8 years later, Shannon Knapp explains how Invicta FC was ‘ignited’ with inaugural event

Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp admits that there were a lot of naysayers heading into the promotion’s inaugural event. Once it was over, she knew something special was happening.

On April 28, 2012, Invicta FC 1 took place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. and streamed for free on the organization’s website. After the UFC purchased Strikeforce in March 2011, women’s MMA—especially in the United States—was at a bit of a standstill in terms of national exposure. During the build to the card, Knapp remembers people “laughing” at her and believing the concept would not work.

Eight years and 42 events later, Invicta FC continues to flourish in the MMA world.

Check out this exclusive interview with Knapp as she reflects on the promotion’s first event, the evolution of women’s MMA, seeing the growth of Laura Sanko and Megan Anderson in and out of the cage, and how she plans to move forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic.