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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]

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

History

Formation

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]

Acquisition by Anthem

On April 15, 2021, it was announced that Anthem Sports & Entertainment had acquired Invicta.[15] Starting with Invicta FC 44 on May 21, 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]

On June 11, 2024, Invicta announced that it had signed a deal with CBS Sports to air all of that year's events on the CBS Sports Network in the United States, starting with Invicta FC 55 on June 28.[17]

Roster

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.[18]

Events

[19]

Past events

Current champions

Title history

Featherweight Championship

136 to 145 lbs (62 to 66 kg)

Bantamweight Championship

126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)

Flyweight Championship

116 to 125 lbs (53 to 56 kg)

Strawweight Championship

106 to 115 lbs (49 to 52 kg)

Atomweight Championship

96 to 105 lbs (44 to 48 kg)

Records

Most wins in title bouts

Most consecutive title defenses

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Invicta Fighting Championships, about". 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  2. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on April 29, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  7. ^ a b "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!. Archived from the original on 2012-04-30. 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. ^ Heck, Mike (June 11, 2024). "Invicta FC announces new broadcast partner, rest of 2024 schedule". MMA Fighting. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  18. ^ "NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  19. ^ "INVICTA FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  20. ^ Tatum, Rob (June 28, 2024). "Invicta FC 55 Results: Bernardo Submits Rubin to Retain Bantamweight Title". Invicta Fighting Championships. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  21. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-01-23). "Valesca Machado vs. Danni McCormack Strawweight Title Fight Announced for Invicta FC 52". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  22. ^ "Invicta FC 51: Taneisha Tennant defends bantamweight belt against Talita Bernardo". mmacrossfire.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ "Invicta FC Strawweight title vacated". United States: Twitter. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  25. ^ 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.

External links