> Invicta Fighting Championships

Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta FC) is an American all-women’s mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion was created in response to concerns about women’s representation in MMA following Zuffa’s acquisition of Strikeforce in March 2011, which consolidated the sport’s top female talent under UFC control. Invicta FC held its inaugural event on April 28, 2012, headlined by Marloes Coenen versus Romy Ruyssen, and established itself as the premier developmental platform for elite women’s MMA fighters worldwide.

The promotion’s first cable pay-per-view broadcast came at Invicta FC 6 in 2013. In 2014, Invicta moved to exclusive streaming on UFC Fight Pass, significantly expanding its global reach. Anthem Sports & Entertainment acquired the organization on April 15, 2021, and transitioned events to AXS TV and the Fight Network. A deal with CBS Sports Network for U.S. broadcasts was signed in 2024. Invicta FC champions have historically served as the primary feeder to UFC women’s divisions, with alumni including multiple UFC women’s champions across several weight classes.