Invicta FC announces full card for returning event in July

Invicta Fighting Championships will once again promote events almost four months after its last show, the company announced Tuesday.

Forced to stop holding cards since March 6 due to the global health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Invicta FC is now scheduled to return to Kansas City on July 2. The 40th card in company history is headlined by strawweights Emily Ducote (8-6) and Juliana Lima (10-6), who both are former Bellator and UFC fighters, respectively.

According to the promotion, fans and media will not be allowed in the venue for Invicta FC 40, and all participants will be tested for COVID-19 prior to the event. Invicta FC has yet to announce the exact “safety measures” to be taken to avoid spread the virus before, during and after fight week.

Ducote hasn’t fought since this past November, when she lost a title fight to Kanako Murata via split decision. Lima, who also holds a 1-1 record since returning to the promotion, looks to bounce back from a decision defeat to Brianna Van Buren.

In the co-main event, Alesha Zappitella (6-2) battles Lindsey VanZandt (7-3) in an atomweight fight. The card also includes DeAnna Bennett (10-6-1) vs. Victoria Leonardo (6-2), Chelsea Chandler (2-1) vs. Liv Parker (4-0), Claire Guthrie (1-0) vs. Laura Anderson (2-0), and Genia Goodin (1-0) vs. Shelby Koren (0-0). The event will air live on UFC Fight Pass.