There are very few Women who have helped pioneer a road for other females that can lead them into a life of professional Mixed Martial Arts. Long before starting the Invicta Fighting Championships, Shannon Knapp was helping women get their start with the StrikeForce promotion. Eventually Knapp a former Self Defense instructor spent time working alongside the UFC, Affliction, and Strikeforce promotions.
Following the UFC’s purchase of Strikeforce in 2011, Knapp decided to take on a new challenge where she would commit herself to the growth of the sport for female mixed martial artists and in 2012 founded the all female Invicta FC promotion. With it’s new blockbuster CBS Sports broadcast deal Invicta FC will host it’s 500th female mixed martial arts fight tonight Friday Sept. 20th.
The main event of tonights CBS Sports Network broadcast will feature two Brazilians as Elisandro Fereira faces Andressa Romero in an atom weight title fight. Knapp is without question one of the most influential figures in the history of women’s mixed martial arts having promoted fights for WMMA stars such as Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza, Kayla Harrison, and many more.
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