Invicta Fighting Championships

Invicta Fighting Championships, also known as Invicta FC, is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion dedicated to Women's mixed martial arts that was founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion is currently owned by the Canadian-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment.[1][2][3]

Invicta Fighting Championships
TypePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded2012 (2012)
FounderShannon Knapp
Janet Martin
HeadquartersUnited States
Area served
United States
Key people

Shannon Knapp (President)
Julie Kedzie (Matchmaker)
Amanda Nunes (matchmaker and athlete development team)
OwnersAnthem Sports & Entertainment
Websitehttp://www.invictafc.com/

The company's name comes from the Latin word for "invincible and incomparable", which appears in the feminine form.[4]

History

After Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, purchased rival promotion Strikeforce in March 2011, Shannon Knapp received several calls from female fighters concerned about a possible lack of representation for women's MMA. Knapp would meet with Janet Martin and the two acquired the financial resources needed to launch a new MMA promotion.[2][5][6]

The promotion held its first event, Invicta FC 1 on April 28, 2012.[7] The event was headlined by a rematch between former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen and French fighter Romy Ruyssen.[7] The event also marked the MMA debut of 2008 Summer Olympics women's freestyle wrestling medalist Randi Miller.[8][9]

On June 9, 2012, it was announced that Invicta has formed a strategic partnership with Japanese promotion JEWELS to cross-promote fighters on their respective cards in the United States and Japan.[10] On September 24, Invicta would announce another cross-promotional partnership with the Super Fight League.[11]

Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg, which took place on July 13, 2013, would mark the first event to be aired on cable and satellite pay-per-view, in addition to IPPV through a deal with Integrated Sports Media for live viewing.[12] In 2014, Invicta began exclusively streaming events on UFC Fight Pass, with the company's fight library also made available on the service. Invicta FC 8 would be the first event to stream live on Fight Pass.[13]

On February 24, 2015, Brazilian channel Combate acquired broadcast rights to Invicta live events as well as events from the Invicta library in South America.[14]

On April 15, 2021, it was announced that Anthem Sports & Entertainment had acquired Invicta.[15] Starting with Invicta FC 44 on May 21, 2021, Invicta events are broadcast live on the Anthem-owned networks AXS TV and Fight Network in the United States and Canada, respectively. Invicta's events would also stream live on the promotion's YouTube channel.[3] On September 21, 2022, Invicta announced that it had made a deal with FOX Sports Mexico for Mexican broadcast rights, starting with Invicta FC 49.[16]

Roster
Main article: List of current Invicta FC fighters

Rules

Invicta's current rules follows the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that were originally established by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and modified by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.[17]

Events
Main article: List of Invicta FC events

[18]

Past events
# Event Date Venue Location Ref
58 Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos May 3, 2023 ReelWorks Denver Denver, Colorado, U.S.
57 Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack March 15, 2023 [19]
56 Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo January 18, 2023 [20]
55 Invicta FC 50 November 16, 2022
54 Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey September 28, 2022 Sugar Creek Casino Hinton, Oklahoma, U.S.
53 Invicta FC 48: Tennant vs. Rubin July 20, 2022 ReelWorks Denver Denver, Colorado, U.S.
52 Invicta FC 47: Ducote vs. Zappitella May 11, 2022 Memorial Hall Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
51 Invicta FC 46: Rodríguez vs. Torquato II March 9, 2022
50 Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni II January 12, 2022 Police Athletic League
49 Invicta FC 44: A New Era August 27, 2021 Memorial Hall
48 Phoenix Tournament: Atomweight June 11, 2021
47 Invicta FC: Rodríguez vs. Torquato May 21, 2021 Police Athletic League
46 Invicta FC 43: King vs. Harrison November 20, 2020
45 Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. Zappitella September 17, 2020
44 Invicta FC 41: Morandin vs. Ruiz July 30, 2020
43 Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. Lima July 2, 2020
42 Phoenix Series 3 March 6, 2020 Memorial Hall
41 Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II February 7, 2020
40 Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote November 1, 2019
39 Invicta FC 37: Gonzalez vs. Sanchez October 4, 2019
38 Phoenix Series 2 September 6, 2019
37 Invicta FC 36: Sorenson vs. Young August 9, 2019
36 Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II June 7, 2019
35 Phoenix Series 1 May 3, 2019
34 Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez February 15, 2019
33 Invicta FC 33: Frey vs. Grusander II December 15, 2018 Scottish Rite Temple Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
32 Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. Sorenson November 16, 2018 Firelake Arena Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
31 Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin September 1, 2018 Scottish Rite Temple Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
30 Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander July 21, 2018
29 Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner May 4, 2018
28 Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba March 24, 2018 Union Event Center Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
27 Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad January 13, 2018 Scottish Rite Temple Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
26 Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedźwiedź December 8, 2017
25 Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi August 31, 2017 Tachi Palace Lemoore, California, U.S.
24 Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella July 15, 2017 Scottish Rite Temple Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
23 Invicta FC 23: Porto vs. Niedźwiedź May 20, 2017
22 Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II March 25, 2017
21 Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet January 14, 2017
20 Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya November 18, 2016
19 Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi September 23, 2016
18 Invicta FC 18: Grasso vs. Esquibel July 29, 2016
17 Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider May 7, 2016 OC Fair & Event Center Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
16 Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown March 11, 2016 Trinidad Pavilion Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
15 Invicta FC 15: Cyborg vs. Ibragimova January 16, 2016 OC Fair & Event Center Costa Mesa, California, U.S.
14 Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad September 12, 2015 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
13 Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin July 9, 2015 The Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
12 Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. Souza April 24, 2015 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
11 Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet February 27, 2015 Shrine Expo Hall Los Angeles, California, U.S.
10 Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio December 5, 2014 Arena Theater Houston, Texas, U.S.
9 Invicta FC 9: Honchak vs. Hashi November 1, 2014 RiverCenter Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
8 Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada September 6, 2014 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
7 Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith December 7, 2013 Ameristar Casino Kansas City
6 Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg July 13, 2013
5 Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson April 5, 2013
4 Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt January 5, 2013 Memorial Hall Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
3 Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama October 6, 2012
2 Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann July 28, 2012
1 Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen April 28, 2012

Current champions
Division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses Top Contender
Featherweight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)VacantJuly 13, 2021
Bantamweight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)Brazil Talita BernardoJanuary 18, 2023 (Invicta FC 51)
Flyweight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)VacantMay 2, 2023
Strawweight115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)Republic of Ireland Danni McCormackMarch 15, 2023 (Invicta FC 52)
Atomweight105 lb (48 kg; 7.5 st)Brazil Rayanne dos SantosMay 3, 2023 (Invicta FC 53)

Title history

Featherweight Championship
136 to 145 lbs (62 to 66 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Brazil Cris Cyborg
def. Marloes Coenen		 Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg
Kansas City, MO, USA		 July 13, 2013 1351 days
 1. def. Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 11 on Feb 27, 2015
2. def. Faith Van Duin at Invicta FC 13 on July 9, 2015
3. def. Daria Ibragimova at Invicta FC 15 on Jan 16, 2016.
- Australia Megan Anderson
def. Charmaine Tweet for interim title		 Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet
Kansas City, MO, USA		 January 14, 2017 -
Justino vacated the title on March 24, 2017 to compete full time with the UFC.
2 Australia Megan Anderson
promoted to undisputed champion		 Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II
Kansas City, MO, USA		 March 24, 2017 88 days
Anderson vacated the title on June 20, 2017 to sign with the UFC
3 Canada Felicia Spencer
def. Pam Sorenson		 Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. Sorenson
Shawnee, OK, USA		 November 16, 2018 129 days
Spencer vacated the title on March 26, 2019 to sign with the UFC
4 United States Pam Sorenson
def. Kaitlin Young		 Invicta FC 36: Sorenson vs. Young
Kansas City, KS, USA		 August 9, 2019 705 days
Sorenson vacated the title on July 13, 2021 to sign with Bellator MMA

Bantamweight Championship
126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Lauren Murphy
def. Miriam Nakamoto		 Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith
Kansas City, MO, USA		 December 7, 2013 208 days
Murphy vacated title on July 3, 2014 to sign with the UFC.
2 United States Tonya Evinger
def. Irene Aldana		 Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 July 9, 2015 724 days
 1. def. Colleen Schneider at Invicta FC 17 on May 7, 2016.
NC. vs. Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 20 on Nov 18, 2016.
2. def. Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 22 on Mar 25, 2017.
Evinger had her defeat at Invicta FC 20 annulled on December 1, 2016 after proving that the referee took her out of a favorable position and remained champion.
Evinger vacated title on July 3, 2017 to sign with the UFC.
3 Russia Yana Kunitskaya
def. Raquel Pa'aluhi		 Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi
Lemoore, CA, USA		 August 31, 2017 160 days
Kunitskaya vacated title on February 7, 2018 to sign with the UFC.
4 Canada Sarah Kaufman
def. Katharina Lehner		 Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner
Kansas City, MO, USA		 May 4, 2018 368 days
Kaufman vacated title on May 9, 2019 to sign with the PFL.
5 Lithuania Julija Stoliarenko
def. Lisa Spangler		 Invicta FC Phoenix Series 3
Kansas City, KS, USA		 March 6, 2020 147 days
Stoliarenko vacated title on July 31, 2020 to sign with the UFC.
6 United States Taneisha Tennant
def. Lisa Spangler		 Invicta FC 44: A New Era
Kansas City, KS, USA		 August 27, 2021 509 days
 1. def. Olga Rubin at Invicta FC 48 on July 20, 2022.
7 Brazil Talita Bernardo
 Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo
Denver, CO, USA		 January 18, 2023 280 days
(incumbent)

Flyweight Championship
116 to 125 lbs (53 to 56 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Barb Honchak
def. Vanessa Porto		 Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
Kansas City, MO, USA		 April 5, 2013 1266 days
 1. def. Leslie Smith at Invicta FC 7 on Dec 7, 2013
2. def. Takayo Hashi at Invicta FC 9 on Nov 1, 2014
- Brazil Jennifer Maia
def. Vanessa Porto for interim title		 Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown
Las Vegas, NV, USA		 March 11, 2016 -
Honchak was stripped of the title due to inactivity on September 22, 2016
2 Brazil Jennifer Maia
promoted to undisputed champion		 Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi
Kansas City, MO, USA		 September 22, 2016 652 days
 1. def. Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 19 on Sept 23, 2016
2. def. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź at Invicta FC 26 on Dec 8, 2017
Maia vacated title on July 7, 2018 to sign with the UFC.
3 Brazil Vanessa Porto
def. Pearl Gonzalez		 Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez
Kansas City, MO, USA		 February 15, 2019 564 days
Porto vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with Bellator MMA.
4 Mexico Karina Rodríguez
def. Daiana Torquato		 Invicta FC: Rodríguez vs. Torquato
Kansas City, KS, USA		 May 21, 2021 421 days
 1. def. Daiana Torquato at Invicta FC 46 on Mar 9, 2022
Rodríguez vacated title on July 17, 2022 to sign with Bellator MMA.
5 Brazil Ketlen Souza
def. Kristina Williams		 Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo
Denver, CO, USA		 January 18, 2023 104 days
Souza vacated title on May 2, 2023 to sign with the UFC.

Strawweight Championship
106 to 115 lbs (49 to 52 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Carla Esparza
def. Bec Hyatt		 Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt
Kansas City, KS, USA		 January 5, 2013 341 days
Esparza vacated title on December 11, 2013 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned.[21][22]
2 Finland Katja Kankaanpää
def. Stephanie Eggink		 Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada
Kansas City, MO, USA		 September 6, 2014 230 days
3 Brazil Lívia Renata Souza
 Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. Souza
Kansas City, MO, USA		 April 24, 2015 380 days 1. def. DeAnna Bennett at Invicta FC 15 on Jan 16, 2016
4 United States Angela Hill
 Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider
Costa Mesa, CA, USA		 May 7, 2016 274 days
 1. def. Kaline Medeiros at Invicta FC 20 on Nov 18, 2016
Hill vacated title on February 4, 2017 to return to the UFC.
5 Brazil Virna Jandiroba
def. Mizuki Inoue		 Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba
Salt Lake City, UT, USA		 March 24, 2018 379 days
 1. def. Janaisa Morandin at Invicta FC 31 on Sep 1, 2018
Jandiroba vacated title on April 7, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
6 United States Brianna Van Buren
def. Kailin Curran		 Phoenix Series 1
Kansas City, KS, USA		 May 3, 2019 39 days
Van Buren vacated title on June 11, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
7 Japan Kanako Murata
def. Emily Ducote		 Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote
Kansas City, KS, USA		 November 1, 2019 305 days
Murata vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with the UFC.
8 United States Emily Ducote
def. Danielle Taylor		 Invicta FC 44: A New Era
Kansas City, KS, USA		 August 27, 2021 279 days
 1. def. Alesha Zappitella at Invicta FC 47 on May 11, 2022
Ducote vacated title on June 2, 2022 to sign with the UFC.[23]
9 Brazil Valesca Machado
def. Karolina Wójcik		 Invicta FC 50: Strawweight Title Tournament
Denver, CO, USA		 November 16, 2022 118 days
10 Republic of Ireland Danni McCormack
 Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack
Denver, CO, USA		 March 15, 2023 224 days
(incumbent)

Atomweight Championship
96 to 105 lbs (44 to 48 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 United States Jessica Penne
def. Naho Sugiyama		 Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama
Kansas City, KS, USA		 October 6, 2012 181 days
2 United States Michelle Waterson Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
Kansas City, MO, USA		 April 5, 2013 609 days 1. def. Yasuko Tamada at Invicta FC 8 on Sept 6, 2014
3 Brazil Hérica Tibúrcio Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio
Houston, Texas, USA		 December 5, 2014 216 days
4 Japan Ayaka Hamasaki Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA		 July 9, 2015 737 days 1. def. Amber Brown at Invicta FC 16 on Mar 11, 2016
2. def. Jinh Yu Frey at Invicta FC 19 on Sept 23, 2016
Hamasaki vacated title on July 15, 2017 to sign with Rizin.
5 United States Jinh Yu Frey
def. Minna Grusander		 Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander
Kansas City, MO, USA		 July 21, 2018 564 days
 1. def. Minna Grusander at Invicta FC 33 on Dec 16, 2018
Frey was stripped of the title on February 6, 2020 after failing to make weight against Ashley Cummins at Invicta FC 39.
6 United States Alesha Zappitella
def. Ashley Cummins		 Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. Zappitella
Kansas City, KS, USA		 September 17, 2020 482 days
 1. def. Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 44 on May 21, 2021
7 Brazil Jéssica Delboni
Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni II
Kansas City, KS, USA		 January 12, 2022 258 days
8 United States Jillian DeCoursey
Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey
Hinton, OK, USA		 September 28, 2022 215 days
9 Brazil Rayanne dos Santos
Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos
Denver, CO, USA		 May 3, 2023 167 days
Dos Santos vacated title on October 17, 2023 to sign with UFC.

Records

Most wins in title bouts
Title wins Champion Division V D NC L
4 Brazil Cristiane Justino Featherweight 4 0 0 0
3 United States Barb Honchak Flyweight 3 0 0 0
Japan Ayaka Hamasaki Atomweight 3 0 0 0
Brazil Jennifer Maia Flyweight 3 0 0 0

Most consecutive title defenses
Defenses Champion Division Period
3 Brazil Cristiane Justino Featherweight July 12, 2013 – March 24, 2017

Champions by nationality

The division champions include only linear and true champions. Interim champions who have never become linear champions will be listed as interim champions. Fighters with multiple title reigns in a specific division will also be counted once.

CountryDivision
champions		Interim
champions		Total
 United States 14 - 14
 Brazil 11 - 11
 Canada 2 - 2
 Japan 2 - 2
 Australia 1 - 1
 Finland 1 - 1
 Ireland 1 - 1
 Lithuania 1 - 1
 Russia 1 - 1

See also

References
  1. "Invicta Fighting Championships, about". 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  2. Paligaru, Matt (2012-03-24). "Shannon Knapp reveals how Invicta FC came together and what it means for women's MMA". United Kingdom: Fighters.com. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. "Invicta FC sold to Anthem Sports & Entertainment, events to air on AXS TV". MMA Junkie. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  4. Adams, Jason (2012-03-21). "Janet Martin Interview". United States: Promoting Real Women blog. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  5. Saccaro, Matt (2012-04-26). "Invicta FC's Shannon Knapp Talks Providing 'Better Life for the Athletes'". MMA. United States: Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  6. Hunt, Loretta (2012-04-27). "Invicta, new women's-only MMA series, was long time coming". Inside MMA. United States: SI.com. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  7. "Marloes Coenen, Romy Ruyssen Headline Invicta Fighting Championships' All-Female Card". News. United States: Sherdog.com. 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  8. "As debut nears, Invicta's Randi Miller not interested in Ronda Rousey's 'easy road'". News. United States: MMAjunkie.com. 2012-04-09. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  9. Ragsdale, Cheryl (2012-04-27). "Two Firsts: Ronda Rousey Joins TUF Live, Esther Lin Photographs Invicta Female Fighters". News. United States: Yahoo!. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  10. "Invicta Fighting and JEWELS Form Strategic Partnership for Women's MMA". Articles. MMAWeekly.com. 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  11. "Super Fight League to Develop Women's MMA Talent". mmapundit.co.uk. September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  12. "Invicta FC 6 to air on cable and satellite pay-per-view in U.S. and Canada". MMAjunkie.
  13. Shaun Al-Shatti (10 July 2014). "Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada set for UFC Fight Pass debut". MMA Fighting.
  14. "Combate transmite ao vivo defesa de título de Cris Cyborg no Invicta FC 11". sportv.globo.com/site/combate.
  15. "Invicta women's MMA promotion sold to Anthem". ESPN.com. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  16. Jay Anderson (September 21, 2022). "Invicta FC Announces Broadcast Deal with FOX Sports Mexico". cagesidepress.com.
  17. "NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  18. "INVICTA FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  19. Anderson, Jay (2023-01-23). "Valesca Machado vs. Danni McCormack Strawweight Title Fight Announced for Invicta FC 52". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  20. "Invicta FC 51: Taneisha Tennant defends bantamweight belt against Talita Bernardo". mmacrossfire.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  21. Simon, Zane (2013-12-11). "UFC announces signing of 11 women strawweights for TUF season, winner becomes first UFC 115lb champ". United States: Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  22. "Invicta FC Strawweight title vacated". United States: Twitter. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  23. King, Nolan (2 June 2022). "Invicta FC champion Emily Ducote signs with UFC, fights Jessica Penne on Long Island". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
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