COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Invicta FC is currently in search of competitive fights for Cris Cyborg. The most realistic possibility could be right under its nose.
Invicta president Shannon Knapp said after Invicta 15 on Saturday night that a superfight between Cyborg and Tonya Evinger is something the promotion is considering. Cyborg is Invicta's featherweight champion, while Evinger holds the bantamweight belt.
"We've talked about that," Knapp said. "Tonya will take it, because Tonya would fight anybody at any weight class. Tonya would try to get down to wherever. I think Tonya would take that fight for sure. She's thrown it out there. I don't think she jokes about stuff. I think that's a fight she wants."
Cyborg (15-1, 1 NC) crushed Daria Ibragimova via first-round TKO in the main event Saturday at The Hangar. That's three straight first-round finishes in title defenses for her.
It's becoming harder and harder for Invicta to find someone who won't get walloped. Evinger (16-6), a legitimately world-class bantamweight, would have a real chance to win. She has won eight in a row and finished her last four opponents. Evinger also has a hard time making 135 pounds and would probably be more comfortable at 145 or meeting Cyborg at a 140-pound catchweight.
"I'm open to it," Knapp said. "I'm not open to pushing anyone into anything they don't want to do, but if it's something that someone is bringing to my attention, saying, 'This is what I want,' I'm really open to it."
When asked Saturday, Cyborg said she'd be more than willing to take a bout against Evinger.
"Of course," she said. "I can fight anyone."
Musical ambulances
There was an odd delay Saturday night right before a fight between Colleen Schneider and Raquel Pa'aluhi. The two were in the cage ready to go, but they were not allowed to fight by the California State Athletic Commission, because there was no ambulance present on site.
Invicta had one ambulance at the venue and it took Lacey Schuckman to the hospital after her loss to Mizuki Inoue. Knapp said Schuckman's head was swollen and she began vomiting, so the EMTs took her immediately after her bout.
There was another ambulance at the fire station across the street, Knapp said, and Invicta had that one on standby. Knapp said that standby ambulance had to move over to the arena and get acclimated to the building, which caused the 20-minute halt of the proceedings.
"To the fans, I certainly apologize," Knapp said. "We didn't expect that."
Quick turnaround?
Angela Hill made her Invicta debut Saturday night by making fast work of Alida Gray via first-round TKO. "Overkill" was cut by the UFC late last year after a loss to elite strawweight Rose Namajunas. She said she felt a chance in herself against Gray, like things are starting to come together.
"I've never hit someone like that, though," she said. "I'm just figuring it out a little more."
Hill (3-2) is hoping to be on the promotion's next card, Invicta FC 16 on March 11 in Las Vegas. She has big plans for 2016 -- active ones.
"Every event this year," Hill said. "I'm all about staying active and I just want to fight as many as people as possible."
Quick jabs
Schneider defeated Pa'aluhi via split decision Saturday night and Knapp said it would "make sense" that she'd be the next contender against Evinger. ... Knapp announced that Alexa Grasso, Stephanie Eggink, Andrea Lee, Kelly McGill, Roxanne Modafferi and Vanessa Porto would all be fighting at Invicta 16. ... Invicta will be back at The Hangar at the Orange County Fair in May and September, Knapp said. In March and July, the promotion will hold shows in Las Vegas. That latter show in Vegas will be July 2, a kind of "kickoff" of UFC International Fight Week that culminates with UFC 200. ... Fight of the Night went to Megan Anderson's third-round TKO of Amber Leibrock. The Performances of the Night were won by Mizuki Inoue, Hill and Souza.