Tonya Evinger (18-5-0) looks to defend her bantamweight belt for the second time against Russian Yana Kunitskaya (9-2-0) at Invicta FC 20 at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City.
Kunitskaya, who owns seven stoppage victories, will be making her promotional debut against 35-year-old champion.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
MIRANDA MAVERICK (0-0-0) VS SAMANTHA DIAZ (0-0-0)
Andrews: Maverick missed weight, while Diaz came within a few hairs of missing weight herself. Both fighters are making their debuts, but Diaz has more MMA experience. So, I’m going with Diaz.
Andrews Prediction: Samantha Diaz via unanimous decision
STEPHANIE EGGER (2-0-0) VS ALEXA CONNERS (0-1-0)
Andrews: Conners is welcoming Egger to Invicta. Egger has finished all of her fight, but Conners has Invicta experience, losing a split-decision. I think Conners steals this one after surviving a difficult first round.
Andrews Prediction: Alexa Conners via unanimous decision
LYNN ALVAREZ (6-4-0) VS JJ ALDRICH (3-1-0)
Andrews: Aldrich has more experience, but not by a lot. Both fighters are trying to generate some momentum. Alvarez’s size and strength could pose problems for the smaller Aldrich, but I expect her bulldog mentality to power her to a decision here.
Andrews Prediction: JJ Aldrich via unanimous decision
JESSICA-ROSE CLARK (6-2-0, 1 NC) VS PAM SORENSON (4-1-0)
Andrews: Clark is back in Invicta after a long road, to say the least, but Sorenson is no tomato can. She is the KOTC bantamweight champion, but I’m banking on the toughness of Clark to pull through.
Andrews Prediction: Jessica-Rose Clark via unanimous decision
AMBER BROWN (6-2-0) VS ASHLEY YODER (4-1-0)
Andrews: Brown is coming off a tough title loss to Inoue. Some might remember Yoder from TUF 23. Brown was seconds from winning the belt, and if she can replicate that performance, she’ll win. It’s as simple as that.
HERICA TIBURCIO (9-4-0) VS SIMONA SOUKUPOVA (5-4-1)
Andrews: I like Herica’s boxing and BJJ game here. She just needs to not get complacent and fight her fight, which she did not do against Jinh Yu Frey.
Andrews Prediction: Herica Tiburcio via unanimous decision
ANGELA HILL (5-2-0) VS KALINE MEDERIOS (8-4-0)
Andrews: Mederios has the strikes and the ground game to frustrate Hill is the fight gets to the ground, but Hill’s experience against the top fighters should pull her through. Her own ground defence has improved and her strikes are still formidable.
MAIN EVENT
TONYA EVINGER (18-5-0) VS YANA KUNITSKAYA (9-2-0)
Andrews: No one has been able to overcome the grit and grind of Evinger. As long as she respects the knockout power of the Russian, she should have opportunities for takedowns and grind out another win.
Andrews Prediction: Tonya Evinger via unanimous decision
