MMA: Van Duin wins Invicta debut

Kiwi MMA fighter Faith Van Duin had to wait a long time for her maiden bout in the all-women's promotion Invicta FC but she made a statement in her first fight.

The 28-year-old mother of two submitted Amanda Bell (3-3) via a modified rear-naked/bulldog choke early in the second round of their match at Invicta FC 12 in Kansas City yesterday.

Van Duin (5-1) absorbed a few punches during the opening frame but was able to take Bell down with ease and she appeared more comfortable in taking the fight to the floor.

It didn't take long for Van Duin to establish a dominant position in the second round before she was able to lock in a chokehold, which netted her a US$1000 performance bonus.

"It was just there so I tried my best. I thought she was going to get out, she was just grunting and [was] tough," Van Duin said in the cage after the bout.

Papamoa's Van Duin looked like she would finish the fight in the first round when she had an armbar strapped in tight but Bell managed to escape.

"I thought it was going to come off but she just kept fighting and fighting," Van Duin said.

Van Duin was signed to Invicta in February last year but had to wait for a match-up given the women's featherweight division is rather thin.

She was slated to meet Charmaine Tweet (6-5) at Invicta FC 10 in December but the bout was scrapped only days before the event as a medical issue sidelined Tweet.

The Immortal was asked who she would like to meet next and Van Duin called for a bout with champion Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino (13-1, 1 NC).

There's a chance that title shot may come at Invicta FC 13 in Las Vegas in July.