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Shannon Knapp helped co-found Invicta Fighting Championships [us] (Invicta FC), a women's Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion. Knapp has spent many years working in the MMA business, co-hosting the regionally-aired series "Sportfight TV" with former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture. Knapp has worked for King of the Cage, Fight Party, and Freestyle Fighting Championships.
In June 2005, Knapp was hired by Zuffa-owned UFC to work on upcoming events which included media relations and fighter interviews. While a matchmaker for IFL: International Fight League (2006), Knapp trained in the fight style, Krav Maga, which led her to meet former King of Pancrase and UFC champion, Bas Rutten. Knapp and Rutten developed a close friendship, and she became Vice President of Bas Rutten Enterprises. Rutten would later work as fight commentator for some of Invicta FC's events. Knapp worked for Scott Coker in Strikeforce (2006) as a fighter liaison. Additionally, along with Rich Chou and 'Crazy' Bob Cook, Knapp was a matchmaker on Strikeforce's fight committee. After Zuffa purchased Strikeforce in March 2011, the fight committee was eventually disbanded.
In October 2011, Knapp made the decision to start Invicta FC, while mostly advised not to because of a popular belief it would not be financially viable. She proceeded with her idea and credits UFC President Dana White as an early supporter. In January 2012, Knapp and Janet L. Martin launched Invicta FC. The company's first event, "Coenen vs. Ruyssen", happened on April 28, 2012, and was freely available online. MMA fighter Julie Kedzie joined Invicta FC as a matchmaker, interviewer, and fight commentator. Two additional cards that year, "Baszler vs. McMann" and "Penn vs. Sugiyama", were also free to viewers. All subsequent events were provided at a price, starting with "Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Rawlings". Due to technical issues during Invicta FC 4, Knapp had the "pay wall" lifted making it free and provided refunds. "Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson" had none of the problems as Invicta FC4, becoming the company's first online Pay-Per-View (PPV) event. By the time of Invicta FC 6: Cyborg vs. Coenen II (2013), its events was available on traditional PPV to satellite and cable subscribers.
When Ultimate Fighting Championship (2000) began women's bouts in 2013, Invicta FC became a partner and provided some female fighters. UFC-contracted female fighters like Sara Kaufman and Cris Cyborg were allowed to compete in Invicta FC to remain active. Knapp said the success of Ronda Rousey helped increased the interest in women's MMA. Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith (2013) became the promotion's last card carried on any form of Pay-Per-View. Following that event, the promotion announced a deal where Zuffa purchased the contract of eleven of its fighters, including then straw-weight champion, Carla Esparza. Other fighters included were Joanne Calderwood, Felice Herrig, Tecia Torres, Bec Rawlings, Alex Chambers, Paige VanZant, Juliana Lima, Rose Namajunas, Emily Kagan and Claudia Gadelha. It fueled speculation Invicta FC was going out of business as months passed without news of Invicta FC 8. Knapp publicly stated that changes were being made to the company, while she searched for a distribution partner. Knapp was conscious of her experiences in promotions which failed despite having television deals. According to AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon, Knapp had declined an offer to have Invicta FC on AXSTV. Knapp was wary of such a deal because it meant Invicta FC would have been one of many promotions carried on AXS TV and felt it not have gotten the necessary focus. Knapp made a deal with Zuffa for UFC Fight Pass to become Invicta FC's exclusive distributor, starting with Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada (2014). The agreement included the Invicta FC's fight library. After her business partner left the company as a result of allegations of financial impropriety, Knapp was left as full owner of Invicta FC.
