It looks like Invicta FC will be fighting for another platform this year, reaching a new audience — this is your Fightful Fix Roundup.
Invicta FC sells to Anthem Sports and Entertainment
For the first time since 2014, all-female promotion Invicta FC will no longer be on UFC Fight Pass. The organization announced that AXS TV will be the new home of Invicta FC. Co-founder Shannon Knapp also announced that the purchase will allow Knapp to be a part of Anthem's board decisions.
“This is the first time with Invicta that I’ve had the opportunity to really make a decision based on what I feel is best for the athletes, the sport and then me. Pretty much in that order,” Knapp told MMA Fighting. “I had a moment to weigh all of the options and there were multiple offers. I had broadcast offers, partnership offers, all kinds of different offers and I really wanted to take the time to really do the research. To really walk this thing through.
“Invicta has always been bigger than me and to have the resources that are available to me now. It’s just a game-changer for the women and that’s what was important for me.”
Founded in 2012, Invicta FC joins Impact Wrestling as a major fight partner of Anthem and AXS TV. The program will also appear on Fight Network, with ideas of moving to PPV in the future.
Douglas Lima-Yaroslav Amosov welterweight title fight set for Bellator 260
Yahoo Sports first confirmed the news that Douglas Lima will defend the Bellator welterweight title at Bellator 260 on June 11. He will face off against rising star Yaroslav Amosov.
Lima, who won the Bellator welterweight grand prix to win the title for the third time, is on a three-fight win streak in the welterweight division. His last fight was a loss to Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 250 for the Bellator middleweight title.
Amosov is undefeated at 25-0 and is 6-0 in Bellator. His last fight was a split decision win over Logan Storely in November.
Dan Hooker interested in Rafael dos Anjos fight
Looking to get back on track, Dan Hooker is ready to fight whoever is in his path. Facing top fighter after top fighter, Hooker wouldn't mind facing a former champion in Rafael dos Anjos.
“Anyone ranked above me would be a good fight for me,” Hooker told Submission Radio (h/t MMA Junkie). “But yeah, fights that make sense. I like the ‘RDA’ fight. Like, former champ, I respect his skillset, I respect the way he carries himself, and I feel like that’s a fight that makes a little more sense if he can’t get one of the bigger fights that he’s chasing, to kind of take him up on his offer.”
Hooker had a three-fight win streak snapped by Dustin Poirier in June 2020. His last fight was a TKO loss against Michal Chandler in January. dos Anjos last fought in November, beating Paul Felder in his return to lightweight.
Rich Chou out as Bellator matchmaker
A longtime member of the Bellator family will no longer be calling the shots. The promotion announced that matchmaker Rich Chou is stepping aside. Bellator sent out a statement on social media saying the following:
"After six years of working as the Vice President of Talent Relations for BELLATOR MMA, our dear friend Rich Chou is taking on a new role outside of the sport beginning next week. Rich will always be family and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Official matchmaking will continue to be overseen by BELLATOR President Scott Coker and Mike Kogan with Chou remaining on board as a consultant to BELLATOR."
.@BellatorMMA statement on @Rich_Chou: pic.twitter.com/giVo1Z204j
— Bellator Public Relations (@BellatorPR) April 16, 2021
Chou will now become the Vice President of Wimp 2 Warrior, which was co-founded by John Kavanagh.
Julian Marquez has an update on Chiefs callout
Over the past few months, Julian Marquez has called out some wild individuals. First, he called out Miley Cyrus, and now he's mentioned the former Super Bowl champions in the Chiefs. He challenged them to a game of pickleball, and it appears that Patrick Mahomes,Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill are down to do it.
“It’s going down – 100 percent it’s going down,” Marquez told MMA Fighting. “We’re in talks. We’re figuring out dates.
“Kansas City supports Kansas City and I knew they were gonna respond back because we’re on the same team. We represent the same city and we walk with K.C. We bleed red, yellow and blue. That’s us. I’m just pumped that they want to play."
Marquez is on a two-fight win streak, last beating Sam Alvey during the UFC's second show on ABC.
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