Carla Esparza wins 115-pound title in Invicta FC 4 main event; full results (Photos)

Sarah D'Alelio (front) defeated Amanda Nunes via unanimous decision.Ediane Gomes (front) defeated Hiroko Yamanaka via unanimous decision.Joanne Calderwood (right) defeated Liva Von Plettenberg via unanimous decision.10 photosView the full slideshow »
Veronica Rothenhausler (left) knocked out Katalina Malungahu in the first round.

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Twenty-six of the world’s toughest women gathered at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday night for Invicta FC 4. The popular all-women’s professional mixed martial arts (MMA) league held their fourth event, and their first of 2013.

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The main event saw 25-year-old Carla Esparza (9-2) of California go five rounds with 23-year-old “Rowdy” Bec Hyatt (4-2) of Australia to win the Invicta FC 115-pound title via unanimous decision. Hyatt, a late replacement, showed great boxing and landed many hard shots during the fight but Esparza's high level wrestling made all the difference.

View slideshow: Invicta FC 4

Esparza was able to control where the fight took place and continuously put Hyatt on her back where she used ground and pound and top position to win each round and earn the judges' decision.

Other highlights included Alexis Davis' (13-5) third round technical submission of Shayna Baszler (15-8) in the co-main event and Veronica Rothenhausler's (1-0) first round knockout of Katalina Malungahu (2-2) in her pro debut on the preliminary card.

Carla Esparza wins the Invicta FC 115-pound title
Carla Esparza wins the Invicta FC 115-pound title
Photo credit: 
Esther Lin for Invicta Fighting Championships

Here are the full Invicta FC 4 fight card results:

MAIN CARD

  • Title Fight: Carla Esparza def. Bec Hyatt by unanimous decision (50-45 x 3)
  • Alexis Davis def. Shayna Baszler by technical submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Rd 3 (:58)
  • Leslie Smith def. Raquel Pennington by unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
  • Sarah D’Alelio def. Amanda Nunes by unanimous decision (30-26 x 3)
  • Ediane Gomes def. Hiroko Yamanaka by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
  • Joanne Calderwood def. Livia Von Plettenberg by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Cassie Rodish def. Stephanie Frausto by TKO (strikes) Rd 3 (1:04)
  • Tamikka Brents def. Amanda Bell by unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
  • Jodie Esquibel def. Liz McCarthy by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
  • Rose Namajunas def. Emily Kagan by submission (rear-naked choke) Rd 3
  • Tecia Torres def. Paige VanZant by unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
  • Veronica Rothenhausler def. Katalina Malungahu by knockout (punch) Rd 1 (1:12)
  • Laura Marcusse-Sanko def. Cassie Robb by submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Rd 2 (1:07)

The full video replay of Invicta FC 4 is now available for on-demand viewing.

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, Nashville MMA Examiner

Jack Bratcher is a life-long fan of martial arts and the Founder and Editor of the popular MMA website Pro MMA Now (www.prommanow.com). He is also co-host of Pro MMA Now Radio. Follow Jack on Twitter @MMAExaminer. Contact Jack.

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