Herrig in a match at Muay Thai Mayhem XIV in New York City on June 16, 2009
Prior to Herrig's move to mixed martial arts, she held a professional kickboxing record of 23–5.[9] She was ranked as high as number 2 in the World in the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Women's Muay Thai Bantamweight Division.
As a pro kickboxer, Herrig won the International Kickboxing Federation Pro Muay Thai United States Bantamweight Title. She won the title on November 15, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois, US, when she defeated Katie Meehan by unanimous decision (49-46, 48–47, 49–46).
On August 21, 2005, Herrig became the 2005 IKF North American Classic Amateur Full Contact Rules Bantamweight Tournament Champion when she defeated Terri French of Little Rock, Arkansas, US, by unanimous decision 30–27 on all 3 judges cards.
On July 30, 2006, Herrig defended her IKF Tournament Title at the 2006 IKF World Classic when she defeated Stacy Chung of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada by unanimous decision 29–28 on all 3 judges cards.
Felice Herrig at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan; the second stop on the annual Vice Chairman's USO Tour, March 31, 2019.
Herrig appeared on Fight Girls in 2007 on the Oxygen and won her fight in Thailand against a champion Thai fighter.[11] She was later scheduled to appear on another reality show about women's MMA called the Ultimate Women Challenge.[11]
Herrig faced Iman Achhal at UWC: Man "O" War on February 21, 2009, in her MMA debut. She lost the fight by split decision.[12]
She faced Michele Gutierrez at Unconquered 1: November Reign on November 20, 2009, and won the fight by armbar submission in the second round.[13]
Herrig faced Amanda LaVoy at XFO 37 on December 4, 2010. She won the fight via armbar submission in the first round.[16]
On January 14, 2011, Herrig faced Barb Honchak at Hoosier Fight Club 6: New Years Nemesis in Valparaiso, Indiana. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[17]
Herrig faced Andrea Miller at Chicago Cagefighting Championship 3 on March 5, 2011. She won the fight by TKO in the first round.[18]
Herrig faced Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc at XFO 39 on May 13, 2011, at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She won the fight via unanimous decision.[19][20]
Her scheduled bout against undefeated Kelly Warren at Fight Tour on August 20, 2011, was cancelled due to Warren weighing in 7 pounds overweight.[21]
On April 13, 2012, Herrig faced Patricia Vidonic at XFC 17: Apocalypse in Jackson, Tennessee. She defeated Vidonic by unanimous decision.[24]
Herrig next faced Simona Soukupova at XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown on August 3, 2012.[25] She defeated Soukupova by unanimous decision.[26]
Herrig was scheduled to return to Bellator to face Michele Gutierrez in a rematch at Bellator 84 on December 14, 2012.[27] However, Gutierrez withdrew from the fight on December 1 and Herrig instead competed in a rematch against Patricia Vidonic.[28][29] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[30][31]
Herrig next competed against Heather Clark at Bellator 94 on March 28, 2013.[32] She won the fight via split decision.[33] The fight ended controversially as following the final bell Herrig unleashed a yell of celebration in her opponent's face, which prompted a post-fight backhand punch from Clark. Herrig retaliated with a punch of her own, before order was restored.[34]
On December 11, 2013, it was announced that Herrig was signed by the UFC along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter, which will crown the first ever UFC women's strawweight champion.[38]
Herrig was the sixth fighter to go to coach Anthony Pettis.[39] She faced rival Heather Jo Clark in a rematch in the preliminary round of the tournament. Herrig again won the fight by unanimous decision.[40] She lost to Randa Markos via submission in the quarterfinal round of competition.[41]
Herrig was expected to face Xiaonan Yan on June 8, 2019, at UFC 238.[56] However, on April 30, 2019, it was reported that Herrig suffered from a torn ACL and was pulled from the event.[57]
Herrig faced Virna Jandiroba on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252.[58] She lost the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.[59]
After a two-year hiatus, Herrig faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207.[60] Herrig lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round, retiring after the bout.[61][62] She retired from competing in MMA after the loss.[63]
Boxing career
Herrig made her professional boxing debut against Veronika Dmitriyeva on July 22, 2023.[64] She won the bout via fourth-round technical knockout.[65]
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