Invicta FC 53 Main Event Breakdown

Women’s promotion Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta FC) returns to its usual timeslot as ReelWorks serves as the setting for Invicta FC 53 and the Invicta FC 53 main event. As is customary, the promotion will air the show at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT in the United States on AXS TV on linear television. Invicta’s official YouTube and Facebook pages will stream the event throughout the world.

This is the first of three big cards to start the brand-new month. On Friday, ONE Championship returns to Amazon Prime Video for ONE on Prime Video 10 and a trilogy bout between Demetrious Johnson (24-4-1 MMA, 4-1 ONE Championship and Adriano Moraes (20-4-1 MMA, 11-4 ONE Championship) in the ONE on Prime Video 10 main event for the promotion’s flyweight (125 lbs.) championship.

The next night, the UFC is back on pay-per-view for UFC 288, and Aljamain Sterling (22-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) vs. Henry Cejudo (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the latter’s return for the UFC Bantamweight Championship in the UFC 288 main event. More on those fights later on in the week.

Atomweight Supremacy in Invicta FC 53 Main Event Wednesday

Getting back to Invicta FC 53 on Wednesday night, the show (absent of any postponements between now and then) features seven fights. Highlighting the night’s itinerary is the battle for the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship in the Invicta FC 53 main event.

Incumbent titleholder Jillian DeCoursey (6-3 MMA. 5-2 Invicta FC) makes her first defense of the 105-lb. strap against challenger Rayanne dos Santos (13-6 MMA, 1-0 Invicta FC). As with all championship fights in most MMA promotions, Wednesday’s headliner is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round.

In most cards, a championship fight at the top of the order would be the big story, but that isn’t the case this week. If you decide to tune in, you’ll notice that the telecast will sound different.

All-Female Broadcast Team to Call Invicta FC 53 and Invicta FC 53 Main Event

As has become common in sports television in recent years, this week’s event will feature a broadcast team entirely composed of women. Aly Trost Martin, usually the post-fight interviewer, will serve as the blow-by-blow commentator.

UFC veteran Megan Anderson will serve as an analyst for Invicta FC 53 alongside Julie Kedzie. As someone who’s used this web space to advocate for the normalization of women in the broadcast booth, a hearty round of applause goes out to Invicta FC for this move.

Invicta FC 53 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

Heading into the Invicta FC 53 main event on Wednesday night, both Jillian DeCoursey and Rayanne dos Santos stand level in height at 5-foot-2. DeCoursey owns a one-inch reach advantage (63 inches to 62 inches) over dos Santos.

As it stands currently, the oddsmakers have champion Jillian DeCoursey installed as a -185 favorite on the money line, with Rayanne dos Santos countering as a +150 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening over the weekend, please wager responsibly.

DeCoursey Motivated to Defend Championship

Jillian DeCoursey has posted a record of 4-1 over her last five bouts. At present, she’s on a two-fight winning streak.

Back in late September, she scored a first-round submission victory (rear-naked choke) over Jessica Delboni (12-4 MMA, 3-3 Invicta FC) during the Invicta FC 49 main event. After her win, the champion talked to Aly Trost Martin about believing in herself.

“I would say never doubt yourself,” DeCoursey began. “Never let anyone doubt you. If you put a goal in mind and you work hard enough, anything is possible, and I definitely proved that tonight.”

It seems apropos that DeCoursey is fighting in May, given that her day job is as a mental health counselor. The month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Her career goal was to eventually become a champion. Now, on Wednesday night, her goal is to defend her title. Can DeCoursey pull it off?

Rayanne dos Santos Looks to Build Off Debut Win

In the other corner, Rayanne dos Santos has gone 4-1 herself over the last five fights. Much like her adversary, Jillian DeCoursey, dos Santos is currently on a two-fight winning streak. Most recently, she battled Katie Saull (5-6 MMA, 1-3 Invicta FC) on Jan. 18 during Invicta FC 51, besting her by a unanimous decision after three rounds.

Upon getting her hand raised, the victorious dos Santos was interviewed by Aly Trost Martin, discussing her performance in round two.

“I felt great,” dos Santos said, through her translator. “I was just feeling myself. I was happy to be here. It’s my time.”

Rayanne dos Santos has a date with destiny in her second fight under the Invicta FC banner as she tries for the title. Will destiny show up on time this Wednesday? Watch the Invicta FC 53 main event and find out.

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Stylistically, the Invicta FC 53 main event on Wednesday is a dead heat. Both of these contenders are Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts. Thus, the first takedown of the fight could be the only takedown of the fight in the main event of the evening.

DeCoursey is Brutal On The Ground

Of Jillian DeCoursey’s nine career MMA wins, a third have been by submission. When she takes her opponent down, it’s time to protect the neck.

Jessica Delboni knows this all too well. During the first round of their title fight in September, they traded strikes and eventually found themselves in the clinch. While Delboni landed a takedown, DeCoursey expertly reversed her position to take the top mount.

At that point, she scored with ground and pound shots to soften Delboni up for the eventual rear-naked choke, taking her opponent’s back. It was only a matter of time before DeCoursey applied the torque to get Delboni to go to sleep.

Jillian DeCoursey just needs to reverse position after a Rayanne dos Santos takedown. If she gets it, the Invicta FC 53 main event could be a wrap in a hurry.

dos Santos is Also Adept With Ground Game

In the other corner, don’t discount the submission abilities of Rayanne dos Santos. When she finds herself in a stand-up fight, as she did against Leide Popo in November of 2017, she can get somebody to go to sleep.

While the two combatants traded strikes for as long as the fight lasted, dos Santos became the aggressor, using a variety of kicks and punches to eventually set up a back clinch and score a takedown. It was only a formality at that stage.

Popo had no other choice but to tap inside the first round. Look for dos Santos to try and take DeCoursey down the first opportunity that she gets in the Invicta FC 53 main event.

Final Thoughts

You don’t normally get MMA on a Wednesday night. Invicta FC 53 is a rare weeknight treat in the world of competitive violence, so you might as well log on or tune in.

Prediction: Jillian DeCoursey by Unanimous Decision.

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