When Megan Anderson and Charmaine Tweet walk into the cage this Sunday (AEDT) in the Invicta FC 21 main event the stakes are far higher than when the fight was originally announced in November.
The fight is now a five-round contest for the interim Invicta FC featherweight title.
The news comes after Invicta featherweight champion Cristian “Cyborg” Justino was flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA.
“I think this is a great move in the right direction for the Invicta featherweight division,” Anderson said in a statement
“It’s an exciting time for the 145-pound athletes and I’m looking forward to bringing my belt back to my team, my family and taking another step forward in my career.”
Gold Coast native Anderson (7-2) had a steller 2016 compiling an impressive run of three knock-out victories with two of these coming in the first round. Her dominance earned the 26-year old the 2016 Invicta FC Fan Choice Awards for “Fighter of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year.”
The awards reflect the hard work and dedication Anderson has put in since joining Glory MMA in Missouri over a year ago.
Anderson’s striking has developed markedly in this time. Standing at 6-feet tall Anderson has been utilising her reach with great effect in her recent bouts. She has shown precision in her punches and has developed a dangerous right hand that Tweet must be extremely cautious of.
Tweet (9-5) is an aggressive fighter who has fought the top names in women’s MMA including Cristiane Cyborg and Ronda Rousey. Tweet is also riding a 3-fight win streak and is coming into the contest after delivering a highlight-reel worthy spinning back fist knock out over Latoya Walker last May. Tweet also has four submission victories on her record and may look to take the fight to the mat to avoid Anderson’s right hand. At 39 years old, it may be Tweet’s last opportunity for gold.
Not only are the stakes higher because of the fights elevated status as an interim title fight but also because of the addition of a women’s featherweight division to the UFC.
The fight streams live and exclusive on UFC Fight Pass.
Fight Card:
- Megan Anderson vs. Charmaine Tweet – Invicta FC interim featherweight title
- Raquel Pa’aluhi vs. Pannie Kianzad
- Jodie Esquibel vs. Kali Robbins
- Elizabeth Phillips vs. Leah Letson
- Aspen Ladd vs. Sijara Eubanks
- Andrea Lee vs. Jenny Liou
- Amy Montenegro vs. Celine Haga
- Rachael Ostovich vs. Christine Ferea
