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Invicta Fighting Championships
Invicta Fighting Championships
Invicta Fighting Championships
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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]

Key Information

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

History

[edit]

Formation

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
Main article: List of current Invicta FC fighters

Rules

[edit]

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

[edit]
Main article: List of Invicta FC events

[19]

Past events

[edit]
# Event Date Venue Location Ref
67 Invicta FC 62: Lehner vs. Rubin May 16, 2025 The LEX at Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri. U.S.
66 Invicta FC 61: Ferreira vs. Palacios April 5, 2025 Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Shawnee, Oklahoma. U.S.
65 Invicta FC 60: Rubin vs. Cantuária February 7, 2025 Center Stage Atlanta, Georgia. U.S.
64 Invicta FC 59: Bernardo vs. Maia December 13, 2024 The Eastern Atlanta, Georgia. U.S.
63 Invicta FC 58: Ducote vs. Ostroverkhova November 6, 2024 Memorial Hall Kansas City, Kansas. U.S.
62 Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. Romero September 20, 2024 Memorial Hall Kansas City, Kansas. U.S.
61 Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária August 9, 2024 Stockyards Event Center Denver, Colorado. U.S.
60 Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin June 8, 2024 Memorial Hall Kansas City, Kansas. U.S. [20]
59 Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wojcik October 27, 2023 Citizens House of Blues Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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 [21]
56 Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo January 18, 2023 [22]
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

[edit]
Division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses Top Contender
Featherweight 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) Vacant July 13, 2021
Bantamweight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) Brazil Jennifer Maia December 13, 2024 (Invicta FC 59)
Flyweight 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) Vacant May 2, 2023
Strawweight 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st) Vacant July 16, 2024
Atomweight 105 lb (48 kg; 7.5 st) Brazil Elisandra Ferreira September 20, 2024 (Invicta FC 57) 1

Title history

[edit]

Featherweight Championship

[edit]
136 to 145 lbs (62 to 66 kg)
No. Name Event Date Reign Defenses
1 Brazil Cris Cyborg
def. Marloes Coenen 		Invicta FC 6
Kansas City, MO, US 		Jul 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 Jul 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
Kansas City, MO, US 		Jan 14, 2017 -
Cyborg 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
Kansas City, MO, US 		Mar 24, 2017 88 days
Anderson vacated the title on June 20, 2017 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3 Canada Felicia Spencer
def. Pam Sorenson 		Invicta FC 32
Shawnee, OK, US 		Nov 16, 2018 129 days
Spencer vacated the title on March 26, 2019 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
4 United States Pam Sorenson
def. Kaitlin Young 		Invicta FC 36
Kansas City, KS, US 		Aug 9, 2019 705 days
Sorenson vacated the title on July 13, 2021 to sign with Bellator MMA.

Bantamweight Championship

[edit]
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
Kansas City, MO, US 		Dec 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
Las Vegas, NV, US 		Jul 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 Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3 Russia Yana Kunitskaya
def. Raquel Pa'aluhi 		Invicta FC 25
Lemoore, CA, US 		Aug 31, 2017 160 days
Kunitskaya vacated title on February 7, 2018 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
4 Canada Sarah Kaufman
def. Katharina Lehner 		Invicta FC 29
Kansas City, MO, US 		May 4, 2018 368 days
Kaufman vacated title on May 9, 2019 to sign with the Professional Fighters League.
5 Lithuania Julija Stoliarenko
def. Lisa Spangler 		Invicta FC Phoenix Series 3
Kansas City, KS, USA 		Mar 6, 2020 147 days
Stoliarenko vacated title on July 31, 2020 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
6 United States Taneisha Tennant
def. Lisa Spangler 		Invicta FC 44
Kansas City, KS, US 		Aug 27, 2021 509 days

1. def. Olga Rubin at Invicta FC 48 on Jul 20, 2022

7 Brazil Talita Bernardo
 Invicta FC 51
Denver, CO, US 		Jan 18, 2023 684 days

1. def. Olga Rubin at Invicta FC 55 on Jun 28, 2024

8 Brazil Jennifer Maia
 Invicta FC 59
Atlanta, GA, US 		Dec 13, 2024 344 days
(incumbent)

Flyweight Championship

[edit]
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
Kansas City, MO, US 		Apr 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
Las Vegas, NV, US 		Mar 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
Kansas City, MO, US 		Sep 22, 2016 652 days

1. def. Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 19 on Sep 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 Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3 Brazil Vanessa Porto
def. Pearl Gonzalez 		Invicta FC 34
Kansas City, MO, USA 		Feb 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, US 		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
Denver, CO, USA 		Jan 18, 2023 104 days
Souza vacated title on May 2, 2023 to sign with the UFC.

Strawweight Championship

[edit]
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
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Jan 5, 2013 341 days
Esparza vacated title on December 11, 2013 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned.[23][24]
2 Finland Katja Kankaanpää
def. Stephanie Eggink 		Invicta FC 8
Kansas City, MO, U.S. 		Sep 6, 2014 230 days
3 Brazil Lívia Renata Souza
 Invicta FC 12
Kansas City, MO, U.S. 		Apr 24, 2015 380 days

1. def. DeAnna Bennett at Invicta FC 15 on Jan 16, 2016

4 United States Angela Hill
 Invicta FC 17
Costa Mesa, CA, U.S. 		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
Salt Lake City, UT, U.S. 		Mar 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 		Invicta Phoenix Series 1
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		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
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Nov 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
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Aug 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.[25]
9 Brazil Valesca Machado
def. Karolina Wójcik 		Invicta FC 50
Denver, CO, U.S. 		Nov 16, 2022 118 days
10 Republic of Ireland Danni McCormack
 Invicta FC 52
Denver, CO, U.S. 		Mar 15, 2023 489 days

1. def. Karolina Wójcik at Invicta FC 54 on Oct 27, 2023

McCormack vacated title on July 16, 2024 to compete on the Road to UFC Season 3.

Atomweight Championship

[edit]
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
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Oct 6, 2012 181 days
2 United States Michelle Waterson Invicta FC 5
Kansas City, MO, U.S. 		Apr 5, 2013 609 days

1. def. Yasuko Tamada at Invicta FC 8 on Sep 6, 2014

3 Brazil Hérica Tibúrcio Invicta FC 10
Houston, TX, U.S. 		Dec 5, 2014 216 days
4 Japan Ayaka Hamasaki Invicta FC 13
Las Vegas, NV, U.S. 		Jul 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 Sep 23, 2016

Hamasaki vacated title on July 15, 2017 to sign with Rizin Fighting Federation.
5 United States Jinh Yu Frey
def. Minna Grusander 		Invicta FC 30
Kansas City, MO, U.S. 		Jul 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
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Sep 17, 2020 482 days

1. def. Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC on AXS TV: Rodríguez vs. Torquato on May 21, 2021

7 Brazil Jéssica Delboni
Invicta FC 45
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Jan 12, 2022 258 days
8 United States Jillian DeCoursey
Invicta FC 49
Hinton, OK, USA 		Sep 28, 2022 215 days
9 Brazil Rayanne dos Santos
Invicta FC 53
Denver, CO, USA 		May 3, 2023 167 days
Dos Santos vacated title on October 17, 2023 to sign with UFC.
10 Brazil Elisandra Ferreira
Invicta FC 57
Kansas City, KS, U.S. 		Sep 20, 2024 428 days
(incumbent)

1. def. Ana Palacios at Invicta FC 61 on April 4, 2025

Records

[edit]

Most wins in title bouts

[edit]
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

[edit]
Defenses Champion Division Period
3 Brazil Cristiane Justino Featherweight July 12, 2013 – March 24, 2017

Champions by nationality

[edit]

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.

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

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Invicta Fighting Championships

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta FC) is an American professional promotion that exclusively features women's bouts, founded in 2012 by Shannon Knapp to establish a dedicated competitive platform for female fighters amid limited opportunities in the sport. The organization held its inaugural event in , in April 2012, crowning its first champion later that year and expanding to broadcasts by 2013 while hosting events across multiple U.S. cities. By 2025, Invicta FC had conducted 67 events and overseen approximately 510 matches, maintaining operations through innovations such as the Phoenix Series one-night tournaments introduced in 2019 and open scoring to address judging disputes in prior bouts. Invicta FC has secured television rights deals, including an exclusive U.S. agreement with in 2024, and was acquired by in 2021, enabling sustained visibility for its athletes. Its role in women's MMA includes developing talent that has transitioned to larger promotions, while controversies over fight decisions prompted procedural reforms like open scoring to enhance transparency.

History

Founding and Early Development (2012–2014)

Invicta Fighting Championships was established in 2012 by Shannon Knapp, an experienced MMA executive, and Janet Martin, a sports enthusiast, to create a dedicated platform for professional women's mixed martial arts competition in the United States, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The promotion emerged amid limited opportunities for female fighters following the contraction of women's divisions in other organizations, aiming to showcase high-level bouts across multiple weight classes. The inaugural event, Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen, occurred on April 28, 2012, at Memorial Hall in , featuring a main event rematch between Marloes Coenen and Romy Ruyssen and streamed live for free on the promotion's website, which drew substantial online interest and marked a successful debut. Subsequent 2012 events included Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann on July 28 and Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on October 6, the latter crowning as the inaugural champion after her victory over Naho Sugiyama. In 2013, Invicta FC accelerated its development by hosting five events and establishing additional championships: Carla Esparza claimed the strawweight title at Invicta FC 4 on January 5, followed by flyweight and bantamweight crowns later in the year, with Invicta FC 6 on July 13 introducing the featherweight division and featuring Cris Cyborg's promotional debut. The promotion transitioned to pay-per-view formats for select cards, enhancing revenue streams while maintaining a focus on fighter compensation and event quality. Invicta FC 7 on December 7 finalized the initial set of five weight-class titles with Laura Coenen defeating Ediane Gomes in the bantamweight bout. By 2014, Invicta FC expanded geographically, holding Invicta FC 9 in , and secured a broadcasting partnership with starting with Invicta FC 8 on , which broadened its audience reach. Internal adjustments included the departure of Janet Martin from her role as matchmaker in October 2013, amid the promotion's efforts to stabilize operations and build a sustainable roster of talent.

Growth, Challenges, and Pre-Acquisition Era (2015–2020)

During this period, Invicta FC expanded its event schedule, hosting four events in 2015, six in 2016, six in 2017, seven in 2018, seven in 2019, and six in 2020, often featuring title bouts across strawweight, flyweight, , and divisions. The promotion benefited from its ongoing streaming partnership with , initiated in 2014 and continuing through 2020, which provided broader exposure to a global MMA audience despite Invicta's niche focus on women's bouts. This visibility supported the development of contenders like , who captured the flyweight title in September 2017 at Invicta FC 15 and defended it multiple times, and , who won the flyweight strap in 2019. Cris "Cyborg" Justino remained a cornerstone until vacating her title on March 24, 2017, ahead of her full transition to the UFC, where she had already debuted in 2016; her departures highlighted Invicta's role in elevating fighters but also strained roster depth as UFC routinely scouted and signed top talents. The promotion introduced experimental formats like the Invicta FC Phoenix Series in 2020, a prospect development program with events on March 6 and later dates, aimed at nurturing emerging fighters amid competitive pressures. Challenges intensified due to Invicta's limited resources and small operational team, with founder Shannon Knapp often managing multiple roles, positioning the organization as a talent feeder for larger promotions like UFC rather than a standalone entity. The 2020 disrupted live audiences and logistics, forcing adaptations such as reduced-capacity venues for events like Invicta FC 40 on July 2, yet the promotion persisted without reported cancellations. These factors, compounded by misalignment with UFC Fight Pass's broader strategy, underscored sustainability issues for an independent women's MMA league in a male-dominated industry.

Anthem Acquisition and Post-2021 Trajectory

On April 15, 2021, Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Toronto- and Los Angeles-based media company owning AXS TV and Fight Network, acquired Invicta Fighting Championships for an undisclosed amount. The deal, which included Invicta's Phoenix Series—a rapid-format tournament brand—took effect starting with Invicta FC 44: A New Era on May 21, 2021, at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. Invicta president Shannon Knapp, who co-founded the promotion in 2012, retained her role and cited the acquisition as a means to secure financial stability and expand broadcasting reach beyond the prior UFC Fight Pass agreement, which ended concurrently. Post-acquisition, Invicta maintained a consistent event schedule under Anthem's ownership, hosting numbered cards approximately every 2–4 months, primarily in Kansas City venues, with occasional expansions to locations like , Georgia, for Invicta FC 60: Rubin vs. Cantuária on February 7, 2025. From Invicta FC 44 in 2021 through Invicta FC 60 in 2025, the promotion produced over 15 main events, featuring title fights across weight classes such as , strawweight, and , while continuing to serve as a developmental league for female MMA talent transitioning to the UFC. Broadcasting shifted initially to in the United States and in Canada, emphasizing live coverage to build viewership, though early events reportedly faced performance challenges per industry discussions. By June 2024, Invicta secured an exclusive U.S. television rights deal with for five annual events, renewed in February 2025, reflecting sustained operational viability and adaptation to streaming and linear TV platforms amid the UFC's growing inclusion of women's divisions. Under Anthem, Invicta has positioned itself as a specialized pipeline for women's MMA, with alumni like and achieving UFC success, though the promotion has navigated a reduced role as a "final destination" due to broader opportunities in major leagues. No public financial disclosures indicate distress, and ongoing event production through 2025, including Invicta FC 62 scheduled for May 16 in Kansas City with an all-female commentary team, underscores continuity and incremental growth in talent scouting and international fighter participation.

Rules and Regulations

Adoption of Unified MMA Rules

Invicta Fighting Championships operates under the Unified Rules of , a standardized regulatory framework developed in 2001 by the State Athletic Control Board in collaboration with the to impose structure on MMA following its early perception as a chaotic spectacle. These rules define permissible techniques, fouls (such as eye gouges, groin strikes, and ), round structures (typically three five-minute rounds for non-title bouts and five for championships), and the 10-point must scoring system prioritizing effective striking and over mere aggression or positional control. Adoption by promotions like Invicta ensures sanctioning by state athletic commissions, which overwhelmingly enforce this set for licensed events in the United States. From its inaugural event, Invicta FC 1 on July 28, 2012, in , the promotion has adhered to the Unified Rules, aligning with the Missouri Office of Athletics' requirements for regulated combat sports. This compliance facilitated professional legitimacy for women's MMA at a time when the division lacked dedicated platforms, avoiding the patchwork regulations of pre-Unified eras that varied by jurisdiction and promotion. Invicta's events, primarily held in states like and , inherit commission-mandated enforcement of these rules, including weigh-in tolerances (one pound for non-title fights) and medical suspensions for knockouts or cuts. The promotion's official guidelines confirm ongoing use of the Unified Rules, with modifications limited to event-specific formats like the Phoenix Series tournaments, which still default to framework for individual bouts. This adoption has supported Invicta's role as a developmental feeder to major leagues, as fighters acclimate to rules identical to those in the , reducing adaptation barriers upon promotion. Periodic updates to the Unified Rules, such as 2016 amendments emphasizing 10-8 scoring for dominant rounds and 2024 revisions on downward elbows, are incorporated as commissions implement them, ensuring Invicta's ruleset remains current without proprietary deviations.

Experimental Innovations and Judging Practices

Invicta Fighting Championships has adhered to the Unified Rules of for its standard bouts, employing the ten-point must scoring system that prioritizes effective striking, grappling, control of the fighting area, aggressiveness, and defense. However, the promotion has pursued experimental judging practices, most notably by pioneering open scoring—also termed real-time scoring—in select events to enhance transparency and allow fighters to adapt strategies mid-bout based on disclosed round scores. This innovation debuted at Phoenix Series 3 on March 6, 2020, in Kansas, under approval from the Kansas Athletic Commission, marking the first implementation of such a system in a major MMA promotion. Under the protocol, judges' scores for each round were collected and relayed to both fighters' corners immediately after the round concluded, without public broadcast, to inform tactical adjustments while preserving competitive integrity. Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp cited recent high-profile judging controversies in MMA as motivation, arguing that the approach could mitigate errors and empower fighters without altering core criteria. The Phoenix Series events themselves represent a format innovation through one-night tournaments, where competitors fight multiple bouts in a single evening across quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals within a designated , testing physical and mental resilience in a structure uncommon in modern MMA due to injury risks. Phoenix Series 3, an tournament, integrated open scoring across its matches, revealing score divergences in bouts like Julija versus Jenny Costa, where Stoliarenko led 39-36 and 39-37 on two cards but trailed 39-37 on the third entering the final round. Such disclosures prompted strategic shifts, though critics noted potential for conservative fighting if trailing fighters play safe; proponents, including UFC Max , hailed it as a progressive step for the sport's evolution. Subsequent Phoenix Series iterations, such as the tournament in Series 4, continued the multi-fight format without confirmed open scoring extensions, indicating its experimental status. While open scoring has not been universally adopted across Invicta events or broader MMA—owing to concerns over altering fight dynamics—the trial underscored the promotion's role in piloting reforms amid stagnant judging standards elsewhere. No permanent deviations from Unified Rules scoring criteria have been enacted, preserving emphasis on impactful action over mere activity.

Roster and Talent Pipeline

Current Active Fighters

Invicta FC's active roster consists of signed professional female mixed martial artists competing under the promotion's banner, primarily in (105 lb), Strawweight (115 lb), (125 lb), and (135 lb) divisions, with the Featherweight (145 lb) title vacant since July 2021. The roster emphasizes depth in lower weight classes, featuring a of title contenders, veterans with UFC experience, and prospects from regional circuits across North and , , and beyond. As of October 2025, the promotion maintains roughly 20-30 active fighters, subject to ongoing signings, releases, and performance-based cuts, with strong Brazilian and American representation evident in recent events. In the Atomweight division, Elisandra "Lili" Ferreira serves as champion, having defended her title against Ana Palacios via decision at Invicta FC 61 on April 4, 2025, following a prior win over Andressa on September 20, 2024. These bouts highlight the division's focus on technical striking and exchanges among compact, high-volume fighters. The Strawweight roster includes defender , who secured a dominant victory in her title defense at Invicta FC 54, underscoring the class's blend of wrestling bases and power, with additional talents like Karina Rodriguez contributing to competitive undercards. Flyweight features experienced competitors such as and Rayla Nascimento, who clashed at Invicta FC 62 on May 16, 2025, alongside Milana Dudieva and Amanda Torres, reflecting a division populated by durable grapplers and strikers often transitioning from larger promotions. boasts the deepest recent activity, with Talita Bernardo capturing the title via victory over at Invicta FC 59 on December 13, 2024, becoming the promotion's first two-division champion; Maia, a former UFC title challenger, remains active alongside Olga Rubin, who submitted Katharina Lehner at Invicta FC 62, and Mayra Cantuaria, positioning the class for frequent contention bouts.
DivisionKey Active Fighters (Examples)Recent Highlights
AtomweightElisandra Ferreira, Ana Palacios, Andressa RomeroTitle defenses in 2024-2025 events
Strawweight, Karina RodriguezChampionship retention at FC 54
Flyweight, Rayla Nascimento, Milana Dudieva, Amanda TorresMultiple bouts at FC 62
BantamweightTalita Bernardo, , Olga Rubin, Mayra Cantuaria, Katharina LehnerTitle change at FC 59; submission win at FC 62

Notable Alumni and Cross-Promotion to UFC

Invicta Fighting Championships has functioned as a key developmental league for female mixed martial artists, with numerous competitors transitioning to the after establishing records or capturing titles in its cage. This talent pipeline emerged prominently following a multi-year broadcasting agreement in June 2014, whereby Invicta events and archival content streamed exclusively on , enhancing scout access and fighter visibility without involving direct promotional collaborations or joint events. The arrangement concluded in February 2021, coinciding with Invicta's sale to , yet the prior exposure facilitated dozens of signings. Among the most prominent alumni is , who claimed the inaugural Invicta title in 2012 and defended it five times before vacating it on March 24, 2017, to focus on UFC opportunities; she debuted there in 2016, won the women's in 2017, and amassed a 6-1 record in the promotion. compiled a 2-1 record in Invicta from 2012 to 2013, securing victories via unanimous decision and flying armbar submission before her loss to Tecia Torres propelled her to and a storied UFC career, including two strawweight titles. captured the flyweight in December 2017 and vacated it on July 7, 2018, upon signing with UFC, where she competed 12 times from 2018 to 2022. Other notable transitions include , who went 0-2 in Invicta bouts against and Leslie Smith in 2012–2013 before joining UFC in 2014 and contending for the title multiple times. Megan Anderson won the featherweight crown in July 2017 with a first-round submission of Charmaine Tweet and signed with UFC shortly thereafter, challenging for the title in 2021. Additional alumni such as Andrea Lee and have also advanced to UFC contention after honing skills in Invicta, underscoring the promotion's role in populating higher divisions despite no formal cross-promotional fighter loans or exhibitions.

Events and Operations

Event Format, Venues, and Scheduling

Invicta FC events adhere to the Unified Rules of , featuring bouts exclusively between female competitors across multiple weight classes. Championship contests are scheduled for five rounds of five minutes each, with one-minute rest periods between rounds, while non-title fights typically consist of three five-minute rounds. Event cards generally comprise 7 to 8 bouts, structured with preliminary fights leading into a main card highlighted by a featured main event, often a title defense or high-profile matchup. This format supports a focused evening of competition, averaging around 7.6 fights per event across the promotion's history of approximately 510 total matches. Venues for Invicta FC events are located exclusively within the , with the majority hosted in the to leverage local infrastructure and fan base. Memorial Hall in , has served as the site for 19 events, establishing it as the promotion's primary venue, while the Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple in has hosted 11. Additional locations include ReelWorks Denver in , (5 events), Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in , and various arenas in Las Vegas, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Los Angeles, California, allowing for regional expansion without international travel. Scheduling follows a numbered sequence beginning with Invicta FC 1 on April 28, 2012, with the promotion maintaining an average of about five events per year over its 67 events to date. This frequency balances fighter development and audience engagement, with recent schedules aligned to broadcasting commitments, such as five events in 2024 aired on from June to December. Events are typically spaced quarterly or bimonthly, prioritizing mid-sized arenas for live attendance of several thousand spectators.

Broadcasting Agreements and Viewership

Invicta Fighting Championships broadcast its events exclusively on from 2014 until the partnership ended in early 2021. Following the split, events shifted to streaming on starting in 2021. In September 2022, Invicta secured a five-year broadcast rights agreement with Mexico, beginning with Invicta FC 49. The promotion expanded internationally in January 2023 with a deal to air events on Globo's Combate channel throughout , continuing a series of media partnerships established in 2022 and early 2023. On June 11, 2024, Invicta announced an exclusive U.S. television rights agreement with , featuring five live events on that year, starting with Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin on June 28. This deal marked a return to linear television in the U.S. after years of primarily online streaming. The agreement was renewed on February 6, 2025, designating as the official broadcaster for Invicta events throughout the year. Viewership data for Invicta events has been limited and inconsistently released by the promotion. The inaugural event in April 2012 reportedly drew 233,580 unique streams, a figure met with skepticism in MMA media circles regarding verification methods. Subsequent reports cited over 250,000 live viewers for early shows, though the promotion has not routinely disclosed detailed metrics, citing strategic reasons. No comprehensive public viewership figures are available for recent broadcasts as of October 2025, reflecting the challenges in measuring niche MMA audiences amid fragmented streaming and cable viewership.

Championships and Competition Structure

Weight Classes and Title System

Invicta Fighting Championships operates across five weight classes for female competitors, adhering to the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts as adopted by the promotion. These divisions include atomweight (up to 105 lb or 47.6 kg), strawweight (up to 115 lb or 52.2 kg), flyweight (up to 125 lb or 56.7 kg), bantamweight (up to 135 lb or 61.2 kg), and featherweight (up to 145 lb or 65.8 kg). Fighters must weigh in at or below the class limit, typically the day prior to the event, with non-title bouts allowing a one-pound allowance in some cases, though championship weigh-ins require exact compliance.
Weight ClassUpper Limit (lb / kg)
Atomweight105 / 47.6
Strawweight115 / 52.2
Flyweight125 / 56.7
135 / 61.2
145 / 65.8
The title system features one active championship per division, contested exclusively in designated title bouts that headline or co-headline events. These matches consist of five five-minute rounds with one-minute rest periods, evaluated under the ten-point must scoring system where judges award 10 points to the round winner and 9 or fewer to the loser based on effective striking, , aggression, and control. The victor claims or retains the belt, which becomes vacant upon a champion's , hiatus exceeding a set period, weight class change, or departure to another promotion such as the UFC. Titles were introduced sequentially to build the division structure: the atomweight crown at Invicta FC 3 on December 15, 2012; strawweight at Invicta FC 4 on January 5, 2013; flyweight in spring 2013; at Invicta FC 6 on July 13, 2013; and at Invicta FC 7 on December 7, 2013, establishing the full five-belt framework. No interim or co-champion designations are standard, though unification or elimination bouts have occurred to resolve vacancies or disputes. Defenses are scheduled against ranked challengers based on win streaks, prior performances, and promotional matchmaking, with belts defended multiple times by long-reigning champions in each class historically.

Current Champions

The Invicta Fighting Championships maintains active world titles in select weight classes, with champions determined by bouts under unified MMA rules. As of October 2025, titles are held in and divisions, while flyweight and remain vacant following prior vacancies or departures to other promotions. Strawweight is held by , who captured the belt in 2023 and has recorded subsequent defenses without reported relinquishment.
DivisionChampionNationalityTitle Win DateEvent Details
Atomweight (105 lb)Elisandra FerreiraBrazilJuly 2024Vacant title bout at Invicta FC 57 vs. Andressa ; retained April 4, 2025, via over Ana Palacios at Invicta FC 61.
Strawweight (115 lb)Danni March 15, 2023Defeated Valesca Machado via (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) at Invicta FC 52; subsequent defense at Invicta FC 54.
Flyweight (125 lb)Vacant——Last held by Karina Rodriguez following win at Invicta FC 46 vs. Daiana Torquato; no active title bout reported since.
Bantamweight (135 lb)December 13, 2024Captured title at Invicta FC 59; former UFC contender returning to promotion.
Featherweight (145 lb)Vacant——No active title holder following historical vacancies after era.

Title Histories and Records

Atomweight and Strawweight Histories

The atomweight division, limited to 105 pounds, marked Invicta FC's inaugural bout at Invicta FC 3, where submitted Naho Sugiyama in the fifth round to claim the title on October 6, 2012. Subsequent titleholders included Hérica Tibúrcio, who captured the belt via interim means before unification, followed by periods of contention amid fighter transitions. Jennifer Zappitella defended the successfully against an opponent in the co-main event of an AXS-televised card on May 21, 2021, solidifying her reign amid the division's growing depth. The promotion introduced a Phoenix Series one-night on June 11, 2021, to determine a title contender, highlighting the division's reliance on innovative formats to address vacancies from promotions like the UFC. The atomweight crown saw further turnover, with the belt declared vacant prior to Invicta FC 57 on September 20, 2024, when Elisandra "Lili" Ferreira outpointed Andressa Romero via over five rounds to become champion. Ferreira extended her reign with a victory over Ana Palacios at Invicta FC 61 on April 4, 2025, demonstrating superior striking volume and control in a grueling main event. As of October 2025, Ferreira remains the reigning champion, with the division characterized by frequent submissions (over 40% of title fights ending in that manner) and a pattern of Brazilian dominance in recent defenses. The strawweight division, capped at 115 pounds, debuted its championship at Invicta FC 4 on January 5, 2013, crowning Carla Esparza as inaugural titleholder after she decisioned Lynn Knesel in the main event following Rose Namajunas' withdrawal. Esparza defended once against Bec Rawlings before vacating for UFC opportunities, a recurring theme as six of the first seven champions departed for larger promotions. Katja Kankaanpää claimed the vacant belt at Invicta FC 8 via fifth-round D'Arce choke over Stephanie Eggink, only to lose it to Livia Renata Souza by fourth-round triangle choke. Souza defended once against DeAnna Bennett via first-round body kick at Invicta FC 15 before dropping a split decision to Angela Hill at Invicta FC 17; Hill added a decision win over Kaline Medeiros at Invicta FC 20 prior to vacating. Virna Jandiroba secured the title at Invicta FC 28 with a over , defending via second-round arm-triangle against Janaisa Morandin at Invicta FC 31 before vacating. Brianna van Buren won a one-night final by second-round choke over , and took the belt via against at Invicta FC 38, both later departing. Post-2020, captured the championship at Invicta FC 44 against Danielle Taylor, reflecting ongoing contention amid 100+ division bouts since inception. Valesca won the title outright at Invicta FC 50 on November 16, 2022, edging Karolina Wójcik in a final via decision, underscoring the division's emphasis on exchanges and wrestler pipelines to the UFC. By 2025, the strawweight title remains active but prone to vacancies, with over 70% of reigns ending in promotion jumps rather than defeats, as evidenced by like Esparza and Jandiroba succeeding in the UFC.

Flyweight and Bantamweight Histories

The Invicta FC flyweight division (116–125 lb) featured its inaugural championship bout in 2013, establishing a competitive landscape marked by frequent title changes and defenses. retained the flyweight title via over Takayo Hashi (49-46, 50-45, 49-46) at Invicta FC 9 on November 1, 2014, showcasing dominant clinch control and striking volume throughout five rounds. later claimed the title and defended it successfully against Agnieszka Niedzwiedz by (48-47 across three judges) at Invicta FC 26 on December 8, 2017, extending her streak to six consecutive victories and solidifying her status as a top contender in the weight class. Vanessa Porto captured the championship via disqualification due to an illegal eye poke by during their encounter, highlighting early controversies in title bouts. The promotion initiated its first flyweight tournament at Invicta FC 34 on February 15, 2019, with the final rematch concluding at Invicta FC 35 on June 7, 2019, aimed at identifying elite contenders amid ongoing divisional instability. The title has remained vacant since Porto's departure to in 2020, reflecting challenges in crowning a sustained dominant figure in the division. The division (126–135 lb) introduced its at Invicta FC 7 on December 7, 2013, expanding the promotion's championship offerings. Reigning champion demonstrated her grappling prowess in a non- main event, securing a TKO victory via ground-and-pound at 2:01 of the second round against at Invicta FC 14 on September 12, 2015, underscoring her defensive resilience against submission attempts. After subsequent vacancies, claimed the vacant belt with a rear-naked choke submission at 1:35 of the second round over undefeated Katharina Lehner in the Invicta FC 29 headliner on May 4, 2018, leveraging her wrestling background for control. won another vacant in a grueling over Lisa Verzosa at Invicta FC Phoenix Series 3 on March 6, 2020, enduring significant damage in a high-paced striking exchange. Talita Bernardo eventually secured the championship before dethroned her via at Invicta FC 59 on December 13, 2024, achieving a career milestone as Invicta FC's first two-division champion by adding the crown to her prior flyweight accomplishments.

Featherweight and Higher Weight Class Histories

The Invicta FC featherweight division, contested at 145 pounds (65.8 kg), represents the promotion's heaviest weight class, with no official divisions established above it. The inaugural championship bout occurred at Invicta FC 6 on July 13, 2013, in , where Brazilian fighter defeated Marloes Coenen via first-round rear-naked choke submission at 1:11, crowning the first champion after a brief period of non-title featherweight bouts in earlier events. Cyborg's reign lasted 1,351 days, the longest in division history, during which she secured three successful defenses: a first-round TKO against Leslie Smith at Invicta FC 11 on December 7, 2013; a third-round submission over Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 14 on July 12, 2014; and a first-round knockout of Toni Blakeney (billed as Faith Van Duin) at Invicta FC 18 on December 23, 2014. Cyborg vacated the title in 2016 upon signing with the UFC, leaving the division without a champion for approximately eight months. The vacant title was contested at Invicta FC 21 on September 16, 2016, in Kansas City, where Australian Megan Anderson claimed the belt by defeating Charmaine Tweet via third-round armbar submission at 2:55, marking the first title fight finish by submission since the inaugural bout. Anderson made one defense, submitting via rear-naked choke in the first round at Invicta FC 23 on May 20, 2017, before departing for the UFC in late 2017, which led to another vacancy. The division remained inactive for title purposes until Invicta FC 35 on June 7, 2019, when American Pam Sorenson captured the vacant championship against Kaitlin Young by (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) after five rounds, dominating with wrestling control and ground strikes. Sorenson vacated the title in 2021 due to inactivity and contractual issues, rendering the featherweight belt vacant as of July 13, 2021, with no subsequent champions crowned.
ChampionReign StartReign LengthDefensesNotes
July 13, 20131,351 days3Vacated for UFC contract
Megan AndersonSeptember 16, 2016~460 days1Vacated for UFC contract
Pam SorensonJune 7, 2019~760 days0Vacated due to inactivity
The division has featured six total title fights, all ending by finish except Sorenson's victory, highlighting a pattern of decisive outcomes in championship bouts. Non-title action has included bouts such as Chelsea Chandler's win over Saull at Invicta FC 58 on April 5, 2024, but the lack of higher divisions reflects Invicta FC's focus on lighter women's classes amid talent pool constraints at 145 pounds and above.

Overall Records and Statistical Achievements

As of recent records, Invicta Fighting Championships has hosted 67 events, featuring approximately 510 professional bouts. These events have showcased a range of weight classes and formats, contributing to the promotion's role in compiling extensive fight data for women's MMA competitors. DeAnna Bennett possesses the most wins in Invicta FC history, with her performances spanning multiple divisions and including victories that marked milestones such as the promotion's 500th bout. In , has recorded the highest number of victories within the division, extending her lead through consistent performances as of early 2020. Early promotional events demonstrated strong digital engagement, with Invicta FC 2 drawing over 230,000 online viewers shortly after launch in 2012. Notable statistical feats include multiple instances of high-volume non-standard weight class bouts, occurring in 18.75% of events through Invicta FC 32, highlighting the promotion's flexibility in matchmaking. Fighters like Kay Hansen have tied for significant divisional win counts, such as sixth-most in strawweight, through targeted bouts in series events. These aggregates underscore Invicta FC's accumulation of empirical performance metrics, aiding in talent evaluation and historical benchmarking within women's MMA.

Defenses, Wins, and National Representation

Cris Cyborg recorded the most successful title defenses in Invicta FC history, with three defenses of the featherweight championship from 2014 to 2016 against Leslie Smith, Charmaine Tweet, and Daria Ibragimova. Her overall record in Invicta FC title bouts stands at four wins, tying her for the most victories in championship fights within the promotion. Other notable defenses include Jinh Yu Frey's two successful title defenses in 2017 and 2018, and Vanessa Porto's interim title retention in 2018. Brazilian fighters have dominated Invicta FC championships, producing multiple titleholders such as , (current champion as of December 13, 2024), and Elisandra Ferreira ( champion). This reflects Brazil's strong pipeline of women's MMA talent, evidenced by at least seven Brazilian champions across divisions since the promotion's inception in 2012. In contrast, the has yielded champions like (strawweight, 2013) and Jessica Penne (, 2013), while single-title winners hail from countries including (Megan Anderson, interim, 2016), Mexico (Karina Rodriguez, strawweight tournament winner, 2019), and . The promotion's roster demonstrates broad national representation, with fighters competing from over a dozen countries, including Canada, Lithuania, Finland, and others, fostering a global competitive landscape despite the preponderance of North and South American participants. This diversity is highlighted in events featuring international matchups, such as Brazilian champions defending against challengers from Europe and Oceania.

Impact, Achievements, and Criticisms

Contributions to Women's MMA Development

Invicta Fighting Championships, founded in by MMA executive Shannon Knapp, addressed a scarcity of high-level for fighters at a time when major promotions like the UFC offered limited slots for women. The promotion's debut event on April 28, , in Kansas City established it as the premier all-women's MMA organization, streaming live for free and drawing immediate interest from athletes seeking professional exposure. By prioritizing competitive matchups across multiple weight classes—including pioneering the division with its first title crowned at Invicta FC 3 later that year—Invicta provided structured pathways for skill development and title contention absent in fragmented regional scenes. This focus helped stabilize women's MMA, which faced uncertain futures amid broader industry skepticism toward divisions. Over its history, Invicta has promoted more than 60 events and approximately 510 matches, fostering a talent pipeline that elevated participants to elite levels. Fighters such as , who defended her title there, and prospects like gained crucial experience, with many later signing UFC contracts—evidenced by champions like and vacating belts to join the larger promotion. Knapp's prior work matchmaking women in Strikeforce further positioned Invicta to identify and nurture undervalued athletes, contributing to the genre's maturation through consistent events and media deals, such as its 2024 CBS Sports partnership. These efforts not only built a roster of legends but also pressured mainstream promotions to expand women's divisions, as Invicta's demonstrated viable fan and competitive depth. By 2024, the organization had hosted over 500 women's bouts, underscoring its role in sustaining momentum for the sport's growth amid economic and logistical challenges.

Business Model and Economic Realities

Invicta Fighting Championships operates primarily through the production and promotion of live events featuring female competitors, generating revenue from , sponsorship agreements, ticket sales at venues, and ancillary sources such as merchandise and distribution. Following its acquisition by in April 2021, the promotion has secured media deals including an exclusive U.S. television rights agreement with , which aired five events on in 2024 and was renewed for 2025 broadcasts. Prior to this, Invicta streamed events on platforms like from 2014 until parting ways in 2021, and earlier utilized free broadcasts to build audience reach. Sponsorships contribute modestly, with partnerships such as a multi-year deal with Zebra Athletics providing branded apparel and visibility during events. However, the promotion's overall annual revenue remains limited, estimated at under $5 million, reflecting its niche focus on women's MMA amid a broader industry dominated by larger entities like the UFC. Fighter compensation underscores these constraints, with disclosed purses typically ranging from $4,000 to $15,000 per bout including show and win bonuses; for instance, at Invicta FC 59 in December 2024, total fighter payouts approximated event-specific figures around $50,000–$70,000 based on prior patterns. Economically, Invicta faces persistent challenges inherent to the underdeveloped market for women's MMA outside UFC headliners, including lower viewership, limited uptake, and gate receipts insufficient to cover full operational costs without parent company support from , whose broader portfolio hovers around $15–17 million annually. This structure sustains operations as a talent development feeder league rather than a standalone , with occasional rumors of financial distress refuted by president Shannon Knapp, emphasizing longevity through strategic media partnerships over immediate profitability. The model's viability hinges on growing , but empirical data on MMA indicates women's divisions generate substantially less than men's due to historical disparities in fan engagement and sponsorship scale.

Controversies and Operational Challenges

Invicta FC has encountered ongoing operational challenges related to financial sustainability and event frequency, often attributed to limited revenue streams in women's MMA. Fighters have reported low and infrequent paydays, with events sometimes spaced months or years apart due to budgetary constraints; for instance, in 2021, Viviane Pereira described relying on minimal government aid amid Invicta's sparse schedule of just two cards that year. The promotion's early foray into for Invicta FC 4 in January 2013 failed due to technical glitches on Ustream, preventing many fans from accessing the stream despite payments, which strained operations and fan trust. In response to rumors of impending closure circulating in mid-2024, founder Shannon Knapp clarified that a deliberate hiatus after Invicta FC 58 in July 2023 was strategic rather than a sign of financial collapse, emphasizing the promotion's role in sustaining women's MMA talent pipelines. Distribution shifts have added hurdles, including the end of its partnership in early 2021, which MMA observers linked to broader UFC antitrust litigation alleging monopolistic practices affecting smaller promotions like Invicta. Despite these, Invicta secured a media rights deal in June 2024 to bolster visibility and funding. Judging controversies have plagued several events, prompting Invicta to pioneer open scoring in events starting March 2020, where judges reveal scores between rounds to reduce disputes. Notable instances include the disputed title outcome at Invicta FC 30 in , where post-fight scoring debates overshadowed the result, and a controversial at Invicta FC 35 in 2020 that left one fighter expressing fury over perceived errors. Similarly, the main event at Invicta FC 39 in 2020 drew widespread criticism for its dramatic yet divisive five-round verdict. Doping violations have also surfaced, as in December 2016 when Yana Kunitskaya's submission win over champion at Invicta FC 20 was overturned after Kunitskaya tested positive, restoring the belt to Evinger and highlighting enforcement challenges in a smaller promotion. Early promotional missteps included flyweight Kay Hansen's 2020 reflection on being "manipulated" into edgy, controversial messaging during her initial Invicta stint around 2013-2014, which she later disavowed as unrepresentative of her views. Medical withdrawals, such as DeAnna Bennett's removal from Invicta FC 40 in July 2020 due to weigh-in health issues, have further disrupted cards and underscored logistical strains.

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  31. https://media.ufc.tv/discover-ufc/Unified_Rules_MMA.pdf
  32. https://invictafc.com/about-us/phoenix-series/
  33. https://www.mmafighting.com/2016/8/5/12380160/abc-conference-and-changes-to-mma-unified-rules-explained
  34. https://www.abcboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/unified-mma-rules-rev-july-2024.pdf
  35. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/28854870/invicta-fc-debuts-open-scoring-called-step-mma-world
  36. https://invictafc.com/2020/02/10/phoenix-series-3-to-feature-open-scoring-on-friday-march-6/
  37. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/28878976/how-kansas-invicta-fc-brought-idea-open-scoring-mma-life
  38. https://mymmanews.com/invicta-fc-becomes-only-current-major-mma-promotion-to-utilize-open-scoring/
  39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0MzXzgNJh0
  40. https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/3/5/21165770/morning-report-max-holloway-makes-passionate-statement-supporting-invicta-fc-testing-open-scoring
  41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OTKYQ2HIBQ
  42. https://invictafc.com/athletes/
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6qJ092DAdg
  44. https://www.tapology.com/rankings/3880-invicta-fc-best-fighters
  45. https://invictafc.com/2025/05/13/invicta-fc-62-press-pass-invicta-fc-is-where-stars-are-born/
  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ge0-5oDlQ
  47. https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/2/6/24359354/megan-anderson-names-next-big-stars-for-invicta-fc
  48. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/invicta-fc-signs-multi-year-deal-to-air-events-on-ufc-fight-pass
  49. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2125743-invicta-fc-8-announced-for-ufc-fight-pass-invicta-fight-library-added
  50. https://sports.yahoo.com/cyborg-vacates-invicta-title-plans-to-pursue-ufc-featherweight-belt-033645579.html
  51. https://invictafc.com/portfolio-item/rose-namajunas/
  52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eP3BqZPBOs
  53. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jennifer-Maia-57135
  54. https://invictafc.com/portfolio-item/raquel-pennington/
  55. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/58669-megan-anderson
  56. https://mmafightclub.substack.com/p/invicta-fc-49-full-card-notes-part
  57. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/06/11/invicta-fighting-championship-cbs-sports-deal/
  58. https://www.mediaplaynews.com/invicta-fighting-championships-inks-deal-with-fox-sports-mexico/
  59. https://invictafc.com/2023/01/17/invicta-fc-events-to-be-televised-by-globos-combate-channel-throughout-brazil/
  60. https://www.mmamania.com/2024/6/11/24176244/invicta-fc-scores-u-s-television-rights-deal-returns-june-28-with-bernardo-vs-rubin-cbs-sports-mma
  61. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1360888-invicta-fc-head-on-not-planning-to-release-numbers-tv-deal-status-of-titles
  62. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1167671-invicta-fc-first-show-a-success-but-many-questions-remain
  63. https://www.abcboxing.com/unified-weight-classes-mma/
  64. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P47i3tMrG6A
  65. https://invictafc.com/2025/04/04/invicta-fc-61-results-ferreira-outclasses-palacios-following-night-of-exciting-finishes/
  66. https://invictafc.com/2023/03/15/invicta-fc-52-results-mccormack-becomes-first-irish-champion-bannon-dominates/
  67. https://invictafc.com/2021/05/21/invicta-fc-on-axs-results-rodriguez-becomes-first-mexican-champion-zappitella-retains-atomweight-belt/
  68. https://cagesidepress.com/2021/06/02/invicta-fc-announces-atomweight-phoenix-series-tournament/
  69. https://invictafc.com/2024/09/20/invicta-fc-57-ferreira-vs-romero-official-results-and-recap/
  70. https://invictafc.com/2020/11/16/history-lesson-the-journey-of-the-invicta-strawweight-title/
  71. https://invictafc.com/2022/11/16/invicta-fc-50-results-machado-captures-strawweight-title-tournament/
  72. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Invicta_Fighting_Championships
  73. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Barb-Honchak-Outclasses-Takayo-Hashi-to-Retain-Flyweight-Crown-at-Invicta-FC-9-76569
  74. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Jennifer-Maia-Retains-Flyweight-Title-in-Invicta-26-Headliner-Mackenzie-Dern-Moves-to-50-130131
  75. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Fight-Facts-Invicta-FC-35-156363
  76. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Sarah-Kaufman-Throttles-Katharina-Lehner-Grabs-Vacant-Invicta-Bantamweight-Championship-136157
  77. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bloodbath-Julija-Stoliarenko-Tames-Lisa-Verzosa-Nets-Vacant-Invicta-Bantamweight-Title-171239
  78. https://invictafc.com/2024/12/13/invicta-fc-59-bernardo-vs-maia-official-results-and-recap/
  79. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Fight-Facts-Invicta-FC-32-145649
  80. https://www.facebook.com/InvictaFights/videos/deanna-bennett-has-the-most-wins-in-invicta-fc-history/1035598781387019/
  81. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ZRYkem1UA
  82. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Fight-Facts-Invicta-FC-39-169969
  83. https://mixedmartialarts.com/news/president-shannon-knapp-invicta-2-got-over-230000-viewers/
  84. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Fight-Facts-Invicta-FC-Phoenix-Series-3-171301
  85. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cristiane-Justino-14477
  86. https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/history/_/id/2354564/cris-cyborg
  87. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Fight-Facts-Invicta-FC-33-147231
  88. https://www.mmaweekly.com/news/invicta-fighting-championships-returns-to-action-on-july-2
  89. https://behersports.com/welearn/how-invicta-fc-made-a-home-for-female-mixed-martial-artists
  90. https://www.criscyborg.com/invicta-fc-gets-set-to-promote-500th-womens-mma-bout
  91. https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/comments/azbg1w/felicia_feenom_spencer_signs_with_ufc_she_is/
  92. https://cagesidepress.com/2017/06/05/shannon-knapp-pioneer-womens-mma/
  93. https://verdictmma.com/news/impact-invicta/26
  94. https://www.zoominfo.com/c/invicta-fighting-championships-llc/368963521
  95. https://moneymma.substack.com/p/invicta-fc-59-fighter-salaries
  96. https://www.fightful.com/mma/invicta-fc-25-fighter-salaries/
  97. https://www.zoominfo.com/c/anthem-sports--entertainment-corp/380281369
  98. https://growjo.com/company/Anthem_Sports_and_Entertainment_Corp.
  99. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1162310-invicta-fcs-shannon-knapp-talks-providing-better-life-for-the-athletes
  100. https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/17/22594469/single-mom-invicta-fc-viviane-pereira-financial-struggles-birth-surgery-mma-ufc
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  102. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2013/01/08/ustream-apologizes-to-invicta-fc-for-ppv-failure/1818137/
  103. https://invictafc.com/2024/06/26/invicta-fc-founder-shannon-knapp-scoffs-at-rumors-promotion-was-allegedly-going-out-of-business/
  104. https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/comments/lq4oju/invicta_fc_and_ufc_fight_pass_are_parting_ways/
  105. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3IBaZ34_9A
  106. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2JhLZmeq7w
  107. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1iKGZ-1X2A
  108. https://www.mmaweekly.com/news/submission-loss-overturned-tonya-evinger-regains-invicta-fc-belt
  109. https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/7/1/21308685/kay-hansen-i-was-manipulated-into-controversial-messaging-in-early-invicta-fc-days
  110. https://cagesidepress.com/2020/07/01/invicta-fc-40-weigh-results-deanna-bennett-off-card-due-medical-issues/
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