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Michelle Waterson and Barb Honchack left Invicta FC 5 with titles around their waist, as Waterson won the atomweight belt and Honchack the vacant bantamweight title Friday night.

Waterson, who FightLine featured in a story last month, scored a fourth round submission victory over Jessica Penne.

Honchak defeated Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision to crown the first-ever Invicta bantamweight champion.

Also, Cris Cyborg returned from her year-long suspension, stopping Fiona Muxlow in the first round.

Sarah Kaufman, Jennifer Maia, Lauren Taylor, Julia Budd and Bec Hyatt were other main card winners. Complete results can be found below:

Main Card

Bec Hyatt def. Jasminka Cive via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:30

Julia Budd def. Mollie Estes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:04

Lauren Taylor def. Kaitlin Young via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Jennifer Maia def. Zoila Frausto Gurgel via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Sarah Kaufman def. Leslie Smith via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Cris Cyborg def. Fiona Muxlow via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:46

Barb Honchak def. Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 48-47)

Michelle Waterson def. Jessica Penne via submission (armbar) – Round 4, 2:31

Preliminary Card

Alex Chambers def. Jodie Esquibel via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:35

Rose Namajunas def. Kathina Catron via submission (flying armbar) – Round 1, :12

Katja Kankaanpaa def. Juliana Carnerio Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Miriam Nakamoto def. Jessamyn Duke via KO (knee) – Round 1, 2:20

Simona Soukupova def. Cassie Rodish via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:20

Two title fights are set for Invicta FC 5 Friday night, as all fighters weighed in for the card earlier today.

In the main event, Jessica Penne will defend her title against Michelle Waterson in the atomweight division.

The co-main event boasts Barb Honchak vs. Vanessa Porto for the flyweight title. Also, Cris Cyborg will return to action for the first time since being suspended last year and stripped of her Strikeforce crown.

Complete weigh-in results can be found below:

MAIN CARD

Jessica Penne (104.9 lbs.) vs. Michelle Waterson (104.7 lbs.) for the atomweight championship

Barb Honchak (124.6 lbs.) vs. Vanessa Porto (124.8 lbs.) for the flyweight championship

Cristiane Santos (144.8 lbs.) vs. Fiona Muxlow (143.8 lbs.)

Sarah Kaufman (135.5 lbs.) vs. Leslie Smith (134.9 lbs.)

Zoila Frausto Gurgel (125.5 lbs.) vs. Jennifer Maia (124.5 lbs.)

Kaitlin Young (135.6 lbs.) vs. Lauren Taylor (134.9 lbs.)

Julia Budd (145.8 lbs.) vs. Mollie Estes (144.4 lbs.)

Bec Hyatt (115.4 lbs.) vs. Jasminka Cive (115 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY Card

Cassie Rodish (104.6 lbs.) vs. Simona Soukupova (104.6 lbs.)

Jessamyn Duke (135.6 lbs.) vs. Miriam Nakamoto (135.8 lbs.)

Katja Kankaanpää (115.3 lbs.) vs. Juliana Carneiro Lima (115.4 lbs.)

Jodie Esquibel (105 lbs.) vs. Alex Chambers (103.8 lbs.)

Rose Namajuna (115.6 lbs.) vs. Kathina Catron (115.8 lbs.)

Photo credit: Invicta FC

Mark Hunt’s thrilling third round knockout of Stefan Struve has vaulted him into the latest UFC heavyweight rankings.

Hunt, who has won four straight, enters the polls at No. 9.

Also, the rankings feature the female bantamweight division for the first time. Ronda Rousey, the champion, is No. 1, followed by Miesha Tate, Liz Carmouche and Sarah Kaufman.

You can view the complete rankings, along with each individual poll provided by clicking here.

Photo credit: MMA Fighting

When Sarah Kaufman was growing up, mixed martial arts were not something women trained in. So, the Canadian took the more normal route, enrolling in dance.

Years later, while rehearsing, an MMA school opened up in the same building and Kaufman’s interest was peaked.

Now, she is a former Strikeforce champion, is widely considered one of the top female fighters in the world, and the newest addition to the UFC’s active roster.

Kaufman (15-2) will return to the cage for Invicta Fighting Championships in April, taking on Leslie Smith. After that, she will join the likes of UFC champion Ronda Rousey, Liz Carmouche, Miesha Tate and others in the biggest MMA promotion going.

Kaufman was in attendance for the historic match between Rousey and Carmouche at UFC 157, and felt the kind of intensity the promotion can generate.

“I think for the sport, the fight couldn’t have gone any better,” said Kaufman, during an interview with Rebellion Media. “It was a very exciting round, and, for the UFC, I think they really wanted Rousey to win. I think Liz had a great showing, and I’m sure she was upset she got caught, but at the end of the day it was a great fight. It was exciting (being in attendance) and just a huge moment.”

Kaufman faced off with Rousey in Strikeforce late in 2012, and was defeated via armbar – like every challenger to the former Olympian. However, Kaufman feels someone will get the best of her in the near future.

“I feel it is only a matter of time, myself included, before someone executes their game plan and wins against (Rousey),” she said.

Rousey-Carmouche may have been the first female fight that many saw, but it won’t likely be the last. Female fighters have been praised for their skills inside the cage, and Kaufman believes the move to the UFC will only present more viewership.

“I don’t know the exact reason (female fighting is filled with action). Maybe it’s because females feel the need to prove themselves, or maybe it’s because of the cattiness that comes out,” Kaufman said. “For a lot of people, it something different. Not different in a bad way, not a freak show; it’s just different in a lot of good ways, making it stand out and be unique.

“Females come out and fight, and that’s what fans to want see.”

Kaufman is currently preparing for her match with Smith which will take place at Invicta FC 5. She is in camp-mode, but will be pushing the tempo in the coming days.

“I’ve been in camp for the last couple of weeks, but it will intensify a lot here,” Kaufman said. “Until this point, I’ve just been sparring, wrestling, grappling, working on a few specific things. Now, I will push it more and more to have the best cardio possible.”

But, the real question is, how do you go from a dancer to a fighter, Sarah?

“I don’t think many people have done the same transition I have,” Kaufman laughed. “I was just trying it out as something fun to do. It was a great workout, practical self-defense. I went from wanting to hit pads to sparring to sparring with other people.”

You can also follow Kaufman on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo credit: Showtime

Former Strikeforce women’s champion Sarah Kaufman is one of the newest additions to the UFC’s female roster.

Kaufman, though, will still compete in April for Invicta Fighting Championships against Leslie Smith.

“Yes, I am (a fighter for the UFC),” Kaufman said, in an exclusive interview with FightLine.com. “My Strikeforce contract transferred over when they shut down (in January).”

Kaufman (15-2) stated that she expected the transfer of contract from Strikeforce to the UFC to happen because Zuffa gave her permission to compete for Invicta FC, an all-female promotion.

Kaufman had hoped to be part of the first female fight inside the Octagon, but that honor went to Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche – both former opponents of Kaufman’s. In 2012, Rousey defeated the Canadian in her first Strikeforce title defense.

“It was bad timing on my part to have such a big screw up (the loss to Rousey),” Kaufman said. “But that is the fight game, and there will be more opportunity. Based on my last fight with Rousey, I understand it wouldn’t make sense (for a rematch). I can’t be upset in terms of how things have gone.”

Photo credit: MMA Fighting

Former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman, Julie Kedzie, Germaine de Randamie and Amanda Nunes have all signed deals to compete in the UFC. A.J. Perez of FOX Sports reported the signings over the weekend.

UFC president Dana White made it known that 10 women have been signed to the female division, and that plans are in place for five more to receive contracts.

Ronda Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche Saturday night in the main event of UFC 157 in the first-ever women’s fight. Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano will fight later this year, and Sara McMann and Alexis Davis have already been announced as members of the active roster.

Kaufman (15-2) and Nunes (7-3) are both set to fight in Invicta FC in April. Kedzie (16-11) and Davis (13-5) are two more veterans of the sport who have competed in several promotions and against some of the biggest names in WMMA.

Invicta Fighting Championships will return to Kansas City on April 5 with a stacked card, as two titles are on the line.

Invicta FC 5 will feature Jessica Penne (10-1) defending her atomweight title against Michelle Waterson (10-3), while Vanessa Porto (15-5) and Barb Honchak (7-2) meet for the first-ever flyweight champion.

Also, the card will see Zoila Gurgel (12-2) debut inside the Invicta cage against Jennifer Maia (6-2).

“We are excited about entering a new chapter in Invicta FC history that consists of a partnership with one of the finest and most impressive entertainment venues in the country as well as our first world championship doubleheader card that is loaded with world-class women’s fight talent,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp.

Other announced matches include Sarah Kaufman-Leslie Smith, Amanda Nunes-Sarah D’Alelio, Ediane Gomes-Julia Budd, Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs. Cassie Rodish, Bec Hyatt-Jasminka Cive, Katja Kankaanpaa-Juliana Lima, Jessamyn Duke-Miriam Nakamoto, Alex Chambers-Jodie Esquibel, Rose Namajunas-Kathina Castron, Veronica Rothenhausler-Mollie Estes, and River Jones-Lauren Barefoot.

The card will take place at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City.

Former Strikeforce female champion Sarah Kaufman finally has an opponent for her next match, as she will face Leslie Smith at Invicta FC 5 later this year.

The bout, which has yet to secure location, will be part of the April 5 card. It will take place on a Friday between Bellator (Thursday) and UFC on Fuel TV 9 (Saturday).

Kaufman (15-2) last fought in August, falling to Ronda Rousey. She was expected to debut in Bellator last October, but an injury kept her sidelined.

Smith (5-2) is unbeaten in three Invicta FC bouts, going 2-0-1. She has defeated both Kaitlin Young and Raquel Pennington.

Another bout made official by the promotion will see Kaitlin Young battle Amanda Nunes. Young (7-7-1) went 1-2-1 in 2012, while Nunes is 7-3 in her career.

Shannon Knapp, president of Invicta FC, told MMAjunkie.com Radio that the promotion is looking to hold Invicta FC 5 in California.

All four previous events went down from Kansas City, but Knapp believes it is time to branch out.

A planned main event for the April card from Irvine, California would see atomweight champion Jessica Penne (10-1) take on Michelle Waterson (10-3). April 13 was the original date, but that has been changed as The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale will take place that evening.

Sarah Kaufman will also compete on the card, along with the likes of Bec Hyatt, Rose Namajunas and a bout between Vanessa Porto and Barb Honchak for the flyweight crown.

On the heels of a much-talked-about Invicta FC 4, the all-female promotion has started the build towards the next event.

Invicta FC 5 will take place later this year in April, though no exact date has been made official.

The card will feature two championship fights, with Vanessa Porto meeting Barb Honchak for the flyweight title, and Jessica Penne making the first defense of her atomweight title against an opponent yet-to-be-determined.

Also, Sarah Kaufman, who was last fought Ronda Rousey in Strikeforce, will debut with the promotion. Kaufman, who lost to Rousey via armbar, was set to make her debut last year, but an injury knocked her off the card.