DeAnna Danielle Bennett (born November 18, 1984) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inco ...

who competed in the Strawweight division in

Invicta FC Invicta Fighting Championships, also known as Invicta FC, is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion dedicated to Women's mixed martial arts that was founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion is current ...

since 2014. As of December 13, 2022, she is #4 in the Bellator Women's Flyweight Rankings.

Background

Bennett wrestled and played water polo for American High School before graduating in 2002. Bennett briefly attended an art college, but dropped out. She credits her "being a fat kid" for motivating her to join a kickboxing gym to stay in shape, and eventually competing in Muay Thai kickboxing.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After a short amateur MMA career in 2011, Bennett made her professional MMA debut in February 2012 for Showdown Fights. She competed for the promotion four times over the next two years, winning all of her bouts. Notably beating stand outs Sharon Jacobson, Colleen Schneider and

Julianna Peña Julianna Nicole Peña (born August 19, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she is the former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion. Peña is th ...

respectively.

Invicta FC

Bennett made her Invicta FC debut on September 6, 2014, at Invicta FC 8, where she defeated Michelle Ould by TKO in the second round. In her second fight for the promotion, Bennett faced

Jennifer Maia Jennifer Maia (born October 6, 1988) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. Maia currently competes in the Women's Flyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Maia trains at Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil. A prof ...

on December 5, 2014, at Invicta FC 10. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Bennett next faced Norma Rueda Center on February 27, 2015, at Invicta FC 11. She again won the fight by unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2017, it was announced that Bennett would be one of the fighters featured on ''

The Ultimate Fighter 26 ''The Ultimate Fighter 26'' (also known as '' The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion'') is an installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. Tryouts were announced on May ...

'', where the process to crown the UFC's inaugural 125-pound women's champion will take place. Bennett was selected seventh by coach Eddie Alvarez. She faced Karine Gevorgyan in the opening round and won via TKO in the first round. In the quarter finals Bennett faced Sijara Eubanks losing via first round knockout.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Bennett faced Melinda Fábián on December 1, 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion#The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale. The fight ended as a majority draw and Bennett was subsequently released from the promotion.

Return to Invicta

Bennett returned to Invicta to face Karina Rodríguez on March 24, 2018 at Invicta FC 28: Morandin vs. Jandiroba. She won the fight by split decision. Bennett then entered a flyweight tournament where she defeated Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision but lost in the final in a rematch against Karina Rodriguez.

Bellator

Bennett made her promotional debut against

Liz Carmouche Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently signed to Bellator MMA, where she is the current Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...

at Bellator 246 on September 12, 2020. She lost the bout via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. Bennett was scheduled to face Alejandra Lara on July 31, 2021 at

Bellator 263 Bellator 263: Pitbull vs. McKee was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on July 31, 2021, at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The event marked Bellator's first outside of the Mohegan Sun bubble and the first B ...

. The bout was rescheduled for unknown reasons to take place on August 20, 2021 at Bellator 265. On August 13, it was announced that the bout was moved once again, this time to Bellator 266. At the weigh-ins, Bennett missed weight for her bout. Bennett weighed in at 129.2 pounds, 3.2 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Bennett was fined a percentage of her purse which went to Lara. Bennett won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision. Bennett faced

Justine Kish Svetlana Nasibulina (born 13 April 1988), known professionally by her ring name Justine Kish, is an American mixed martial artist that competes in the Flyweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional since 2010, she has also competed in the Ul ...

on February 19, 2022 at Bellator 274. She won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision. Bennett rematched

on August 12, 2022 at Bellator 284. At weigh ins, Kish came in at 128.4 lbs, 2.4 pounds over the weight limit, for the flyweight bout, resulting in her being a fined a percentage of her purse which went to Bennett and the bout proceeded at catchweight. Bennett won the bout again via unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record

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Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3–1 , Karina Rodríguez , Decision (split) , Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the capital and most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. With a population of 200,133 in 2020, the ...

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Jodie Esquibel Jodie Esquibel (born 7 May 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She has also fought for Invicta FC. Mixed martial arts career Early career Esquibel made her professional MMA ...

, Decision (split) , Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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Roxanne Modafferi Roxanne Vincenta Modafferi (born September 24, 1982) is an American retired mixed martial artist, who most recently fought for the UFC. Though she last fought in the flyweight division, she has fought in multiple weight classes in her career. A ...

, Decision (split) , Invicta FC 16: Hamasaki vs. Brown , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–1 ,

Lívia Renata Souza Lívia Renata dos Santos Souza (born March 11, 1991), also known as Livinha Souza, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division. She has previously competed in the UFC and Invicta Fighting Championships, where s ...

, TKO (body kick and punches) , Invicta FC 15: Cyborg vs. Ibragimova , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:30 ,

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Katja Kankaanpää Katja Kankaanpää (; born June 30, 1981) is a Finnish former mixed martial artist who competed in the strawweight division. She is currently signed with Invicta FC. Kankaanpää started martial arts training at her teens when she was 15 years ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Norma Rueda Center , Decision (unanimous) , Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, Decision (unanimous) , Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Michelle Ould , TKO (body kick) , Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:34 ,

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Colleen Schneider Colleen Schneider (born March 12, 1982 in Syracuse, New York) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist. Colleen was a contestant in season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter reality competition television show. Early life She attended Ci ...

, Submission (rear-naked choke) , Showdown Fights 14: Heavyweight Collision , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:02 ,

Orem, Utah Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the northern part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is approximately south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Me ...

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Mixed martial arts exhibition record

, - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Daiana Torquato , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:34 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Liz Tracy , Decision (unanimous) , Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center , 1–1 ,

Sijara Eubanks Sijara Jihan Eubanks (born April 27, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently fights in the women's bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Eubanks was born and raised in Spring ...

, KO (head kick) , rowspan=2, The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion , (air date) , align=center , 1 , align=center , 1:25 , rowspan=2,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center , 1–0 , Karine Gevorgyan , TKO (punches) , (air date) , align=center , 1 , align=center , 3:11 ,

References

External links

DeAnna Bennett
at

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, DeAnna 1984 births Living people Mixed martial artists from California Flyweight mixed martial artists Strawweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu American female mixed martial artists American people of Argentine descent People from Fremont, California American Muay Thai practitioners Female Muay Thai practitioners American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners 21st-century American women