Not only was Thursday night Alesha Zappitella’s night of destiny, but she created a little bit of history along the way, too.
Zappitella (8-2) and veteran Ashley Cummins squared off in an entertaining scrap for the vacant atomweight belt in the main event of Invicta FC 42 in Kansas City, Kan.
The back-and-forth fight went into the championship rounds before Zappitella brought home the gold. She submitted Cummins (7-6) at the 1:20 mark of the fourth round with a Von Flue choke to become 105-pound champion — the first Von Flue finish in Invicta history.
“Honestly everything feels so surreal, this is a fight I’ve been asking for this fight for so long, and it’s here,” Zappitella said after the fight.
Cummins is as synonymous with Invicta as any fighter: She’s been with the company since Invicta FC 1, and was competing in her 10th bout in the promotion. She came out looking like a woman on a mission over the first two rounds, absolutely rocking Zappitella with a shot in the first and generally being the more active fighter.
“I felt like Ashley was going to want this so bad, she was going to come out guns blazing and I thought I’d have to feel it out,” Zappitella said.
Indeed, by the third, Zappitella seemed to have things figured out. She has a strong ground game, and she used a low single to score a smooth takedown early in the third, then landed heavy elbows from top position. It was a precursor to the fourth round, and this time, she finished the job.
With her second career submission win, Zappitella has won three in a row. Cummins has lost two straight bouts, both matchups for the vacant Invicta atomweight title.
Alesha Zappitella with the Von Flue to secure the atomweight title! #InvictaFC42 pic.twitter.com/PUMmvc1CEz
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 18, 2020
Complete Invicta FC 42 results:
- Alesha Zappitella def. Ashley Cummins via submission (Von Flue choke) — Round 4, 1:20 (wins vacant Invicta FC atomweight title)
- Lisa Verzosa (134.5) vs. Raquel Canuto (135.6)
- Jessica Delboni def. Herica Tiburcio via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Victoria Leonardo def. Liz Tracy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Helen Peralta def. Jennifer Chieng via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)