Mixed martial arts career
As an amateur, Ashlee Evans-Smith had a record of 5–4 and is the former Tuff-N-Uff Champion. Her four losses were against women with a combined amateur record of 20–1–1. She also has a notable victory over former UFC fighter Jessamyn Duke.
Evans-Smith began her professional career on March 2, 2013, in the quarterfinals for the CFA Women's PGA Tournament. In an arduous battle, full of twists, against her former amateur rival, Tori Adams, Evans-Smith won by unanimous decision, thus avenging a past loss.
She was then scheduled to fight Peggy Morgan in the semi-final round at CFA 11 but was removed from the card after auditioning for TUF 18. A recent report from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter announced that Evans-Smith was one of the 17 fighters selected for TUF 18 but at age 25, instead preferred to regain her place in the CFA tournament. [5]
Evans-Smith automatically advanced to the finals because Morgan was removed from the tournament. Then news surfaced that she would face transgender fighter Fallon Fox because Morgan's opponent, Anna Barone, could not make the weight. [6]
Fox vs. Evans-Smith
On October 12, 2013, Evans-Smith made it to the finals of the CFA 12 tournament, entering as a heavy underdog, reaching +425 in the bookmakers' odds. After a back-and-forth first round, she started taking over in the second round. The round ended in controversy because while Evans-Smith was applying punches from the top position, the referee failed to hear the signal announcing the end of the round, so she continued to beat on Fallon Fox. The referee called the fight a TKO in her favor when the round should have already been over. As Ashlee, her corner and the crowd celebrated, the referee informed her that he had made a mistake, and the fight would go to a third round. In the 3rd, Ashlee was able to get the top position again and managed to hit a wave of punches, until the referee intervened and stopped the fight, giving her the win by TKO in the third round. [7] [8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
With a perfect 3–0 record, Evans-Smith had the first opportunity in the organization to fight Raquel Pennington on December 6, 2014, at UFC 181 following a neck injury to Pennington's original opponent Holly Holm. [10] The fight was balanced and "locked," especially at the clinch, until Pennington secured a bulldog choke at the end of the round. When the round was over, it was revealed that Evans-Smith was unconscious due to the finish. The fight was interrupted between rounds 1 and 2, however, the official time is 4:59 of the first round. Ashlee soon after was suspended for diuretic use. [11]
Evans-Smith faced Veronica Macedo on September 3, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 93. [12] She won the fight via technical knockout in round three. [13]
Evans-Smith faced Sarah Moras on September 9, 2017, at UFC 215. [14] She lost the fight via armbar submission, resulting in her elbow being dislocated, [15] in the first round. [16]
Evans-Smith faced Bec Rawlings on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223. [17] She won the fight by unanimous decision. [18]
Evans-Smith was expected to face promotional newcomer Antonina Shevchenko on November 30, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale. [19] However, it was reported on November 8, 2018, that Evans-Smith pulled out of the event due to injury and she was replaced by Ji Yeon Kim. [20]
Evans-Smith was scheduled to face Lauren Murphy on February 17, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 1. [21] However, on December 19, 2018, Murphy announced and withdraw from the event as she would need more time off to recover from foot surgery. [22] In turn, Evans-Smith faced Andrea Lee. [23] Evans-Smith lost the fight by unanimous decision. [24]
Evans-Smith was expected to face Taila Santos on August 10, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 14. [25] However, Evans-Smith withdrew the bout for undisclosed reasons. [26]
Evans-Smith was scheduled to face Molly McCann on March 21, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards. [27] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed. [28]
Evans-Smith faced Norma Dumont on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis . [29] She lost the fight via unanimous decision. [30]
Evans-Smith was suspended by USADA for 14 months for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone retroactive from January 3, 2022. She was suspended until March 3, 2023. [31]
After a two-and-a-half year layoff, Evans-Smith returned to face Ailín Pérez on July 15, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224. [32] She lost the fight via unanimous decision. [33]
After the loss, it was announced that Evans-Smith was no longer on the UFC roster. [34]
