Invicta’s steady progression and rate of events has yielded pretty big dividends lately. Using the same basic formula for their card structure – in which fighters making their professional debuts take on fighters with shallow records to start the card off, while the deeper the card gets, the deeper the level of experience of the participants on the card – has worked.
This has been helped greatly by the fact that most of the newer fighters have pretty extensive amateur records to draw experience from, as well as the tremendously underrated efforts that Shannon Knapp, Julie Kedzie and Kaitlin Young have made to scout some of the most under-the-radar talent from the regional and international scene to put on fights that constantly deliver on the action front.
This card is no different. A few of the fighters will be making pro debuts, including Kalyn Schwartz, who will be taking on kickboxing queen Tiffany Van Soest. Van Soest is currently 0-1, having lost her pro debut via submission against Jin Tang back in 2011.
Also on the card will be former featherweight challenger Faith Van Duin taking on Mexican standout Irene Aldana at bantamweight. Aldana is coming of a massive TKO win over former UFC fighter Jessamyn Duke, while Van Duin is coming off a win over fellow Kiwi Charlene Watt at BRACE 41.
The co-main event features fearless Ayaka Hamasaki returning after her barnburner against Amber Brown at Invicta 16, where she won via armlock. She’ll be defending her atomweight title against 5-1 Jinh Yu Frey, who recently defeated former champion Herica Tiburcio by decision. Frey is on a three-fight win streak that includes victories over Cassie Robb and “Lightning“ Liz McCarthy.
Finally, the main event features flyweight champion Jennifer Maia in her first title defense after winning her title from fellow veteran Vanessa Porto as she greets longtime veteran Roxanne Modafferi, who has won her last two fights and is 4-1 overall in Invicta. Maia’s fight against Porto was one of the most exciting fights we’ve seen this year, and despite fighting sporadically for the organization put a stamp on her career by avenging a previous loss to Porto. After her title win she picked up a win in Muay Thai in June over Paula Vieira.
On the other hand, Modafferi has had a late-career resurgence since moving back to the U.S. and training at Syndicate MMA, adding a more polished striking game and rounding out her MMA game overall. She last fought in March, defeating Invicta mainstay DeAnna Bennett by decision.
Invicta 19 takes place this Friday, live from the Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, MO. It will be streamed via UFC Fight Pass.
Mightiest Daddy 
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