Invicta FC President details changing roles in MMA landscape, ‘creating legends’ in women’s MMA
Invicta Fighting Championships has been the bedrock of women’s mixed martial arts since its launch in 2012. Name any high-profile female fighter or up-and-coming competitor and they’ve likely stepped foot in Invicta’s testing grounds.
Invicta began when UFC parent company Zuffa acquired rival promotion Strikeforce. At its peak, Strikeforce arguably had a stronger roster than the UFC in the major divisions. Notable Strikeforce champions include Ronda Rousey, Nick Diaz, Cris Cyborg, Alistair Overeem, Miesha Tate, and Dan Henderson.
One thing Strikeforce had that the UFC did not have at the time was a women’s division. UFC CEO Dana White had previously claimed that women would never fight in his promotion. This meant that there were fewer opportunities for female fighters after the acquisition.
“I was with Strikeforce when Zuffa bought Strikeforce,” Invicta president Shannon Knapp told CBS Sports ahead of the card, which airs Friday at 9 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. “That’s what led to the decision to form Invicta: the lack of opportunity for women.”
White changed his stance a year after purchasing Strikeforce. Rousey defeated Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC 157 on February 23, 2013, the first women’s fight in UFC history. Rousey became one of the sport’s all-time biggest stars and women have become regulars on UFC cards.
The UFC’s acceptance of women’s fighting has changed Invicta’s role in MMA. Invicta is no longer the final destination for women, but rather a vital place for their careers to shine on the biggest stage.
“There are more opportunities for women in this area today, but if you look at a fight card, you’ll see one or two female bouts. You don’t see a lot of women on the card,” Knapp said. “I think Invicta is important to promote the growth of women in this area.
“I always say Invicta is so important to this region. We can identify talent early and create opportunities to help them hone their skills. That’s really where it helps create legends. We’re providing the foundation.”
Alyssandra Ferreira (7-2) and Andressa Romero (7-4-1) will be the highlights of Friday’s card at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Missouri. At stake is the vacant Invicta atomweight championship, a division that has been missing from the big promotion. UFC alumni Michelle Waterson — known to fans as “The Karate Hottie” — is a former Invicta atomweight champion who moved up to strawweight after signing with the UFC. The 105-pound division is one that Knapp says is better than the recognition it gets.
“I think atomweight is a really good weight class,” Knapp said. “A lot of women, especially young women, are coming into that category and weight class. I think it’s pushing the talent and showing people that it’s a viable class.”
An illustrious list of UFC champions and contenders have passed through the halls of Invicta and are on their way to fame. Amanda Nunes, Cyborg, Rose Namajunas, Alexa Grasso, Raquel Pennington, Carla Esparza and Kayla Harrison are among them. Knapp is focused on promoting the careers of more fighters in 2025 and trying her hand at other martial arts.
“I got into this field because I wanted to make a difference,” Knapp said. “Of course, when I got into combat sports it was a completely male dominated field. My whole goal was to get into this field and maybe be a female voice, but a voice that could make a difference.
“It’s a proud moment when you see their success or feel a lot of personal satisfaction from being a part of their success and helping them.”
