Denise Kielholtz (born 30 March 1989) is a

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

female

Muay Thai Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

kickboxer Kickboxing is a combat sport focused on kicking and punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general ...

and

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, incorp ...

, based in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. She has competed professionally since 2004 and is the current

Bellator Kickboxing Bellator Kickboxing was an American kickboxing promotion company based in Los Angeles, active between 2016 and 2019. Bellator was founded in 2016 by president Scott Coker. It was the sister promotion of Bellator MMA. On April 16, 2016, Bellator ...

Women's Flyweight Champion. As of February 7, 2023, she is #9 in the Bellator Women's pound-for-pound Rankings and #5 in the Bellator Women's Flyweight Rankings.

Mixed martial arts career

Kielholtz made her professional MMA debut at Torarica Summer Fights 1 in October, 2015. She lost the fight via submission.

Bellator MMA

Kielholtz signed with Bellator in 2016, appearing in the promotion's inaugural kickboxing card, Bellator Kickboxing 1 in Torino, Italy on April 16, 2016. She would go 4–1 in kickboxing for the promotion, winning the Flyweight Championship along the way. Kielholtz then made her Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 188 against Jessica Middleton. She won the fight via submission. Kielholtz was expected to face

Lena Ovchynnikova Oléna "Lena" Serhíyivna Ovchýnnikova ( uk, Оле́на "Ле́на" Сергі́ївна Овчи́ннікова; born April 22, 1987) is a Ukrainian kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the featherweight divisi ...

in the co-main event of Bellator 196 in Budapest, Hungary on April 6, 2018. However, Ovchynnikova pulled out of the fight and was replaced by Petra Částková. Kielholtz won the fight by unanimous decision. Kielholtz faced Veta Arteaga on September 21, 2018 at Bellator 205. She lost the fight via a submission. Kielholtz faced Bryony Tyrell at Bellator 223 on June 22, 2019. She won the fight via TKO in the third round. Kielholtz faced Sabriye Şengül at Bellator London 2 on November 23, 2019. She won the fight via an Americana submission in the first round. Kielholtz faced Kristina Williams at Bellator 239 on February 21, 2020. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round. Kielholtz faced former Bellator Women's Flyweight title challenger

Kate Jackson Lucy Kate Jackson (born October 29, 1948) is an American actress and television producer, known for her television roles as Sabrina Duncan in the series '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976–1979) and Amanda King in the series ''Scarecrow and Mrs. Kin ...

at Bellator 247 on October 1, 2020. She won the bout via knockout just 43 seconds into the first round. Subsequently, she signed a new contract with the Bellator MMA. Kielholtz fought for the

Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

against champion

Juliana Velasquez Juliana Velasquez Tonasse (born October 19, 1986) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of Bellator MMA, where she is the former Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. As of April 26, ...

on July 16, 2021 at Bellator 262. She lost the bout in a razor thin split decision. Kielholtz faced

Kana Watanabe is a Japanese mixed martial artist. She is competing in the Flyweight division of Bellator MMA. Kana Watanabe spent most of her career fighting in her native Japan, until she began fighting in Bellator MMA. As of December 13, 2022, she is #7 ...

on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281. She lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round. Kielholtz faced Ilara Joanne on December 9, 2022, at

Bellator 289 ''Bellator 289: Stots vs. Sabatello'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on December 9, 2022, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, United States. Background The semi-finals of the $1-mill ...

. She lost the fight via split decision.

Personal life

Kielholtz is married to kickboxer

Hesdy Gerges Hesdy Gerges (born February 20, 1984) is a Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist, fighting out of the Vos Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He held the It's Showtime World Heavyweight title between 2010 and 2012. Gerges has competed in the K-1 ...

Championships and awards

Kickboxing

** Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship (One time, current) *

Enfusion Enfusion is a Dutch kickboxing promotion company based in Alkmaar, Netherlands. It produces events worldwide, which showcase twelve kickboxing weight classes (7 male and 5 female). Enfusion held its first event in 2013 in the Zwembad Sporthal i ...

**2014

Enfusion Live Enfusion is a Dutch kickboxing promotion company based in Alkmaar, Netherlands. It produces events worldwide, which showcase twelve kickboxing weight classes (7 male and 5 female). Enfusion held its first event in 2013 in the Zwembad Sporthal ...

Champion 57 kg (1 Title Def.) **2012

-60 kg (Winner) *

World Muay Thai Association The World Muay Thai Association (WMTA) is one of the oldest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of Muay Thai in the world for the sport. The WMTA was created in the Netherlands as the World Muay Thai Association in 1984 by Thom Ha ...

**2013 WMTA Super Bantamweight World Champion * World Full Contact Association **2013 WFCA European Champion, -57 kg * Slamm **2011 Slamm Women's Championship -60 kg

Judo

*2008 Dutch Team Championships *2006 Dutch Open Espoir U20 Tournament *2005 Scottish Open U20 Championships Edinburgh *2005 Scottish Open Championships Edinburgh *2005 Dutch Championships U17 *2004 Dutch Open Espoir U17 Tournament *2003 Dutch Championships U15 Nieuwegein *2002 Dutch Championships U15 Nieuwegein

Boxing

*2012 Amateur Arabic Featherweight World Champion 55 kg (Defeated

Lorena Klijn Lorena Klijn (born September 20, 1987) is a Dutch kickboxer who competes in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. Career Lorena Klijn rose to prominence by winning the World Professional Kickboxing League (WPKL) Women's World Flyweight Champ ...

) -56 kg

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 6–5 , Ilara Joanne , Decision (split) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is an area in the New England town, town of Montville, Connecticut, Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a Administrative divisions of Connecticut#Village, neighborhood, section of town, village in southeastern Montville, at the ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–4 ,

, Submission (triangle choke) , Bellator 281 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:03 ,

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, England , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–3 ,

, Decision (split) , Bellator 262 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 ,

, KO (punches) , Bellator 247 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:43 ,

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

, Italy , , - , Win , align=center, 5–2 , Kristina Williams , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Bellator 239 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:15 ,

Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma. It is located in South Central Oklahoma. The population was 445 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area. Geography Thackerville is located at (33. ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–2 , Sabriye Şengül , Submission (americana) , Bellator London 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:32 ,

, England , , - , Win , align=center, 3–2 , Bryony Tyrell , TKO (punches) , Bellator 223 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:48 ,

, England , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–2 , Veta Arteaga , Submission (guillotine choke) , Bellator 205 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:24 ,

Boise, Idaho Boise (, , ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho and is the county seat of Ada County. On the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, it is east of the Oregon border and north of the Nevada border. The downtown are ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Petra Částková , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 196 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

, Hungary , , - , Win , align=center, 1–1 , Jessica Middleton , Submission (scarfhold armbar) , Bellator 188 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:16 ,

Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the G ...

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Paramaribo Paramaribo (; ; nicknamed Par'bo) is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people (2012 census), almost half of Suriname's ...

, Suriname , , -

Kickboxing record

, - style="background:#cfc;" , 2022-10-29 , , Win , , align=left, Laura Pileri , , HIT IT , ,

Rotterdam, Netherlands Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte'') is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, part of the North Sea mouth of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, via the ''"Ne ...

, , Decision (unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 19–2 , - , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2017-04-08 , , Win , , align=left,

Martine Michieletto Martine Michieletto (born 21 September 1992) is an Italian muay thai kickboxer. She is the reigning ISKA featherweight K-1 champion and the former WKU featherweight muay thai champion. As of October 2022, she is ranked as the sixth best pound-f ...

, , Bellator Kickboxing 5 , ,

Torino Turin ( , Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. T ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

, , Decision (unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , , 18–2 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2016-12-10 , , Win , , align=left,

Gloria Peritore Gloria Peritore (born 29 November 1988) is an Italian kickboxer and mixed martial artist. She is the current ISKA World Flyweight Kickboxing and Oriental Rules champion. As of October 2022, she is ranked as the tenth best pound-for-pound women' ...

, , Bellator Kickboxing 4, ,

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

, , Decision (split) , , 5 , , 3:00 , , 17–2 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2016-09-17 , , Win , , align=left, Renata Lantos , , Bellator Kickboxing 3 , ,

Budapest, Hungary Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population of ...

, , Decision (unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 16–2 , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2016-06-24 , , Loss , , align=left,

, , Bellator Kickboxing 2 , ,

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

, United States , , Decision (split) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 15–2 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2016-04-16 , , Win , , align=left, Veronica Vernocchi , , Bellator Kickboxing 1 , ,

Torino, Italy Turin ( , Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. T ...

, , Decision (split) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 15–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2014-11-23 , , Win , , align=left,

Tiffany van Soest Tiffany Lynn van Soest (born March 20, 1989) is an American Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the bantamweight division. She is the current Glory Super Bantamweight Champion. In 2019, Combat Press voted her the Female Fighter of the Year. O ...

, , Enfusion Live 22 , ,

Groningen, Netherlands Groningen (; gos, Grunn or ) is the capital city and main municipality of Groningen province in the Netherlands. The ''capital of the north'', Groningen is the largest place as well as the economic and cultural centre of the northern part of t ...

, , Decision (unanimous) , , 5 , , 3:00 , , 14–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2014-04-26 , , Win , , align=left, Lucia Krajčovič , , Enfusion Live 17 , , Žilina, Slovakia , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 13–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2014-04-26 , , Win , , align=left, Ilona Wijmans , , Enfusion Live 12 , ,

Alkmaar, Netherlands Alkmaar () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland, about 30 km north of Amsterdam. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination. Th ...

, , Decision (Overturned) , , 5 , , 3:00 , , 12–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2013-09-17 , , Win, , align=left, Vicky Church , , Enfusion 4: Search for the SuperPro, Finals , , Koh Samui, Thailand , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 11–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2013-09-17 , , Win, , align=left, Manal Salman , , Enfusion 4: Search for the SuperPro, Semi Finals , , Koh Samui, Thailand , , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 10–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2013-06-29 , , Win , , align=left,

Christi Brereton Christi Coral Brereton (née Campbell; born 26 November 1992) is an English female kickboxer and muay thai fighter based in Okehampton. She has fought for a WBC Muaythai title. Christi Brereton is signed with kickboxing organisation Glory She ...

, , Enfusion Live 6 , ,

London, England London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...

, , Decision (Unanimous) , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 9–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2013-04-13 , , Win , , align=left, Alena Hola , , , , Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands , , Decision , , , , , , 8–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2013-02-18 , , Win , , align=left, Christina Morales , , , ,

The Hague, Netherlands The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

, , Decision , , 5 , , 2:00 , , 7–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2012-12-02 , , Win , , align=left,

Lucy Payne Lucy Payne (born 4 February 1992) is an English female kickboxer and muay thai fighter based in Cornwall. She is a former WBC Muaythai World Featherweight champion and is the #2 featherweight in the world by WBC Muaythai, as of April 2020. Tit ...

, , Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators, Final , ,

Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana (also known by other historical names) is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. It is the country's cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative center. During antiquity, a Roman city called Emona stood in the ar ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 6–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2012-12-02 , , Win , , align=left, Lindsay Scheer , , Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators, Semi Finals , ,

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 5–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2012-05-27 , , Win , , align=left, Kateřina Svobodová , , Slamm 7: Holland vs Thailand , , , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 4–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2011-12-28 , , Win , , align=left, , , Slamm!! Soema Na Basi II , ,

Paramaribo, Suriname Paramaribo (; ; nicknamed Par'bo) is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on the banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 241,000 people (2012 census), almost half of Suriname's po ...

, , Decision (unanimous) , , , , 3:00 , , 3–1 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2011-04-10 , , Win , , align=left, Sindy Huyer , , Almere's Finest , ,

Almere, Netherlands Almere () is a planned city and municipality in the province of Flevoland, Netherlands, located about 20 km to the east of Amsterdam (as the crow flies) across the IJmeer. Bordering Lelystad and Zeewolde, the municipality of Almere comprises ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 2–1 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 2010-08-29 , , Win , , align=left, Lindsay Scheer , , Slamm Fighting with the Stars - B- Class , ,

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

, , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 1–1 , - style="background:#fbb;" , 2009-11-29 , , Loss , , align=left, Lindsay Scheer , , Slamm Holland vs. Thailand , , , , Decision , , 3 , , 3:00 , , 0–1 , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kielholtz, Denise 1989 births Living people Dutch female kickboxers Sportspeople from Amsterdam Dutch female mixed martial artists Dutch Muay Thai practitioners Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Female Muay Thai practitioners Flyweight kickboxers Dutch female judoka Dutch women boxers Bellator female fighters 21st-century Dutch women