Invicta 9 Preview and Predictions

Now that Invicta FC has its distribution deal through UFC Fight Pass, they are in the swing of things. By that, of course, I mean they are back to producing regular shows every so often.

Invicta is an all-women's MMA organization that has produced some of the top talent in the world. You look at the UFC's bantamweight and strawweight divisions and notice that most of these ladies went through the organization.

The card, headlined by a title fight between Barb Honchak and Takayo Hashi, is full of international talent and up-and-coming prospects. It's the perfect bridge card to Invicta 10, which will close out the year for the organization in December.

Without further ado, here are the preview and predictions for Invicta 9's full card.

Opening Bouts

Amanda Bell vs. Maria Hougaard Djursaa

The featherweight division is getting thinner in terms of the number of top bodies occupying it, but veterans Amanda Bell and Maria Hougaard Djursaa look to take a big step up the ladder here. Bell had a decorated amateur career and has seen big improvements in her pro career, which includes a sub-minute drubbing of "Four Horsewoman" Marina Shafir in her last outing. As for Hougaard Djursaa, the Danish fighter makes her debut on US soil after a 5-5 pro run in Europe. This is a close fight, but seeing the improvements Bell has made gives me a hunch that she will be earning a finish here and a leap in the rankings.

Bell def. Hougaard Djursaa via TKO

Shannon Sinn vs. Andrea Lee

Flyweight prospects Shannon Sinn and Andrea Lee get thrown onto the big stage early in their pro careers and have a chance to make a big impression. Sinn had a very strong amateur career, but has gone 1-1 to start her pro venture, with her latest bout being a loss to sub-.500 fighter Alice Yauger. She takes on Lee, who looks to be a very bright prospect with punishing striking. If I picked on cool names, Sinn would be the victor; however, Lee's striking will overcome Sinn at some point.

Lee def. Sinn via TKO

Jenny Liou Shriver vs. Jamie Moyle

Jamie Moyle is looking to make an impression in her professional debut, but to do that, she will have to prove herself against a skilled, undefeated pro in Jenny Liou Shriver. Moyle was a successful amateur, with her only two losses coming to Invicta veteran Delaney Owen and now-UFC employee Tecia Torres. She takes on Liou Shriver, who was impressive at the Ultimate Fighter 20 tryouts. She is well-rounded and tough, something that will make her a dangerous strawweight on her march to the UFC roster. Expect her to rudely welcome Moyle to the pro ranks here.

Liou Shriver def. Moyle via submission

Kelly McGill vs. Meagan Goodwin

Starting off the prelims will be a pair of bantamweight prospects, as Kelly McGill looks to continue her success in her sophomore pro outing against debuting Oklahoman Maegan Goodwin. Goodwin was 3-0 as an amateur and was impressive in those bouts. McGill took just one amateur bout that lasted seven seconds before turning pro, where she knocked out Leslie Rodriguez in devastating fashion. While Goodwin has a bright future ahead of her, I think McGill is a very strong fighter and will continue her success here.

McGill def. Goodwin via TKO

Amber Brown vs. Liz McCarthy

An important atomweight bout is afoot, as debuting 105er Amber Brown looks to continue her recent success when she takes on two-time Invicta fighter Liz McCarthy.

Brown is 3-1 in her short pro career, but has been impressive thus far. While she was submitted by WSOF title challenger Emi Fujino in mid-2013, she came back strong in upsetting Kikuyo Ishikawa with a beautiful armbar win.

That win really boosted Brown into the high regards of WMMA fans and critics. She is gritty and tough, which are two things that cannot be taught and will give her a boost in this fight.

She takes on McCarthy, who could be one of the most underrated atomweights in the world. Despite a close decision loss to Jodie Esquibel, McCarthy has wins over Jessica Philippus and Cassie Robb, as well as a perfect 6-0 amateur record.

Though Brown is ranked higher, one has to believe McCarthy has an experience advantage. That may make a big difference here.

However, it's hard to look past Brown and her success, despite being thrown into the deep end early (she fought in Pancrase twice in her four-fight career). She should use a balanced attack to hold off a scrappy McCarthy, earning a decision in the process.

Prediction: Brown def. McCarthy via decision

Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs. Jodie Esquibel

We stay in the atomweight division for the next contest, as Jodie Esquibel makes a quick turnaround from her bout at Invicta 8 to take on fan-favorite Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc. 

Esquibel is a top-10 atomweight whose only loss thus far as a pro has come to TUF 20 competitor Alex Chambers. Other than that, Esquibel has been impressive in wins over such fighters as Liz McCarthy and Jinh Yu Frey (both split decisions).

She is a Greg Jackson student with good boxing and athleticism. She likes to keep fights upright, where she can stick and move, scoring points and inflicting gradual damage.

As for Rivera-Calanoc, she brings a fun fighting style to the cage, where she is aggressive and isn't afraid to go for broke. That's why she earned such a following, as "The Night Queen" has been in many fire fights.

She may possess the type of style that will make this a Fight of the Night contender. However, given Esquibel's technical prowess and Rivera-Calanoc's willingness to stand in front of her opponent, this matchup may be tailor-made for the potential title contender.

Prediction: Esquibel def. Rivera-Calanoc via decision

Kaitlin Young vs. Raquel Pa'aluhi

Next up are the bantamweights, as Raquel Pa'aluhi steps in on late notice for Cindy Dandois to take on four-time Invicta veteran Kaitlin Young.

Pa'aluhi takes this bout after about two weeks notice, as original fighter Dandois ran into visa problems that kept her from competing. This will be a big opportunity for Pa'aluhi, who is looking to move her record back to .500.

Training out of Hawaii, Pa'aluhi is mostly a striker who likes to stand and bang. Her big weakness has been on the ground, where she has been submitted in all four of her career losses.

Young is an exciting fighter whose 7-8-1 record doesn't reflect the fact that she is dangerous and has been fighting top competition for a while. In fact, she holds an early-career knockout win over Miesha Tate, as well as a decision victory over Julie Kedzie.

Young likes to fight on her feet, which will make this matchup another Fight of the Night contender. She has put in work with Ronda Rousey in her crew as well, which means she could have made big leaps in her game.

Pa'aluhi is a scrapper, but this late-notice affair is going to be a lot to overcome. Young has the benefit of a full training camp and will be able to outlast the Hawaiian wherever the fight occurs.

Prediction: Young def. Pa'aluhi via decisio

Mizuki Inoue vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz

The co-main event sees two strawweights likely vying for a title shot at Katja Kankaanpaa, as Japanese prodigy Mizuki Inoue takes on undefeated Polish newcomer Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

Inoue is just 20 years old, yet she is already 8-2 in her career. One of those losses was an armbar victory, but was called a loss by Deep Jewels because she missed weight. That "loss" was avenged in her last outing, where she armbarred Emi Tomimatsu again.

She is extremely well-rounded, especially for a girl so young in age and in this sport. She has crisp, technical boxing (as seen in her win over Bec Rawlings), as well as a refined ground game, where she has earned five stoppages via submission.

She takes on Kowalkiewicz, who is likely one of the more underrated 115ers in the world. She is 5-0 thus far, with all but one of her fights coming in the prestigious KSW promotion in Poland.

Kowalkewicz hasn't been taking easy fights either. Her two most recent bouts were wins over Invicta vets in Simona Soukupova and Jasminka Cive, the latter of which came via armbar submission.

This will be a great fight. Inoue is the future of the 115-pound division, while Kowalkewicz is scrappy and game. In what should be a back-and-forth affair, the young Japanese fighter will take another keynote victory to earn a shot against Kankaanpaa in the near future.

Prediction: Inoue def. Kowalkiewicz via decision

Barb Honchak vs. Takayo Hashi

The main event should be a good one, as flyweight champion Barb Honchak looks to continue her reign of terror at the top against longtime Japanese vet Takayo Hashi.

Honchak is probably the least talked about No.1 fighter in the world, as Cris "Cyborg" Justino (145), Ronda Rousey (135), Jessica Aguilar (115) and Michelle Waterson (105) get much more press. This is unfortunate, though, as Honchak is extremely skilled, well-rounded and accomplished as a fighter.

Despite losses early in her career to 135er Cat Zingano and Angela Magana, Honchak has rattled off eight straight wins against a plethora of elite fighters like as Felice Herrig, Nina Ansaroff, Roxanne Modafferi, Bethany Marshall, Aisling Daly and Leslie Smith. All of those women she has beaten have been in the UFC or TUF at some point in their careers, showing the quality of opponents Honchak has overcome.

She takes on Hashi, who has been a pro fighter for a decade. In that time, Hashi has fought overseas and gone 15-4-1 in the process (a very impressive record, to say the least).

She has faltered before, and competition tends to step up, which is worrying here. Also, she just recently came off a two-year absence from the sport, but has gone 1-0-1 since coming back to the ring.

Honchak could hold onto this 125-pound belt for a very long time. She is incredibly skilled, tough and smart in the cage. She should win this pretty easily, forcing Invicta to take a long look at her next opponent.

Prediction: Honchak def. Hashi via decision