Invicta FC 7 features three title fights

Invicta FC, North America's premier hub for women's MMA, will return to Kansas City on Dec. 7 with a big showcase of title fights, including its inaugural bantamweight title bout. The promotion's seventh installment will pit reigning flyweight champion Barb Honchak against the action-pushing Leslie Smith. This will be Honchak's first title defense since defeating Vanessa Porto at Invicta FC 5. The hard-striking Smith, who is coming off a decision victory over Jennifer Maia, will look to put together a winning streak after her narrow split decision loss to Sarah Kaufman.

The co-main event feature Carla Esparza, the strawweight champion, against undefeated Brazilian Claudia Gadelha, which will mark Esparza's first title defense since winning the belt against Bec Hyatt at Invicta FC 4. The 24-year old Galdelha fought at Invicta's last show in July, where where knocked out Ayaka Hamasaki in a title eliminator.

And in its first 135-pound title fight,  Lauren Murphy will face two-time Invicta vet Miriam Nakamoto on the main card. "The Queen of Mean" Nakamoto scored a TKO victory over Duda Yankovich in July.

Invicta FC 7 will take place at the familiar Ameristar Casino on Dec. 7, where last July Cris "Cyborg" Justino defeated former Strikeforce bantamweight champion, Marloes Coenen.


Invicta FC 7 card:

Barb Honchak vs. Leslie Smith
Carla Esperaza vs. Claudia Gadelha
Miriam Nakamoto vs. Lauren Murphy
Felice Herrig vs. Tecia Torres
Joanne Calderwood vs. Katja Kankaanpaa
Julia Budd vs. Charmaine Tweet
Zoila Frausto Gurgel vs. Vanessa Porto
Kelly Kobold vs. Tonya Evinger
Nina Ansaroff vs. Munah Holland