LOS ANGELES (December 2021) - Invicta Fighting Championships, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., announced today an international television partnership with Russian sports channel MatchTV - bringing a slate of all-new live events from the world's largest all-female MMA promotion to viewers throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The multi-year agreement is set to begin on January 12, kicking off with Invicta FC 45: Zappitella vs. Delboni 2 from Kansas City, Kansas. The evening features six exciting bouts, including the co-main event bantamweight matchup Claire Guthrie vs Lauren Mueller, as well as featherweights Courtney King vs Ramona Pascual, and a 135-pound showdown pitting the undefeated Monica Franco against Hailey Cowan in her Invicta debut. The night is headlined by an epic Atomweight title fight, as champion Alesha Zappitella steps into the cage to go toe-to-toe with challenger Jéssica Delboni in a highly-anticipated rematch for the prestigious 105-pound belt.

As part of the agreement, viewers throughout Russia and the CIS—which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Georgia and Ukraine—will enjoy Invicta FC's pioneering brand of world-class all-female MMA bouts, as MatchTV presents broadcasts of the promotion's hard-hitting live events. The move represents a continued global expansion for Invicta FC, which was acquired by Anthem in April of 2021. In addition to Russia and the CIS, Invicta FC's acclaimed content can be viewed on AXS TV in the United States, Fight Network in Canada, and on digital platforms worldwide.

Founded in 2012 by veteran combat sports executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta FC has revolutionized MMA as the premier destination for all-female combat sports action. During its tenure, Knapp has promoted more than 400 contests, putting the spotlight on some of the sport's greatest female fighters including top talents such as Rose Namajunas, Cris 'Cyborg' Justino, Amanda Nunes, and many more. Invicta once again broke ground when the promotion served as the on-screen sports backdrop for the hit Halle Berry drama Bruised. The film is currently streaming on Netflix, and features an appearance by Kyrgyzstan-born UFC Flyweight Champion and 17-time World Champion Valentina Shevchenko.

"MMA has a long and storied history in Russia and the CIS, amassing a large and loyal audience that is truly passionate about the sport," said Knapp, Invicta FC's President. "This landmark partnership with MatchTV represents an incredible opportunity for Invicta FC. We are proud to join forces with them to bring our pioneering brand of all-female combat to MMA fans across the territories, and we look forward to providing them with world-class combat sports content for years to come."

About Invicta FC:

Invicta Fighting Championships (invictafc.com) is a world championship, all-pro mixed martial arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women's MMA by promoting the best possible match-ups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport. Follow Invicta on Twitter (@InvictaFights), Facebook (InvictaFights), and Instagram (@InvictaFC) for all the latest information.