Alesha
Zappitella will face Jessica
Correa Delboni in an atomweight championship rematch at Invicta
FC 45 on Jan. 12.
The all-female promotion announced the booking on Wednesday.
Invicta FC 45 takes place in Kansas City, with broadcast
information to be revealed at a later date. Zappitella defeated
Delboni via five-round split decision in their first meeting at
Invicta on AXS TV on May 21.
According to a release, Invicta FC will hold its events on
Wednesday nights in 2022.
“We are always looking for new ways to showcase our athletes and
having events on Wednesdays will put the spotlight directly on
them,” Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp said. “The rematch
between Zappitella and Delboni is a perfect way to kick off the
action on our new night.”
Five other bouts were announced for the card: Claire
Guthrie vs. Lauren
Mueller at bantamweight; Courtney
King vs. Morgan
Frier at featherweight; Monica
Franco vs. Hailey
Cowan at bantamweight; Hilarie
Rose vs. Emily
Whitmire at strawweight and Maria Favela vs. TBA at
bantamweight.
Anchored at Scorpion Fighting Systems, Zappitella is currently on a
four-bout winning streak in Invicta FC. She claimed atomweight gold
with a fourth-round submission of Ashley
Cummins at Invicta FC 42 in September 2020. “Half Pint” is 9-2
as a professional, with seven of her victories coming via
decision.
Delboni earned another opportunity to face Zappitella by winning
the promotion’s atomweight tournament this past June, which
included one-round exhibition triumphs over Marisa
Messer-Belenchia and Tabatha
Ann Watkins and a three-round verdict against Lindsey
VanZandt in the finals. The Parana Vale Tudo representative is
11-3 over the course of her professional career.