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.

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

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.

The promotion held its first event, Invicta FC 1 on April 28, 2012. 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.

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. On September 24, Invicta would announce another cross-promotional partnership with the Super Fight League.

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. 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.

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.

Acquisition by Anthem

On April 15, 2021, it was announced that Anthem Sports & Entertainment had acquired Invicta. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Events

Past events

#EventDateVenueLocationRef
67Invicta FC 62: Lehner vs. RubinMay 16, 2025The LEX at Municipal AuditoriumKansas City, Missouri. U.S.
66Invicta FC 61: Ferreira vs. PalaciosApril 5, 2025Grand Casino Hotel & ResortShawnee, Oklahoma. U.S.
65Invicta FC 60: Rubin vs. CantuáriaFebruary 7, 2025Center StageAtlanta, Georgia. U.S.
64Invicta FC 59: Bernardo vs. MaiaDecember 13, 2024The EasternAtlanta, Georgia. U.S.
63Invicta FC 58: Ducote vs. OstroverkhovaNovember 6, 2024Memorial HallKansas City, Kansas. U.S.
62Invicta FC 57: Ferreira vs. RomeroSeptember 20, 2024Memorial HallKansas City, Kansas. U.S.
61Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. CantuáriaAugust 9, 2024Stockyards Event CenterDenver, Colorado. U.S.
60Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. RubinJune 8, 2024Memorial HallKansas City, Kansas. U.S.
59Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. WojcikOctober 27, 2023Citizens House of BluesBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
58Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos SantosMay 3, 2023ReelWorks DenverDenver, Colorado, U.S.
57Invicta FC 52: Machado vs. McCormackMarch 15, 2023
56Invicta FC 51: Tennant vs. BernardoJanuary 18, 2023
55Invicta FC 50November 16, 2022
54Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCourseySeptember 28, 2022Sugar Creek CasinoHinton, Oklahoma, U.S.
53Invicta FC 48: Tennant vs. RubinJuly 20, 2022ReelWorks DenverDenver, Colorado, U.S.
52Invicta FC 47: Ducote vs. ZappitellaMay 11, 2022Memorial HallKansas City, Kansas, U.S.
51Invicta FC 46: Rodríguez vs. Torquato IIMarch 9, 2022
50Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni IIJanuary 12, 2022Police Athletic League
49Invicta FC 44: A New EraAugust 27, 2021Memorial Hall
48Phoenix Tournament: AtomweightJune 11, 2021
47Invicta FC: Rodríguez vs. TorquatoMay 21, 2021Police Athletic League
46Invicta FC 43: King vs. HarrisonNovember 20, 2020
45Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. ZappitellaSeptember 17, 2020
44Invicta FC 41: Morandin vs. RuizJuly 30, 2020
43Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. LimaJuly 2, 2020
42Phoenix Series 3March 6, 2020Memorial Hall
41Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins IIFebruary 7, 2020
40Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. DucoteNovember 1, 2019
39Invicta FC 37: Gonzalez vs. SanchezOctober 4, 2019
38Phoenix Series 2September 6, 2019
37Invicta FC 36: Sorenson vs. YoungAugust 9, 2019
36Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez IIJune 7, 2019
35Phoenix Series 1May 3, 2019
34Invicta FC 34: Porto vs. GonzalezFebruary 15, 2019
33Invicta FC 33: Frey vs. Grusander IIDecember 15, 2018Scottish Rite TempleKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
32Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. SorensonNovember 16, 2018Firelake ArenaShawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
31Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. MorandinSeptember 1, 2018Scottish Rite TempleKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
30Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. GrusanderJuly 21, 2018
29Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. LehnerMay 4, 2018
28Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. JandirobaMarch 24, 2018Union Event CenterSalt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
27Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. KianzadJanuary 13, 2018Scottish Rite TempleKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
26Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. NiedźwiedźDecember 8, 2017
25Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhiAugust 31, 2017Tachi PalaceLemoore, California, U.S.
24Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. BorellaJuly 15, 2017Scottish Rite TempleKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
23Invicta FC 23: Porto vs. NiedźwiedźMay 20, 2017
22Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya IIMarch 25, 2017
21Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. TweetJanuary 14, 2017
20Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. KunitskayaNovember 18, 2016
19Invicta FC 19: Maia vs. ModafferiSeptember 23, 2016
18Invicta FC 18: Grasso vs. EsquibelJuly 29, 2016
17Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. SchneiderMay 7, 2016OC Fair & Event CenterCosta Mesa, California, U.S.
16Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. BrownMarch 11, 2016Trinidad PavilionLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
15Invicta FC 15: Cyborg vs. IbragimovaJanuary 16, 2016OC Fair & Event CenterCosta Mesa, California, U.S.
14Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. KianzadSeptember 12, 2015Municipal AuditoriumKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
13Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van DuinJuly 9, 2015The Cosmopolitan Resort & CasinoLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
12Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. SouzaApril 24, 2015Municipal AuditoriumKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
11Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. TweetFebruary 27, 2015Shrine Expo HallLos Angeles, California, U.S.
10Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. TiburcioDecember 5, 2014Arena TheaterHouston, Texas, U.S.
9Invicta FC 9: Honchak vs. HashiNovember 1, 2014RiverCenterDavenport, Iowa, U.S.
8Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. TamadaSeptember 6, 2014Municipal AuditoriumKansas City, Missouri, U.S.
7Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. SmithDecember 7, 2013Ameristar Casino Kansas City
6Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. CyborgJuly 13, 2013
5Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. WatersonApril 5, 2013
4Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. HyattJanuary 5, 2013Memorial HallKansas City, Kansas, U.S.
3Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. SugiyamaOctober 6, 2012
2Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMannJuly 28, 2012
1Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. RuyssenApril 28, 2012

Current champions

DivisionUpper weight limitChampionSinceTitle DefensesTop Contender
Featherweight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)VacantJuly 13, 2021
Bantamweight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)Brazil Jennifer MaiaDecember 13, 2024 (Invicta FC 59)
Flyweight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)VacantMay 2, 2023
Strawweight115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)VacantJuly 16, 2024
Atomweight105 lb (48 kg; 7.5 st)Brazil Elisandra FerreiraSeptember 20, 2024 (Invicta FC 57)1

Title history

Featherweight Championship

136 to 145 lbs (62 to 66 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1Brazil Cris Cyborg def. Marloes CoenenInvicta FC 6 Kansas City, MO, USJul 13, 20131351 days1. 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 titleInvicta FC 21 Kansas City, MO, USJan 14, 2017-
Cyborg vacated the title on March 24, 2017 to compete full time with the UFC.
2Australia Megan Anderson promoted to undisputed championInvicta FC 22 Kansas City, MO, USMar 24, 201788 days
Anderson vacated the title on June 20, 2017 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
3Canada Felicia Spencer def. Pam SorensonInvicta FC 32 Shawnee, OK, USNov 16, 2018129 days
Spencer vacated the title on March 26, 2019 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
4United States Pam Sorenson def. Kaitlin YoungInvicta FC 36 Kansas City, KS, USAug 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
1United States Lauren Murphy def. Miriam NakamotoInvicta FC 7 Kansas City, MO, USDec 7, 2013208 days
Murphy vacated title on July 3, 2014 to sign with the UFC.
2United States Tonya Evinger def. Irene AldanaInvicta FC 13 Las Vegas, NV, USJul 9, 2015724 days1. 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.
3Russia Yana Kunitskaya def. Raquel Pa'aluhiInvicta FC 25 Lemoore, CA, USAug 31, 2017160 days
Kunitskaya vacated title on February 7, 2018 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
4Canada Sarah Kaufman def. Katharina LehnerInvicta FC 29 Kansas City, MO, USMay 4, 2018368 days
Kaufman vacated title on May 9, 2019 to sign with the Professional Fighters League.
5Lithuania Julija Stoliarenko def. Lisa SpanglerInvicta FC Phoenix Series 3 Kansas City, KS, USAMar 6, 2020147 days
Stoliarenko vacated title on July 31, 2020 to sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
6United States Taneisha Tennant def. Lisa SpanglerInvicta FC 44 Kansas City, KS, USAug 27, 2021509 days1. def. Olga Rubin at Invicta FC 48 on Jul 20, 2022
7Brazil Talita BernardoInvicta FC 51 Denver, CO, USJan 18, 2023684 days1. def. Olga Rubin at Invicta FC 55 on Jun 28, 2024
8Brazil Jennifer MaiaInvicta FC 59 Atlanta, GA, USDec 13, 2024489 days (incumbent)

Flyweight Championship

116 to 125 lbs (53 to 56 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1United States Barb Honchak def. Vanessa PortoInvicta FC 5 Kansas City, MO, USApr 5, 20131266 days1. 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 titleInvicta FC 16 Las Vegas, NV, USMar 11, 2016-
Honchak was stripped of the title due to inactivity on September 22, 2016
2Brazil Jennifer Maia promoted to undisputed championInvicta FC 19 Kansas City, MO, USSep 22, 2016652 days1. 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.
3Brazil Vanessa Porto def. Pearl GonzalezInvicta FC 34 Kansas City, MO, USAFeb 15, 2019564 days
Porto vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with Bellator MMA.
4Mexico Karina Rodríguez def. Daiana TorquatoInvicta FC: Rodríguez vs. Torquato Kansas City, KS, USMay 21, 2021421 days1. def. Daiana Torquato at Invicta FC 46 on Mar 9, 2022
Rodríguez vacated title on July 17, 2022 to sign with Bellator MMA.
5Brazil Ketlen Souza def. Kristina WilliamsInvicta FC 51 Denver, CO, USAJan 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
1United States Carla Esparza def. Bec HyattInvicta FC 4 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Jan 5, 2013341 days
Esparza vacated title on December 11, 2013 to participate in The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned.
2Finland Katja Kankaanpää def. Stephanie EgginkInvicta FC 8 Kansas City, MO, U.S.Sep 6, 2014230 days
3Brazil Lívia Renata SouzaInvicta FC 12 Kansas City, MO, U.S.Apr 24, 2015380 days1. def. DeAnna Bennett at Invicta FC 15 on Jan 16, 2016
4United States Angela HillInvicta FC 17 Costa Mesa, CA, U.S.May 7, 2016274 days1. def. Kaline Medeiros at Invicta FC 20 on Nov 18, 2016
Hill vacated title on February 4, 2017 to return to the UFC.
5Brazil Virna Jandiroba def. Mizuki InoueInvicta FC 28 Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.Mar 24, 2018379 days1. def. Janaisa Morandin at Invicta FC 31 on Sep 1, 2018
Jandiroba vacated title on April 7, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
6United States Brianna Van Buren def. Kailin CurranInvicta Phoenix Series 1 Kansas City, KS, U.S.May 3, 201939 days
Van Buren vacated title on June 11, 2019 to sign with the UFC.
7Japan Kanako Murata def. Emily DucoteInvicta FC 38 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Nov 1, 2019305 days
Murata vacated title on September 2, 2020 to sign with the UFC.
8United States Emily Ducote def. Danielle TaylorInvicta FC 44 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Aug 27, 2021279 days1. def. Alesha Zappitella at Invicta FC 47 on May 11, 2022
Ducote vacated title on June 2, 2022 to sign with the UFC.
9Brazil Valesca Machado def. Karolina WójcikInvicta FC 50 Denver, CO, U.S.Nov 16, 2022118 days
10Republic of Ireland Danni McCormackInvicta FC 52 Denver, CO, U.S.Mar 15, 2023489 days1. 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

96 to 105 lbs (44 to 48 kg)

No.NameEventDateReignDefenses
1United States Jessica Penne def. Naho SugiyamaInvicta FC 3 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Oct 6, 2012181 days
2United States Michelle WatersonInvicta FC 5 Kansas City, MO, U.S.Apr 5, 2013609 days1. def. Yasuko Tamada at Invicta FC 8 on Sep 6, 2014
3Brazil Hérica TibúrcioInvicta FC 10 Houston, TX, U.S.Dec 5, 2014216 days
4Japan Ayaka HamasakiInvicta FC 13 Las Vegas, NV, U.S.Jul 9, 2015737 days1. 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.
5United States Jinh Yu Frey def. Minna GrusanderInvicta FC 30 Kansas City, MO, U.S.Jul 21, 2018564 days1. 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.
6United States Alesha Zappitella def. Ashley CumminsInvicta FC 42 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Sep 17, 2020482 days1. def. Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC on AXS TV: Rodríguez vs. Torquato on May 21, 2021
7Brazil Jéssica DelboniInvicta FC 45 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Jan 12, 2022258 days
8United States Jillian DeCourseyInvicta FC 49 Hinton, OK, USASep 28, 2022215 days
9Brazil Rayanne dos SantosInvicta FC 53 Denver, CO, USAMay 3, 2023167 days
Dos Santos vacated title on October 17, 2023 to sign with UFC.
10Brazil Elisandra FerreiraInvicta FC 57 Kansas City, KS, U.S.Sep 20, 2024573 days (incumbent)1. def. Ana Palacios at Invicta FC 61 on April 4, 2025

Records

Most wins in title bouts

Title winsChampionDivisionVDNCL
4Brazil Cristiane JustinoFeatherweight4000
Brazil Jennifer MaiaFlyweight/Bantamweight4000
3United States Barb HonchakFlyweight3000
Japan Ayaka HamasakiAtomweight3000

Most consecutive title defenses

DefensesChampionDivisionPeriod
3Brazil Cristiane JustinoFeatherweightJuly 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 championsInterim championsTotal
United States14-14
Brazil11-11
Japan2-2
Canada2-2
Russia1-1
Mexico1-1
Australia1-1
Ireland1-1
Finland1-1
Lithuania1-1

See also

External links