Invicta FC has long been a testing ground for future champions in UFC and other promotions, and Megan Anderson feels that the all-women company still has the potential to create stars.

Anderson, a one-time UFC title contender that now works as the color commentator for Invicta FC broadcasts, admits being an exclusively female organization forces Invicta FC to deal with a “tough market,” since there are more men competing in the sport. At the same time, however, it has made it become the ultimate dream for so many women around the globe.

“I’ve noticed, particularly interviewing a lot of these women over the last year or so, is that Invicta is their goal,” Anderson told MMA Fighting. “They wanna stay here, and they wanna be loyal to this promotion because this promotion sees value in them. They’ve seen what they’re capable of. And that’s what I love about Shannon [Knapp]. I say this all the time, I wouldn’t be where I am in my career if Shannon didn’t see me and she didn’t take a chance on me, and she does that for so many other women.

“And that’s what is so great about Invicta. You’re not just another number it’s a family environment. They take care of their athletes. And a lot of these women see that and they value that. ‘Oh, you aren’t just gonna feed me to build somebody else’s career.’ They’re generally interested in helping every single athlete achieve their highest potential, and a lot of them want to stay here. For a lot of them, there’s not a lot of weight classes, so this is it, this is the pinnacle for their sport, and I think that’s amazing. If you want to be the best in the world, Invicta is it.”

With Bellator no longer existing, and PFL restricted to only flyweights when it comes to female athletes, Invicta FC stands alone in the North American market as the biggest platform for women. Their next card goes down Friday in Atlanta, and features veterans and newcomers. Invicta FC 60 airs live on CBS Sports, kicking off a broadcast deal that has just been renewed.

“This is huge,” Anderson said of the TV deal. “With Invicta, it is the premier organization for women’s combat sports and mixed martial arts. There’s no other promotion in the world that does what Invicta does that is solely for women, promoting women, promoting female athletes to help them build their careers in a platform that highlights them and everything that they do. They don’t have to compete with the men, they don’t have to compete with anything else. It’s purely just about their talent and how amazing that they are.

“The fact that Invicta is able to have this deal with CBS Sports network is huge because it gives these women a broader platform. They’re able to have more eyes on them, which is what they deserve. These are some of the best athletes in the world and we are seeing them right here in real time, we’re seeing these athletes start off from the very first couple fights in their careers and we get to see them all the way through, and I think having that platform that CBS Sports network gives to Invicta is invaluable for these women.

“I feel like a lot of people get a reality check very quickly in this sport. It might not be the first fight, might be not, might not be the third fight or the fifth fight, but eventually you get exposed. What Invicta does is they help build these women to reach their full potential and fighting the level that they need to be fighting and building them. They don’t just throw them into the walls and like force them to sink or swim. They build these women athletes and they genuinely take care of their athletes and their careers. That’s what I think is amazing to see, and a lot of women value that and they want to make this their home for their careers.”

Dave Mandel, Invicta FC

Invicta FC 60 is headlined by Olga Rubin vs. Mayra Cantuaria, which likely determines who’s next for 135-pound champion Jennifer Maia, but Anderson also has her eyes on Giulliany Perea, a potential star on the sport.

“I really, really like her. I think she is a great athlete,” Anderson said of the Brazilian atomweight, who holds a 2-0 professional record after a long 14-2 amateur career with multiple IMMAF titles won between 2021 and 2023. “She might not have a lot of professional fights, but she has so much amateur experience.”

Magdalena Czaban, also 2-0 as a pro with a ton of amateur experience, is another young talent to keep an eye on going forward. The 25-year-old atomweight won 21 of 23 amateur contests with 10 first-round stoppages to her credit, claiming IMMAF world titles in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“Her last amateur loss was 16 fights ago in 2020,” Anderson said. “She has so much experience. She has fast hands, quick movement. She’s so well-rounded.

“And what I am loving is that like these women have such extensive amateur careers now so when they hit the professional rankings, it doesn’t even look like they have only had a couple of fights. They look like seasoned veterans. They’re composed, they’re calculated, they’re making good in-fight mid-round decisions, which is great to see. I would say those are two names that I’m really excited about where their careers go in the next couple of years.”