Esquibel Injured; Souza Now Meets Morandin in Non-Title Bout at Invicta FC 25

The Invicta FC 25 co-main event is now a non-title bout after an injury to Jodie Esquibel, the promotion announced Wednesday.

Due to Esquibel’s withdrawal, Livia Renata Souza will now lock horns with replacement foe Janaisa Morandin in the evening’s co-feature on Aug. 31. Additionally, Sarah Kleczka will step in for Kelly McGill and meet AmberLynn Orr in a bantamweight tilt.

Invicta FC 25 takes place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., and is headlined by a 135-pound championship bout between Raquel Pa’aluhi and Yana Kunitskaya. The nine-bout card will stream in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Morandin enters the contest with a 9-0 professional mark that includes five wins via KO/TKO and one by way of submission. “Evil Princess” is a natural atomweight but has competed at 115 pounds in some bouts on the Brazilian circuit.

Souza, meanwhile, is coming off a first-round knockout of former atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki at Invicta FC 22 on March 25. The 26-year-old Brazilian is 10-1 as a professional, with her only loss coming to UFC talent Angela Hill in May 2016.