Julia Avila

Last updated
Julia Avila
Born (1988-05-11) May 11, 1988 (age 36)
Los Angeles, California, U.S. [1]
Other namesRaging Panda, Julia Shumate
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
Reach69 [1]  in (175 cm)
Fighting out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TeamBakersfield MMA (2011–2014) [2] [3] [4]
All Powers Fitness and Fighting
Junkyard Dogs Fight Team
Oklahoma Martial Arts Academy (2014–2021) [5]
Outsiders Combat Club (2021–present) [6]
RankBrown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [2] under Seth Norman [7]
Years active2012–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins9
By knockout4
By submission2
By decision3
Losses3
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision1
SpouseR. Cody Shumate
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Julia Avila (born May 11, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). [1] Previously she has competed in Invicta FC, HD MMA, XKO MMA, Total Warrior Combat and King of the Cage (KOTC). As of September 10, 2024, she is #12 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings. [8]

Contents

Background

Of Mexican descent, Avila was born May 11, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. Julia graduated from South High School, where she was a sports standout and a member of varsity team in volleyball, soccer and track and field. [9] [2] She attended The University of Notre Dame, graduated 2010 from University of California, Santa Cruz, and is currently a geologist in Oklahoma City. [10] [11] She began training martial arts in 2011 after graduating from college. [2]

Mixed martial arts career

Avila has notable wins over former UFC flyweight champion Nicco Montaño and Marion Reneau. [12]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On March 22, 2019, Avila was signed to the UFC's women's bantamweight division. Avila was originally scheduled to face Melissa Gatto on July 6, 2019, at UFC 239. Gatto was dropped from the card due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Pannie Kianzad. Avila won the fight via unanimous decision. [13]

Avila was expected to face Karol Rosa on October 26, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren. [14] The fight was later cancelled due to a knee injury from Rosa. [15] The match was rescheduled to April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris. [16] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed. [17] The pair was rescheduled to meet on May 2, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174. [18] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that the event was postponed to June 13, 2020. [19] [20] Instead, Avila faced Gina Mazany, replacing Rosa, on June 13, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo. [21] She won the bout via first-round technical knockout just 22 seconds into the fight. [22]

Avila was scheduled to face Nicco Montaño on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 176. [23] However, due to Montano's coach John Wood testing positive for COVID-19, the bout was rescheduled to UFC Fight Night 177. [24] However, Montaño tested positive for COVID-19 and the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana. [25] Subsequently, on September 3, it was announced that Montaño withdrew from the bout due to travel restrictions. After negotiating a new contract with the UFC, Avila faced Sijara Eubanks on September 12, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 177. [26] [27] She lost the fight via unanimous decision. [28]

Avila was expected to face Julija Stoliarenko at UFC on ESPN 21 on March 20, 2021. [29] However at the weigh ins, Stoliarenko suffered a syncopal episode on the scale and the fight was scrapped. [30] The pair was rescheduled and took place at UFC Fight Night 190. [31] Avila won the fight via rear naked choke submission in round three. [32]

Avila was scheduled to face Raquel Pennington on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 199. [33] However, Avila was forced to pull from the event due to injury. [34] She was replaced by Macy Chiasson. [35]

After a two-years hiatus, Avila returned against former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate on December 2, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 52. [36] She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round three. [37]

Avila is scheduled to face former LFA Women's Bantamweight Champion Jacqueline Cavalcanti on February 15, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 251. [38]

Personal life

Avila is married. Avila and her husband had their first child, a daughter, October 20, 2022. [39]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
12 matches9 wins3 losses
By knockout41
By submission21
By decision31
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss9–3 Miesha Tate Submission (face crank) UFC on ESPN: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan December 2, 202331:15 Austin, Texas, United States
Win9–2 Julija Stoliarenko Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov June 26, 202134:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss8–2 Sijara Eubanks Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill September 12, 202035:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win8–1 Gina Mazany TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo June 13, 202010:22 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–1 Pannie Kianzad Decision (unanimous) UFC 239 July 6, 201935:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win6–1 Alexa Conners TKO (front kick and punches) Invicta FC 32 November 16, 201824:43 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win5–1Ashley DeenKO (punches)HD MMA 13August 25, 201812:08 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Loss4–1Marciea AllenTKO (hand injury) Invicta FC 29 May 4, 201810:49 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win4–0Candace MaricleSubmission (armbar)HD MMA 9July 22, 201711:18 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Win3–0 Nicco Montaño Decision (unanimous)HD MMA 7January 7, 201755:00 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United StatesWon the HD MMA Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win2–0Carolyn Biskup-RoeTKO (punches)XKO 32August 27, 201611:28 Dallas, Texas, United States
Win1–0 Marion Reneau Decision (unanimous)TWC 13: ImpactJanuary 27, 201235:00 Porterville, California, United StatesBantamweight debut.

[12] [42]

See also

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References

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