Invicta Phoenix Series 3 to Include Bantamweight Title Fight and Tournament

Invicta Phoenix Series 3 will have a distinctly bantamweight flavor.

The March 6 event will feature a showdown between Lisa Verzosa and Julija Stoliarenko for the promotion’s vacant bantamweight crown as well as a one-night tournament including eight 135-pound competitors. Invicta FC has previously held strawweight and flyweight tournaments.

The field for the bantamweight bracket is as follows: Auttumn Norton, Brittney Victoria, Claire Guthrie, Erin Harpe, Hope Chase, Kerri Kenneson, Taneisha Tennant and Taylor Guardado.

“We are looking for one of these eight women to seize the moment,” Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp said. “We’ve purposely invited athletes who are in the earlier stages of their careers to compete in the tournament. This is the chance for one of them to make the MMA world take notice.”

The eight quarterfinalists will be matched during a random draw prior to the event. Quarterfinal and semifinal bouts will be contested over a single five-minute round, while the finals will be three five-minute frames.

Two bantamweight tournament reserve bouts were also announced in case one of the original competitors is unable to continue at any time during the evening. The reserve bouts will see Mitzi Merry face Morgan Hickam, while Serena DeJesus meets Julia Ottolino.

The card will also include a pair of strawweight contests, as Amber Brown takes on Sharon Jacobson.

Invicta Phoenix Series 3 takes place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., and streams on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.