JINH YU FREY edged Ashley Cummins in a tight striking battle in Invicta FC 39’s main event, denying the challenger the chance to snare the now-vacated atomweight title. There may be a new contender at 105lbs as Alesha Zappitella proved her worth with a decision win, while Miranda Maverick looks a lock for a title shot at flyweight after trumping UFC veteran, Pearl Gonzalez, and Erin Blanchfield inflicted the night’s only knockout. Check out all the results and analysis in our card recap.

Note: Round-by-round scores are our own opinion, and not indicative of that of the judges.

Atomweight | Jinh Yu Frey def. Ashley Cummins | Decision (unanimous) 48-47, 48-47, 48-47

After Frey missed weight and vacated the atomweight title, it seemed Cummins would come in the hungrier of the two in their second meeting, with plenty to take out of the pair’s first fight. But the former champion weathered Cummins’ early storm to land the better strikes, particularly with her left hand as her accuracy and power outweighed Cummins’ volume.

Round-by-round:

Rd 1 – Both women throw early, Frey lands more effectively as the longer and stronger fighter, also showing superior head movement. Cummins engages the clinch to push Frey against the cage, but Frey breaks aggressively as Cummins continually looks for a way in. Cummins is made to miss but is having more success with kicks to the body. Octagon control and pressure give Cummins the round, 10-9.

Rd 2 – More volume from Cummins, nice flurries but Frey is more accurate and powerful again, landing a nice left before being swarmed. Good combos are led by kicks for Cummins, really pressuring Frey who is more selective, with that left hand again finding a home twice as she engages another clinch to land knees. A right hand sits Cummins down momentarily and Frey looks to pressure now, smelling blood with a gash opened over Cummins’ right eye. 10-9 Frey – late damage proves telling despite early Cummins volume.

Rd 3 – Frey’s left hand is swift, it keeps landing but does not stop Cummins from moving forward. A nice elbow on the break from Frey also does little to stop Cummins from trying to grind away against the fence. Frey is more deliberate with the left, and Cummins’ movement is slowing. 10-9 Cummins but very close again, aggression and cage control key for the challenger.

Rd 4 – Frey is now answering Cummins’ combos, countering well and making Cummins miss. Cummins looks to tie up as she fades and is met my the power of Frey. Frey has the octagon control now, throwing big shots, with the left hand remaining a feature. 10-9 Frey in a less eventful five minutes.

Rd 5 – We have it 2-2 coming into the decider, but think Frey should coast home. Frey looks to maintain distance with kicks early and Cummins knows she has to apply pressure, but is slowed. Frey again takes up the centre and lets heavy combos go. Had more in the tank and was able to slow Cummins enough, solid win. 10-9 Frey.

We had it: 48-47 Frey – Cummins came out firing with volume to take out Round 1, with 2 and 3 also very tight. Frey finished the better of the two, 3-2 or 4-1.

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Flyweight | Miranda Maverick def. Pearl Gonzalez | Decision (unanimous) 30-27, 30-27, 30-26

22-year-old Maverick won out in a fight which will likely decide the next flyweight title challenger, bettering UFC veteran Gonzalez across all three rounds according to the judges. Somewhat pigeonholed as a striker in the build-up, Maverick proved her all-roundedness with some smothering work from top position in combination with her usual stand-up game.

Round-by-round:

Rd 1 – Gonzalez takes up the centre of the cage, looking to pressure early and ripping a kick to the body. A Maverick 1-2 sets up a double leg which she lands, staying heavy on top with shoulder pressure and looking to advance. She scoots to the back but is high, grinding away with strikes while late forcing Gonzalez to survive rear-naked choke advances and transitions to the top. 10-9 Maverick for her work from top position.

Rd 2 – It’s back to the striking for Maverick but Gonzalez breaches range and lands a takedown. Gonzalez is aggressive from top, but Maverick looks for a triangle from bottom and the two get back up in a scramble. A beautiful trip from Gonzalez from the clinch brings the fight back to the mat, but Maverick then scoops a takedown of her own after another scramble. Maverick does so well on top with Gonzalez trying to shrimp out, laying heavy ground-and-pound. Latter stages give Maverick the round 10-9, but it’s a close one due to Gonzalez’s two takedowns.

Rd 3 – Maverick again reverts to the kicks early; a high kick and then one to the body as both women let go a bit up top with combos. Gonzalez lands a nice spinning back fist but Maverick is able to clinch and secure a slam takedown. Maverick is again impossible to shake, inflicting good knees and ground-and-pound. Another takedown for Maverick with Gonzalez unable to break free as Maverick looks for a rear-naked choke late. 10-9 Maverick, maybe 10-8.

We had it: 30-27 Maverick – the 22-year-old nabs all three rounds, with Round 2 the closest of the lot as Gonzalez landed two takedowns. Round 3 possibly a 10-8 Well-rounded performance.

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Atomweight | Alesha Zappitella def. Kelly D’Angelo | Decision (unanimous) 30-27, 30-27, 29-28

Round-by-round:

Rd 1 – The 4’11” Zappitella looks to close the distance, advancing with strikes and throwing hooks once in range. Hook combos prove effective for Zappitella, D’Angelo has little answers for the pressure and can’t keep out of range as Zappitella cuts off the cage. 10-9 Zappitella, a good amount of volume from the youngster.

Rd 2 – Zappitella lands a nice takedown and gets into half guard, but D’Angelo stays busy from the bottom with a high guard and looks for an armbar to no avail. Zappitella stays heavy on top, laying in with ground-and-pound before they get back to the feet at 1:50. 10-9 Zappatella, was busier and held better position in a tight five minutes.

Rd 3 – Zappitella with a nice 1-2, but is soon grazed by a kick as she shoots for a double leg, which she lands anyway. ‘Half Pint’ is looking to be heavy from top position, but is pushed off and the two stand up. D’Angelo fares a bit better up top, using her length and stuffing a takedown attempt. Zappitella is quick on a late single leg but can’t get it, may have made the scoring clearer. Another close round, going to Zappitella 10-9 for her early work.

We had it: 30-27 Zappitella – Clearly won the first round and fared better in the second, rounding out the fight well but almost being bettered late in the third.

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Flyweight | Erin Blanchfield def. Victoria Leonardo | KO (head kick & punches) 2:06 Rd 2

Round-by-round:

Rd 1 – Leonardo works well on the feet early, with the range suiting her better as she lands up top. Leonardo reverses clinch position to put Blanchfield against the cage and lands as they break, with Blanchfield circling to cut Leonardo off. She throws a one-two in the pocket and follows with a high kick to drop Leonardo, following her to the mat. The 20-year-old is setting up her attacks better and applying great pressure. Blanchfield flattens Leonardo in back mount as they go to the mat, dominant from the top but Leonardo is able to work back up to the clinch. 10-9 Blanchfield, could have been 10-8 but Leonardo had success before the knockdown.

Rd 2 – Another head kick lands and Blanchfield looks to flurry, but Leonardo locks up and is pushed to the fence, eventually reversing the position and doing well from there. Two straight lefts land for Blanchfield as they break. Blanchfield again sets up a head kick with the jab and sits Leonardo down, finishing with a couple of blows on the mat. Great KO from the jiu jitsu practitioner.

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Atomweight | Jillian Decoursey def. Linda Mihalec | Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Round-by-round:

Rd 1 – Mihalec moves forward, landing well to get into a clinch. Decoursey gets a nice trip to work into side control, transitioning to try and find a guillotine choke. After losing top position, she works back to it well and lands nice knees in the clinch as they move back up, then getting another trip takedown and landing ground-and-pound. 10-9 Decoursey, impressive stuff.

Rd 2 – Mihalec again lands on the way in, finding a better range and looking to move once she lands. A big right hand from Decoursey comes, landing another with Mihalec leaving that side open too often. Decoursey leads the clinch after Mihalec comes in, and grabs a takedown after they break, maintaining top position for the remainder of the round. 10-9 Decoursey, but tight due to Mihalec’s forward movement.

Rd 3 – Mihalec with the urgency again, looking to punch into the clinch early. Decoursey kicks well to keep Mihaelc at bay, but she continues into the clinch anyway. Mihalec works to the back, trying to secure the body lock as things get more desperate for her. Decoursey wriggles out and gets to half guard, her grappling has been terrific. 10-9 Mihalec for urgency and submission attempt.

We had it: 29-28 Decoursey – the winner had better position in the clinch at times but could not use it in Rounds 1 and 2, and Decoursey was slicker on the ground. Round 3 was tight, but goes to Mihalec for her pressure.

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Bantamweight | Monica Franco def. Tina Pettigrew | Decision (unanimous) (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Round-by-round:

Rd 1 – Pettigrew comes forward immediately and looks to clinch but Franco works strongly to spin off the cage and lands some nice hooks as they break. Pettigrew drives for a takedown and works to grab an armbar once she lands it. Franco gets free and looks to spin to the back before engaging the clinch battle. Pettigrew maintains pressure against the cage but gets tagged as they break and exchange. Extremely close, 10-9 Pettigrew for her pressure, with Franco still effective.

Rd 2 – Nice combo from Franco to start, she’s proving more accurate on the feet and countering well as Pettigrew overcommits. A much different fight to the first round, mostly played out on the feet with Franco’s hands possibly deterring Pettigrew from advancing more. Franco lands some nice combos, while moving out of range well. A Pettigrew takedown attempt perhaps shows a touch of desperation, and Franco reads it. 10-9 Franco.

Rd 3 – Two-punch combos again work for Franco, with Pettigrew looking to wrestle on the end of them and press Franco against the fence. Franco works in the clinch, looks for a standing triangle and then landing hammer fists with Pettigrew looking for a single-leg. Pettigrew continues the clinch pressure but Franco’s offence is more successful against Pettigrew’s unsuccessful grappling. 10-9 Franco, your winner with all the answers.

We had it: 29-28 Franco – the 30-26 scorecard seems a touch bizarre, but Franco wins Rounds 2 and 3 with greater success on the feet. Pettigrew’s wrestling offence was blunted after Round 1.