Marloes Coenen tops Romy Russen in headliner of all-female MMA card

Kansas City, KS, United States (AHN Sports) – Though hoping to replicate their last clash, Marloes Coenen went on to post a dominant unanimous victory over Romy Ruyssen in the headliner of Invicta Fighting Championships’ debut event Saturday at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.

It marked the first major all-female MMA card courtesy of Invicta’s mixed martial arts debut.

Coenen, in her first fight since losing her Strikeforce bantamweight title to Meisha Tate this past July, brushed aside the initial disadvantage against Ruyssen, who failed to make weight Friday.

Coenen tipped the scale at 146 pounds, while her opponent weighed 149.8 pounds, but it did not faze the former Strikeforce champion in re-asserting her dominance over Ruyssen, whom she tapped with a second-round rear-naked choke in August 2008.

The 31-year-old Coenen attempted to get another submission over her French opponent but was content with a well-balanced attack as she mostly stayed off the ground against Ruyssen, a decorated grappler.

Ruyssen, 31, who forfeited 25 percent of her purse after failing to meet the weight for the featherweight clash, succeeded in taking down the former Dutch champ only once after several attempted clinches.

Ruyssen, who seemed to have no fight plan beyond clinching her opponent while hoping for a takedown, was also deducted a point in the first round for grabbing the cage as a result of Coenen’s defense.

After three rounds, Coenen (20-5) emerged victorious with 30-26 scores across the board. Ruyssen fell to 5-2, with both setbacks courtesy of Coenen.

Meanwhile, Coenen called out Strikeforce champ Ronda Rousey after the fight. Rousey took the belt from Tate earlier this year, the same Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Championship belt she yielded to Tate.

Other notable actions in the 10 other fights in Invicta’s initial U.S. attempt to infuse life into women’s MMA included Jessica Penne’s third-round TKO over fellow atomweight fighter Lisa Ellisa and former Strikeforce 135-pound title challenger Liz Carmouche’s lopsided victory over Ashleigh Curry.

There was also the brilliant showing by both Kaitlin Young and Leslie Smith in their bantamweight bout that ended in a split draw. The highly competitive fight, which drew a standing ovation, won “Fight of the Night” honors.

Meanwhile, 2008 Olympic bronze-medal wrestler Randi Miller made a successful pro debut as she trounced Mollie Estes via a third-round TKO. Miller also had to forfeit 25 percent of her purse for failing to meet the weight as she came in at 150 pounds.

On Saturday, the all-female promotion announced its next fight will take place July 28. It is slated to feature veteran grappler Shayna Baszler vs. Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in Kansas City.

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