Eight atomweights will vie for the No. 1 contender spot when they compete in Invicta FC’s Phoenix Tournament.
Invicta FC’s fourth installment of the Phoenix Tournament will take place June 11 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., the promotion announced Wednesday. The event will air live on AXS TV and be available globally on Invicta FC’s YouTube Channel.
Atomweights Jessica Delboni, Jillian DeCoursey, Katie Perez, Katie Saull, Lindsey VanZandt, Linda Mihalec, Paulina Granados, and Tabatha Watkins will try and win three fights in one night to get a crack at champion Alesha Zappitella.
“The Phoenix Tournament is a unique set of challenges to our athletes,” Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp said in a statement. “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.
“Whichever fighter comes out victorious on June 11 will have truly earned her shot at the Invicta FC world title.”
Just like the past Phoenix Tournament events, the quarterfinal and semifinal matchups will be one-round fights, with the finals being a three-round contest. The fastest finisher in the quarterfinal round will get to pick her next opponent. If nobody notches a finish in the quarterfinals, semifinal matchups will be determined by a random draw.
At Invicta on AXS TV last month, atomweight champion Zappitella notched her first title defense when she edged out Delboni, who will look to get another shot at the title when she takes part in the tournament.