Jessica Penne will headline the next Invicta FC women's event against undefeated Naho Sugiyama with the promotion's first-ever title on the line. Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Invicta FC

Main event pits Jessica Penne vs. Naho Sugiyama for promotion’s first world title at 105 pounds

Card also features Shayna Baszler vs. Sarah D’Alelio, Barb Honchak vs. Aisling Daly, Tara LaRosa vs. Vanessa Porto, Leslie Smith vs. Cat Zingano, Michelle Waterson vs. Lacey Schuckman and Elaina Maxwell vs. Julia Budd

By FCF Staff

Less than three weeks after its sophomore effort, women’s MMA promotion Invicta Fighting Championships is gearing up for its third offering, a return to Kansas City, Kansas’ Memorial Hall on Oct. 6 that will feature 13 professional bouts, including Invicta FC’s first-ever world title fight, an atomweight (105 pounds) matchup between superstars Jessica Penne (9-1) of Laguna Hills, Calif. and undefeated JEWELS representative Naho Sugiyama (8-0) of Kyoto, Japan.

The promotion also announced that it will release a ticket on-sale date soon.

After bringing fans to their feet in a hard-fought main event battle against Olympic Wrestling Silver Medalist Sara McMann, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler of Sioux Falls, S.D. will return to action in the bantamweight (135 pounds) co-main event and take on Invicta FC 2 winner Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio (6-2) of San Jose, Calif.

Another Invicta FC 2 victor, Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak (6-2) of Bettendorf, Iowa will face off with rising star and furious finisher Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly (13-3) of Dublin, Ireland in a super flyweight (125 pounds) contest.

Invicta FC 3 headliner, undefeated Naho "Sugi Rock" Sugiyama

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

Undefeated Cat “Alpha” Zingano (6-0) of Broomfield, Colo. will make her long-awaited Invicta FC debut against Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (3-2-1) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. in a bantamweight matchup and Michelle “The Karate Hottie” Waterson (9-3) of Albuquerque, N.M. will also make her first start under the Invicta FC banner against Lacey “The Ladie” Schuckman (7-5) of Lakewood, Colo. in an atomweight scrap.

In the leadoff main card bout, Julia “The Jewel” Budd (3-2) of Port Moody, Canada will meet Elaina “Beef” Maxwell (7-4) of San Jose, Calif.

The six-bout preliminary card will be topped by a matchup between Carla Esparza (7-2) of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Lynn Alvarez (5-2) of Las Vegas, Nev.

Two undefeated prospects, Ashley Cummins (3-0) of St. Louis, MO. and Joanne Calderwood (3-0) of Glasgow, Scottland will collide at super flyweight.

Amy Davis (3-3) of Idaho Falls, Idaho will face Stephanie Frausto (3-4) of Middletown, Ohio in an atomweight affair.

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

Tecia Torres (0-0) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Kaiyana Rain (0-0) of Los Angeles, Calif. will make their respective professional debuts against each other at flyweight.

Unbeaten Katalina Malungahu (2-0) of Las Vegas, Nev. will tangle with Taylor Stratford (0-0) of Woodland, Calif. in a featherweight (145 pounds) fight.