Invicta FC has lengthy been a testing floor for future champions in UFC and different promotions, and Megan Anderson feels that the all-women firm nonetheless has the potential to create stars.
Anderson, a one-time UFC title contender that now works as the colour commentator for Invicta FC broadcasts, admits being an solely feminine group forces Invicta FC to take care of a “powerful market,” since there are extra males competing within the sport. On the similar time, nonetheless, it has made it develop into the final word dream for therefore many ladies across the globe.
“I’ve seen, notably interviewing a number of these ladies over the past yr or so, is that Invicta is their purpose,” Anderson instructed MMA Preventing. “They wanna keep right here, and so they wanna be loyal to this promotion as a result of this promotion sees worth in them. They’ve seen what they’re able to. And that’s what I really like about Shannon [Knapp]. I say this on a regular basis, I wouldn’t be the place I’m in my profession if Shannon didn’t see me and he or she didn’t take an opportunity on me, and he or she does that for therefore many different ladies.
“And that’s what’s so nice about Invicta. You’re not simply one other quantity it’s a household atmosphere. They handle their athletes. And a number of these ladies see that and so they worth that. ‘Oh, you aren’t simply gonna feed me to construct any individual else’s profession.’ They’re usually concerned about serving to each single athlete obtain their highest potential, and a number of them wish to keep right here. For lots of them, there’s not a number of weight lessons, so that is it, that is the head for his or her sport, and I feel that’s superb. If you wish to be the perfect on the earth, Invicta is it.”
With Bellator now not present, and PFL restricted to solely flyweights in relation to feminine athletes, Invicta FC stands alone within the North American market as the largest platform for ladies. Their subsequent card goes down Friday in Atlanta, and options veterans and newcomers. Invicta FC 60 airs reside on CBS Sports activities, kicking off a broadcast deal that has simply been renewed.
“That is big,” Anderson stated of the TV deal. “With Invicta, it’s the premier group for ladies’s fight sports activities and combined martial arts. There’s no different promotion on the earth that does what Invicta does that’s solely for ladies, selling ladies, selling feminine athletes to assist them construct their careers in a platform that highlights them and every little thing that they do. They don’t must compete with the lads, they don’t must compete with anything. It’s purely nearly their expertise and the way superb that they’re.
“The truth that Invicta is ready to have this take care of CBS Sports activities community is large as a result of it provides these ladies a broader platform. They’re in a position to have extra eyes on them, which is what they deserve. These are a few of the finest athletes on the earth and we’re seeing them proper right here in actual time, we’re seeing these athletes begin off from the very first couple fights of their careers and we get to see them right through, and I feel having that platform that CBS Sports activities community provides to Invicta is invaluable for these ladies.
“I really feel like lots of people get a actuality verify in a short time on this sport. It may not be the primary battle, is likely to be not, may not be the third battle or the fifth battle, however finally you get uncovered. What Invicta does is they assist construct these ladies to succeed in their full potential and combating the extent that they must be combating and constructing them. They don’t simply throw them into the partitions and like pressure them to sink or swim. They construct these ladies athletes and so they genuinely handle their athletes and their careers. That’s what I feel is superb to see, and a number of ladies worth that and so they wish to make this their dwelling for his or her careers.”
Invicta FC 60 is headlined by Olga Rubin vs. Mayra Cantuaria, which seemingly determines who’s subsequent for 135-pound champion Jennifer Maia, however Anderson additionally has her eyes on Giulliany Perea, a possible star on the game.
“I actually, actually like her. I feel she is a good athlete,” Anderson stated of the Brazilian atomweight, who holds a 2-0 skilled report after a protracted 14-2 beginner profession with a number of IMMAF titles received between 2021 and 2023. “She may not have a number of skilled fights, however she has a lot beginner expertise.”
Magdalena Czaban, additionally 2-0 as a professional with a ton of beginner expertise, is one other younger expertise to regulate going ahead. The 25-year-old atomweight received 21 of 23 beginner contests with 10 first-round stoppages to her credit score, claiming IMMAF world titles in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
“Her final beginner loss was 16 fights in the past in 2020,” Anderson stated. “She has a lot expertise. She has quick arms, fast motion. She’s so well-rounded.
“And what I’m loving is that like these ladies have such intensive beginner careers now so after they hit the skilled rankings, it doesn’t even seem like they’ve solely had a few fights. They seem like seasoned veterans. They’re composed, they’re calculated, they’re making good in-fight mid-round selections, which is nice to see. I might say these are two names that I’m actually enthusiastic about the place their careers go within the subsequent couple of years.”
