Jillian DeCoursey

Last updated

Jillian DeCoursey
Born (1984-07-26) July 26, 1984 (age 40)
Queens, New York
Other namesLionheart
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm) [1]
Weight48 kg (106 lb; 7 st 8 lb)
Division Atomweight
Reach63 in (160 cm)
Style BJJ, Kickboxing
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out ofQueens, New York, U.S. [1]
TeamRingsport Muay Thai (2016–present) [2] [3]
East Coast United (until 2018) [4]
Long Island MMA (2018–present) [4]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Gregg DePasquale [5]
Years active2017–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total10
Wins6
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision3
Losses4
By decision4
University University of Bridgeport
Hunter College
Iona University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Jillian DeCoursey (born July 26, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the atomweight division of the Invicta FC, where she is a former atomweight champion. [2]

Contents

As of November 21, 2022, Sherdog ranks DeCoursey as the #4 atomweight in the world. [6]

Background

DeCoursey was born and grew up in Queens, New York, United States. [7] DeCoursey started undergraduate studies at University of Bridgeport and graduated from Hunter College. [7] She started Jiu-Jitsu after she finished competing in collegiate basketball at Hunter College. [7] She later picked up Muay Thai and eventually transitioned to mixed martial arts. [8]

DeCoursey also eventually finished her postgraduate studies at Iona University, earning a master's degree and owns her counselling practice in mental health. [2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

DeCoursey was signed by Invicta after amassing an amateur record of 8–1. [8] She was an IBJJF brown belt medalist. [2] [9]

Invicta Fighting Championships

DeCoursey made her promotional debut on August 31, 2017 at Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi against Ashley Medina. [10] She won the fight via split decision. [11]

Her next fight came on March 24, 2018 at Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba against Rebekah Levine. [12] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [13]

On July 21, 2018, DeCoursey faced Alesha Zappitella, replacing Shino VanHoose, [14] at Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander. [15]

For her next fight, DeCoursey fought outside of Invicta, being scheduled to face Katie Perez at CFFC 80. She won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. [16]

DeCoursey returned to Invicta to face Linda Mihalec at Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II. DeCoursey won the fight by unanimous decision. [17]

DeCoursey was scheduled to challenge the reigning Cage Fury FC Strawweight champion Elise Reed at CFFC 91. [18] Reed won the fight by unanimous decision. [19]

DeCoursey was scheduled to participate in a one-night Invicta Phoenix Tournament to determine the next atomweight title challenger. [20] DeCoursey lost the quarterfinal bout against Linda Mihalec by split decision. [21]

DeCoursey faced Lindsey VanZandt on May 11, 2022 at Invicta FC 47. [22] She won the bout after knocking out VanZandt in the first round. [23]

Invicta FC Atomweight Champion

DeCoursey was booked to challenge the reigning Invicta Atomweight champion Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey on September 28, 2022. [24] DeCoursey won the fight by a first-round submission. [25]

DeCoursey was scheduled to defend the title against Rayanne dos Santos on May 3, 2023, at Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos. [26] She lost the title fight by unanimous decision. [27] [28]

Professional grappling career

DeCoursey was invited to compete in the flyweight division of the Combat Jiu-Jitsu world championship on December 20, 2020. [29] She withdrew from the event.

DeCoursey is scheduled to compete in a superfight at Rise Invitational 11 on April 1, 2023 against Chelsea Mapa. [30] Neither woman was able to secure a submission and the match ended in a draw. [31]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
10 matches6 wins4 losses
By knockout20
By submission10
By decision34
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss6–4 Rayanne dos Santos Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 53 May 3, 202355:00 Denver, Colorado, United StatesLost the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.
Win6–3 Jéssica Delboni Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey September 28, 202214:49 Hinton, Oklahoma, United StatesWon the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.
Win5–3 Lindsey VanZandt KO (punch) Invicta FC 47: Ducote vs. Zappitella May 11, 202211:01 Kansas City, Kansas, United StatesReturn to Atomweight.
Loss4–3 Elise Reed Decision (unanimous)Cage Fury Fighting Championships 91December 18, 202045:00 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United StatesStrawweight debut. For the vacant Cage Fury FC Strawweight Championship.
Win4–2Linda MihalecDecision (unanimous) Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II February 7, 202035:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win3–2Katie PerezTKO (punches)Cage Fury Fighting Championships 80November 22, 201933:00 Hampton, Virginia, United States
Loss2–2Kelly D'AngeloDecision (unanimous) Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II June 7, 201935:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Loss2–1 Alesha Zappitella Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander July 21, 201835:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win2–0Rebekah LevineDecision (unanimous) Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba March 24, 201835:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win1–0Ashley MedinaDecision (split) Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi August 31, 201735:00 Lemoore, California, United StatesAtomweight debut.

See also

Related Research Articles

Ashley Cummins is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Atomweight division. She has previously fought in Invicta FC.

Jinh Yu Frey is an American mixed martial artist and currently competes in the strawweight division. She is the former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Amber Brown is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter in the Atomweight weight class.

Danielle Taylor is an American mixed martial artist. She was the Strawweight King of the Cage (KOTC) champion, competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women's strawweight division and is currently competing for Invicta FC.

Viviane "Sucuri' Pereira is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and competes in strawweight division. She last competed for Invicta Fighting Championships. A professional mixed martial artist since 2013, Pereira has also fought in the UFC.

Emily Anne Whitmire is an American mixed martial artist (MMA) who currently competes in the Strawweight division of the Invicta FC. She has previously competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Karina Rodriguez is a Mexican mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division. She is also the former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion.

Janaisa Morandin is a mixed martial artist (MMA) from Brazil, and competed in Invicta Fighting Championships in Strawweight division.

Emily Ducote is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She previously competed in Invicta FC, where she was the Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.

Lauren Elizabeth Mueller is an American mixed martial artist, currently in the Bantamweight division. A professional competitor since 2015, she has also competed in the UFC, Invicta FC, and Gladiator Challenge.

Chelsea Chandler is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2018, she has also previously competed for Invicta Fighting Championships. As of November 12, 2024, she is #15 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings.

Lindsey VanZandt is an American mixed martial artist who fought in the atomweight division of Invicta FC.

Alesha Zappitella is an American mixed martial artist who fights in the Atomweight division of Invicta Fighting Championships, where she is a former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion.

Jéssica Correa Delboni is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the atomweight and strawweight divisions of Invicta FC, where she is a former Atomweight champion.

Helen Peralta is a Dominican mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of Invicta Fighting Championships, and a bare knuckle boxer for BYB Extreme Fighting Series competing in their featherweight division.

Elise Caroline Reed is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Ketlen Gabriela Da Silva Souza is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She previously competed in Invicta Fighting Championships where she is a former flyweight champion.

Valesca Machado is a Brazilian mixed martial artist (MMA) who currently in the strawweight division. She formerly fought in Invicta Fighting Championships, where she is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.

Rayanne Amanda dos Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She also fought in Invicta FC, where she was the atomweight champion.

References

  1. 1 2 "Jillian DeCoursey ("Lionheart") - MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jillian DeCoursey – Invicta Fighting Championships". InvictaFC.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. Carroll's Corner MMA Podcast (November 15, 2016). Jillian DeCoursey Interview via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 James Lynch (March 19, 2018). Jill Decoursey now training at Long Island MMA ahead of Invicta FC 28 this Saturday via YouTube.
  5. Jillian DeCoursey [@lionheartjill] (October 24, 2022). "My goals have always been tk be @InvictaFights atomweight champion and to earn my BJJ black belt. Now I can say I've achieved both of my goals. I'm so honored to have been given my black belt from Gregg DePasquale and be the first female black belt from Long Island MMA" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  6. Critchfield, Tristen. "Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings - Women's Atomweight". sherdog.com. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 TJ De Santis (August 28, 2017). "Interview: JILLIAN DECOURSEY" (Podcast).
  8. 1 2 Anderson, Jay (March 21, 2018). "Invicta FC 28's Jillian DeCoursey: "It's Just a Matter of Time" Before Atomweights In UFC". Cageside Press. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  9. "Jillian DeCoursey | MMA » BJJ | Awakening Fighters". Awakening Fighters. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  10. Sherdog.com. "Invicta FC 25 Lineup Finalized with Addition of Seven Bouts". Sherdog. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  11. "Invicta FC 25: Jillian DeCoursey Defeats Ashley Medina in Pro Debut • MMA News". MMA News. September 1, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  12. Sherdog.com. "Invicta FC 28 Lineup Includes Strawweight Title Fight, Pearl Gonzalez Debut on March 24". Sherdog. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  13. "Invicta FC 28 FULL RESULTS". www.fight-madness.com (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  14. "Shino VanHoose Out, Jillian DeCoursey Steps in Against Alesha Zappitella at Invicta FC 30 | Invicta Fighting Championships". www.invictafc.com. July 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  15. "MMA: Alesha Zappitella eyes fight with Alyse Anderson". AXS. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  16. Roybal, Monica; Seifert, Derek. "CFFC 80 fights for the troops". jble.af.mil. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  17. La Monica, Mark. "LIMMA's Jillian DeCoursey wins Invicta FC 39 bout". Newsday . Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  18. Herbison, Zac. "Army vet and entrepreneur Elise Reed puts her title on the line at CFFC 91". mma-prospects.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  19. Tatum, Rob. "CFFC 91 Results: Sabatini Submits Stirn, Reed Edges DeCoursey". combatpress.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  20. Hannoun, Farah (June 3, 2021). "Invicta FC's Phoenix Tournament to determine No. 1 atomweight contender on June 11". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  21. Al-Shatti, Shaun (June 11, 2021). "Invicta Phoenix Series 4 results: Jessica Delboni earns title rematch with one-night tournament win". mmafighting.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  22. "Emily Ducote vs. Alesha Zappitella strawweight title fight headlines Invicta FC 47 on May 11". MMA Junkie. March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  23. Bissell, Tim (May 12, 2022). "Invicta FC 47 results and video: Emily Ducote defends title after splitting challenger's eyelid". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  24. Anderson, Jay (July 20, 2022). "Invicta FC: Jessica Delboni vs. Jillian DeCoursey Atomweight Title Fight Set for Sept. 28". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  25. Critchfield, Tristen (September 28, 2022). "Jillian DeCoursey Submits Jessica Delboni, Captures Atomweight Crown at Invicta FC 49". sherdog.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  26. Jay Anderson (March 16, 2023). "Invicta FC 53 announced for May, DeCoursey to defend Atomweight title". Cageside Press. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  27. "Invicta FC 53 results and live video stream". MMA Junkie. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  28. Knapp, Brian (May 3, 2023). "Rayanne Amanda dos Santos Nets Atomweight Title in Dominant Invicta 53 Decision". Sherdog. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  29. Burne, Kathrine (November 7, 2020). "Combat Jiu Jitsu Female Flyweights Lineup Announced". JitsMagazine. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  30. Jones, Phil (March 20, 2023). "Rise Invitational 11 To Feature UFC Veterans And Top BJJ Competitors". JitsMagazine. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  31. "Rise Invitational 11 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by 8th Invicta FC Atomweight Champion
September 28, 2022 – May 3, 2023
Succeeded by