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Denver to Host Invicta FC 56 on August 9, Featuring Maia-Cantuária Showdown

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DENVER — Fresh off one of the most successful events in Invicta Fighting Championships history, the phoenix is rising to a Mile High once more. The world’s premier combat sports organization for women touches down at the Stockyards Event Center in Denver on Friday, Aug. 9 with another star-studded lineup.

In the night’s headliner, Brazilian Jennifer Maia (21-10-1) returns to the organization that launched her into stardom to take on her countrywoman, Mayra Cantuária (10-5-1). Maia, the former Invicta FC flyweight champion and UFC title challenger, will move up in weight for a non-title bantamweight clash, marking her seventh appearance in the Invicta cage. Cantuária aims to build on the momentum of her second-round submission win over Calie Cutler in her promotional debut at Invicta FC 52 last year.

Invicta FC 56 will also feature the return of former strawweight titleholder Valesca “Tina Black” Machado (13-4), who welcomes Russia’s Yulia Ostroverkhova (9-2-1) to North America. Machado rebounded from her title defeat at Invicta FC 52 with a 49-second stoppage victory in February and looks to quickly get back into title contention. Ostroverkhova is a product of the Alexander Shlemenko “STORM” fight team and is an Open Fighting Championship strawweight champion.

The card also includes Brazilian Kelly Ottoni (5-0) against Jackie “The Hybrid” Cataline (4-3) in a featherweight bout, English flyweight Kate “Queen of the South” Bacik (4-1) takes on Brazilian Paula “Bittencourt” Cristina (6-2), Mexican atomweight Flor “Compean” Hernandez (4-1) clashes with Ana “Guerrera” Palacios (8-3-1), Ailed Zubieta (3-2), also of Mexico, faces off with fellow atomweight Giulliany “Giu” Perêa (1-0) of Brazil, featherweight Ali Pellegrini (debut) makes her first professional appearance opposite Missouri native Marissa “Mo” Ellis (1-1), and strawweights Ashley Barrett (debut) and Amber Medina (debut) kick off the night’s action.

Invicta FC 56: Maia vs. Cantuária will air via CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT. Tickets to the event are on sale now through Eventbrite.

The current fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight: Jennifer Maia vs. Mayra Cantuária
Strawweight: Valesca Machado vs. Yulia Ostroverkhova

Featherweight: Kelly Ottoni vs. Jackie Cataline
Flyweight: Kate Bacik vs. Paula “Bittencourt” Cristina
Atomweight: Flor Hernandez vs. Ana Palacios
Atomweight: Ailed Zubieta vs. Giulliany Perêa
Featherweight: Ali Pellegrini vs. Marissa Ellis

Strawweight: Ashley Barrett vs. Amber Medina

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 55 Results: Bernardo Submits Rubin to Retain Bantamweight Title

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – On Friday, June 28, Invicta Fighting Championships touched down at Memorial Hall in Kansas City for Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin. The night’s main card action aired live on CBS Sports Network.

The Invicta bantamweight belt remains around the waist of Brazilian Talita Bernardo, who submitted challenger Olga Rubin in the second round of their title bout. Rubin stalked Bernardo early as the bantamweights exchanged range-finding kicks. Bernardo ducked under a right hand from Rubin and took the fight to the ground. Rubin applied a buggy choke from the bottom, but Bernardo patiently worked her way free and to top position. A series of right hands from Bernardo forced Rubin to scramble. Bernardo used a body lock to drag Rubin to the mat. She quickly moved to back mount and began to work for a rear-naked choke. Rubin arched her back to defend the submission and eventually spun into the guard of the Brazilian. Late in the round, it was Rubin who took the back of Bernardo and opened a large cut near the right eye. A left head kick from Rubin greeted Bernardo to start the second round. Bernardo absorbed it and took Rubin to the mat. Rubin landed an upkick but gave up her back in the ensuing scramble. Bernardo again went to work on a rear-naked choke, eventually locking it in and coercing the tap from the challenger.

Returning to where her career started, Californian strawweight Kay Hansen looked to get back into contention when she faced off with undefeated Colombian Sayury Cañon. Hansen scored with a quick right hand and immediately launched into a big takedown. She climbed on the back of Cañon and looked for a choke. Cañon used the cage to her advantage and escaped the position. Hansen shot for another takedown but went for a ride as Cañon slammed her to the mat. When the pair returned to striking, Hansen set up another takedown and again moved to Cañon’s back. The Colombian did well to avoid letting Hansen secure her hooks for a moment, but eventually succumbed to the UFC veteran’s pressure. Hansen rained right hands and worked to flatten out Cañon, but could not find a finish before the bell. A spinning backfist attempt from Cañon opened the second frame and turned it into a takedown. Hansen scrambled to a dominant position and again looked to set up a submission. Cañon escaped to her feet and peppered Hansen with her jab. A big flurry from Cañon prompted Hansen to tie her up and slam her back to the canvas. It was short-lived as Cañon bounced back to her feet. In the final frame, Hansen wasted little time closing the distance and pushing Cañon against the fence. Cañon looked for heavy punches at range, forcing Hansen to clinch again. Hansen fired a step-in, upward elbow that surprised Cañon. The Colombian responded with a massive slam in the center of the cage. Hansen worked hard in the clinch before unleashing a late onslaught of kicks. The competitive affair went to the scorecards and it was Hansen who eked out the split-decision victory after three, hard-fought rounds.

Promotional newcomer Andressa Romero of Brazil spoiled the Invicta and North American debut of Japanese atomweight Saori Oshima. Oshima flurried forward to initiate the clinch in the opening moments of the bout, but it was Romero who spun her to the cage. She looked for a body lock which allowed Oshima to briefly attack her neck. Oshima used the choke attempt to transition to a kimura and flip Romero to the mat. Romero did not panic in the precarious position, but Oshima again rolled her to move to top position. She quickly transitioned to the back with both hooks. Romero looked to spin into top position but was forced to defend an armbar attempt from the Japanese fighter. Romero worked her way free momentarily, only for Oshima to attack her other arm. Romero opened up with her hands in round two to try and slow Oshima’s advance. Oshima marched forward absorbing punches before changing levels and pulling Romero on top of her. After a short grappling exchange, Romero opted to return to her feet and stay out of Oshima’s guard. The pair willingly traded power shots in the pocket before Oshima again pulled Romero on top of her. The Brazilian dropped heavy right hands from the top until the round closed. Oshima looked for an immediate takedown to open the last round. Romero tried to set up an arm-triangle from the top before Oshima recovered her guard. As the fight returned to the feet, Oshima chased Romero around the cage to secure a short clinch. Romero teed off with right hands late in the bout. A late takedown from Oshima had little effect, as she was unable to mount any offense. When the scorecards were read, it was Romero who walked away with the victory to move into contention at 105 pounds.

Kicking off the action on the CBS Sports main card, Taylor Guardado made her Invicta FC return opposite Japan’s Yoko Hagashi in a bantamweight affair. Higashi scored with a quick right hand before barreling forward for a takedown attempt. Guardado side-stepped the attempt and delivered a thundering right hand of her own. Higashi changed levels, but Guardado stuffed her and jumped on her back. She secured both hooks and sunk in the fight-finishing rear-naked choke in just 83 seconds.

Closing out the preliminary-card action, Brazilian atomweight Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira took on Canada’s Katie Saull. Ferreira quickly caught a kick from Saull and forced her to the mat. She postured up along the fence to deliver heavy left hands. Saull was active with her guard, but allowed Ferreira to move to her back and lace in one hook. The left hands from Ferreira continue to rain down on Saull. Ferreira quickly jumped on the back and looked for a rear-naked choke, but Saull was able to spin out of the submission and into top position. Ferreira was aggressive from her back, frequently threatening to lock up Saull’s arm. The second stanza opened with a more measured pace on the feet. Saull shot for a takedown, but Ferreira stuffed it and reversed position. A left elbow from Saull connected clean to the temple of Ferreira. The Brazilian stuck to Saull like glue along the fence. Saull broke free late in the round. Ferreira opened round three with a heavy right hook to Saull’s midsection. Saull returned fire with a teep kick to Ferreira’s stomach. The pair traded more kicks, with neither truly taking control of the range. A crisp right from Ferreira got through Saull’s guard with a minute left in the fight. A left hand from Saull found its mark late, but the judges were called upon for a verdict. All three rendered a win for Ferreira, who called for a title shot in her post-fight interview.

In a battle of amateur world champions, American Zoe Nowicki collided with Brazilian Josiane Oliveira in a flyweight bout. Oliveira popped the head of Nowicki early with a jab as she looked to find her range. Nowicki was undeterred, marching forward and scoring with a heavy right hand. A level change from the American led to a wild scramble. Oliveira delivered a spinning heel kick that wowed the crowd, but Nowicki absorbed the strike well. Nowicki fired a booming overhand right that landed clean to the left eye of Oliveira. Late in the round, Nowicki utilized her wresting pedigree to score the fight’s first takedown. In round two, Oliveira used her length to keep Nowicki on the outside. Another overhand from Nowicki missed the mark as Oliveira was able to evade. A takedown from Nowicki was stuffed by the Brazilian, who followed with a wheel kick attempt. The final frame began slowly, as both fighters looked for openings. Nowicki was the first to find one, cracking Oliveira with another right hand. She powered into a single-leg and earned a brief takedown. The pressure of Nowicki took its toll as the fight progressed. Oliveira’s offensive output waned in the closing moments. The fight was sent to the scorecards and it was Nowicki claimed the unanimous decision nod.

The night opened with a flyweight match-up between Mexico’s Violeta Mendoza and the debuting Fallon Johnson. The pair exchanged heavy low kicks before Mendoza started to open up with punches. Johnson looked for the clinch, but it was Mendoza who gained top position on the ground. The Mexican moved to half guard, but was unable to mount any significant offense. The fight returned to the feet and Mendoza again landed heavy punches. Mendoza caught a kick and delivered a massive right hand that dropped Johnson. She flurried with punches to get the first-round TKO victory and move to 2-0.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Talita Bernardo def. Olga Rubin by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 2, 2:53 – for bantamweight title
Kay Hansen def. Sayury Cañon by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andressa Romero def. Saori Oshima by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Taylor Guardado def. Yoko Higashi by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:23
Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira def. Katie Saull by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Zoe Nowicki def. Josiane Oliveira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Violeta Mendoza def. Fallon Johnson by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:16

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin Official Weigh-in Results

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — On Thursday, June 27, Invicta Fighting Championships hosted the weigh-ins for Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin, which takes place Friday, June 28 from Memorial Hall.

Invicta FC 55 will feature the first title defense for Brazilian bantamweight Talita Bernardo (10-4). The UFC veteran captured the 135-pound title at Invicta FC 51, dethroning then-champion Taneisha Tennant via unanimous decision. Challenging for gold will be “Big Bad” Olga Rubin (9-3). The England-based fighter is fresh off a “Submission of the Year” performance at Invicta FC 53, where she scored the first buggy choke finish in promotion history.

The card also features the promotional return of strawweight Kay Hansen (7-6). The 24-year-old made her professional debut in the Invicta cage in 2017 and scored five wins with the organization. She will re-enter the 115-pound ranks fresh off a four-fight UFC stint. Hansen’s opponent will be undefeated Colombian sensation Sayury Cañon (3-0). Cañon most recently competed at Invicta FC 52, defeating Amanda Macioce.

Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin will air live on CBS Sports Network at 9 p.m. ET. Preliminary card action will stream live on Invicta’s official YouTube Channel and Facebook Page at 7 p.m. ET.

Below are the results of the event’s weigh-ins:

Bantamweight Title: Talita Bernardo (134.6) vs. Olga Rubin (134.9)
Strawweight: Kay Hansen (115.2) vs. Sayury Cañon (115.2)
Atomweight: Saori Oshima (104.6) vs. Andressa Romero (105.7)
Bantamweight: Taylor Guardado (137.4)* vs. Yoko Higashi (135.5)
Atomweight: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (105.7) vs. Katie Saull (105.8)
Flyweight: Zoe Nowicki (125.4) vs. Josiane Oliveira (125.1)
Flyweight: Fallon Johnson (126) vs. Violeta Mendoza (124.7)

* – Guardado missed the bantamweight limit of 136 pounds and was fined 25 percent of her fight purse

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

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Exclusive – Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp discusses ‘Exciting’ debut on CBS Sports

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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.

The absence of Invicta FC will come to an end this Friday when the promotion kicks off a five-event tour which will take place in the second half of 2024. The series of events comes along with a new distribution deal, airing events live on American TV channel CBS Sports Network.

“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.”

Invicta FC Returning Amid A Women’s Sports ‘Evolution’

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.”

Talita Bernardo, Kay Hansen Among Spotlighted Talents

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.”

Atomweight Division Continues To Receive Attention

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?

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Invicta FC 55 Main Event Breakdown

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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.

Invicta FC 55 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

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.

Bernardo Seeks to Make Initial Defense of Title A Successful One

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.

Olga Rubin Looks to Build Off Submission Win

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.

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

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.

Bernardo Can Flip the Script

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.

Olga Rubin Does the Same

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.

Final Thoughts

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.

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Invicta FC 55’s Kay Hansen Believes Time Off “Critical For Some Self-Development”

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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.

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Invicta FC founder Shannon Knapp scoffs at rumors promotion was allegedly going out of business

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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.”

 

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Invicta Fighting Championships Signs Exclusive U.S. Television Rights Deal with CBS Sports

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LOS ANGELES — Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion, announced today an exclusive U.S. television rights deal with CBS Sports, marking another significant milestone in women’s sports.

Starting with the highly-anticipated Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin on June 28, Invicta FC will air live on CBS Sports Network. This agreement underscores Invicta FC’s continued growth and essential position in the MMA landscape, bringing top-tier women’s MMA action to a broader audience both on television and online.

CBS Sports Network will air five upcoming Invicta events throughout 2024 — kicking off with the highly-anticipated Invicta FC 55 on Friday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET. Broadcast live from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, the evening is headlined by a bantamweight championship showdown as UFC veteran Talita Bernardo defends her title for the first time against submission specialist “Big Bad” Olga Rubin, whose history-making performance at Invicta FC 53 earned her “Submission of the Year” accolades. The night also includes a co-main event strawweight showdown, pitting the undefeated Sayury Cañon against California native Kay Hansen.

Invicta FC was founded in 2012 by trailblazing combat sports executive Shannon Knapp, who continues to make history as the only female head of a major combat sports promotion. Over the last 12 years, Invicta has changed the face of MMA — providing a vital platform for top female athletes from around the globe. Invicta FC has long been a pivotal platform for showcasing female MMA talent, providing a stage where some of the sport’s most remarkable athletes first made their mark. The promotion’s impressive alumni roster features legends such as Amanda Nunes, Rose Namajunas, Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino and Paige VanZant, among many others. Through Invicta, these athletes have announced their presence to the world, demonstrating their exceptional skills and cementing their place in MMA history.

“CBS Sports is the perfect partner for Invicta FC,” said Knapp. “By joining forces with their global platform, we’re set to bring our world-class events to an even larger audience. 2024 will be a landmark year for us, packed with unparalleled matchups and title fights exclusive to Invicta. We are excited to showcase our world-class events and demonstrate why Invicta FC is the leading brand in women’s MMA, giving fans around the world a front-row seat to the action.”

CBS Sports Network is available on DIRECTV (channel 221) and Dish Network (channel 158). CBS Sports Network’s programming can also be viewed live online at CBSSports.com.

CBS Sports’ Complete 2024 Invicta FC Schedule (9-11 p.m. ET):

Friday, June 28 – Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin – Memorial Hall in Kansas City
Friday, August 9 – Invicta FC 56
Friday, September TBD – Invicta FC 57
Wednesday, November 6 – Invicta FC 58
Friday, December 13 – Invicta FC 59

About Invicta FC:
A subsidiary of Anthem Sports and Entertainment, Inc., Invicta Fighting Championships is breaking barriers in women’s sports as the premier all-female promotion delivering unparalleled world championships and all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) events. The history-making Invicta FC continues to pave the way for all to follow, providing female athletes from around the globe with a major platform where they are able to compete against other top talent. Founded in 2012 by veteran MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is pioneering the future growth of women’s MMA, putting the spotlight on the absolute best match-ups while identifying and developing the sport’s future stars. Follow Invicta on Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) for all the latest information. Watch Invicta FC live events on CBS Sports Network.

About CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports, is widely available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors as well as via OTT streaming service providers YouTube TV, Fubo, DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV. Additionally, a live CBS Sports Network stream is available through CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App by authenticating with select providers. For more information, including a full programming schedule, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

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Invicta FC 55 Features Talita Bernardo vs. Olga Rubin Title Clash on June 28 in Kansas City

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier combat sports organization for women, is returning to Kansas City on June 28 with an action-packed fight card.

Invicta FC 55 will feature the first title defense for Brazilian bantamweight Talita Bernardo (10-4). The UFC veteran captured the 135-pound title at Invicta FC 51, dethroning then-champion Taneisha Tennant via unanimous decision. Challenging for gold will be “Big Bad” Olga Rubin (9-3). The England-based fighter is fresh off a “Submission of the Year” performance at Invicta FC 53, where she scored the first buggy choke finish in promotion history.

The card also features the promotional return of strawweight Kay Hansen (7-6). The 24-year-old made her professional debut in the Invicta cage in 2017 and scored five wins with the organization. She will re-enter the 115-pound ranks fresh off a four-fight UFC stint. Hansen’s opponent will be undefeated Colombian sensation Sayury Cañon (3-0). Cañon most recently competed at Invicta FC 52, defeating Amanda Macioce.

Also on the card, 29-year-old RIZIN and DEEP Jewels veteran Saori “Little Giant” Oshima (13-4) makes her Invicta debut against Brazil’s Andressa “Gauchinha” Romero (6-4-1), Nevada’s Taylor Guardado (4-2) rejoins the promotion and the bantamweight division opposite Japanese veteran Yoko Higashi (8-4), Brazilian atomweight Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira (6-2) collides with Canada’s “Queen of the North” Katie Saull (6-6), undefeated Michigan flyweight Zoe Nowicki (0-0) makes her professional debut against two-time IMMAF gold medalist Josiane Oliveira (0-0) of Brazil, and another Michigan flyweight, Fallon Johnson (0-0), meets Mexico’s Violeta “Violencia” Mendoza (1-0).

Invicta FC 55: Bernardo vs. Rubin will take place Friday, June 28 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City. Broadcast information for the event will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets to the event are on sale now through Eventbrite.

The full fight card can be found below:

Bantamweight Title: Talita Bernardo vs. Olga Rubin
Strawweight: Kay Hansen vs. Sayury Cañon
Atomweight: Saori Oshima vs. Andressa Romero
Bantamweight: Taylor Guardado vs. Yoko Higashi
Atomweight: Elisandra “Lili” Ferreira vs. Katie Saull
Flyweight: Zoe Nowicki vs. Josiane Oliveira
Flyweight: Fallon Johnson vs. Violeta Mendoza

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 Instagram (@InvictaFC), TikTok (@InvictaFC), X (@InvictaFights) and Facebook (InvictaFights) 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.

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Invicta FC 54 Results: McCormack Puts Wójcik to Sleep, Retains Strawweight Title

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BOSTON – On Friday, Oct. 27, Invicta Fighting Championships made its debut on the East Coast, hosting Invicta FC 54: McCormack vs. Wójcik from Citizens House of Blues.

In the night’s headliner, Ireland’s Danni McCormack retained her 115-pound strap after choking challenger Karolina Wójcik unconscious in the fight’s fourth round. Wójcik never tapped, but was finished for the first time in her career. The finish punctuated a dominant night for the champion, who controlled the action from the fight’s onset.

Former flyweight title challenger Kristina Williams got back in the win column after edging out Irish newcomer Dee Begley on the scorecards after three rounds.

Andrea Amaro spoiled the night of Massachusetts native Hilarie Rose by securing a first-round rear-naked choke.

In the featherweight division, Riley Martinez made quick work of Germany’s Julia Dorny, taking the back and coercing a tap less than two minutes into the fight.

Kicking off the night, bantamweight Maria Djukic picked up a decision nod over Brazilian Fernanda Araujo.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Danni McCormack def. Karolina Wojcik by technical submission (rear-naked choke). Round 4, 1:22– for strawweight title
Kristina Williams def. Dee Begley by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Andrea Amaro def. Hilarie Rose by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 4:19
Riley Martinez def. Julia Dorny by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 1, 1:48
Maria Djukic def. Fernanda Araujo by unanimous decision (30-37, 29-28, 29-28)

The planned strawweight bout between Valesca Machado and Kalindra Faria was removed from the event due to illness.

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 Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. 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 with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion;  Game+, the leader in sports wagering, 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. For more information, visit www.anthemse.com.