Alesha Zappitella

Alesha Zappitella (born February 28, 1995) is an American mixed martial artist who fights in the Atomweight division of Invicta Fighting Championships, where she is a former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. She also played softball, but quit it after her coach advised her to drop wrestling in order to focus in the "girl sport" which would get her somewhere.

Mixed martial arts career Invicta Early Invicta career Zappitella made her professional debut against Jayme Hinshaw at KOTC Equalizer on 15 October 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision. She would go on to amass a 3–0 record, with a single no-contest, which earned her the notice of Invicta Fighting Championships. Invicta scheduled her debut against Shino VanHoose at Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander. VanHoose later withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Jillian DeCoursey. Zappitella won the bout by unanimous decision.

Zappitella was scheduled to fight Amber Brown at Invicta FC 33: Frey vs. Grusander II. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Zappitella was scheduled to fight Viviane Pereira at Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II. Pereira missed the scales, weighing in 0.6 lbs over the atomweight limit. Zappitella lost for the first time in her professional career, as Pereira won the fight by unanimous decision.

Following her first loss, Zappitella briefly left Invicta, being scheduled to fight Kanna Asakura at RIZIN 18. Asakura won the fight by split decision.

Returning to Invicta, Zappitella was scheduled to fight Kelly D'Angelo at Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II. Zappitella snapped her two-fight losing streak, winning the bout by unanimous decision.

Zappitella was scheduled to fight Lindsey VanZandt at Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. Lima. Zappitella won the fight by split decision (28-29, 29–27, 30–27). The majority of media members scored the fight for Zappitella.

Invicta Atomweight title reign Zappitella was scheduled to fight Ashley Cummins at Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. Zappitella for the vacant Invicta FC Atomweight Championship. Cummins was the more dominant party throughout the first two rounds, winning the majority of striking exchanges and stopping Zappitella's takedowns. In the first minute of the third round, Zappitella managed to land an early takedown and countered Cummins' guillotine choke attempt with a Von Flue choke. It was the first Von Flue choke finish in Invicta FC history.

Zappitella made her first title defense against Jéssica Delboni at Invicta 44: Rodríguez vs. Torquato on May 21, 2021. She won the bout by a razor close split decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 48–47 in Zappitella's favor, while the third judge scored it 48–47 in Delboni's favor. All of the media members scored the fight for Delboni.

Zappitella rematched Jéssica Delboni on January 12, 2022, at Invicta FC 45. She lost the bout and the title via unanimous decision, with scores of 50–45, 50–45 and 49–46.

Move to strawweight Moving up to Strawweight, Zappitella faced Emily Ducote for the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship on May 11, 2022, at Invicta FC 47. She lost the bout after doctors stopped the bout after the second round due to a cut on her eyelid.

Personal life Zappitella works as a paraprofessional educator in the Howell Public Schools district. Zappitella also works as a women's self defense coach at the Michigan Institute of Athletics.

She is a fan and avid player of the collectible strategy card game Magic: The Gathering.

Championships and accomplishments Wrestling 2012 Vaughn Cadet National Championships Freestyle 105 lbs 3rd Place 2013 Vaughn Cadet National Championships Freestyle 105 lbs 5th Place

Mixed Martial Arts Invicta Fighting Championships Invicta FC Atomweight Championship

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Emily Ducote TKO (doctor stoppage) Invicta FC 47

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Jéssica Delboni Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 45

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Jéssica Delboni Decision (split) Invicta on AXS TV: Rodriguez vs. Torquato

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Ashley Cummins Submission (Von Flue choke) Invicta FC 42

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Lindsey VanZandt Decision (split) Invicta FC 40

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Kelly D'Angelo Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 39

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Kanna Asakura Decision (split) Rizin 18

Nagoya, Japan Loss

Viviane Pereira Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 35

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Amber Brown Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 33

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Jillian DeCoursey Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 30

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Kyna Sisson Decision (split) WXC 71: Night of Champions 10

Southgate, Michigan, United States NC

Stephanie Alba NC (overturned) Combate 13

Tucson, Arizona, United States Win

Ding Miao Submission (arm-triangle choke) Kunlun Fight MMA 9

Sanya, China Win

Jayme Hinshaw Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Equalizer

Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States Win

Jessica Ertl Submission (Keylock) NAFC: Super Brawl

Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States Draw

Tiffany Masters Draw (Decision) KOTC: Bitter Enemies

Keshena, Wisconsin, United States Loss

Cynthia Arceo TKO (Punches) KOTC: Warriors

Socorro, Texas, United States Loss

Kyna Sisson Submission (Triangle choke) WXC 56: College Throwdown

Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States For the WXC Amateur Strawweight Championship. Win

Elane Santiago Decision (Unanimous) WXC 54: Night of Champions 7

Southgate, Michigan, United States