The one-night affair took place in Kansas City, providing the winner with a shot at 105lb champ Alesha Zappitella.

To start the night, it was VanZandt earning a submission win, an arm-bar on Katie Perez. The sub was the lone finish on Friday’s card to that point. In the semifinals, VanZandt took a decision against Linda Mihalec, while Delboni had won decisions against Tabatha Watkins and Marisa Messer-Belenchia to earn her spot in the final.

The opening frame of the three-round main event saw VanZandt on the outside, Delboni the aggressor. VanZandt would eventually circle out, but again, Delboni would press forward with a fast and furious combination. Where VanZandt did find success was with her kicks, creating space with a high kick. But following a takedown being stuffed, VanZandt was again on the defensive as Jessica Delboni hurled punches in bunches.

The immediate reaction following the first round was simple: Delboni had the edge, VanZandt had held her own, and it was a shame the fight couldn’t be a five round affair.

The second round once again saw Lindsey VanZandt on her back foot early. She did connect with a low kick, but when Delboni moved forward and attacked, it was several strikes landing, capped with a leg kick. Delboni went to the body as well as the head, though VanZandt had increased her volume as well — just not to the level of Delboni.

Once again in round three it was VanZandt on the outside, Delboni bringing the fight to her. Being first on the exchanges, and throwing with more power, was giving her the edge over “Damsel.” VanZandt had her moments, without question. And in the third, she appeared to pick up the pace, landing a hard right hand. Her takedowns continued to be stuffed, however, and Jessica Delboni was not to be denied. VanZandt’s final takedown attempt would be thwarted, while Delboni’s power and aggression were the story of the fight.

Just weeks after failing in her first bid to win gold against Alesha Zappitella, Delboni earned herself a second shot at the champ. Plus, the feather in her cap of being a Phoenix Series tournament winner.

“I am the real champ,” Delboni said following the win, in reference to her first bout with Zappitella, which many had her winning.

Official Result: Jessica Delboni def. Lindsey VanZandt by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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Phoenix Series 4 saw the atomweight division in action, with a shot at Invicta FC 105lb champion Alesha Zappitella awarded to the winner. Eight ladies would be competing for the opportunity, with one tournament reserve bout also taking place on the night.

Among the hopefuls, Jillian DeCoursey, a five-fight veteran of Invicta who had come up short against Elise Reed in a shot at the CFFC strawweight title earlier this year. Arguably more suited to life in the cage at 105lbs, “Lionheart” had credible threats from the likes of Lindsey VanZandt and Jessica Delboni.

VanZandt, like DeCoursey, had a loss to champ Zappitella already on her record. She had also come up short against Delboni, but had found success in Bellator and KOTC earlier in her career. Delboni, meanwhile, had challenged Zappitella for gold just last month, but fell to the champ in a split decision.

Invicta FC’s Phoenix Series 4 atomweight tournament takes place Friday, June 11, and airs on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and on the promotion’s official Youtube channel. You can watch the full live stream in the embed above.

Invicta FC Phoenix Series 4 Atomweight Tournament Results

Atomweight Tournament Final: Jessica Delboni def. Lindsey VanZandt by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Atomweight Tournament Semifinal No. 2: Jessica Delboni def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia by unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
Atomweight Tournament Semifinal No. 1: Lindsey VanZandt def. Linda Mihalec by unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

Atomweight Tournament Reserve Bout: Samantha Seff def. Kara Vislosky by split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9)

Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 4: Marisa Messer-Belenchia def. Paulina Granados by split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9)
Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 3: Linda Mihalec def. Jillian DeCoursey by split decision (9-10, 10-9, 10-9)
Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 2: Lindsey VanZandt def. Katie Perez by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 3:10
Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 1: Jessica Delboni def. Tabatha Watkins by unanimous decision (10-9, 10-19, 10-9)

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The event, which takes place Friday night in Kansas City, features the atomweight division in action, with a shot at 105lb champ Alesha Zappitella on the line for the winner. Fans got a chance to vote for the quarterfinal match-ups, with just one small hiccup: Canadian Katie Saull was unable to take part due to travel restrictions. Instead, on just a few days’ notice, Linda Mihalec showed that she was game and stepped up to fill in.

Familiar names like Jillian DeCoursey, Jessica Delboni, and Lindsey VanZandt will take part. Also on the card, a single tournament reserve bout.

Invicta FC Phoenix Series 4 airs live on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and on the promotion’s official Youtube channel. Full weigh-in results and match-ups can be found below, as can a gallery of highlights from Thursday’s weigh-in.

Invicta FC Phoenix Series 4 Weigh-In Results

Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 4: Paulina Granados (105.9) vs. Marisa Messer-Belenchia (105.4)
Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 3: Jillian DeCoursey (105.5) vs. Linda Mihalec (105.9)
Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 2: Lindsey VanZandt (105.8) vs. Katie Perez (105.3)
Atomweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 1: Jéssica Delboni (105.6) vs. Tabatha Watkins (105.8)
Atomweight Tournament Reserve Bout: Kara Vislosky (104.4) vs. Samantha Seff (105.9)

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On Monday, Invicta FC officials announced via press release that fans would be able to vote for the quarterfinal match-ups. The one-night tournament is set to take place on June 11.

“Invicta continues to innovate with the introduction of a fan-matchmaking element for our next Phoenix Tournament,” promotion President Shannon Knapp was quoted as saying in the release. “Playing fantasy matchmaker is a big part of MMA fandom, and we’re giving fans the chance to weigh-in on the opening round of a one-night tournament that will crown the new No. 1 Invicta atomweight contender.”

Knapp went on to praise Invicta’s implementation of the single-night tournament format.

“The Phoenix Tournament format itself is perhaps the biggest MMA innovation in years: the return of single-night tournaments, open scoring, five-minute fights in the quarters and semis before the two finalists meet in a three-rounder. It is a unique format and having fans vote on the initial bracketing is just another wrinkle to what we feel is the most exciting format in combat sports.”

The Invicta FC atomweight Phoenix Series tournament features the following fighters:

Jéssica Delboni
Jillian DeCoursey
Katie Perez
Katie Saull
Lindsey VanZandt
Linda Mihalec
Paulina Granados
Tabatha Watkins

Fans can vote for the quarterfinal pairings via the Phoenix Tournament Voting Portal. The event will air live on AXS TV, Fight Network in Canada, and on Invicta’s Youtube channel.

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On Wednesday, the all-female fighting promotion announced via press release that June 11 would be the date of their fourth single-night tournament. This time out, it’s the atomweight division in action, with a shot at reigning champion Alesha Zappitella on the line.

The card will air live on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, as well as on the Invicta FC Youtube channel.

“The Phoenix Tournament is a unique set of challenges to our athletes,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp in Wednesday’s release. “The rapid-fire pace of the one-round quarter- and semifinal matches is totally different to anything else in mixed martial arts. Having to peak not once, not twice but potentially three times against three different opponents is the kind of mental stress only a handful of fighters in MMA history have overcome.”

Eight atomweight athletes will compete in the tournament, and some should be rather recognizable to Invicta fans. The names included are:

Jéssica Delboni (27-years old, 10-3, from Espirito Santo, Brazil)
Jillian DeCoursey (36-years old, 4-3, from New York, NY, USA)
Katie Perez (28-years old, 2-1, fighting out of North Carolina, USA)
Katie Saull (33-years old, 3-4, from Manitoba, Canada)
Lindsey VanZandt (27-years old, 7-4, from Wappingers Falls, New York, USA)
Linda Mihalec (38-years old, 2-1, fighting out of Richmond, Kentucky, USA)
Paulina Granados (33-years old, 4-4, from Aransas Pass, Texas)
Tabatha Watkins (26-years old, 3-3, from Brighton, Michigan, USA)

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