Aldana-Santos Scrapped; New Co-Headliner Booked for Invicta FC 18 on July 29

Invicta Fighting Championships 18 has a new co-main event after visa issues forced Taila Santos to be pulled from the card, the promotion announced Tuesday.

Irene Aldana, who was scheduled to face Santos on Friday, has also been removed from the event because the promotion could not find a replacement opponent for her on short notice. As a result, the new Invicta FC 18 co-headliner will see Christine Stanley facing Agnieszka Niedzwiedz 125 pounds; Stanley replaces Claudia Rey, who also was pulled from the card due to visa issues.

Aldana, Santos and Rey are all expected to be booked for the next Invicta FC event in September.

Invicta FC 18 takes place at the Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday and is headlined by a strawweight bout between Alexa Grasso and Jodie Esquibel. The card will stream in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Stanley has been successful in two Invicta appearances thus far, most recently taking a unanimous decision over Shannon Sinn on May 7. A two-time Cage Warriors Fighting Championship veteran, Niedzwiedz will make her Invicta debut with a 7-0 record.