Justine Kish

Last updated
Justine Kish
BornSvetlana Nasibulina
(1988-04-13) 13 April 1988 (age 35)
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division Flyweight
Strawweight
Reach64.0 in (163 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Fighting out of Los Angeles, California
TeamBlack House MMA (before 2017, 2018–present) [1]
Gym-O (2017–2018) [1]
RankMuay Thai World Champion [2]
Black belt in Kenpo [2]
Years active2010–present
Professional boxing record
Total2
Wins2
Losses0
Kickboxing record
Total24
Wins22
Losses2
Mixed martial arts record
Total15
Wins9
By submission2
By decision7
Losses6
By submission1
By decision5
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Svetlana Nasibulina (born 13 April 1988), known professionally by her ring name Justine Kish, is an American mixed martial artist that competes in the Flyweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional since 2010, she has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). [3] [4]

Contents

As of August 16, 2023, she is #7 in the Bellator Women's Flyweight Rankings. [5]

Early life

Justine Kish was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union [6] in modern-day Russia and was adopted by an American couple. [7] She discovered Muay Thai as a teenager, while taking up fitness, which eventually led her to competitions. [8]

Muay Thai career

Kish competed in Muay Thai for 10 years, winning 18 matches and a World Muaythai Council championship belt in the process. [9] [10]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Kish began her professional MMA career in 2010. She amassed an undefeated record of five wins and no losses, including a win over future The Ultimate Fighter housemate Randa Markos.

The Ultimate Fighter

In September 2013, it was announced that Kish was one of the fighters selected by the UFC to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned. [11] [12]

Kish was the seventh pick by coach Anthony Pettis. She was expected to face Bec Rawlings in the preliminary round, but was forced out of the tournament due to a knee injury. This injury also prevented her from appearing on the finale of the show, but Kish made her debut with the promotion in 2015. [13]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kish made her official UFC debut against Nina Ansaroff on January 2, 2016, at UFC 195. She won the fight by unanimous decision. [14]

Kish next faced Ashley Yoder on December 9, 2016, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov in a catchweight bout as Kish missed weight. She won the fight by unanimous decision. [15]

Kish faced Felice Herrig on June 25, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee. She lost the bout via unanimous decision. Kish received media attention after losing control of her bowels during the fight and issuing a humorous response later. [16]

Kish faced Ji Yeon Kim on January 27, 2018, at UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2. [17] She lost the fight via split decision. [18] 11 out of 14 media scores gave it to Kish. [19]

Kish returned after a two year hiatus and faced Lucie Pudilová on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166. [20] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [21]

Kish faced Sabina Mazo on September 12, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 177. [22] She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round three. [23]

Kish faced Tracy Cortez on April 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 22. [24] At the weigh-ins, Cortez weighed in at 126.5 pounds, a half pound over the flyweight non-title fight limit. Her bout proceeded at a catchweight and she was fined 20% of her individual purse, which went to Kish. [25] Kish lost the close fight via a split decision. [26]

On April 30, it was revealed that Kish was no longer with the UFC. [27]

Bellator MMA

On January 6, 2022, it was announced that Kish had signed a multi-bout contract with Bellator MMA. [28]

Kish faced DeAnna Bennett on February 19, 2022 at Bellator 274. [29] She lost the bout via unanimous decision. [30]

Kish faced Ilima-Lei Macfarlane on April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279. [31] In an upset, she won the bout via unanimous decision. [32]

Kish rematched DeAnna Bennett on August 12, 2022 at Bellator 284. [33] At weigh ins, Kish came in at 128.4 lbs, 2.4 pounds over the weight limit, for the flyweight bout, resulting in her being a fined a percentage of her purse which went to Bennett and the bout proceeded at catchweight. [34] Kish lost the bout again via unanimous decision. [35]

Kish faced Diana Avsaragova on August 11, 2023, at Bellator 298. [36] At weigh-ins, Avsaragova weighed in at 127.2 pounds, 1.2 pounds over the Flyweight non-title limit. Due to this, the bout proceeded at catchweight and she was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to Kish. [37] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [38]

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
18 wins (9 KOs), 2 losses, 0 draws
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTimeRecord
2012-02-27Win Flag of Germany.svg Farida OkikoBangla Stadium, ThailandUnanimous Decision3
Fought for the WMC World Middleweightweight (−58.8 kg/125 lb) Full Contact Championship.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
15 matches9 wins6 losses
By submission21
By decision75
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win9–6 Diana Avsaragova Decision (unanimous) Bellator 298 August 11, 202335:00 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United StatesCatchweight (127.2 lb) bout; Avsaragova missed weight.
Loss8–6 DeAnna Bennett Decision (unanimous) Bellator 284 August 12, 202235:00 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United StatesCatchweight (128.4 lb) bout; Kish missed weight.
Win8–5 Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Decision (unanimous) Bellator 279 April 23, 202235:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Loss7–5 DeAnna Bennett Decision (unanimous) Bellator 274 February 19, 202235:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss7–4 Tracy Cortez Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum April 17, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesCatchweight (126.5 lb) bout; Cortez missed weight.
Loss7–3 Sabina Mazo Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill September 12, 202033:57 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–2 Lucie Pudilová Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos January 25, 202035:00 Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Loss6–2 Ji Yeon Kim Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 January 27, 201835:00 Charlotte, North Carolina, United StatesReturn to Flyweight.
Loss6–1 Felice Herrig Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee June 25, 201735:00 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Win6–0 Ashley Yoder Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov December 9, 201635:00 Albany, New York, United StatesCatchweight (116.4 lb) bout; Kish missed weight.
Win5–0 Nina Ansaroff Decision (unanimous) UFC 195 January 2, 201635:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win4–0 Randa Markos Decision (unanimous)RFA 12January 24, 201435:00 Los Angeles, California, United StatesStrawweight debut.
Win3–0Jin TangDecision (unanimous)Fusion Fighting Championship 5December 18, 201335:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win2–0 Christine Stanley Submission (armbar)RFA 9August 16, 201323:00 Los Angeles, California, United StatesFlyweight debut.
Win1–0 Munah Holland Submission (triangle choke)Ring of Combat 33December 3, 201022:53 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesCatchweight (130 lb) bout.

See also

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References

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