Cory McKenna

Cory McKenna
Born (1999-07-11) July 11, 1999 (age 25)
Cwmbran, Wales
Other namesPoppins
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionStrawweight
Reach58.0 in (147 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofCwmbran, Wales
TeamTeam Alpha Male
RankBrown belt in jiu-jitsu.[2]
Years active2018–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins8
By knockout2
By submission2
By decision4
Losses4
By submission1
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Cory McKenna (born 11 July 1999) is a Welsh professional mixed martial artist who competed as a strawweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She has also competed for Cage Warriors.

Early life and background

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Born in Wales, McKenna spent the majority of her childhood in Colchester, England due to her father's role in the army. Her mother, Wendy, also competes in mixed martial arts and has a professional record of 1–2.[3]

McKenna began training in karate aged 10, and after advancing through Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, started training in mixed martial arts aged 13. She became a full-time athlete two years later while occasionally coaching to help fund fights. As an amateur, McKenna went 7–0 and held championships at strawweight and featherweight.[2][4]

Mixed martial arts career

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Cage Warriors

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In March 2018, McKenna made her professional debut at Cage Warriors 91 and beat Maria Vittoria Colonna after a first-round retirement.[5] She faced Eva Dourthe three months later at Cage Warriors 94 and won via split decision.[6] In September 2018, McKenna suffered her first defeat after a split decision loss against Micol Di Segni at Cage Warriors 97.[7]

In April 2019, McKenna faced Fannie Redman at Cage Warriors 104. She won the fight via rear naked choke in the second round.[8] A month later, she beat Giulia Chinello at Cage Warriors 105 via ground and pound in the first round.[9] In October 2019, McKenna was due to fight Griet Eeckhout at Cage Warriors 108, but the fight was cancelled after her opponent failed to make weight.[10] In April 2020, her fight with Lanchana Green was also called off after Cage Warriors 114 was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.[10][11]

Dana White's Contender Series

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On 11 August 2020, McKenna appeared on Dana White's Contender Series 2020.[12] After winning via unanimous decision against Vanessa Demopoulos, McKenna was awarded a UFC contract.[13] The deal saw her became the first Welsh female and youngest ever British fighter to sign for the promotion.[14]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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McKenna made her promotional debut against Kay Hansen on 14 November 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.[15] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]

In her sophomore performance, she faced Elise Reed on 19 March 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall.[17] She lost the fight via split decision.[18]

McKenna faced Miranda Granger on 6 August 2022 at UFC on ESPN 40.[19] She won the fight via a shoulder choke in round two.[20]

McKenna faced Cheyanne Vlismas on 17 December 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216.[21] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]

McKenna faced Jaqueline Amorim on 16 March 2024 at UFC Fight Night 239.[23] She lost the bout via an armbar submmission in the first round.[24]

McKenna was scheduled to face Polyana Viana on 12 October 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244.[25] However, Viana withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Julia Polastri.[26] McKenna lost the fight by split decision.[27]

On 15 October 2024, it was reported that McKenna was removed from the UFC roster.[28][29]

Championships and accomplishments

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  • Violent Money TV
    • VMTV UK MMA Submission of the Year 2022[30]

Personal life

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McKenna is a keen painter and often shares her artwork on Instagram.[14]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
12 matches 8 wins 4 losses
By knockout 2 0
By submission 2 1
By decision 4 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 8–4 Julia Polastri Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira October 12, 2024 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 8–3 Jaqueline Amorim Submission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura March 16, 2024 1 1:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 8–2 Cheyanne Vlismas Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland December 17, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 7–2 Miranda Granger Submission (Von Flue choke) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill August 6, 2022 2 1:03 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 6–2 Elise Reed Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall March 19, 2022 3 5:00 London, England
Win 6–1 Kay Hansen Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos November 14, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–1 Vanessa Demopoulos Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 28 August 11, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 4–1 Giulia Chinello TKO (punches) Cage Warriors 105 May 31, 2019 1 2:15 Colchester, England
Win 3–1 Fannie Redman Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Warriors 104 April 27, 2019 2 2:06 Cardiff, Wales
Loss 2–1 Micol Di Segni Decision (split) Cage Warriors 97 September 29, 2018 3 5:00 Cardiff, Wales
Win 2–0 Eva Dourthe Decision (split) Cage Warriors 94 June 16, 2018 3 5:00 Antwerp, Belgium
Win 1–0 Maria Vittoria Colonna TKO (corner stoppage) Cage Warriors 91 March 3, 2018 1 5:00 Newport, Wales Strawweight debut.

[31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com.
  2. ^ a b "Cory McKenna | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  3. ^ "Cory McKenna Isn't Feeling Any Pressure | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  4. ^ First Welsh woman signed by UFC as 21-year-old Cory McKenna makes history
  5. ^ Staff, Cage Warriors (2018-03-03). "CW91 results: Bouland stuns Reed with first-round knockout". Cage Warriors. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  6. ^ Staff, Cage Warriors (2018-06-16). "CW94 results: Topuria remains Europe's submission king". Cage Warriors. Retrieved 2022-03-05.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Staff, Cage Warriors (2018-09-29). "CW97 results - Jack Shore brings home win for Wales". Cage Warriors. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  8. ^ Staff, Cage Warriors (2019-04-27). "CW104 results - Shore leads the home country domination for Wales". Cage Warriors. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  9. ^ Staff, Cage Warriors (2019-05-31). "CW105 results - Barnett edges the decision over Carter on away soil". Cage Warriors. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  10. ^ a b Staff, Cage Warriors (2019-10-11). "CW108 weigh-in results and card updates". Cage Warriors. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  11. ^ Staff, Cage Warriors (2020-03-25). "Upcoming Belfast and Birmingham dates postponed". Cage Warriors. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  12. ^ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2020-07-28). "Dana White's Contender Series season 4, week 2 card headlined by middleweight prospects". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  13. ^ "Dana White's Contender Series 28 results: All five winners score UFC deals". MMA Junkie. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  14. ^ a b "Welsh fighter McKenna set for UFC debut". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  15. ^ Redactie (2020-08-19). "Multiple debut fights have been announced for DWCS winners". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  16. ^ Doherty, Dan (2020-11-14). "UFC Vegas 14 Results: Cory McKenna Tops Kay Hansen in Entertaining Bout". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  17. ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-01-07). "UFC: Cory McKenna Returns From 13 Month Layoff, Fights Elise Reed On March 19". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  18. ^ Law, Eddie (19 March 2022). "UFC London: Elise Reed Takes Split Decision Over Cory McKenna". Cageside Press. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  19. ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-05-05). "Miranda Granger Returns Against Cory McKenna at August 6 UFC Fight Night". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
  20. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-08-06). "UFC Vegas 59: Cory McKenna Returns to Win Column with Von Flue Submission of Miranda Granger". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  21. ^ Drake Riggs (2022-10-04). "Cheyanne Vlismas vs. Cory McKenna set to battle at UFC Vegas 66". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
  22. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-12-17). "UFC Vegas 66: Cory McKenna's Wrestling, Control Gives Her Edge Over Cheyanne Vlismas". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  23. ^ Desk, ITN News (2024-01-11). "Cory McKenna vs Jaqueline Amorim Reported for UFC Vegas 87". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ Anderson, Jay (2024-03-16). "Bizarre Finish, But Jaqueline Amorim Subs Cory McKenna at UFC Vegas 88". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  25. ^ Nolan King (2024-08-01). "UFC books Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira to headline October event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  26. ^ BBC Sport (2024-09-27). "McKenna has new Brazilian opponent for UFC return". bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  27. ^ Jay Anderson (2024-10-12). "UFC Vegas 98: Julia Polastri Shines in Clinch Against Cory McKenna". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
  28. ^ "❌ Fighter removed: Cory McKenna". UFC Roster Tracker on X. Oct 15, 2024. Retrieved Oct 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Christopher De Santiago (2024-10-16). "25 Year-Old Prospect Reacts to UFC Release after Going 3-3 in Octagon". si.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  30. ^ Quilty, Cauley (2023-01-06). "2022 MMA AWARDS SHOW - FANS & EDITORS EDITION". Violent Money TV.
  31. ^ Sherdog.com. "Cory". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
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