The Hit List: Invicta Fighting Championships Titleholders

J.R. VenturaMar 20, 2018

Founded by former Blackeye Promotions Vice President Janet Martin and longtime mixed martial arts executive Shannon Knapp in 2012, Invicta Fighting Championships was created as a showcase for female mixed martial artists following Zuffa’s purchase of Strikeforce. Invicta has promoted 27 events since its inception.

Invicta 1 on April 28, 2012 featured a main event that pitted former Strikeforce champion Marloes Coenen against Romy Ruyssen, with Jessica Penne, Liz Carmouche, Leslie Smith and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller also on the card. Miller defeated Mollie Estes by third-round technical knockout in her professional MMA debut. Nearly six years later, Invicta has become the largest female-only MMA organization in the world.

Mizuki Inoue will meet Virna Jandiroba for the vacant strawweight crown in the Invicta 28 headliner this Saturday at Union Event Center in Salt Lake City. The winner will join an exclusive group of fighters who have captured Invicta Fighting Championships gold:

Cris Cyborg

Division: Featherweight
Reign: 1,351 days
Title Defenses: 3

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Megan Anderson

Division: Featherweight
Reign: Current
Title Defenses: 0

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Lauren Murphy

Division: Bantamweight
Reign: 208 days
Title Defenses: 0

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Tonya Evinger

Division: Bantamweight
Reign: 724 days
Title Defenses: 3

***


Yana Kunitskaya

Division: Bantamweight
Reign: 160 days
Title Defenses: 0

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Barb Honchak

Division: Flyweight
Reign: 1,266 days
Title Defenses: 2

***


Jennifer Maia

Division: Flyweight
Reign: Current
Title Defenses: 2

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Carla Esparza

Division: Strawweight
Reign: 341 days
Title Defenses: 0

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Katja Kankaanpaa

Division: Strawweight
Reign: 230 days
Title Defenses: 0

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Livia Renata Souza

Division: Strawweight
Reign: 380 days
Title Defenses: 1

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Angela Hill

Division: Strawweight
Reign: 274 days
Title Defenses: 1

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Jessica Penne

Division: Atomweight
Reign: 181 days
Title Defenses: 0

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Michelle Waterson

Division: Atomweight
Reign: 609 days
Title Defenses: 1

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Herica Tiburcio

Division: Atomweight
Reign: 216 days
Title Defenses: 0

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Ayaka Hamasaki

Division: Atomweight
Reign: 737 days
Title Defenses: 2