The fastest-paced format in mixed martial arts returns this Friday, March 6, when PHOENIX SERIES© 3 emanates from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. This time it is eight bantamweights competing in the single-elimination tournament, with the eventual champion having won three fights in one night.
“The PHOENIX SERIES© presents a unique set of challenges to our athletes,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp. “The rapid-fire pace of the one-round quarter- and semifinals, balancing ensuring victory with avoiding tiring yourself out for the finale, plus reaching that mental peak fighters need just to walk out there three times – there is nothing like PHOENIX SERIES© in all of MMA.”
Knapp added, “Like the name suggests, the PHOENIX SERIES© winners come out of these events on fire. The first PHOENIX SERIES© winner, strawweight Brianna Van Buren, was immediately called up to the UFC while the second, Miranda Maverick, is now the top contender to Invicta’s flyweight world title.
“With the bantamweight tournament this Friday, we’ve deliberately focused on younger and up-and-coming talent. The third PHOENIX SERIES© champion will have a huge boost of momentum in the Invicta bantamweight division.”
Make no mistake, the eight combatants themselves are keenly aware of both the challenge and opportunity in front of them.
Julia Ottolino (1-0)
“It is a unique challenge in modern MMA. It is like Shannon Knapp found a way to bring back the old UFC tournament format of the 1990s and I love it. You get amped up, fight, and then cool down, then amped up, then fight, then cool down and only then do you fight a full three-round fight. I’m very confident that my experience in other sports like cross country running will make me the most prepared athlete in the tournament. I’m going to win the whole thing.”
Kerri Kenneson (3-2)
“When Invicta introduced this PHOENIX SERIES© format last year, I let them know right away I wanted to be part of it when they did a bantamweight tournament. It is such a big test, mentally and physically, and I am all about challenges.
“I’ve always been a fast starter and I’m very excited about the opening two fights that are one-round sprints for a finish. This is so bad ass! I can’t believe I get to do this in modern MMA! This is where I show everyone what I am all about.”
Claire Guthrie (1-0)
“I think you have to attack, attack, attack. You don’t have a choice – not in the one-round fights. I’m fighting up a weight class for this opportunity. I’m going to come in very close to the weight I train at; there’s not going to be a big weight cut for me. That may give me an advantage in speed and stamina.
“The PHOENIX SERIES© format is so cool, so badass. You don’t know who you are fighting, what their style is and you don’t know how many times you are fighting. I loved the old UFC’s with Royce Gracie and Don Frye winning these big tournaments. Don Frye said winning three fights in one night is what separated the men from the boys – we are going to separate the women from the girls!”
Serena DeJesus (1-1)
“I’m looking at this like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many people in modern MMA get to do this – fight three times in once night? Invicta is taking it back to the days of old with these one-night tournaments.
“My gameplan in the one-round fights will be to not let anything go to waste. I feel like I’ve got something to prove and this is a huge chance for me to do that.”
Brittney Victoria (3-1)
“My approach for this tournament is to be smart and sharp. I’m gonna be more aggressive but not over-think it. We have a game plan for how we will recover in between fights but I’m going to fight my fight each time I’m out there. The PHOENIX SERIES© is a great opportunity to boost my reputation. I can’t wait for March 6.”
Taylor Guardado (pro debut; 9-1 amateur)
“I don’t think holding back in the first two fights is an option. You’ve got to do everything you can to win those one-round fights. I’m very confident I can dominate all three fights on the ground or on the feet.
“This is gonna be so much fun! When (Invicta FC President) Shannon Knapp asked me to be in the tournament, I couldn’t believe how exciting this one-night format is. It was a, ‘Hell yes, I want to do this!’ This is the perfect way for me to remind everyone what I can do or introduce myself to the sport again.”
Taneisha Tennant (2-0)
“My stamina is there but I’ve been training extra hard to go three fights in one night. I’m going to do what I do best – control the center of the cage, press the action and go for knockouts.
“I’m a pretty relaxed person in general, so I don’t expect that I will have any problem relaxing in between fights. I’m going to pretend that every fight is the first fight of the night. Winning this tournament will put me on the map, very early in my career. I’m very excited to about this opportunity.”
Hope Chase (2-1)
“I’m so excited to be in a PHOENIX SERIES©. I called Shannon Knapp and said, ‘whenever you do another one of these, I want in!’ This is exactly my style of fighting – I’ve never gone past the first round. My strategy for the PHOENIX SERIES© is the same for all my fights: go out there and destroy. I’m not playing around; I am coming to destroy these girls.”
Headlining the stacked all-female event will be the hotly anticipated showdown to crown the new queen of Invicta FC’s bantamweight division, as undefeated 24-year-old phenom Lisa “Battle Angel” Verzosa (5-0) collides with The Ultimate Fighter alumna Julija Stoliarenko, (8-3-1), for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title.
Addtionally, the lineup for the tournament and the reserves bouts has changed, as Gillian Noll has been forced to withdraw at the last minute. Stepping into the tournament field will be Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus (1-1). Replacing DeJesus opposite Florina Moeller (1-1) in one of the tournament reserve match-ups will be Washington’s Kelly “Skittles” Clayton (1-2).
As previously announced, all fights on the card – including the world title fight and PHOENIX SERIES© finale – will be fought with open scoring in place.
PHOENIX SERIES© 3 takes place from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets to the event can be purchased through Eventbrite.
The full fight card can be found below:
Bantamweight Title: Lisa Verzosa vs. Julija Stoliarenko
Bantamweight Tournament Final: TBD vs. TBD
Strawweight: Kay Hansen vs. Liana Pirosin
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: TBD vs. TBD
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: TBD vs. TBD
Bantamweight Reserve Bout No. 2: Mitzi Merry vs. Morgan Hickam
Bantamweight Reserve Bout No. 1: Kelly Clayton vs. Florina Moeller
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal: TBD vs. TBD (Randomly Drawn)
PHOENIX SERIES© 3 Quarterfinalists
Brittney Victoria
Claire Guthrie
Hope Chase
Julia Ottolino
Kerri Kenneson
Serena DeJesus
Taneisha Tennant
Taylor Guardado
