Alesha Zappitella

Alesha Zappitella (born February 28, 1995) is an American mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to the Invicta Fighting Championships, where she is a former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion.[4]

Alesha Zappitella
Born (1995-02-28) February 28, 1995
Conneaut, Ohio, United States
Other namesHalf Pint
NationalityAmerican
Height4 ft 11 in (1.50 m)
Weight105 lb (48 kg; 7 st 7 lb)
DivisionAtomweight (2016–present)
Strawweight (2018)
StyleWrestling
Fighting out ofBrighton, Michigan, United States
TeamTeam Scorpion Fighting System (until 2021)
Strong Style Fight Team (2021–present)[1]
Knoxville Martial Arts Academy (2021–present)[1]
RankBrown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu[2]
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins9
By submission2
By decision7
Losses4
By knockout1
By decision3
No contests1
Other information
OccupationParaprofessional educator
UniversityKing University[3]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Growing up in Ohio, Alesha started wrestling – as the sole girl in boys' team – at the age of five.[5] 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.[5] She went on to become a two-time Ohio state champion in girls wrestling, five-time All-American before eventually placing sixth in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

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.[7] VanHoose later withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Jillian DeCoursey.[8] Zappitella won the bout by unanimous decision.[9]

Zappitella was scheduled to fight Amber Brown at Invicta FC 33: Frey vs. Grusander II.[10] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[11]

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.[12] Zappitella lost for the first time in her professional career, as Pereira won the fight by unanimous decision.[13]

Following her first loss, Zappitella briefly left Invicta, being scheduled to fight Kanna Asakura at RIZIN 18.[14] Asakura won the fight by split decision.[15]

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.[16]

Zappitella was scheduled to fight Lindsey VanZandt at Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. Lima.[17] Zappitella won the fight by split decision (28-29, 29–27, 30–27).[18] The majority of media members scored the fight for Zappitella.[19]

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.[20] 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.[4] It was the first Von Flue choke finish in Invicta FC history.[21]

Zappitella made her first title defense against Jéssica Delboni at Invicta 44: Rodríguez vs. Torquato on May 21, 2021.[22] 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.[23] All of the media members scored the fight for Delboni.[24]

Zappitella rematched Jéssica Delboni on January 12, 2022, at Invicta FC 45.[25] She lost the bout and the title via unanimous decision, with scores of 50–45, 50–45 and 49–46.[26]

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.[27] She lost the bout after doctors stopped the bout after the second round due to a cut on her eyelid.[28]

Personal life

Zappitella works as a paraprofessional educator in the Howell Public Schools district.[29] Zappitella also works as a women's self defense coach at the Michigan Institute of Athletics.[30]

She is a fan and avid player of the collectible strategy card game Magic: The Gathering.[31]

Championships and accomplishments

Wrestling
  • 2012 Vaughn Cadet National Championships Freestyle 105 lbs 3rd Place[32]
  • 2013 Vaughn Cadet National Championships Freestyle 105 lbs 5th Place[32]
  • 2016 USA Olympic Trials Freestyle 105 lbs Qualifier[33]

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
14 matches 9 wins 4 losses
By knockout 0 1
By submission 2 0
By decision 7 3
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 9–4 (1) Emily Ducote TKO (doctor stoppage) Invicta FC 47: Ducote vs. Zappitella May 11, 2022 2 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Return to Strawweight. For the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship.
Loss 9–3 (1) Jéssica Delboni Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni II January 12, 2022 5 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Lost the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.
Win 9–2 (1) Jéssica Delboni Decision (split) Invicta FC 44: Rodríguez vs. Torquato May 21, 2021 5 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Defended the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.
Win 8–2 (1) Ashley Cummins Submission (Von Flue choke) Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. Zappitella September 17, 2020 4 1:20 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Won the vacant Invicta FC Atomweight Championship. Performance of the Night.
Win 7–2 (1) Lindsey VanZandt Decision (split) Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. Lima July 2, 2020 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win 6–2 (1) Kelly D'Angelo Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II February 7, 2020 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Loss 5–2 (1) Kanna Asakura Decision (split) RIZIN 18 August 18, 2019 3 5:00 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 5–1 (1) Viviane Pereira Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II June 7, 2019 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Catchweight (106.7 lbs) bout, Pereira missed weight.
Win 5–0 (1) Amber Brown Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 33: Frey vs. Grusander II December 15, 2018 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 4–0 (1) Jillian DeCoursey Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander July 21, 2018 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 3–0 (1) Kyna Sisson Decision (split) WXC 71: Night of Champions 10 17 February 2018 3 5:00 Southgate, Michigan, United States Strawweight bout.
NC 2–0 (1) Stephanie Alba No Contest (overturned) Combate 13 20 April 2017 3 5:00 Tucson, Arizona, United States Decision win for Zappitella overturned due to testing positive for marijuana
Win 2–0 Miao Ding Submission (arm-triangle choke) Kunlun Fight MMA 9 25 February 2017 2 1:17 Sanya, China
Win 1–0 Jayme Hinshaw Decision (unanimous) KOTC Equalizer 15 October 2016 3 5:00 Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2–2–1 Jessica Ertl Submission (Keylock) NAFC: Super Brawl 30 January 2016 1 2:00 Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States
Draw 1–2–1 Tiffany Masters Draw (Decision) KOTC: Bitter Enemies 5 December 2015 3 3:00 Keshena, Wisconsin, United States
Loss 1–2 Cynthia Arceo TKO (Punches) KOTC: Warriors 8 August 2015 1 0:09 Socorro, Texas, United States
Loss 1–1 Kyna Sisson Submission (Triangle choke) WXC 56: College Throwdown 21 March 2015 2 2:36 Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States For the WXC Amateur Strawweight Championship.
Win 1–0 Elane Santiago Decision (Unanimous) WXC 54: Night of Champions 7 23 January 2015 3 3:00 Southgate, Michigan, United States

[37]

See also

References
  1. John Morgan (January 9, 2022). "Alesha Zappitella out to prove a point in final atomweight contest: I'm going to break Jessica Delboni". MMAjunkie.com.
  2. "Alesha "Half Pint" Zappitella". facebook.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021. Alesha "Half Pint" Zappitella · Follow 14 March 2020 · I received my purple belt in jiu jitsu shortly after beating a man who owns his own gym and placed at worlds in jiu jitsu. Women, I can help you be prepared for the worst situations that life throws your way. It's better to be prepared and never have to use it than to be sorry. Sunday from 10-12 at SFS, I will be holding a class for any woman to join for free. I hope to see you there.
  3. "Alesha Zappitella". king.prestosports.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  4. Knapp, Brian. "Alesha Zappitella Shoulder Choke Submits Ashley Cummins, Nets Invicta Atomweight Belt". sherdog.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  5. Alesha Zappitella explains why Jiri Prochazka is favorite fighter. MMAjunkie.com. May 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  6. Damon Martin (May 21, 2021). "Alesha Zappitella once was told to give up wrestling to focus on 'girl's[sic] sports,' now an Invicta champion". mmafighting.com.
  7. FightBookMMA. "Invicta Fighting Championships announces the completed fight card for Invicta FC 30". fightbookmma.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. Tatum, Rob. "Shino VanHoose Out, Jillian DeCoursey Steps in Against Alesha Zappitella at Invicta FC 30". invictafc.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  9. "Prospect in the Spotlight (Dec 14-15): Alesha Zappitella". mmaintel.blog. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  10. Anderson, Jay. "Invicta FC 33's Amber Brown: Good Things Ahead for Atomweight Division". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  11. Tucker, Bryan. "Invicta FC 33 Results: Frey vs. Grusander 2". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  12. Fight Site. "(VIDEO) Katastrofa uoči Invictine 35. priredbe: Čak tri borkinje pale službenu vagu". arhiva.fightsite.hr. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  13. Anderson, Jay (7 June 2019). "Invicta FC 35 Results: Former UFC Fighter Viviane Pereira Back in the Win Column". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  14. Anderson, Frankie. "Alesha Zappitella interview ahead of her fight at RIZIN 18". mmauk.net. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  15. "【RIZIN】浅倉カンナ、レスリングエリートとの打撃戦に競り勝ち「また這い上がります」". efight.jp. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  16. Tavana, Ben. "Alesha Zappitella Defeats Kelly D'Angelo Via Unanimous Decision". bloodycanvas.net. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  17. Bowker, Dylan (30 June 2020). "Invicta FC 40: Lindsey VanZandt Aims to be Number One Atomweight in the World". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  18. Tavana, Ben. "Invicta 40 Results: Alesha Zappitella Defeats Lindsey VanZandt Via Split Decision". bloodycanvas.net. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  19. "Alesha Zappitella defeats Lindsey VanZandt". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  20. FightBookMMA. "Ashley Cummins and Alesha Zappitella Vie for Vacant Title on Sept. 17". fightbookmma.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  21. Clements, Averi. "Alesha Zappitella Claims Atomweight Title With 1st Von Flue Choke Finish In Invicta History". jiujitsutimes.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  22. Becker, Dana (22 April 2021). "First Invicta FC Event On AXS TV Fight Card Features Title Fights". themix.net. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  23. Marrocco, Steven (2021-05-21). "Invicta 44 results: Karina Rodriguez captures flyweight title, Alesha Zappitella defends atomweight belt". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  24. "Alesha Zappitella defeats Jessica Delboni". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  25. "Invicta FC 45 set for Jan. 12, headlined by Alesha Zappitella vs. Jessica Delboni title rematch". MMA Junkie. 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  26. "Invicta FC 45 results: Jessica Delboni wins atomweight title, dominates Alesha Zappitella in rematch". MMA Junkie. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  27. "Emily Ducote vs. Alesha Zappitella strawweight title fight headlines Invicta FC 47 on May 11". MMA Junkie. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  28. Bissell, Tim (2022-05-12). "Invicta FC 47 results and video: Emily Ducote defends title after splitting challenger's eyelid". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  29. Edmonds, Jamie; Kelly, Dane (10 September 2020). "From classroom to cage: Livingston County educator aims for MMA title". clickondetroit.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  30. "Michigan Institute of Athletics". instituteofathletics.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  31. Khan, Bill. "Brighton-trained fighter gets shot at women's mixed martial arts world championship". eu.livingstondaily.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  32. "All-Americans". usawrestling-ohio.org. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  33. "2016 U.S. Olympic Trials". flowrestling.org. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  34. "Invicta FC". twitter.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021. #InvictaFC30 POTN Bonuses: @FeeNom479 , @HoldFastMMA , @aleshazapp , and @21alyseanderson !
  35. "Invicta FC". twitter.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021. #InvictaFC33 POTN Bonuses: @KayHansenMMA @aleshzapp Anastasia Nikolakakos Chantel Coates
  36. "Invicta FC". twitter.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021. #InvictaFC42 Bonuses: POTN: @aleshazapp FOTN: @VLeo0216 and Liz Tracy
  37. "Alesha Zappitella". sherdog.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
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