Invicta FC 5 comes to you from Kansas City, Missouri on Friday night on UStream. The $10 internet PPV features a full slate of interesting fights. The show is headlined by two title fights, but the preliminary card also offers a look at some up-and-coming fighters worth a view.
This is a preview of the Invicta FC 5 preliminary card:
Strawweight: Rose Namajunas (1-0)
vs. Kathina Catron (2-1)
Rose Namajunas had her successful debut
at Invicta FC 4 with boyfriend Pat Barry in her corner. She’ll meet
Kathina Catron in the evening’s opening bout.
Catron has submissions in both her
wins, but they are over the same woman (Amber Powell). She is
unproven even with two more fights than Namajunas. Anything could
happen with these two, but it is more likely Namajunas puts on a
clinic. Look for an excited Barry to congratulate his tough as nails
girlfriend.
My Pick: Namajunas
Adam Martin: Namajunas
Michael Ford: Namajunas
Raphael Garcia: Namajunas
Roy Billington: Namajunas
Atomweight: Alex Chambers (3-1) vs.
Jodie Esquibel (3-0)
Jodie Esquibel is 1-0 under the Invicta banner, and Chambers will make her organizational debut in this
fight.
Chambers will enter as the larger
woman, and I think that will play a significant role in the fight.
Esquibel will have to get inside and make this fight ugly. Chambers
will look to keep the fight standing and get another TKO win.
My Pick: Chambers
Adam Martin: N/A
Michael Ford: Esquibel
Raphael Garcia: N/A
Roy Billington: Esquibel
Strawweight: Katja Kankaanpaa
(7-0-1) vs. Juliana Carneiro Lima (5-0)
Two unbeaten
flyweights make their Invicta debuts in this bout.
The major
difference in this fight may be experience. Kankaanpaa is coming off
a defeat over previously ranked Aisling Daly in December. Daly is a
veteran and is the lone blemish on current #1 strawweight Jessica Eye‘s pro
record. It’s a big win.
That will give her
a big confidence boost to keep her streak going.
My Pick: Kankaanpaa
Adam Martin: N/A
Michael Ford: Kankaanpaa
Raphael Garcia: N/A
Roy Billington: Kankaanpaa
Bantamweight: Jessamyn Duke (2-0)
vs. Miriam Nakamoto (1-0)
Jessamyn Duke has
been closely watched since she was an amateur, and her pro debut at Invicta FC 2 showed why. She then backed it up with another impressive performance at Invicta FC 3.
Nakamoto may be in
over her head in her young career. Duke is legit and only growing
more and more dangerous by the day. The 36-year-old gives up a lot in
this fight. Age, speed, athleticism, and the list goes on.
My Pick: Duke
Adam Martin: Duke
Michael Ford: Duke
Raphael Garcia: Duke
Roy Billington: Duke
Simona Soukupova (3-2) vs. Cassie Rodish (4-3)
The final
preliminary card bout takes place in the atomweight division.
Both women have
been in the cage with quality competition, but it is Rodish who is on
a roll currently. She has won four in a row since starting her career
0-3. All four have been stoppages. That includes her stoppage win against
Stephanie Frausto at Invicta FC 4.
Soukupova has a
good stand-up game, but Rodish’s wrestling may prove to be too much.
My Pick: Rodish
Adam Martin: N/A
Michael Ford: Rodish
Raphael Garcia: N/A
Roy Billington: Rodish
For the Main Card Preview and Predictions, click here to continue.
Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson is due to take place on April 5, 2013 at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
Click the stars to rate how good you think Invicta FC 5 will be.
