Alesha Zappitella’s targets contain changing into Invicta FC’s first double-champion

By Farah Hannoun and MMA Junkie Radio |

May per chance perchance 19, 2021 5: 00 pm

Alesha Zappitella’s targets inch far beyond defending her title on Friday.

Zappitella (8-2-1), who claimed the Invicta FC atomweight belt with a fourth-spherical stop of Ashley Cummins this previous September, is space for her first title protection when she meets Jessica Delboni in the co-indispensable occasion of Invicta on AXS TV, which takes predicament on the Police Athletic League in Kansas City, Kan. The 2-hour indispensable card will air on AXS TV at 8 p.m. ET.

With the strawweight title currently vacant, Zappitella must accumulate history with Invicta FC. No longer superb that, the 26-yr-extinct is additionally eyeing one other promotion’s titleholder, Rizin FF gigantic atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki, as she targets to cement herself because the superb atomweight in the sport.

“Past this battle, I genuinely accept as true with about a issues I are looking out to forestall,” Zappitella told MMA Junkie Radio. “I are looking out to turn out to be the first ever Invicta champ-champ. There’s by no intention been really apt one of them, and the 115-pound belt is vacant, so I would possibly seemingly blueprint shut to battle for the 115-pound belt. The next ingredient I are looking out to forestall is I are looking out to issue that I am entirely the superb atomweight on this planet. So, with that being acknowledged, I want Invicta to cruise out Ayaka Hamasaki to intention help and battle me in my cage.”

Zappitella acknowledged that ONE Championship has additionally expressed passion in having her score part of their upcoming atomweight enormous prix, but “Half Pint” says her loyalty lies with Invicta and the promotion’s president, Shannon Knapp. Zappitella likes her enhance with the corporate and thinks it’s the superb dwelling for her profession.

“I was genuinely contacted by ONE to be in the large prix, but when I’m being entirely correct, Shannon cares about me,” Zappitella acknowledged. “She cares about all of her fighters, and I entirely ponder in entirely every thing that Invicta is doing, and I ponder that Invicta is the predicament to be when you happen to’re a girl – specifically a 105er.

“I are looking out to construct up properly-known in America so being signed to ONE genuinely didn’t seem cherish the smartest resolution for me. I’m going to gallop it out, and I’m going to correct accumulate my legacy in Invicta and then inch on to work for Invicta afterwards. I are looking out to be an interviewer, a broadcaster, a commentator, so I genuinely ponder Invicta is the predicament that I will stop it.”