The world's first and only all-women's pro-MMA promotion
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Original article can be found here, courtesy of LowkickMMA.
Article by Jack Wannan
For months, there was fair reason to be concerned about Invicta FC’s future. The women’s MMA promotion, which had long been known for giving major stars in the sport a platform on their way up to the UFC, went more than half a year without announcing an event.
Many started to worry if the decade-long fixture on the U.S. regional scene had met its demise. However, the public recently learned that the idea of the promotion folding was far from the truth. The months of radio silence wasn’t Invicta FC slowly fading away, but instead their quiet behind-the-scenes pursuit of making a strong return. Work from recent weeks by the promotion will all come to a culmination very soon when they host an event in Kansas City.
“It’s always hard when you know you’re working on something but you can’t say anything,” said Shannon Knapp, the President of Invicta FC. “You see the speculation, you know. Everybody wants to know what’s going on. So when you can make that announcement and let the world know what you’ve been working on, it’s a very exciting moment.”
The deal is Invicta FC’s first major partnership since being acquired by Anthem Sports & Entertainment in 2021. It guarantees five events this year, with Knapp mentioning the possibility of further shows on the channel in 2025. After years on UFC’s online subscription service Fight Pass, the promotion briefly was hosted on Anthem-owned channel AXS TV. Knapp said that they were always in pursuit of a new media deal and that they are satisfied with the one which kicks off this week.
“I think it’s great for CBS Sports,” Knapp said. “They embrace more women’s sports, and I think it’s great for Invicta. We have the opportunity to possibly connect with maybe a potential fan base that didn’t have that opportunity before.”
Invicta FC’s return comes amid a big moment for women’s sports. The rise of popularity for college and pro-level women’s basketball—coined by some as “The Caitlin Clark Effect” due to a highly successful popular Iowa-born player leading the charge—has put women’s athletics under a big spotlight. Other rising leagues, like the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), have also received a rise in popularity as of late. Knapp sees the importance of making sure every sport is involved in the current rise of women’s sports, including MMA.
“I think it’s very exciting to see the evolution that’s happening right now for women’s sports,” she said. “But I think that everybody’s part of that movement. If you’re an all-female [league] you’re part of that movement. I think it’s really important that we embrace that, and we help lift it up, not only for Invicta or for combat sports, but for all sports.”
Friday’s card will include a mix of returning Invicta FC names, plus a wave of new talent who debut with a fair amount of buzz. The main event will see bantamweight champ Talita Bernardo hunt for her fourth consecutive win in the promotion, taking on rising ex-Bellator fighter Olga Rubin.
After having an unsuccessful UFC run that came to an end in 2022, Bernardo has found a second wind in her career through Invicta FC. After scoring back-to-back submission wins in 2022, she went five rounds against Taneisha Tennant to take a decision victory and capture the division’s 135-pound belt.
Earlier in the night, Kay Hansen will come back to Invicta for the first time since her two-year UFC run. At just 24 years old, Hansen will be looking to reboot her career by performing in the promotion that previously got her to a big stage in the sport.
“Having Kay [Hansen] back is amazing,” Knapp explained. “You know, this is where it all began for her, she was very young. If memory serves me right, I think she was like 18 when she came in, or somewhere in that vicinity. She was very young.”
Earlier in the night, an atomweight (105-pound) fight will see Japanese prospect Saori Oshima take on Andressa Romero. Oshima has put together a stellar record in Japan’s regional scene and has won four fights in notable promotion RIZIN.
Among the top MMA promotions (UFC, PFL & Bellator), none currently host fights at the atomweight limit. Knapp explained the importance of putting a spotlight on these divisions at Invicta, even if they aren’t exactly stepping-stone bouts to get into bigger promotions.
“It’s important that we embrace all the divisions,” she said. “Currently. we have five divisions. Could we expand on that at some point in time? There is a good potential. But yeah, I think it’s hugely important. I especially the lower weights for women. You find a lot of women that compete in those weight classes.”
Back up and running, Invicta FC is optimistic about what lies ahead. After months where fans might have felt worried about the promotion’s future, Knapp wants the public to know that they are working hard to provide the best product possible.
“We’re moving, and we’re super excited about the opportunity that’s in front of us,” she said. “I think that what fans can expect right now is I’m gonna do my best. My team’s gonna do their best to put on world-class matchups, entertaining matchups and to really fine-tune everything and give them the best that we can give them.”
Are you excited to see the return of Invicta FC?
Original article can be found here courtesy of MMA Sucka
Article by Drew Zuhosky
It’s the last weekend in June. Where does the time go these days? The last weekend before the Independence Day holiday in America next Thursday is a jam-packed one, with no fewer than four cards happening on Friday night, three of them being MMA shows.
While the PFL holds its last show of its regular season, an anticipated return takes place in The Sunflower State of Kansas. Friday evening, women’s promotion Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta FC) begins its 2024 schedule of events, and it does so on a new television home.
All five of Invicta’s events from June 28 to Dec. 13 will be seen on CBS Sports Network. The cabler is available on various providers throughout the United States. For those subscribed to DIRECTV, CBS Sports Network is airing its programming on channel 221, while Dish Network subscribers can tune into channel 158 for the action.
With the exception of Invicta’s Nov. 5 show, its cards this year will be live on Friday nights. It starts with Invicta FC 55. Live coverage begins at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on CBS Sports Network.
Heading into the Invicta FC 55 main event on Friday night, challenger Olga Rubin stands as the taller combatant at 5-foot-9, compared to the 5-foot-4 frame of champion Talita Bernardo. Rubin also owns a one-inch reach advantage (69 inches to 68 inches) over Bernardo.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Talita Bernardo installed as a -163 favorite on the money line, with Olga Rubin countering as a +120 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA or combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Talita Bernardo enters Friday’s title fight having posted a record of 4-1 over her last five fights. Most recently, she captured the 135-lb. strap with a unanimous decision victory over Taneisha Tennant (5-2 MMA, 4-1 Invicta) during Invicta FC 51 on Jan. 18, 2023 on AXS TV.
She’s on a four-fight winning streak since being released by the UFC after her defeat in May of 2019, with a stopover in Oktagon MMA, based out of the Czech Republic. Talita Bernardo hasn’t looked back in the three-plus years’ worth of fights following her departure from MMA’s top promotion.
Bernardo now has a title to show for it. Can she run her current winning streak to five? Tune into Invicta FC 55’s main event for the answer.
In the other corner, Olga Rubin has gone 3-2 in her last five appearances. Like Bernardo, Rubin also fought in Oktagon before joining Invicta.
Last time out, she stopped Claire Guthrie (5-3 MMA, 4-2 Invicta) with a second-round submission (buggy choke) on May 3 of last year during Invicta FC 53. Rubin’s win that night resulted in her being nominated in the Submission of the Year category at the 15th Annual World MMA Awards last December.
Rubin discussed her effort with Cageside Press in Vegas during red carpet arrivals the night of the ceremony.
“Basically, I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu since at least 2013, and I’ve been doing that buggy choke, at least trying to get the buggy choke in a fight, for at least three fights before I got it,” the challenger began. “So for me, it was like my moment, because I was really working on the choke.”
What does the future hold for Olga Rubin this Friday? Only time will tell.
Stylistically, the Invicta FC 55 main event looks to be a toss-up. Both the champion and the challenger are adept in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Talita Bernardo is able to create offense of her own when she’s absorbing strikes. Look at the tape of the third round of her fight against Taneisha Tennant from January of 2023.
Less than two minutes into the round, Bernardo ate a slew of left-handed punches before rising up and securing a takedown of her own from the bodylock. At that point, her ground game told the story as she assumed top position and stayed there for the better part of the third period.
If Bernardo is on the receiving end of some strikes, she knows how to improve her situation. It’s something to look out for in the Invicta FC 55 main event.
In the other corner, once Olga Rubin says “Two can play that game.” Late in the second round of her fight versus Claire Guthrie, she was on the receiving end of a takedown but quickly moved into apply the torque to get Guthrie to tap out.
All Olga Rubin needs is one opening to do some damage.
Even though the Fourth of July isn’t for another week, you can expect some fireworks on Friday night in Invicta FC 55’s main event as International Fight Week continues.
Original article can be found here courtesy of Cageside Press.
Article by Gabriel Gonzalez and Jay Anderson
Kay Hansen finally makes her comeback at Invicta FC 55 on Friday, June 28, and it’s been a long road to get back to the cage for the now-24 year-old UFC alum.
Finally making her return after just over two years in a fight with Sayury Canon, strawweight Hansen feels she’s developed significantly as a person since she was last seen in the cage. Not to mention as a fighter.
“It’s been awesome. I’ve had some time off, but I’m also really young and I feel like that was critical for some self-development,” Hansen (7-6) told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview. “And I think that’s definitely going to translate to my performance in the cage.”
A clearly upbeat Hansen noted that she’s been asked about her time off for a while, and admitted that she’s experiencing the emotions of Fight Week again- but is happy to be doing so.
In her time since exiting the UFC, where she last competed in 2022, Hansen dealt with a hand injury, a shattered knuckle that she initially didn’t seek treatment for, thinking she had sprained her hand.
“I definitely probably prolonged it by not getting it checked out right away,” said Hansen. Then, the injury didn’t heal correctly. “It took time to kind of work around that, because it was either re-break it, or let it to its thing. So I just let it do its thing, had to work through some uncomfortable feelings when I punch.”
“I for sure was training one handed for a few months. That was rough, next time I’m definitely going straight to the ER and figure that out.”
“Either way, taking that time off really did help me develop as a person,” Hansen added. And, she noted, she’s remained active in training. “Don’t get me wrong, I was still training. In these two years, I have still been training. It’s not like I took two years off and just jumped back into a camp, and wasn’t active in the gym and wasn’t progressing in the gym. I was still making strides in the gym, I was still showing up to practice. It’s not like I’ve had two years of no training, and then I’m jumping back into a fight.”
To be fair to Hansen, with Invicta FC on hiatus, she looked elsewhere to find fights, only for a handful to fall through. “I had a agreed to three fights this year, and this is the first one that actually came to fruition,” she revealed.
Hansen opened up during her time away about a traumatic upbringing, including allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of her father, which she called a “very weird and taboo topic” that people should feel comfortable speaking up about. Coming forward “was definitely a very intense feeling,” admitted Hansen, especially when a documentary about her experience went live.
“I remember refreshing comments, and being nervous. But I’m very happy I did it, and I’m definitely going to speak about it more in the future,” said Hansen, adding how important it would have been to herself as a young woman to have that sort of voice available to her.
Original article can be found here courtesy of mmafighting.com
Article by Damon Martin | @DamonMartin
Invicta FC founder Shannon Knapp admits it was tough to bite her tongue and not fire back at rumors that the all-women’s promotion was going out of business.
Just weeks before announcing a broadcast rights deal teaming up Invicta FC with CBS Sports Network, a report surfaced on Twitter that the organization was allegedly done, with no events since October 2023. In truth, Knapp says the extended break was intentional as the promotion made some necessary changes internally while working tirelessly on getting a new TV deal done.
Once she was finally able to announce the partnership with CBS Sports Network, Knapp was more than happy to take a victory lap.
“Let me tell you how hard it was to read that stuff,” Knapp told MMA Fighting. “To read it and just know that I knew something different. Sometimes you just have to stay quiet and let people put their own foot in their mouth, so to speak.
“No, do you think I’m going down without a fight? True to the phoenix, we always rise and find a way. It certainly was not the case nor would I sit back and let that be the case. If Invicta doesn’t exist, it creates a huge hole in the industry. Invicta is super important to this sport, not just because of the women’s side of it but just we keep people honest. I love that’s what Invicta means to the combat space. Yeah, no, not going down that easily.”
As a well-respected industry veteran who’s been around combat sports longer than many organizations have even existed, Knapp didn’t really feel the need to get into a mud slinging contest publicly.
Instead, she just sat back and waited for the chance to announce the deal with CBS Sports Network along with a busy schedule filled with events for the rest of 2024 to cement her win.
“The thing is I’m so approachable, if you have doubts, call me up,” Knapp said. “I’m not going to lie. I’m not known to be untruthful in the industry or a liar. So it’s certainly easy enough to pick up the phone and ask me instead of assuming.
“But sensationalism and spreading non-truths, that happens a lot on this side of the sport.”
As far as the CBS Sports deal, Knapp revealed that talks with the Paramount owned network started several months ago but broadcast rights deals don’t happen overnight. There was a lot of ground to cover before contracts could be inked along with a plan to launch the next Invicta FC card, which goes down Friday in Kansas City.
“It’s been a really exciting time and hard to keep it quiet,” Knapp said. “You sit back and you know what’s coming and you’ve been working on it but you have to announce when it’s time to announce. It’s been a whirlwind since we announced [the deal].
“I think back just before the last event, we started doing the courting process as we’ll call it. A good six or seven months now, something in that vicinity. For me, you can’t share that information. I have a lot of athletes that have questions and stuff. I’m really blessed that they trust me when I tell them I’m working on something that will be a game changer for us and will be great for you, that they trust in that. It’s tough to keep that quiet.”
Knapp says ultimately going with CBS Sports Network was a no brainer when she contemplated the future for Invicta FC, which has sent dozens of athletes off to promotions like the UFC ever since first launching back in 2012.
“They’re a very respected sports network, which I love,” Knapp said. “Just being on a sports network was very important. I think outside of the deal points and things like that, that always make a difference, it just feels like a good fit. They’re good people. I’ve had a really good experience dealing with them and the representatives I’ve dealt with so far. It just felt right at this moment in time.
“Who knows what the future brings but certainly very invested in this and they’re invested in it and want to be part of this family, the CBS Sports Network family.”
With the first event under the CBS Sports banner on Friday, Invicta FC already has future cards set for August, September, November and December.
After working on the broadcast rights deal and a nine month layoff between events, Knapp can’t wait to hit the ground running with a very busy 2024 ahead of her.
“I love it,” Knapp said. “That’s the thing that’s so important is consistency. If you don’t have consistency, then how do you build a brand? I just think it’s hugely important. To have a partnership that provides that consistency is great. We’re excited.
“An opportunity for Invicta to shine and to connect with a potential fanbase that wasn’t available to us and reach new fans. We’re excited about it.”
Take an intimate look behind the camps of Jillian DeCoursey and Rayanne dos Santos in the lead-up to their atomweight title fight that took place at Invicta FC 53.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezciC_mh5P4
A tale of two corners. Leading up to the atomweight title fight between Jillian DeCoursey and Rayanne dos Santos at Invicta FC 53. The documentary drops TOMORROW on our YouTube!
TORONTO —Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., a global, multi-platform media company, today announced an international partnership with Brazil’s leading television programmer, Globo TV, that will deliver Invicta Fighting Championships throughout Brazil.
The agreement will give Globo TV viewers in Brazil access to Invicta FC events via Globo TV’s COMBATE fight channel. Each event will be televised live and in Portuguese.
Globo TV’s COMBATE channel viewers will be able to enjoy Invicta FC’s thrilling return to Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 18, as the promotion proudly presents Invicta FC 51 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The loaded fight card is headlined by a highly anticipated main event matchup, as UFC veteran Talita Bernardo seeks to hand bantamweight champion Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant her first defeat in the Invicta cage. Other highlights include Kristina “Warhorse” Williams battling Brazilian knockout specialist Ketlen “Esquentadinha” Souza for the vacant flyweight title; Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus going toe-to-toe with “Big Bad” Olga Rubin; a hard-hitting bantamweight showdown between “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie and Auttumn “The Natural” Norton; an atomweight bout pitting Marisa “Spider Monkey” Messer-Belenchia against Brazilian newcomer Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira; and more.
“This distribution agreement is yet another significant step for Invicta FC,” said Shannon Knapp, founder and president of Invicta FC. “We continue to increase our visibility around the globe and partnering with Brazil’s No. 1 TV entity Globo — and its COMBATE channel — puts Invicta FC events in front of the passionate Brazilian audience.”
Said Rafael Gruenbaum, Head of COMBATE: “COMBATE continues to expand its portfolio with great quality. Partnerships with events with so much history and relevance to international MMA reinforce the channel’s excellent offer to MMA fans. So, it is with great joy that we announce Invicta FC as a new partner. Besides the excellent events with renowned athletes, we will be able to encourage even more the sport for the female gender.”
The Globo TV/COMBATE deal continues a string of recent media agreements that brings Invicta FC events to fans around world. In 2022 and early 2023, Anthem Sports & Entertainment reached deals to distribute Invicta FC events to:
In addition to the aforementioned continents and regions, Invicta FC is televised in North America on Anthem properties AXS TV in the United States and Fight Network in Canada.
About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Invicta Fighting Championships returns to the Mile High City with a championship doubleheader. The action takes place from Reelworks Denver and tickets are available now through Eventbrite. The event will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. MT, with the main card airing on AXS TV in the U.S., Fight Network in Canada, and Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT.
Let’s take a look at the match-ups for the upcoming card through the lens of a sports bettor:
Taneisha Tennant (-120) vs. Talita Bernardo (-105) – for bantamweight title
The bantamweight title fight between champion Taneisha Tennant and Talita Bernardo is a tight betting line and for good reason. This is a highly competitive fight between two high-quality individuals with good quality of competition and a high-success rate. The stylistic match-up is what will come into focus here.
In Tennant, you have a primary striker with good athleticism and quickness. She isn’t easy to take down, which is what Bernardo will be looking for as a grappler. Tennant is riding a two-fight winning streak right now, besting Olga Rubin and Lisa Verzosa in that time under the Invicta banner. Tennant’s only career loss came against former pro boxer Danyelle Wolf on the Contender Series.
As for Benardo, she faced quality opposition during a four-fight stint in the UFC. Although she went just 1-3 in that UFC tenure, she stepped in the cage with top-15 fighters Viviane Araujo, Irene Aldana and Marion Reneau, a testament to her competition level. She’s currently on a three-fight surge, with two coming by way of submission (both under the Invicta banner).
Given the tight moneyline, a more focused bet may be in order for this title clash. Bernardo at +585 to win by submission looks to be an intriguing bet given Bernardo’s strong submission skills as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Tennant by decision is another bet worth a look at +170, since her last two title victories have gone the distance.
Kristina Williams (-120) vs. Ketlen Souza (-115) – for vacant flyweight title
The other title fight on this card is a flyweight affair for the vacant belt between Kristina Williams and Ketlen Souza. This is an especially intriguing bout given both fighters styles and experience, and may be one of the bigger question marks on this card.
Williams may just be a nine-fight pro, but she is the slight favorite here given her experience under bright lights. She fought for Bellator six times and did not take any easy fights. Despite going 3-3 in that organization, she does own victories over former Invicta champ Emily Ducote and former boxing world champion Heather Hardy. She comes into this bout on a three-fight surge, including two victories under the Invicta banner.
For Souza, she has more fights in terms of numbers, but she doesn’t have the same level of competition as Williams. That’s not a knock on Souza as much as it’s a compliment to Williams. That said, Souza likes to strike, but her two most recent losses come by TKO from leg kicks and a body kick. Williams is a striker herself and will look to test Souza, who will have no problem putting on a show with her own striking.
That’s where the betting lines comes in. Again, this is super close, which may make it tough to score big money either way. Williams by knockout at +200 seems like a tough line, but one that could be a safe bet given Souza’s most recent losses compared to the style of Williams. A solid bet could be picking either fighter by decision, as both lines are plus money and could ultimately pay off, if you pick the right winner.
Serena DeJesus (-115) vs. Olga Rubin (-115)
The bantamweight bout between Serena DeJesus and Olga Rubin is looking at two fighters in very different positions in their career. In DeJesus, you have a fighter really hitting her stride as of lately, scoring four-straight wins and looking good in the process. For Rubin, you have a former Bellator title challenger that’s dropped three of her last four. However, her last bout was a narrow, split-decision defeat to current champion Taneisha Tennant. Momentum could be a key here when it comes to betting. Given that the moneyline is even, it may not be the best option if you’re willing to test your meddle with prop bets. Picking the winner by decision could be your best opportunity to cash big on this match-up. A dark horse pick given Rubin’s two TKO losses could be DeJesus via knockout at +650.
Claire Guthrie (-145) vs. Auttumn Norton (+115)
It’s a spotlight night for the bantamweight division as Ultimate Fighter veteran and Denver native Claire Guthrie collides with Auttumn Norton. This is going to be a battle of attrition, pitting the wrestling of Guthrie up against the power striking of Norton. Guthrie by decision at +120 looks to be the “safest bet” given the style she brings to this fight. If you are looking for a Hail Mary option with high risk and high reward, consider picking Norton to score a knockout. It’s currently at a whopping +1035 and she has demonstrated some pop in her punches in her previous fights.
Marisa Messer-Belenchia (-130) vs. Elisandra Ferreira (+100)
The atomweight scrap between Marisa Messer-Belenchia and Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira is also close through the eyes of the books. Messer-Belenchia has plenty of experience, including exhibition bouts that aren’t on her official record in the Invicta Phoenix Tournament. She also has pro boxing experience, which is something she will want to employ against Ferreira. Ferreira prefers to grapple and given her penchant for going the distance, the over 1.5 rounds line at -120 could still represent good value. Or, if you’re confident in picking the winner, choosing either fighter to win by decision could be smart money.
Katie Saull (-115) vs. Rayanne dos Santos (-115)
Another Contender Series veteran shows up on this card in the form of Rayanne dos Santos, who is dropping to atomweight in her Invicta debut against veteran Katie Saull. Dos Santos looked very good in her Contender Series loss to Denise Gomes, but it will be intriguing to see how she performs in her new weight class. That could be a factor that leans toward taking the over 1.5 rounds, even at -155. Other bets worth consideration are Saull by decision at +335 and dos Santos by submission at +460.
Fatima Kline (-130) vs. Laura Gallardo (+100)
The strawweight fight between Fatima Kline and Laura Gallardo is probably the most interesting fight from the standpoint of the two combatants and their respective styles and experience. Kline is an outstanding Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner with excellent submission skills. She is 2-0 in her career and has finishes in both of those bouts which took place under the Invicta banner. This is a big step up in MMA competition for her in Gallardo, a TUF veteran and strong wrestler. Her wrestling could counteract Kline’s BJJ, or if Kline is unable to secure a ground fight from top position, this could end up a kickboxing match. This may yet again represent a fight where the best value is picking the winner by decision. If it’s Kline, you’re looking at +385. For Gallardo, it’s at +420. Either way, if you pick the right fighter, it will be a nice return on investment.
Tanya Nijjar (-135) vs. Sayury Cañon (+105)
The opening bout on the card is two youngsters in the pro MMA game in Tanya Nijjar and Saury Cañon. Nijjar is the favorite here because she was an undefeated amateur and won her pro debut by submission over a more experienced opponent. Cañon has more pro wins, but they both came against relatively unknown competition in South America. The best value bet here is Nijjar by submission at +260. Though if you’re looking for a big-return bet, you could take Cañon and her wrestling pedigree by decision at +400.
Note: all betting lines referenced are subject to change and are not controlled by Invicta FC. Any suggested bets mentioned are purely suggestions of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the promotion.
This piece is a special contribution from Riley Kontek, a veteran combat sports writer whose work has appeared on Bleacher Report MMA, Combat Press and the MMA Intel Blog. You can follow Riley on Twitter.
About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.
TORONTO — Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.,a global, multi-platform media company, today announced an international partnership with DirecTV Latin America that will deliver Anthem’s Invicta Fighting Championships to countries throughout South America.
The agreement will give DirecTV Latin America subscribers in South America – including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela — access to Invicta FC events. Each event will be shown on DirecTV Latin America’s dedicated fight channel, D-Fight, and broadcast live and in Spanish.
DirecTV Latin America viewers will be able to enjoy Invicta FC’s thrilling return to Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 18, as the promotion presents Invicta FC 51 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The loaded fight card is headlined by a highly anticipated main event matchup, as UFC veteran Talita Bernardo seeks to hand bantamweight champion Taneisha “Triple Threat” Tennant her first defeat in the Invicta cage. Other highlights include Kristina “Warhorse” Williams battling Brazilian knockout specialist Ketlen “Esquentadinha” Souza for the vacant flyweight title; Serena “The Southpaw Outlaw” DeJesus going toe-to-toe with “Big Bad” Olga Rubin; a hard-hitting bantamweight showdown between “Grizzly” Claire Guthrie and Auttumn “The Natural” Norton; an atomweight bout pitting Marisa “Spider Monkey” Messer-Belenchia against Brazilian newcomer Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira; and more.
“Latin America has a long and rich history in mixed martial arts, producing some of the greatest fighters in the sport,” said Shannon Knapp, founder and president of Invicta FC. “This new partnership with DirecTV Latin America presents an exciting opportunity for Invicta to showcase our talented all-female athletes – many of which have Latin American roots themselves – to even more passionate MMA fans around the world, expanding our reach even further and giving us a major platform to demonstrate everything that makes Invicta FC a trailblazer in the industry and a true global force. We look forward to sharing all that Invicta FC has to offer with DirecTV Latin America’s audience when Invicta FC 51 premieres on January 18.”
The DirecTV Latin America deal continues a string of recent TV distribution agreements that brings Invicta FC events to fans around world. In 2022, Anthem Sports & Entertainment reached deals to distribute Invicta FC events to:
In addition to the aforementioned countries, Invicta FC is televised on Anthem properties AXS TV in the United States and Fight Network in Canada.
About Invicta FC:
Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (InvictaFights) and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City, Cleveland and Toronto. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S.