Invicta FC to Hold First Event Since COVID-19 Pandemic Shutdown on July 2

Invicta Fighting Championships will return for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced the organization to postpone its schedule following its March 6 event.

The all-female promotion announced Tuesday that Invicta FC 40 will take place in Kansas City behind closed doors with a six-bout card on July 2. The event will be headlined by a strawweight clash between Emily Ducote and Juliana Lima and will air on UFC Fight Pass at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Invicta FC 40 will be regulated by the Kansas Athletic Commission.

The other five bouts announced for the card are as follows: Alesha Zappitella vs. Lindsey VanZandt at atomweight; DeAnna Bennett vs. Victoria Leonardo at flyweight; Chelsea Chandler vs. Liv Parker at featherweight; Claire Guthrie vs. Laura Anderson at flyweight and Genia Goodin vs. Shelby Koren at strawweight.

A former Bellator MMA flyweight title challenger, Ducote debuted in Invicta with a first-round technical knockout of Janaisa Morandin last August. In her most recent appearance, the American Top Team OKC product dropped a five-round split decision to Kanako Murata in a 115-pound title clash at Invicta FC 38.

A seven-time UFC veteran, Lima recently made it to the semifinals of the inaugural Phoenix Series tournament, where she fell to eventual champion Brianna Van Buren via unanimous decision in the semifinals.