Carla Esparza to Defend Belt at Invicta FC 6 in July; Bec Hyatt Also Returns
The featherweight championship bout between Marloes Coenen and Cris “Cyborg” Santos headlines Invicta FC 6 this summer, but the fight card is growing with the addition of two strawweight bouts.
Invicta FC 115-pound champion Carla Esparza faces Ayaka Hamasaki and Aussie standout Bec Hyatt squares up with Mizuki Inoue on the card. Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp confirmed the bouts, which are still subject to athletic commission approval, to MMAWeekly.com on Monday. The bouts were first reported by MMARising.com.
Knapp added that Invicta FC 6 would return to the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City, and is being targeted for July 13, although the date has yet to be finalized.
Esparza (9-2) is currently on a four-fight winning streak, including her most recent bout, a victory over Hyatt to capture the vacant strawweight championship. She is currently ranked as one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters in the world.
Hamasaki (9-0) is the current Jewels lightweight (115-pound) champion. Invicta FC 6 will be her second start for the promotion. Hamasaki submitted Lacey Schuckman at Invicta FC 2 last July.
Hyatt (5-2) endeared herself to fans with a spirited fight against Esparza in January, stepping up on short notice to challenge for the title when Esparza’s first two opponents, Hamasaki and Claudia Gadelha both had to pull out of the fight.
She faces Inoue (5-1), who is just 18 years of age. Inoue began fighting when she was just 16, winning the Jewels Rough Stone Grand Prix tournament.
(Photo courtesy of Esther Lin and Invicta FC)
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