Invicta FC 3 Set For October 6; First-Ever Atomweight Champion To Be Crowned

Jessica Penne (9-1) will square off with undefeated Naho Sugiyama (8-0) in the first-ever Invicta Fighting Championships title fight and atomweight (105 pounds) main event of the promotion’s third all-women’s MMA event at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. on Sat., Oct. 6.

The ticket on-sale date for the much-anticipated Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama event, featuring 13 bouts, will be announced soon.

After a hard-fought main event battle against Olympic Wrestling Silver Medalist Sara McMann, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Shayna Baszler  will return to action in the bantamweight co-main event and take on Invicta FC 2 winner Sarah D’Alelio (6-2).

Another Invicta FC 2 victor, Barb Honchak (6-2) will face off with rising star Aisling Daly (13-3) in a super flyweight (125 pounds) contest.

Invicta FC will welcome one of the original pioneers of women’s MMA, submission expert Tara LaRosa (21-2), who will lock horns at super flyweight with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Vanessa Porto (14-5).

Undefeated Cat “Alpha” Zingano (6-0) will make her long-awaited Invicta FC debut against Leslie Smith (3-2-1) in a bantamweight matchup and Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (9-3) will also make her first start under the Invicta FC banner against Lacey Schuckman (7-5) in an atomweight scrap.

In the leadoff main card bout, Julia Budd (3-2) will meet Elaina Maxwell (7-4), promotion officials announced on Wednesday. 

The six-bout preliminary card will be topped by a matchup between Carla Esparza (7-2) and Lynn Alvarez (5-2).

Two undefeated prospects, Ashley Cummins (3-0) and Joanne Calderwood (3-0) will collide at super flyweight.

Amy Davis (3-3) will face Stephanie Frausto (3-4) in an atomweight affair.

Fresh off her professional debut win at Invicta FC 2, highly-touted Jessamyn Duke (1-0) will face unbeaten Marciea Allen (1-0) in a bantamweight battle.

Tecia Torres (0-0) and Kaiyana Rain (0-0) will make their respective professional debuts against each other at flyweight.

Unbeaten Katalina Malungahu (2-0) will tangle with Taylor Stratford (0-0) in a featherweight fight.

(Pictured: Jessica Penne)