Invicta Fighting Championships Explained

Invicta Fighting Championships
Type:	Subsidiary
Founder:	Shannon Knapp Janet Martin
Parent:	Anthem Sports & Entertainment
Industry:	Mixed martial arts promotion
Location:	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Area Served:	United States

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.^{[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. 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

See 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.^[18]

Events

See main article: List of Invicta FC events. ^[19]

Past events

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

Current champions

Division	Upper weight limit	Champion	Since	Title Defenses	Top Contender
	145lb	Vacant	July 13, 2021
	135lb	Talita Bernardo	January 18, 2023 (Invicta FC 51)	1
	125lb	Vacant	May 2, 2023
	115lb	Vacant	July 16, 2024
	105lb	Elisandra Ferreira	September 20, 2024 (Invicta FC 57)

Title history

Featherweight Championship

136 to 145 lbs (62 to 66 kg)

width=1%	No.	width=21%	Name	width=25%	Event	width=12%	Date	width=8%	Reign	width=32%	Defenses
1	align=left	Cris Cyborg	align=center	Invicta FC 6	align=center	Jul 13, 2013	align=center	1351 days
-	Megan Anderson	Invicta FC 21	Jan 14, 2017	style="text-align:center;"	-
Cyborg vacated the title on March 24, 2017 to compete full time with the UFC.
2	align=left	Megan Anderson		Mar 24, 2017	align=center	88 days
Anderson vacated the title on June 20, 2017 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3	align=left	Felicia Spencer	Invicta FC 32	Nov 16, 2018	align=center	129 days
Spencer vacated the title on March 26, 2019 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
4	align=left	Pam Sorenson	Invicta FC 36	Aug 9, 2019	align=center	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)

width=1%	No.	width=13%	Name	width=23%	Event	width=13%	Date	width=8%	Reign	width=35%	Defenses
1	align=left	Lauren Murphy	align=center	Invicta FC 7 Kansas City, MO, US	align=center	Dec 7, 2013	align=center	208 days
Murphy vacated title on July 3, 2014 to sign with the UFC.
2	align=left	Tonya Evinger	align=center	Invicta FC 13	align=center	Jul 9, 2015	align=center	724 days
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	align=left	Yana Kunitskaya	align=center		align=center	Aug 31, 2017	align=center	160 days
Kunitskaya vacated title on February 7, 2018 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
4	align=left	Sarah Kaufman	align=center	Invicta FC 29 Kansas City, MO, US	align=center	May 4, 2018	align=center	368 days
Kaufman vacated title on May 9, 2019 to sign with the Professional Fighters League.
5	align=left	Julija Stoliarenko	align=center	Kansas City, KS, USA	align=center	Mar 6, 2020	align=center	147 days
Stoliarenko vacated title on July 31, 2020 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
6	align=left		align=center	Invicta FC 44	align=center	Aug 27, 2021	align=center	509 days
7	align=left		align=center	Invicta FC 51	align=center	Jan 18, 2023	align=center	days (incumbent)

Flyweight Championship

116 to 125 lbs (53 to 56 kg)

width=1%	No.	width=19%	Name	width=23%	Event	width=14%	Date	width=8%	Reign	width=34%	Defenses
1	align=left	Barb Honchak	align=center	Invicta FC 5	align=center	Apr 5, 2013	align=center	1266 days
-	Jennifer Maia		Mar 11, 2016	style="text-align:center;"	-
Honchak was stripped of the title due to inactivity on September 22, 2016
2	Jennifer Maia	Invicta FC 19 Kansas City, MO, US	Sep 22, 2016	align=center	652 days
Maia vacated title on July 7, 2018 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3	align=left	Vanessa Porto	align=center	Invicta FC 34	align=center	Feb 15, 2019	align=center	564 days
Porto vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with Bellator MMA.
4	align=left	Karina Rodríguez	align=center		align=center	May 21, 2021	align=center	421 days
Rodríguez vacated title on July 17, 2022 to sign with Bellator MMA.
5	align=left	Ketlen Souza	align=center	Invicta FC 51	align=center	Jan 18, 2023	align=center	104 days
Souza vacated title on May 2, 2023 to sign with the UFC.

Strawweight Championship

106 to 115 lbs (49 to 52 kg)

width=1%	No.	width=20%	Name	width=25%	Event	width=13%	Date	width=8%	Reign	width=32%	Defenses
1	align=left	Carla Esparza	align=center	Invicta FC 4	align=center	Jan 5, 2013	align=center	341 days
Esparza vacated title on December 11, 2013 to participate in .^[23] ^[24]
2	align=left	Katja Kankaanpää	align=center	Invicta FC 8	align=center	Sep 6, 2014	align=center	230 days
3	align=left		align=center		align=center	Apr 24, 2015	align=center	380 days
4	align=left	Angela Hill	align=center	Invicta FC 17	align=center	May 7, 2016	align=center	274 days
Hill vacated title on February 4, 2017 to return to the UFC.
5	align=left	Virna Jandiroba	align=center	Invicta FC 28	align=center	Mar 24, 2018	align=center	379 days
Jandiroba vacated title on April 7, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
6	align=left	Brianna Van Buren	align=center		align=center	May 3, 2019	align=center	39 days
Van Buren vacated title on June 11, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
7	align=left	Kanako Murata	align=center	Invicta FC 38	align=center	Nov 1, 2019	align=center	305 days
Murata vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with the UFC.
8	align=left	Emily Ducote	align=center	Invicta FC 44	align=center	Aug 27, 2021	align=center	279 days
Ducote vacated title on June 2, 2022 to sign with the UFC.^[25]
9	align=left	Valesca Machado	align=center	Invicta FC 50	align=center	Nov 16, 2022	align=center	118 days
10	align=left	Danni McCormack	align=center	Invicta FC 52	align=center	Mar 15, 2023	align=center	489 days
McCormack vacated title on July 16, 2024 to sign with the UFC.

Atomweight Championship

96 to 105 lbs (44 to 48 kg)

width=1%	No.	width=20%	Name	width=25%	Event	width=13%	Date	width=8%	Reign	width=32%	Defenses
1	align=left	Jessica Penne	align=center	Invicta FC 3	align=center	Oct 6, 2012	align=center	181 days
2	align=left		align=center	Invicta FC 5	align=center	Apr 5, 2013	align=center	609 days
3	align=left	Hérica Tibúrcio	align=center	Invicta FC 10	align=center	Dec 5, 2014	align=center	216 days
4	align=left	Ayaka Hamasaki	align=center	Invicta FC 13	align=center	Jul 9, 2015	align=center	737 days
Hamasaki vacated title on July 15, 2017 to sign with Rizin Fighting Federation.
5	align=left	Jinh Yu Frey	align=center	Invicta FC 30	align=center	Jul 21, 2018	align=center	564 days
Frey was stripped of the title on February 6, 2020 after failing to make weight against Ashley Cummins at Invicta FC 39.
6	align=left	Alesha Zappitella	align=center		align=center	Sep 17, 2020	align=center	482 days
7	align=left	Jéssica Delboni	align=center	Invicta FC 45	align=center	Jan 12, 2022	align=center	258 days
8	align=left	Jillian DeCoursey	align=center	Invicta FC 49	align=center	Sep 28, 2022	align=center	215 days
9	align=left		align=center	Invicta FC 53	align=center	May 3, 2023	align=center	167 days
Dos Santos vacated title on October 17, 2023 to sign with UFC.
10	align=left		align=center	Invicta FC 57	align=center	Sep 20, 2024	align=center	days (incumbent)

Records

Most wins in title bouts

Title wins	Champion	Division	V	D	NC	L
4	Cristiane Justino	Featherweight	4	0	0	0
3		Flyweight	3	0	0	0
	Ayaka Hamasaki	Atomweight	3	0	0	0
	Jennifer Maia	Flyweight	3	0	0	0

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.

Country	Division champions	Interim champions	Total
align=left		align=center	14	align=center	-	align=center	14
align=left		align=center	11	align=center	-	align=center	11
align=left		align=center	2	align=center	-	align=center	2
align=left		align=center	2	align=center	-	align=center	2
align=left		align=center	1	align=center	-	align=center	1
align=left		align=center	1	align=center	-	align=center	1
align=left		align=center	1	align=center	-	align=center	1
align=left		align=center	1	align=center	-	align=center	1
align=left		align=center	1	align=center	-	align=center	1
align=left		align=center	1	align=center	-	align=center	1

See also

• List of current Invicta FC fighters
• List of current mixed martial arts champions
• List of Bellator MMA champions
• List of EliteXC champions
• List of ONE Championship champions
• List of Pride champions
• List of PFL champions
• List of Strikeforce champions
• List of UFC champions
• List of WEC champions
• Mixed martial arts weight classes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Invicta Fighting Championships, about. 2012. 2012-06-15.
2. Web site: Shannon Knapp reveals how Invicta FC came together and what it means for women's MMA. Paligaru, Matt. 2012-03-24. Fighters.com. United Kingdom. 2012-06-15. 2020-07-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716122130/http://www.fighters.com/03/24/shannon-knapp-reveals-how-invicta-fc-came-together-and-what-it-means-for-womens-mma. dead.
3. Web site: 2021-04-15. Invicta FC sold to Anthem Sports & Entertainment, events to air on AXS TV. 2021-04-16. MMA Junkie. en-US.
4. Web site: Janet Martin Interview. Adams, Jason. 2012-03-21. Promoting Real Women blog. United States. 2012-06-15.
5. Web site: Invicta FC's Shannon Knapp Talks Providing 'Better Life for the Athletes'. Saccaro, Matt. 2012-04-26. MMA. Bleacher Report. United States. 2012-06-15.
6. Web site: Invicta, new women's-only MMA series, was long time coming. https://web.archive.org/web/20120429010038/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/loretta_hunt/04/27/invicta/index.html. dead. April 29, 2012. Hunt, Loretta. 2012-04-27. Inside MMA. SI.com. United States. 2012-06-15.
7. Web site: Marloes Coenen, Romy Ruyssen Headline Invicta Fighting Championships’ All-Female Card. 2012-02-20. News. Sherdog.com. United States. 2012-06-15.
8. Web site: As debut nears, Invicta's Randi Miller not interested in Ronda Rousey's 'easy road' . 2012-04-09 . News . MMAjunkie.com . United States . 2012-06-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120605024318/http://mmajunkie.com/news/28164/as-debut-nears-invictas-randi-miller-not-interested-in-ronda-rouseys-easy-road.mma . 2012-06-05.
9. Web site: Two Firsts: Ronda Rousey Joins TUF Live, Esther Lin Photographs Invicta Female Fighters. Ragsdale, Cheryl. 2012-04-27. News. Yahoo!. United States. 2012-06-15. 2012-04-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20120430073400/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/two-firsts-ronda-rousey-joins-tuf-live-esther-172100227--mma.html. dead.
10. Web site: Invicta Fighting and JEWELS Form Strategic Partnership for Women's MMA. 2012-08-29. Articles. MMAWeekly.com. 2012-06-09.
11. Web site: Super Fight League to Develop Women's MMA Talent . mmapundit.co.uk . September 24, 2012 . September 24, 2012.
12. Web site: Invicta FC 6 to air on cable and satellite pay-per-view in U.S. and Canada. MMAjunkie.
13. Web site: Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada set for UFC Fight Pass debut. Shaun Al-Shatti. 10 July 2014. MMA Fighting.
14. Web site: Combate transmite ao vivo defesa de título de Cris Cyborg no Invicta FC 11. sportv.globo.com/site/combate.
15. Web site: 2021-04-15. Invicta women's MMA promotion sold to Anthem. 2021-05-12. ESPN.com. en.
16. Web site: Invicta FC Announces Broadcast Deal with FOX Sports Mexico. September 21, 2022. cagesidepress.com. Jay Anderson.
17. Web site: Heck . Mike . Invicta FC announces new broadcast partner, rest of 2024 schedule . June 11, 2024. June 11, 2024 . MMA Fighting . en.
18. Web site: NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT . Nevada State Athletic Commission . February 8, 2012.
19. Web site: INVICTA FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS . Sherdog.com . 29 August 2012.
20. Web site: Invicta FC 55 Results: Bernardo Submits Rubin to Retain Bantamweight Title. Invicta Fighting Championships. Rob. Tatum. June 28, 2024. August 9, 2024.
21. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-01-23 . Valesca Machado vs. Danni McCormack Strawweight Title Fight Announced for Invicta FC 52 . 2023-01-23 . Cageside Press . en-US.
22. Web site: Invicta FC 51: Taneisha Tennant defends bantamweight belt against Talita Bernardo . mmacrossfire.com . 19 January 2023.
23. Web site: UFC announces signing of 11 women strawweights for TUF season, winner becomes first UFC 115lb champ. Simon, Zane. 2013-12-11. Bloody Elbow. United States. 2013-12-13.
24. Web site: Invicta FC Strawweight title vacated. Twitter. United States. 2013-12-13.
25. Web site: King . Nolan . Invicta FC champion Emily Ducote signs with UFC, fights Jessica Penne on Long Island . sports.yahoo.com . 14 July 2022 . 2 June 2022.