Invicta Phoenix Series 4 results: Jessica Delboni earns title rematch with tourney win

Jessica Delboni will get her second chance after all.

The 27-year-old Brazilian capped off a perfect 3-0 evening with a hard-fought unanimous decision over Lindsey VanZandt to emerge victorious in Friday’s one-night atomweight tournament at Invicta FC: Phoenix Series 4, which took place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. Delboni defeated Tabatha Watkins and Marisa Messer-Belenchia in single-round matchups to pave her way into a finals rematch against VanZandt, which Delboni won to earn a second crack at Invicta FC atomweight champion Alesha Zappitella.

“I am the real champ. I know this,” an emotional Delboni said post-fight. “Three weeks ago I lost, but I know I won. I won that fight — and I proved it today.”

Delboni (11-3) previously lost a contentious split decision to Zappitella on May 21 at Invicta FC 43. But after besting VanZandt for a second time with a stifling pace and suffocating forward pressure, she’ll get her shot at revenge against the champion.

Full Invicta Phoenix Series 4 results:

• Jessica Delboni def. Lindsey VanZandt via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jessica Delboni def. Marisa Messer-Belenchia via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
• Lindsey VanZandt def. Linda Mihalec via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)
• Samantha Seff def. Kara Vislosky via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9)
• Marisa Messer-Belenchia def. Paulina Granados via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9)
• Linda Mihalec def. Jillian DeCoursey via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9)
• Lindsey VanZandt def. Katie Perez via submission (armbar) at 3:10 of round one
• Jessica Delboni def. Tabatha Watkins via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)