InvitcaFC 4 Recap - Winners & Loser Edition

(All photos courtesy InvictaFC/Esther Lin)

Between traveling and uploading videos, we really didn’t get a chance to do a recap of Saturday’s action. After the dust settled (and we took in what was going on in the outside world during the event) here is basically who came out better after the wars of InvictaFC 4.

Loser

UStream

The sheer awesomeness of InvictaFC has always seemed to somehow crash the system of every possible iStreaming venue outside of Youtube (which seems to be the last option for doing an iPPV in April.) UStream CEO Brad Hunstable did apologize on MMA Junkie Radio for the technical difficulties (they were test a BETA pay system which failed) and is offering refunds for those who want it.

Our friend MMAMeg is recommending PPV for future events, We really want TV.

No word on numbers from Shannon Knapp, but initial estimates were 3,000 people’s payments went through before the event, and 70,000 viewers joined in after the pay wall went down.

Winners

Hyatt and Esparza

Bec Hyatt

Although Hyatt wasn’t able to capture gold over Carla Esparza, Hyatt put on a “Rocky-esque” effort with the crowd growing and growing in support as the rounds continued. Much like the Grinch’s heart, Hyatts fan based probably grew three sizes that day.

(You can watch our post fight interview with Hyatt here)

Carla Esparza

As much as there are other 115 pound champs out there, Esparza will be a fighting champion this year. With contenders in Ayaka Hamasaki, Joanne Calderwood, and Claudia Gadelha already in line to take a shot at the top strawweight in Invicta, the champ may take that #1 spot in the rankings soon enough.

(You can watch our post fight interview with Esparza here)

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Alexis Davis

No fighter has been close so many times to the brass ring as Davis has. As frustrated as you can be to be so close and stumble, Davis became stronger. She got the biggest win of her career Saturday with the submission win over Shayna Baszler; which avenged a loss several year ago. This is the best version of Davis we have seen so far and 2013 looks to be the year she may finally have some gold around her waste.

(You can watch our post fight interview with Davis here)

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Leslie Smith

Smith knows how to put on a show and promote a fight to its fullest. Her fight with Pennington wasn’t the war we were expecting, but Smith warmed up in round 2 and started to open up a lot more in the striking, which gave the crowd some energy. She has always been an asset since InvictaFC’s inception and hopefully we get to see her climb the bantamweight ladder.

(You can watch out post fight interview with Smith here)

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Rose Namajunas

She maybe Pat Barry’s girl, but she has did what she intended to do Saturday; make a name for herself.She finished Jackson’s MMA’s Emily Kagan, who is a rising star on her own, to get her first submission win in her career. To get the such a high profile win in her first pro bout is a great right step to climbing the strawweight ladder.

(You can watch our interview with Namajunas here)

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Veronica Rothenhausler

Four total wins. Four finishes all in round 1.

Rothenhausler is quickly becoming a star in the growing 145 division. It only took 72 seconds for her to get the flash KO over Katalina Malungahu and could be the “Ronda Rousey of KOs”.

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Calderwood and Plattenberg

Livia von Plattenberg

Plattenberg took shots on Saturday that would have taken out most fighters, male or female. She stood her ground against a much more experienced Joanne Calderwood, who she only had a week to prepare for. Plattenberg told us she would be going back to Europe to complete her final exams for her psychology degree, and return to Team Quest in Oregon in the spring. She will be one to look out for.

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VanZant fights off a rear naked choke

Paige VanZant

“VanZant maybe pretty, but man she is tough” seemed to the opinion of most of the fans we talked to Saturday. She fought off multiple choke attempts by rising star in her own right Tecia Torres. VanZant is still young in her fight career, so experience and time is on her side as she continues forward.

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Invicta’s Announce Team – King Mo, Julie Kedzie, and Bas Rutten

The Big Winner – InvictaFC

InvictaFC president Shannon Knapp knows how to make the best of a bad situation; and the fans showed their appreciation.

When the UStream payment system went haywire, she opened the show to everyone and decided to refund to those who paid for the event. Plenty of of the payees responded on twitter, “Keep the money and pay the fighters!” At some estimates it was about 75,000 viewers. Hunstable stated that Invicta was the biggest event the Ustream has seen; even more than world cup soccer qualify matches. It goes the show that the product Invicta is producing is top quality, even if the stream isn’t.

Also, several more marketable stars came out of the night. The before mentioned Hyatt, Rothenhausler, Plattenberg, and VanZant are the new breed of fighters that will continue on the success of InvictaFC stars Esparza, Penne, Smith, and Marloes Coenen.

If that wasn’t enough, Invicta announced that former Strikeforce champ Sarah Kaufman will debut in April, and the first ever flyweight champ will be crowned as Barb Honchak will face Vanessa Porto.

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If you missed out on any of the action, Invicta has posted the video of the complete card here 

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