Invicta on AXS TV – Syndication Server

Invicta on AXS TV live video stream (7 p.m. ET)

Invicta on AXS TV takes place Friday, and you can join us for a live video stream and official results beginning at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).

The event takes place at the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kan. The entire card streams live in the video above, while the main card also airs on AXS TV.

In the main event, Karina Rodriguez (8-4) takes on Daiana Torquato (10-3) for the vacant flyweight title, while the co-main sees current atomweight champion Alesha Zappitella (8-2) look to defend her belt for the first time when she takes on Jessica Delboni (10-2).

Alesha Zappitella’s goals include becoming Invicta FC’s first double-champion

Alesha Zappitella’s goals go far beyond defending her atomweight title at Invicta on AXS TV.

[autotag]Alesha Zappitella[/autotag]’s goals go far beyond defending her title on Friday.

Zappitella (8-2-1), who claimed the Invicta FC atomweight belt with a fourth-round finish of Ashley Cummins this past September, is set for her first title defense when she meets Jessica Delboni in the co-main event of Invicta on AXS TV, which takes place at the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kan. The two-hour main card will air on AXS TV and Invicta FC’s YouTube channel at 8 p.m. ET.

With the strawweight title currently vacant, Zappitella wants to make history with Invicta FC. Not only that, the 26-year-old is also eyeing another promotion’s titleholder, Rizin FF super atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki, as she aims to cement herself as the greatest atomweight in the sport.

“Past this fight, I have a couple of things I want to do,” Zappitella told MMA Junkie Radio. “I want to become the first ever Invicta champ-champ. There’s never been one of them, and the 115-pound belt is vacant, so I would love to fight for the 115-pound belt. The next thing I want to do is I want to prove that I am absolutely the best atomweight in the world. So, with that being said, I want Invicta to fly out Ayaka Hamasaki to come and fight me in my cage.”

Zappitella said that ONE Championship has also expressed interest in having her participate in their upcoming atomweight grand prix, but “Half Pint” says her loyalty lies with Invicta and the promotion’s president, Shannon Knapp. Zappitella likes her growth with the company and thinks it’s the perfect home for her career.

“I was actually contacted by ONE to be in the grand prix, but if I’m being completely honest, Shannon cares about me,” Zappitella said. “She cares about all of her fighters, and I completely believe in absolutely everything that Invicta is doing, and I think that Invicta is the place to be if you’re a woman – especially a 105er.

“I want to get famous in America so being signed to ONE really didn’t seem like the smartest decision for me. I’m going to ride it out, and I’m going to just build my legacy in Invicta and then go on to work for Invicta afterwards. I want to be an interviewer, a broadcaster, a commentator, so I really think Invicta is the place that I can do it.”

Daiana Torquato ready to go to war with Karina Rodriguez at Invicta on AXS TV

Daiana Torquato knows she’s in for a battle when her and Karina Rodriguez vie for the top spot at 125 pounds.

[autotag]Daiana Torquato[/autotag] knows she’s in for a battle when her and [autotag]Karina Rodriguez[/autotag] clash for the top spot at women’s flyweight.

Torquato (10-3) meets Rodriguez (8-4) for the vacant 125-pound title in the main event of Invicta on AXS TV on Friday, which takes place at the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kan. The card airs on AXS TV and streams on Invicta FC’s YouTube channel.

Rodriguez is coming off a loss to the promotion’s last titleholder Vanessa Porto, but notched back-to-back wins over veterans Milana Dudieva and DeAnna Bennett prior to that.

“I know Karina Rodriguez is very tough,” Torquato told MMA Junkie. “She’s a long-time veteran. It gives me extra motivation. It’s going to be a great fight. I will look for ways to win at every moment. I’m ready for us to go to war.”

She continued, “I’m getting ready in the best possible way. My head coach, Marcio Malko, has customized training sessions with me in mind. We train in strategy, physical conditioning, as well as mental and technical aspects. I’m getting ready to have my best possible performance on fight night.”

Torquato has faced an array of experienced opponents herself, having competed against several current UFC fighters. Her first stint with Invicta took place in September 2019, when she participated in the promotion’s one-night tournament at Phoenix Series 2. After edging out Dudieva in her opening bout, she was submitted by Bennett in her second fight.

However, the exhibition bouts were not counted on her record, which means the Brazilian is currently riding a six-fight winning streak heading into Friday. Torquato is coming off a split decision win over ex-UFC flyweight Sarah Frota in October and she hopes the caliber of opponents she’s faced throughout the years will help propel her to the top.

“Early on, I faced opponents like Taila Santos and Ariane Lipski,” Torquato said. “I’m happy to see them in the world’s top MMA promotion. They’re very tough. Over the last two and a half years, my coach has molded me into a more complete fighter. Most recently, I beat UFC veteran Sarah Frota. I was able to showcase the work I’ve been putting in. Every time I step into the cage, I want to show a better version of Daiana. I want to face the best fighters in the world, in the best promotions.”

Invicta FC’s AXS TV debut set for May 21 with two title fights

Invicta FC will kick off its new era on AXS TV with new owners Anthem Sports and Entertainment with a pair of title fights next month.

Invicta on AXS TV is set for May 21, a Friday, an Invicta official told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. The card will take place at the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kan. The two-hour main card will air on AXS TV at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, the full seven-fight card, including the two title fights, will be available as free streams on Invicta’s social media platforms.

In the main event, [autotag]Karina Rodriguez[/autotag] (8-4) will meet [autotag]Daiana Torquato[/autotag] (10-3) for the strawweight title vacated by Vanessa Porto when she signed with Bellator.

The co-feature also will be a title fight. Atomweight champion [autotag]Alesha Zappitella[/autotag] (8-2) will put her 105-pound title on the line for the first time when she takes on [autotag]Jessica Delboni[/autotag] (10-2).

Rodriguez, from Mexico, hasn’t fought since a November 2011 unanimous decision loss to Porto in the Invicta FC 38 co-main event. Prior to that, she had back-to-back decision wins in 2019 against Milana Dudieva and DeAnna Bennett.

Torquato, from Brazil, first fought for Invicta at the promotion’s one-night tournament at Phoenix Series 2 in September 2019. After a split decision win over Dudieva in her opening bout, she was submitted by Bennett in her second fight. Those bouts were exhibitions and not counted on her record, though, which technically gives her a six-fight winning streak heading into the title fight.

Zappitella went 3-0 in 2020, despite the trials the year brought to the MMA world. After back-to-back decision losses in 2019 to Viviane Pereira at Invicta FC 35 and Kanna Asakura at RIZIN 18, she took decisions from Kelly D’Angelo and Lindsey VanZAndt in 2020, then submitted Ashley Cummins in the fourth round this past September to win the vacant atomweight title.

Brazil’s Delboni has won three of her past four, including a decision over Herica Tiburcio at Invicta FC 42 this past September. That got her back in the win columnn after a TKO loss to Julia Polastri at a Shooto event in Brazil 11 months prior.

Additional fights for Invicta’s AXS TV debut are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.