Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Tonya “Triple Threat” Evinger makes her first official title defence on May 7th at Invicta Fighting Championships 17 in Costa Mesa, California. Evinger is set to face off against challenger Colleen “The Thoroughbred” Schneider in the 135-pound main event.

Invicta FC officials formally announced the title fight today. Evinger has won eight straight fights and she most recently stopped an overweight Pannie “Banzai” Kianzad at Invicta FC 14. Schneider ran her winning streak to four when she narrowly edged out Raquel “Lionheart” Pa’aluhi at Invicta FC 15.

Evinger (18-5-0) captured the Invicta FC bantamweight title in July when she finished Irene Aldana in the fourth round of their Invicta FC 13 matchup. The victory was Evinger’s fourth inside the Invicta FC cage. She then made a quick return to action in September for a would-be title defence against Kianzad, but the bout was changed to a non-title affair when Kianzad was unable to make the bantamweight limit. Evinger dominated the fight and ultimately finished Kianzad in the second round.

Schneider (10-6-0) was quickly submitted by Aldana in her Invicta FC debut, but she racked up three straight victories in fights around the globe and earned another shot with the promotion. She made the most of her opportunity at Invicta FC 15 by outpointing Pa’aluhi in a back-and-forth bout. The win put Schneider on a very short list of title contenders, and she will receive the next shot at Evinger’s belt when Invicta FC returns to Costa Mesa in May.

Invicta Fighting Championships 17 takes place on May 7th at The Hangar at The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.

(Photo Credit: Invicta Fighting Championships)