Natural-born fighter Shannon Knapp wanted to be a ninja. She eventually became a self-defense instructor (close enough), and she has taken it upon herself to populate the pool of athletes in women's mixed martial arts. "I spent my entire career working with the male athletes in the sport, and I always felt I was successful at it because I was female and not fueled by testosterone when communicating with them," she says. At 7 p.m. (alongside her business partner, Janet Martin), she debuts
Invicta Fighting Championships, an all-pro women's
MMA campaign at Memorial Hall (600 North Seventh Street Trafficway, Kansas City, Kansas, 913-371-7560). "This was an easy task," she says. "Women in the sport are longing for opportunities to compete and to have a platform that they can compete on." Eleven bouts are scheduled; look for Meghan Wright and Cassie Rodish in the first of the night. Tickets cost $35-$100. Buy them at
cagetix.com and direct 20 percent to the woman fighter of your choice.
— Berry Anderson
913-371-7555
