On Friday, May 21, Invicta Fighting Championships debuted on its new broadcast home, AXS TV, with Invicta on AXS TV: Rodriguez vs. Torquato from PAL KC in Kansas City, Kan.
In the night’s main event, the promotion crowned a new flyweight champion as Mexico’s Karina Rodriguez faced off with Brazilian Daiana Torquato for the vacant 125-pound title. Rodriguez holds wins over UFC veterans DeAnna Bennett and Milana Dudieva inside the Invicta cage. Torquato rode a six-fight winning streak in the title affair, having also faced Bennett and Dudieva in the Phoenix Series 2 tournament.
The co-main event also featured gold on the line as recently crowned atomweight queen Alesha Zappitella defended her 105-pound belt against Brazilian challenger Jéssica Delboni. Michigan’s Zappitella scored the promotion’s first Von Flue choke finish against Ashley Cummins at Invicta FC 42 last year. Delboni was in action on the same card, defeating former champion Herica Tiburico on the scorecards.
The event kicked off with a live preliminary card stream on the promotion’s social platforms at 7 p.m. ET. The main card aired live above and on AXS TV at 8 p.m. ET.
Alesha Zappitella def. Jéssica Delboni by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – for atomweight title
Claire Guthrie def. Juliana Miller by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Josee Storts def. Maria Favela by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Fatima Kline def. Ariana Melendez by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 3:00
Elise Pone def. Chrissy Yandolli by TKO (strikes). Round 2, 2:07