The first Invicta FC event of 2022 arrived on Wednesday, with an atomweight title fight topping the card.
In the main event of Invicta FC 45, Alesha Zappitella was set to put her atomweight title on the line once again, in a rematch with Jessica Delboni.
Zappitella and Delboni had first met last May, with the champ walking away with a split decision victory. Delboni then went on to win Invicta’s single-fight Phoenix Series atomweight tournament in June, earning herself a rematch with her rival.
Zappitella, for her part, had not fought since the pair’s original meeting.
The co-main event of the evening had been set to see the return of featherweight Courtney King, who was on the wrong side of a one-sided beatdown by Kayla Harrison in 2020. King, however, was forced out of her bout with Ramona Pascual. Instead, undefeated Shamir Peshewa stepped in, necessitating a 150lb catchweight due to the short notice.
Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni airs live on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The event will be carried via Youtube; you can catch the Invicta FC 45 live stream in its entirety below. Full results will be available throughout the evening.
Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni 2
Jéssica Delboni def. Alesha Zappitella (c) by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) – for the Invicta FC atomweight championship
Ramona Pascual def. Shamir Peshewa by TKO (knee and punches), Round 1, 1:00
Hailey Cowan def. Monica Franco by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 3:17
Helen Peralta def. Elise Pone by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
Katie Saull def. Tamika Jones by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 4:30
Sarah Kleczka def. Maria Favela by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
