Tonya Evinger defends bantamweight title against Colleen Schneider at Invicta FC 17

One of the top pound-for-pound female fighters in the world will return to the cage in May.

Tonya Evinger will defend her Invicta FC women's bantamweight title against Colleen Schneider at Invicta FC 17 on May 7, Invicta president Shannon Knapp said Monday on Sirius XM's "The Luke Thomas Show." The event will take place at a yet-to-be-determined Southern California venue, she said.

Evinger (16-6) has won eight straight fights and has never lost under the Invicta banner. "Triple Threat" has emerged as arguably the top female fighter in the world not currently in the UFC other than Cris Cyborg. Evinger, 31, won the vacant belt against Irene Aldana via fourth-round TKO last July and then beat Pannie Kianzad in a non-title bout in September when Kianzad failed to make weight. The Houston resident has not lost since a bout with Sara McMann in 2011.

Schneider (10-6) is on a four-fight winning streak and coming off a split decision win over then-No. 1 contender Raquel Pa'aluhi at Invicta 15 in January. The Los Angeles resident has won eight of 10 overall. She and Evinger would have both been on The Ultimate Fighter 18 had they not lost in elimination bouts before getting into the house. Schneider, 34, trains at CSW under Josh Barnett and Erik Paulson.

Knapp did not announce any other bouts for Invicta 17, but did say that Evinger vs. Schneider was only "one of the title fights" on the card. It's unclear whether or not it will be the main event.