts at Invicta FC 3

Saturday’s Invicta FC 3 card marks the third such show webcast for free on the promotion’s website, an interesting departure from traditional business models for this all-women’s promotion.  The show itself has suffered numerous changes, most notably Cat Zingano who was allowed to drop from this card to compete in Strikeforce until that promotion’s cancelled show put Zingano back on this card.  In addition Taylor Stratford, Sarah Kaufman, Kim Conor-Hamby, and Elaina Maxwell all suffered injuries and were forced from this card leaving Jessica Penne vs. Naho Sugiyama for the “atomweight” (105 pounds) title the main event.  Invicta FC 3 takes place October 6th at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS.

Jessica Pene9-1 Jessica Pene’s sole loss came from Zoila Frausto (now Gurgel) in the quarterfinals of Bellator’s season 3 115 pound tournament, a fight for which Gurgel dropped from 125 and ten pounds heavier than this fight for Penne.  Penne defeated Amy Davis three months later in November 2010 before taking a year-and-a-half off until Invicta FC 1 where Penne defeated Lisa Ellis.  Naho Sugiyama rose to stardom in the time Penne was off, going 5-0 in Jewels starting in May 2011 for a total record of 8-0 most recently defeating Yasuko Tamada by majority decision.

Shayna BaszlerThe rest of the card consists of fighters fans have come to expect as well as respect such as Shayna Baszler and Kaitlin Young however two notable newcomers to the promotion are on this card, Tara LaRosa and Aisling Daly.

Aisling DalyAisling Daly is mainly known for her loss in Bellator’s season 3 tournament to Lisa Ellis but it was her defeat of Jessica Eye for the NAAFS title that won Daly respect in the states.  Daly followed up that surprise win with armbar victories over Angela Hayes and Kelly Warren before her June loss to Rosi Sexton in CWFC leaving Daly at 13-3.  At Invicta FC 3 Daly faces Barb Honchak who is on a five-win streak including a TKO of Bethany Marshall in Invicta FC 2.

Tara LaRosa on topWhere does one even begin with Tara LaRosa?  The ADCC Worlds vet is a legend dating back to her time in the first American all-women’s show HOOKnSHOOT Revolution and her loss to Jennifer Howe for the first HOOKnSHOOT women’s title.  LaRosa went on a fifteen-fight win streak in just about every show that held women’s fights from 2004-2009 including BodogFIGHT and Extreme Challenge until Roxanne Modafferi defeated LaRosa by decision on the Moosin pay-per-view in May 2010.  LaRosa has been less active in the last two years with three wins in three fights since the loss to Modafferi, most recently defeating Kelly Warren in March.  LaRosa’s opponent Vanessa Porto at 14-5 is experienced by about half as much, most recently losing to Sarah D’Alelio in Invicta FC 2.  Both are known for their submissions more than their KO/TKOs but LaRosa is thought to have an edge in striking as well.

Carla Esparza

Undercard:

FW: Katalina Malungahu vs. Ediane Gomes
Strawweight: Tecia Torres vs. Kaiyana Rain
BW: Jessamyn Duke vs. Marciea Allen
Atomweight: Amy Davis vs. Stephanie Frausto
Flyweight: Ashley Cummins vs. Joanne Calderwood
Strawweight: Carla Esparza vs. Lynn Alvarez

Main card:

FW: Julia Budd vs. Danielle West
Atomweight: Michelle Waterson vs. Lacey Schuckman
BW: Raquel Pennington vs. Cat Zingano
FW: Tara LaRosa vs. Vanessa Porto
Flyweight: Barb Honchak vs. Aisling Daly
BW: Leslie Smith vs. Kaitlin Young
BW: Shayna Baszler vs. Sarah D’Alelio
Atomweight title: Jessica Penne vs. Naho Sugiyama