Invicta FC’s Shannon Knapp Talks Bringing in UFC Champ Amanda Nunes as Matchmaker

Invicta FC’s Shannon Knapp recently spoke with MMA Junkie Radio about bringing in UFC Champ Amanda Nunes as a matchmaker for the promotion…

On Nunes Helping to Communicate With Brazilian Fighters: “I’ve had some struggles lately with communications with the athletes that come from Brazil. There’s been some shady stuff down that way with management. And it’s tough to communicate. And to give an athlete that safe zone where they can communicate. It’s been on my mind. I can tell that they just felt connected,” Knapp said, “and are able to feel like they can communicate. I like that. That’s probably one of the biggest reasons I wanted to make this move. I want everybody to feel good when they get here. And I think having somebody like Amanda, that genuinely does care.”

On Helping Women Fighters Achieve Their Dreams: “Honestly, that’s really, I think, why I do this. To help them achieve that goal and that dream. It’s cool to be part of that. You know, give them a safe environment to get their legs under them in the sport. Help them grow into the complete athlete and go on to be superstars somewhere. That’s kind of a cool thing. But, with full disclosure as I say that, I always try to make sure that the athletes think about the future as well,” Knapp said. “I have some athletes that go to college and fight here, and I want them to stay in college. Because this is a tough gig, it’s a tough sport. “I just want them to succeed all around in life, not just when it comes to fighting. Because some day, that career ends.”

On INVICTA Making Stars: “We are all about the female athlete,” Knapp said. “And I think that we are able to make stars quicker here for some reason. We can turn it around. There’s a ton of young athletes coming through. And, to be honest with you, that’s really the commitment I made when I stepped into this spot. It’s that it’s going to build these divisions out and provide these opportunities and change the game for the women. Hopefully, that’s what we’re doing every day.”