Invicta FC – Phoenix Series 3 results – Verzosa vs. Stoliarenko
Tonight, March 6, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted PHOENIX SERIES 3 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The entire card streams live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
The event was headlined by a bantamweight title fight between undefeated 24-year-old Lisa “Battle Angel” Verzosa (5-0) and The Ultimate Fighter alumna Julija Stoliarenko (8-3-1) of Lithuania. Verzosa — née Spangler — has earned four of her five career victories inside the Invicta cage. The Washington-based fighter most recently defeated Kerri Kenneson at Invicta FC 38. Stoliarenko will make her promotional debut riding the momentum of a four-fight winning streak since leaving the TUF house. All eight of her career wins have come via first-round armbar submission.
Joining the title match-up was a one-night, eight-woman tournament, also in the bantamweight division. The single-elimination tournament would feature one-round fights in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, with the tournament final being a three-round affair to determine the tournament champion.
The tournament participants were matched up during a random draw during the event’s weigh-ins.
In the first quarterfinal bout, Las Vegas-based Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus (1-1) meets the most experienced fighter in the tournament, “Scary” Kerri Kenneson (3-2). The second match-up pits the debuting Taylor “No Mercy” Guardado (0-0) against Colorado’s “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie (1-0). In the third pairing, “Hurricane” Hope Chase (2-1) squares off against Julia “Chicago” Ottolino (1-0). Finally, California’s Brittney “Bombshell” Victoria (3-1) takes on Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant (2-0).
As was previously announced, the event would utilize open scoring.
PHOENIX SERIES 3 RESULTS BELOW:
Bantamweight Title: Julija Stoliarenko defeated Lisa Verzosa via split decision (49-46, 48-46, 49-46)
Bantamweight Tournament Final: Taneisha Tennant defeated Taylor Guardado via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – bantamweight tournament final
Strawweight: Kay Hansen defeated Liana Pirosin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal No. 2:Taneisha Tennant defeated Hope Chase via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) – bantamweight tournament semifinal
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal No. 1: Taylor Guardado defeated Serena DeJesus via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) – bantamweight tournament semifinal
Bantamweight Reserve Bout No. 2: Mitzi Merry defeated Morgan Hickam via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
Bantamweight Reserve Bout No. 1: Kelly Clayton defeated Florina Moeller via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:51
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 4: Taneisha Tennant vs. Brittney Victoria via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 3: Hope Chase defeated Julia Ottolino via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal No. 2: Taylor Guardado defeated Claire Guthrie via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal No.1: Serena DeJesus defeated Kerri Kenneson via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
