Invicta Fighting Championships

Last updated
Invicta Fighting Championships
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Mixed martial arts promotion
Founded2012;12 years ago (2012)
FounderShannon Knapp
Janet Martin
HeadquartersUnited States
Area served
United States
Key people
Parent Anthem Sports & Entertainment
Website http://www.invictafc.com/

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]

Contents

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

History

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roster

Rules

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

Events

[18]

Past events

#EventDateVenueLocationRef
59 Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wojcik October 27, 2023Citizens House of Blues Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
58 Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos May 3, 2023ReelWorks Denver Denver, Colorado, U.S.
57 Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack March 15, 2023 [19]
56 Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo January 18, 2023 [20]
55 Invicta FC 50 November 16, 2022
54 Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey September 28, 2022Sugar Creek Casino Hinton, Oklahoma, U.S.
53 Invicta FC 48: Tennant vs. Rubin July 20, 2022ReelWorks 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, 2022Police 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, 2021Police 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, 2018Firelake 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, 2018Union 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

DivisionUpper weight limitChampionSinceTitle DefensesTop Contender
Featherweight 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)VacantJuly 13, 2021
Bantamweight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) Flag of Brazil.svg Talita Bernardo January 18, 2023 (Invicta FC 51)
Flyweight 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)VacantMay 2, 2023
Strawweight 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st) Flag of Ireland.svg Danni McCormack March 15, 2023 ( Invicta FC 52)1
Atomweight 105 lb (48 kg; 7.5 st)VacantOctober 17, 2023

Title history

Featherweight Championship

136 to 145 lbs (62 to 66 kg)
No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Flag of Brazil.svg Cris Cyborg
def. Marloes Coenen 		Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg
Kansas City, MO, USA		July 13, 20131351 days
1. def. Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 11 on Feb 27, 2015
2. def. Faith Van Duin at Invicta FC 13 on July 9, 2015
3. def. Daria Ibragimova at Invicta FC 15 on Jan 16, 2016.
- Flag of Australia (converted).svg Megan Anderson
def. Charmaine Tweet for interim title		 Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet
Kansas City, MO, USA		January 14, 2017-
Justino vacated the title on March 24, 2017 to compete full time with the UFC.
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Megan Anderson
promoted to undisputed champion		 Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II
Kansas City, MO, USA		March 24, 201788 days
Anderson vacated the title on June 20, 2017 to sign with the UFC
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Felicia Spencer
def. Pam Sorenson 		Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. Sorenson
Shawnee, OK, USA		November 16, 2018129 days
Spencer vacated the title on March 26, 2019 to sign with the UFC
4 Flag of the United States.svg Pam Sorenson
def. Kaitlin Young 		Invicta FC 36: Sorenson vs. Young
Kansas City, KS, USA		August 9, 2019705 days
Sorenson vacated the title on July 13, 2021 to sign with Bellator MMA

Bantamweight Championship

126 to 135 lbs (57 to 61 kg)
No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Lauren Murphy
def. Miriam Nakamoto 		Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith
Kansas City, MO, USA		December 7, 2013208 days
Murphy vacated title on July 3, 2014 to sign with the UFC.
2 Flag of the United States.svg Tonya Evinger
def. Irene Aldana 		Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin
Las Vegas, NV, USA		July 9, 2015724 days
1. def. Colleen Schneider at Invicta FC 17 on May 7, 2016.
NC. vs. Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 20 on Nov 18, 2016.
2. def. Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 22 on Mar 25, 2017.
Evinger had her defeat at Invicta FC 20 annulled on December 1, 2016 after proving that the referee took her out of a favorable position and remained champion.
Evinger vacated title on July 3, 2017 to sign with the UFC.
3 Flag of Russia.svg Yana Kunitskaya
def. Raquel Pa'aluhi 		Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi
Lemoore, CA, USA		August 31, 2017160 days
Kunitskaya vacated title on February 7, 2018 to sign with the UFC.
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sarah Kaufman
def. Katharina Lehner 		Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner
Kansas City, MO, USA		May 4, 2018368 days
Kaufman vacated title on May 9, 2019 to sign with the PFL.
5 Flag of Lithuania.svg Julija Stoliarenko
def. Lisa Spangler 		Invicta FC Phoenix Series 3
Kansas City, KS, USA		March 6, 2020147 days
Stoliarenko vacated title on July 31, 2020 to sign with the UFC.
6 Flag of the United States.svg Taneisha Tennant
def. Lisa Spangler 		Invicta FC 44: A New Era
Kansas City, KS, USA		August 27, 2021509 days
1. def. Olga Rubin at Invicta FC 48 on July 20, 2022.
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Talita Bernardo
Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo
Denver, CO, USA		January 18, 2023425 days
(incumbent)

Flyweight Championship

116 to 125 lbs (53 to 56 kg)
No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Barb Honchak
def. Vanessa Porto 		Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
Kansas City, MO, USA		April 5, 20131266 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
- Flag of Brazil.svg Jennifer Maia
def. Vanessa Porto for interim title		 Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown
Las Vegas, NV, USA		March 11, 2016-
Honchak was stripped of the title due to inactivity on September 22, 2016
2 Flag of Brazil.svg Jennifer Maia
promoted to undisputed champion		 Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. Modafferi
Kansas City, MO, USA		September 22, 2016652 days
1. def. Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 19 on Sept 23, 2016
2. def. Agnieszka Niedźwiedź at Invicta FC 26 on Dec 8, 2017
Maia vacated title on July 7, 2018 to sign with the UFC.
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Vanessa Porto
def. Pearl Gonzalez 		Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. Gonzalez
Kansas City, MO, USA		February 15, 2019564 days
Porto vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with Bellator MMA.
4 Flag of Mexico.svg Karina Rodríguez
def. Daiana Torquato		 Invicta FC: Rodríguez vs. Torquato
Kansas City, KS, USA		May 21, 2021421 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 Flag of Brazil.svg Ketlen Souza
def. Kristina Williams		 Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. Bernardo
Denver, CO, USA		January 18, 2023104 days
Souza vacated title on May 2, 2023 to sign with the UFC.

Strawweight Championship

106 to 115 lbs (49 to 52 kg)
No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Carla Esparza
def. Bec Hyatt 		Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt
Kansas City, KS, USA		January 5, 2013341 days
Esparza vacated title on December 11, 2013 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned. [21] [22]
2 Flag of Finland.svg Katja Kankaanpää
def. Stephanie Eggink 		Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada
Kansas City, MO, USA		September 6, 2014230 days
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Lívia Renata Souza
Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. Souza
Kansas City, MO, USA		April 24, 2015380 days1. def. DeAnna Bennett at Invicta FC 15 on Jan 16, 2016
4 Flag of the United States.svg Angela Hill
Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider
Costa Mesa, CA, USA		May 7, 2016274 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 Flag of Brazil.svg Virna Jandiroba
def. Mizuki Inoue 		Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba
Salt Lake City, UT, USA		March 24, 2018379 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 Flag of the United States.svg Brianna Van Buren
def. Kailin Curran 		Phoenix Series 1
Kansas City, KS, USA		May 3, 201939 days
Van Buren vacated title on June 11, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
7 Flag of Japan.svg Kanako Murata
def. Emily Ducote 		Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote
Kansas City, KS, USA		November 1, 2019305 days
Murata vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with the UFC.
8 Flag of the United States.svg Emily Ducote
def. Danielle Taylor 		Invicta FC 44: A New Era
Kansas City, KS, USA		August 27, 2021279 days
1. def. Alesha Zappitella at Invicta FC 47 on May 11, 2022
Ducote vacated title on June 2, 2022 to sign with the UFC. [23]
9 Flag of Brazil.svg Valesca Machado
def. Karolina Wójcik		 Invicta FC 50: Strawweight Title Tournament
Denver, CO, USA		November 16, 2022118 days
10 Flag of Ireland.svg Danni McCormack
Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormack
Denver, CO, USA		March 15, 2023369 days
(incumbent)		1. def. Karolina Wójcik at Invicta FC 54 on Oct 27, 2023

Atomweight Championship

96 to 105 lbs (44 to 48 kg)
No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Jessica Penne
def. Naho Sugiyama 		Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama
Kansas City, KS, USA		October 6, 2012181 days
2 Flag of the United States.svg Michelle Waterson Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
Kansas City, MO, USA		April 5, 2013609 days1. def. Yasuko Tamada at Invicta FC 8 on Sept 6, 2014
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Hérica Tibúrcio Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio
Houston, Texas, USA		December 5, 2014216 days
4 Flag of Japan.svg Ayaka Hamasaki Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA		July 9, 2015737 days1. def. Amber Brown at Invicta FC 16 on Mar 11, 2016
2. def. Jinh Yu Frey at Invicta FC 19 on Sept 23, 2016
Hamasaki vacated title on July 15, 2017 to sign with Rizin.
5 Flag of the United States.svg Jinh Yu Frey
def. Minna Grusander 		Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander
Kansas City, MO, USA		July 21, 2018564 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 Flag of the United States.svg Alesha Zappitella
def. Ashley Cummins 		Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. Zappitella
Kansas City, KS, USA		September 17, 2020482 days
1. def. Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 44 on May 21, 2021
7 Flag of Brazil.svg Jéssica Delboni
Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni II
Kansas City, KS, USA		January 12, 2022258 days
8 Flag of the United States.svg Jillian DeCoursey
Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey
Hinton, OK, USA		September 28, 2022215 days
9 Flag of Brazil.svg Rayanne dos Santos
Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos
Denver, CO, USA		May 3, 2023167 days
Dos Santos vacated title on October 17, 2023 to sign with UFC.

Records

Most wins in title bouts

Title winsChampionDivisionVDNCL
4 Flag of Brazil.svg Cristiane Justino Featherweight4000
3 Flag of the United States.svg Barb Honchak Flyweight3000
Flag of Japan.svg Ayaka Hamasaki Atomweight3000
Flag of Brazil.svg Jennifer Maia Flyweight3000

Most consecutive title defenses

DefensesChampionDivisionPeriod
3 Flag of Brazil.svg Cristiane Justino FeatherweightJuly 12, 2013 – March 24, 2017

Champions by nationality

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

CountryDivision
champions		Interim
champions		Total
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 14-14
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 11-11
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2-2
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2-2
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1-1
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1-1
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1-1
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 1-1
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1-1

See also

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References

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  11. ↑ "Super Fight League to Develop Women's MMA Talent". mmapundit.co.uk. September 24, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Invicta FC 6 to air on cable and satellite pay-per-view in U.S. and Canada". MMAjunkie.
  13. ↑ Shaun Al-Shatti (10 July 2014). "Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada set for UFC Fight Pass debut". MMA Fighting.
  14. ↑ "Combate transmite ao vivo defesa de título de Cris Cyborg no Invicta FC 11". sportv.globo.com/site/combate.
  15. ↑ "Invicta women's MMA promotion sold to Anthem". ESPN.com. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  16. ↑ Jay Anderson (September 21, 2022). "Invicta FC Announces Broadcast Deal with FOX Sports Mexico". cagesidepress.com.
  17. ↑ "NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  18. ↑ "INVICTA FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  19. ↑ Anderson, Jay (2023-01-23). "Valesca Machado vs. Danni McCormack Strawweight Title Fight Announced for Invicta FC 52". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  20. ↑ "Invicta FC 51: Taneisha Tennant defends bantamweight belt against Talita Bernardo". mmacrossfire.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Simon, Zane (2013-12-11). "UFC announces signing of 11 women strawweights for TUF season, winner becomes first UFC 115lb champ". United States: Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  22. ↑ "Invicta FC Strawweight title vacated". United States: Twitter. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  23. ↑ King, Nolan (2 June 2022). "Invicta FC champion Emily Ducote signs with UFC, fights Jessica Penne on Long Island". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
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