Previous bantamweight challenger Yana Kunitskaya (9-3-0) will once challenge for the vacant 135-pound belt when she takes on Raquel Pa’Aluhi (6-5-0) at Invicta FC 25 in Lemoore, California.
Fight fans keeping score will remember Kunitskaya upset win over Tonya Evinger at Invicta FC 20, which was overturned into a no-contest and then her rematch loss to Evinger at Invicta FC 22 in March.
Pa’Aluhi is looking to stay in the win column after submitting Pannie Kianzad back in January at Invicta FC 21.
The winner will lay claim to the vacant belt that Evinger abdicated when she jumped to the UFC to fight Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino for the UFC women’s featherweight belt at UFC 214.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
ASHLEY MEDINA (0-0-0) VS JILLIAN DECOURSEY (0-0-0)
Andrews:Tough fight to score as no one has any experience at this level. Decorsey fought at New York’s local promotion, so I gong to go with her as NYFE is a good local quality promotion.
Andrews Prediction: Jillian Decoursey via unanimous decision
CHERI MURASKI (2-0-0) VS TRACY CORTEZ (0-0-0)
Andrews: Why was Cortez wearing heels at the weigh-ins? I like Muraski’s power and grappling game to grind out a win.
Andrews Prediction: Cheri Muraski via unanimous decision
SHAIANNA RINCON (1-0-0) VS COURTNEY KING (1-0-0)
Andrews: I like Rincon and her single bout of Invicta experience to none for King, who has a KO win but at a lower level.
Andrews Prediction:
AMBERLYNN ORR (0-1-0) VS SARAH KLECZKA (0-0-0)
Andrews: Tough fight to score as both fighters have a combined one bout of experience. So, I’ll have to side with Amberlynn Orr.
Andrews Prediction: Amberlynn Orr via unanimous decision
SHINO VANHOOSE (5-5-0) VS ALYSE ANDERSON (3-0-0)
Andrews: Vanhoose’s record is not great, but she is welcoming Anderson to the Invicta cage. Still, I think Anderson will shake off the Invicta jitters and get the knockout.
Andrews Prediction: Alyse Anderson via knockout
SHARON JACOBSON (4-1-0) VS KALI ROBBINS (4-0-0)
Andrews: Robbins is making her debut and likes to get the submission. Jacobson in previous Invicta fights has shown she uses her grappling to starch the opponent and I think she will do the same here.
Andrews Prediction: Sharon Jacobson via unanimous decision
ALEXA CONNOR (3-1-0) VS KATHARINA LEHNER (5-0-0)
Andrews: Connor is returning after two previous fights in Invicta and I have to give her the advantage as Lehner is undefeated but with no stoppages making her debut. Connor’s experience should be enough.
Andrews Prediction: Alexa Connor via unanimous decision
LIVIA RENATA SOUZA (10-1-0) VS JANAISA MORANDIN (9-0-0)
Andrews: Morandin has a number of stoppages on her resume, but she’s moving up to the next level and against a former champion. I have to go with Souza who will drag her to the ground  and collect the tap.
Andrews Prediction: Livia Renata Souza via submission
MAIN EVENT
YANA KUNITSKAYA (9-3-0) VS RAQUEL PA’ALUHI (6-5-0)
Andrews: The wrestling of Pa’Aluhi will power her to victory if she can get the fight to the ground. Otherwise Kunitskaya will be able to use her Muay Thai to pule up the points.
Andrews Prediction: Raquel Pa’Aluhi via unanimous decision
I(‘m afraid this is one of the weakest cards I’ve seen on Invicta for a long time. Only the Main and Co-Main events features fighters with much in the way of experience. Sure hope they feature a rematch between Jinh Yu and Ayaki for Invcta 26. In the meantime, they (or One) should try to pick-up Weili Zhang at Strawweight as she is on a 14 fight win streak,