Shannon Knapp isn’t feeling slighted with the addition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) women’s flyweight division. Knapp, who is the Invicta FC President, told MMA Weekly that she’s happy that more women are getting a chance to perform to the best of their abilities in the UFC: “I’ve been lobbying and rallying for 125ers […]
Shannon Knapp isn’t feeling slighted with the addition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) women’s flyweight division. Knapp, who is the Invicta FC President, told MMA Weekly that she’s happy that more women are getting a chance to perform to the best of their abilities in the UFC: “I’ve been lobbying and rallying for 125ers […]
If Cris “Cyborg” Justino sticks to her word, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp is keeping a spot open for her.
Cyborg shot down a reported UFC 201 fight with Germaine de Randamie recently, stating that she’ll defend her Invicta FC featherweight tit…
If Cris “Cyborg” Justino sticks to her word, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp is keeping a spot open for her.
Cyborg shot down a reported UFC 201 fight with Germaine de Randamie recently, stating that she’ll defend her Invicta FC featherweight title next.
Knapp told MMAjunkie that the Invicta FC 18 event on July 29 – one day before UFC 201 in Atlanta – would move ahead with Cyborg in the main event if that is the road she decides to take. Knapp, though, stressed that she is currently signed to a Zuffa contract and could be placed on that card instead.
“I’m working on the 29th,” she said. “If all parties agree, then certainly she would (headline).”
Cyborg (16-1) ran through Leslie Smith at UFC 198 this past weekend. The contest took place at a catchweight of 140 pounds, though the Brazilian came in a pound under that mark. She has stated issues with trying to get down to 135 in the past to compete for the UFC’s bantamweight division.
If Cris “Cyborg” Justino sticks to her word, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp is keeping a spot open for her.
Cyborg shot down a reported UFC 201 fight with Germaine de Randamie recently, stating that she’ll defend her Invicta FC featherweight tit…
If Cris “Cyborg” Justino sticks to her word, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp is keeping a spot open for her.
Cyborg shot down a reported UFC 201 fight with Germaine de Randamie recently, stating that she’ll defend her Invicta FC featherweight title next.
Knapp told MMAjunkie that the Invicta FC 18 event on July 29 – one day before UFC 201 in Atlanta – would move ahead with Cyborg in the main event if that is the road she decides to take. Knapp, though, stressed that she is currently signed to a Zuffa contract and could be placed on that card instead.
“I’m working on the 29th,” she said. “If all parties agree, then certainly she would (headline).”
Cyborg (16-1) ran through Leslie Smith at UFC 198 this past weekend. The contest took place at a catchweight of 140 pounds, though the Brazilian came in a pound under that mark. She has stated issues with trying to get down to 135 in the past to compete for the UFC’s bantamweight division.
When Showtime ended their relationship with Strikeforcethis past January, they left behind a massive void in the MMA world that has been tirelessly documented in the time since by…next to no one, quite honestly. Sure, we all loved Strikeforce when it wasn’t moments away from descending into utter chaos (and even when it was), but with the UFC holding an event on 1 of its 14 channels every other week and Bellator quietly putting on smaller-level shows in between, it seems as if we’ve quickly forgotten about Showtime’s once quintessential role in MMA broadcasting.
Well, it appears as if all that could change in the near future, as Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza recently told FOX News Latino that the network was interested in a return to the MMA world and specifically, a partnership with Invicta FC. This statement did not come without a bit of hesitance, though:
The hesitation right now is really we’re investigating the market. The real question is … given the TV landscape as it stands now, the MMA landscape, is there a demand for more MMA on television? I have my doubts because there’s quite a few hours already being programmed.
(Invicta) knows how to make noise and do good-sized events on a budget. It would be interesting to see what they can do on a bigger platform.
A move to Showtime would be the perfect move for Invicta to say the least. The promotion has rapidly gained popularity over the course of their first handful of events to the point that the Invicta 4 online stream crashed due to overcrowding.
When Showtime ended their relationship with Strikeforcethis past January, they left behind a massive void in the MMA world that has been tirelessly documented in the time since by…next to no one, quite honestly. Sure, we all loved Strikeforce when it wasn’t moments away from descending into utter chaos (and even when it was), but with the UFC holding an event on 1 of its 14 channels every other week and Bellator quietly putting on smaller-level shows in between, it seems as if we’ve quickly forgotten about Showtime’s once quintessential role in MMA broadcasting.
Well, it appears as if all that could change in the near future, as Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza recently told FOX News Latino that the network was interested in a return to the MMA world and specifically, a partnership with Invicta FC. This statement did not come without a bit of hesitance, though:
The hesitation right now is really we’re investigating the market. The real question is … given the TV landscape as it stands now, the MMA landscape, is there a demand for more MMA on television? I have my doubts because there’s quite a few hours already being programmed.
(Invicta) knows how to make noise and do good-sized events on a budget. It would be interesting to see what they can do on a bigger platform.
A move to Showtime would be the perfect move for Invicta to say the least. The promotion has rapidly gained popularity over the course of their first handful of events to the point that the Invicta 4 online stream crashed due to overcrowding.
The fact that Invicta is already moving forward with an actual PPV broadcast for their next event seems to indicate that all women’s fight league is only on the rise, although we imagine that the Showtime execs will be keeping a close eye on the buy numbers for Invicta 6 before moving forward. Because that’s what corporations do: They study the sheeple, then they sell them a product they can’t resist, and before you know it…Rollerball.
In either case, Invicta President Shannon Knapp told MMAJunkie over the weekend that she would welcome the partnership with open arms:
It’s an honor to hear Stephen speak so highly of the Invicta FC product. I’ve worked with Showtime at length at different stages in my career in the MMA business, so I know how talented and committed to success their team is. They are first-rate at what they do, and I feel that a partnership between Showtime and Invicta FC would be a game-changer for our brand and women’s MMA.
Beware the phrase “game-changer,” Shannon. It. Can. Backfire.
“In light of the documented information that has come to us – and this is via text messages from Mr. Atchley, along with email and things of that nature – with the misuse of our company name, my name [and] also in light of the fact that some of these sexual misconduct allegations have taken place at our events, we’re going to stand firm in saying Mr. Atchley will not be welcome at our events.”
Couldn’t have happened to a[n allegedly] nicer guy.
In his defense, Atchley offered the following statement:
“I am stunned and deeply saddened that my reputation as a hard-working manager can be torn apart by a few unfounded malicious attacks against me and my character. I categorically deny all of the false allegations that have been made and look forward to an opportunity to clear my name.”
If it were only “a few” allegations, Atchley probably wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. In reality, there are multiple reports here and here covering the things that he’s been accused of doing – all of it very serious, heavy stuff.
It didn’t exactly help his cause that he would supposedly do all of it while falsely representing Invicta FC, either. Invicta unsurprisingly wants to distance themselves as much as possible from him, and banning him from events sends a strong message that his actions do not represent the promotion.
We’ll keep you up-to-date as this continues to unfold.
“In light of the documented information that has come to us – and this is via text messages from Mr. Atchley, along with email and things of that nature – with the misuse of our company name, my name [and] also in light of the fact that some of these sexual misconduct allegations have taken place at our events, we’re going to stand firm in saying Mr. Atchley will not be welcome at our events.”
Couldn’t have happened to a[n allegedly] nicer guy.
In his defense, Atchley offered the following statement:
“I am stunned and deeply saddened that my reputation as a hard-working manager can be torn apart by a few unfounded malicious attacks against me and my character. I categorically deny all of the false allegations that have been made and look forward to an opportunity to clear my name.”
If it were only “a few” allegations, Atchley probably wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. In reality, there are multiple reports here and here covering the things that he’s been accused of doing – all of it very serious, heavy stuff.
It didn’t exactly help his cause that he would supposedly do all of it while falsely representing Invicta FC, either. Invicta unsurprisingly wants to distance themselves as much as possible from him, and banning him from events sends a strong message that his actions do not represent the promotion.
We’ll keep you up-to-date as this continues to unfold.
The accusation inspired BloodyElbow’s Brett Brookhouse to do some deep digging about Atchley’s behavior, and if you have the time, you should read his first two reports here and here. In short, Atchley is accused of being a despicable scumbag by a wide range of female MMA fighters who have had the great displeasure of encountering him. Here are the highlights…
– According to LaRosa, Atchley stole sponsorship money from Maurice Smith, and was once caught on tape at a casino stealing money out of the purse of a woman he was dating, who happened to be the mother of one of Ivan Salaverry’s students. These incidents led to a falling out between Atchley and Salaverry. Atchley responded by sending Salaverry some rather impolite textmessages, in which he promises to blackball all of the female fighters that train at Salaverry’s gym from competing for Invicta or Strikeforce.
– After LaRosa turned down Atchley’s offer to manage her, due to the fact that she was already managed by Monte Cox, Atchley physically accosted LaRosa twice during the weekend of Invicta 3:
The accusation inspired BloodyElbow’s Brett Brookhouse to do some deep digging about Atchley’s behavior, and if you have the time, you should read his first two reports here and here. In short, Atchley is accused of being a despicable scumbag by a wide range of female MMA fighters who have had the great displeasure of encountering him. Here are the highlights…
– According to LaRosa, Atchley stole sponsorship money from Maurice Smith, and was once caught on tape at a casino stealing money out of the purse of a woman he was dating, who happened to be the mother of one of Ivan Salaverry’s students. These incidents led to a falling out between Atchley and Salaverry. Atchley responded by sending Salaverry some rather impolite textmessages, in which he promises to blackball all of the female fighters that train at Salaverry’s gym from competing for Invicta or Strikeforce.
– After LaRosa turned down Atchley’s offer to manage her, due to the fact that she was already managed by Monte Cox, Atchley physically accosted LaRosa twice during the weekend of Invicta 3:
“At Invicta, I was coming down the elevator and into the lobby to go out and cut weight. Everybody was standing around in a group just chatting in the lobby, and I stopped by to say ‘hi’ to everyone. And he grabbed me by the sweater and said ‘What’s this? Where are all your sponsors? How’s that management working out for you?’ and all this rude stuff. And, before I could do anything, Ivan [Salaverry] pulled me away from him. He just looked like an ass, I’m not sure what his intentions were there.”
“Later, when I was flying home, I was flying back to Seattle. I guess Brett was on the same flight as me, I didn’t even realize it. I was walking to my truck and he comes up behind me and beside me, and he grabs my bags, and he tries to carry them or tries to help or whatever. I told him to get away from me and stay away from me, and I pulled my stuff away from him, and he got all belligerent and stupid. I’m sure there’s tape on the Seattle airport security cameras.”
– Jessamyn Duke, a former client of Atchley’s, claims that Atchley was constantly drunk, and once shoved her mother. HER MOTHER, YOU GUYS:
“He actually physically shoved my mom once when they were having an argument. For some reason, he approached my mom when they were in the lobby of the hotel and they started having this argument, and he started telling her that he made me, and I’ve changed and all this stuff. And my mom being…well, my mom, she didn’t take too kindly to that. And she was trying to leave and get out of the way, and he actually shoved her trying to talk to my sister. It was insane and HIGHLY unacceptable to put your hands on a woman like that and move her physically. That was one of my first serious red flags where it was like ‘this is not okay.’”
– Duke also says that Atchley once pulled a Caraway (allegedly) and assaulted one of her opponents before a fight, grabbing and shoving her.
– Duke says that Atchley sexually harassed a close friend of hers.
– According to Duke, Atchley illegally sent Alexis Davis’s confidential UFC contract to Duke, in an effort to dissuade her from trying out for The Ultimate Fighter.
– When Duke tried to cut ties with Atchley, Atchley started sending her bills for “stupid stuff” like the printing costs of her sponsorship banners, and threatened her with a lawsuit after she asked that her name be removed from his website.
– According to two different sources, Atchley once ran up a bar tab for a couple hundred dollars at a hotel bar, ran out without paying, and left a relative of Alexis Davis’s to pick up the tab.
– According to an Invicta and Strikeforce fighter who chose to remain anonymous, Atchley was constantly drunk, shared other fighters’ confidential contract details with her, and lied about how much money other fighters were making.
– According to Sarah Maloy, Atchley made physical advances on her and “implied that he would get me [an Invicta] contract without hiring him as a manager under inappropriate circumstances.”
– Amateur fighter Alyssa Vasquez claims Atchley sent her sexually aggressive text messages, and forced a kiss on her during a creepy encounter at a bar.
Brett Brookhouse promises lots more updates to come, as female fighters continue to speak out against Atchley, who should probably be banned from the sport, if even half of this stuff is true. (It should come as no surprise that Atchley has offered a general denial of all this stuff.) In the meantime, enjoy this incredible quote from Tara LaRosa:
“I’m not afraid of this guy. He’s an idiot…Yeah, he threatens to sue you for slander, defamation of character, libel, whatever. He can go fuck himself. He is not gonna sue shit. I’ve been around for a long ass time. This guy is nobody. He’s not going to ruin my career, and I’m not going to let this guy do the same shit to other people…I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier. It’s weird. It’s like some Harry Potter situation. Like everybody’s afraid to say Voldemort’s name. What the hell? He’s Brett Atchley! He’s fuckin’ nobody! What’s he gonna do to you? Cast a spell?“
