Invicta Fighting Championships, the top all-women’s MMA promotion on the scene, returns to its home at Reelworks in Denver, Colo. for Invicta FC 53 on Wednesday evening.
The show will be headlined by a women’s atomweight championship fight between defending champion Jillian DeCoursey and surging Brazilian Rayanne dos Santos.
Fight fans can catch Invicta FC 53 streaming live on the promotion’s YouTube and Facebook pages beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Main Event — DeCoursey vs. dos Santos
All 14 fighters participating on Wednesday’s card made weight on Tuesday, including DeCoursey and dos Santos, who made championship weight for their title fight. DeCoursey, 38, surprised with a first-round rear naked choke over former champion Jessica Delboni, who is also scheduled to compete on Wednesday night. The win capped off a dream 2022 for the champion, who knocked out Lindsey VanZandt in just 61 seconds to earn the shot at Delboni. She ended up bringing the fight to the champion, eventually scoring the first-round finish to cash as a +335 underdog on most sportsbooks.
#InvictaFC53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos Official Weigh-in Results https://t.co/GRYo5IYo5a pic.twitter.com/oa2xbjMfrK
— Invicta FC (@InvictaFights) May 2, 2023
Dos Santos, meanwhile, has won two straight fights after dropping a three-round decision to countrywoman Denise Gomes on Dana White’s Contender Series last August. She has fought at as heavy of a weight class as 125 pounds since, but is coming off a successful promotional debut at Invicta FC 51, where she outworked Katie Saull to a decision victory. In spite of Gomes’ experience up at flyweight, both fighters looked comparable on the scales and should be fit to turn in another exciting Invicta FC main event.
Rest of the Card
The co-main event will feature a pair of bantamweight contenders in Israel’s Olga Rubin and Ultimate Fighter alumnus Claire Guthrie. Rubin is a classic stand-up fighter who is not afraid to take a shot to give two or three back to her opponent. She nearly stopped Serena DeJesus in her most recent outing. Guthrie, meanwhile, is a legitimate prospect in her own right at 135 pounds and is looking to get back into the UFC’s good graces if she can defeat the talented Israeli veteran.
🙌 @InvictaFights 𝙁𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝘿𝘼𝙔 has arrived.
In the #InvictaFC53 main event, Jillian DeCoursey defends the Atomweight belt against Rayanne dos Santos.
Rubin vs Guthrie
Delboni vs Taylor
+ much more women's #MMA action.[ Free on #FITE | 9pm ET | https://t.co/t1P71nvMb9 ] pic.twitter.com/k9Ao9yGSoL
— FITE (@FiteTV) May 3, 2023
Former atomweight champion Jessica Delboni will be moving up in weight to take on UFC veteran Danielle Taylor. Delboni’s move up in weight is not unprecedented, particularly if she has an eye on a career in the UFC, which does not currently have a women’s atomweight division. Former champion Michelle Waterson moved up in weight immediately after dropping the atomweight title and has gone on to have a long career fighting in the UFC.
Elsewhere, Monique Adriane will meet unbeaten Mexican prospect Nicole Geraldo at 105 pounds. Geraldo will not be the only Mexican atomweight prospect on display, however, as Flor Hernandez is also scheduled to meet Elisandra Ferreira in the same division. Liana Pirosin, meanwhile will take on Elise Pone at 125 pounds, and another action-packed women’s flyweight bout between Ky Bennett and Kendal Holowell is set to open the show when it goes live at 9 p.m. ET.
With fights subject to change as always, be sure to stay locked into MMA Sucka for up-to-the-minute results and updates.
Invicta FC 53 Results
Main Card
Rayanne dos Santos def. Jillian DeCoursey via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 50-45, 50-45) — For the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship
Olga Rubin def. Claire Guthrie via Submission (Inverted Triangle) at 4:24 of Round 2
Jéssica Delboni def. Danielle Taylor via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Monique Adriane def. Nicole Geraldo via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Elise Pone def. Liana Pirosin via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Elisandra Ferreira def. Flor Hernandez via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ky Bennett def. Kendal Holowell via TKO (punches, bulldog choke) at 4:05 of Round 2
