Tonya Evinger

Last updated
Tonya Evinger
Born (1981-06-04) June 4, 1981 (age 42)
Moses Lake, Washington, United States
Other namesTriple Threat [1]
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Division Bantamweight
Featherweight
Reach70 in (178 cm) [2]
Fighting out of Houston,Texas
TeamGracie Barra Champions
4 oz Fight Club [3]
Years active2006–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total28
Wins19
By knockout8
By submission7
By decision4
Losses8
By knockout2
By submission4
By decision2
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Tonya Evinger (born June 4, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist. A professional mixed martial artist since 2006, Evinger has previously competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), EliteXC, Raging Wolf and Invicta Fighting Championships, and was the Invicta Bantamweight Champion. [4]

Contents

Early life

Evinger played football and wrestled while at Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri. [5] She went on to wrestle and earn her degree at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. [6] Evinger's younger twin brothers, Chris and Owen Evinger, are also professional mixed martial arts fighters.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Evinger faced Jennifer Tate at IFC: Warriors Challenge 21 on June 3, 2006, and lost via triangle choke in the second round. [7] The fight was the first women's bout ever sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission. [8]

She faced Brittany Pullen at FFF 1: Asian Invasion on February 17, 2007. She won the fight via a 16-second knockout in the first round. [9]

Evinger faced Shonie Plagman at X-1: Extreme Fighting 2 on March 17, 2007. She won the fight by knockout 10 seconds into the second round. [10]

She faced Ginele Marquez at Tuff-N-Uff 2 on April 14, 2007. She won the fight by rear naked choke submission in the third round. [11]

Evinger faced Vanessa Porto at FFF 2: Girls Night Out on July 14, 2007. She lost the fight by armbar submission in the first round. [12]

EliteXC

Evinger debuted for Elite XC against Gina Carano at EliteXC: Uprising on September 15, 2007. She lost the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the first round. [13]

She faced Julie Kedzie at ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on January 25, 2007. She won the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the first round. [14]

Post-EliteXC

Evinger faced Alexis Davis at Raging Wolf 7: Mayhem In The Mist 3 on May 8, 2010, for the Raging Wolf Women's Flyweight Championship. [15] She lost the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the third round. [16]

Evinger faced Adrienna Jenkins in a number one contender's bout at Raging Wolf 8: Cage Supremacy on July 17, 2010. [17] She won the fight by TKO in the second round. [18]

On November 6, 2010, Evinger rematched Alexis Davis at Raging Wolf 10. She was defeated by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round. [19]

Evinger faced Sara McMann at Titan Fighting Championships 19 on July 29, 2011, in Kansas City, Kansas. [20] The fight served as the co-main event. [21] Evinger was defeated by unanimous decision. [22]

On September 23, 2011, Evinger stepped in on short notice to face Anita Rodriguez at XFL: Rumble on the River 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She defeated Rodriguez by submission due to a rear-naked choke in round one. [23]

Evinger defeated Lacie Jackson by knockout in the first round at Fight Me MMA on April 13, 2012. [24]

On November 10, 2012, Evinger made her flyweight debut against Carina Damm at Fight Hard MMA. She defeated Damm by split decision. [25]

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2013, it was announced that Evinger was one of the fighters selected to be on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate. [26] In the elimination fight to get into the TUF house, Evinger faced Raquel Pennington and lost via guillotine choke submission in the second round. [27]

Invicta Fighting Championships

On December 7, 2013, Evinger faced Sarah D'Alelio at Invicta Fighting Championships 7. [28] [29] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [30]

After switching camps to Houston, Texas she joined team Gracie Barra Champions and 4 oz Fight Club, training her Boxing and Kickboxing with Aaron Pena (GBC) and MMA with Jeremy Mahon (4 oz). Evinger next fought Ediane Gomes at Invicta Fighting Championships 8 on September 6, 2014. [31] She won the fight via first round submission. [32]

Evinger next fought Cindy Dandois at Invicta Fighting Championships 10 on December 5, 2014. She won the fight via second round submission, making her the front runner to fight for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title. [33]

Evinger next fought Irene Aldana for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title at Invicta Fighting Championships 13 on July 9, 2015. [34] She dominated the fight from bell to bell, almost finishing the fight early with an arm bar. Evinger would go on to stop Aldana in the 4th round via TKO (punches), claiming the Invicta FC bantamweight title. [35]

Evinger next fought undefeated prospect, Pannie Kianzad. This was originally set as a title defense but both Evinger and Kianzad were unable to make weight, both being fined a percentage of their purse and was changed to a five-round non-title fight. Evinger ended up dispatching Kianzad in the 2nd round by TKO due to punches. [36]

Evinger next fought Colleen Schneider at Invicta Fighting Championships 17 on May 7, 2016. Evinger successfully defended her bantamweight title by unanimous decision. Following the fight, Evinger celebrated her victory by kissing interviewer Laura Sanko on the lips. [37]

Evinger would lose her bantamweight championship in an upset defeat to Russian newcomer Yana Kunitskaya by armbar submission in the first round on November 18, 2016. The loss was controversial because the referee told her to move from a legal position which may have led directly to the submission. Evinger appealed her loss and on December 1, 2016, the loss was changed to a no contest, so Evinger retained her title. [38]

Evinger faced Kunitskaya in a rematch in the main event of Invicta FC 22 on March 25, 2017. She won the fight by submission in the second round to retain her title. [39]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On June 27, 2017, it was announced that Evinger had signed with the UFC and was set to face Cris Cyborg for the vacant UFC Women's Featherweight Championship at UFC 214. [40] She lost the fight by TKO in the third round. [41]

Evinger was scheduled to face Marion Reneau at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros in Austin, Texas, Texas on February 18, 2018. [42] However, on January 9, 2018, she was forced to pull out fight, citing injury. [43]

Evinger was scheduled to face Ketlen Vieira on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137. [44] However, on August 7, 2018, Vieira pulled out due to a knee injury. [45] In turn, Evinger was pulled from the card and scheduled to face Aspen Ladd two weeks later at UFC 229. [46] She lost the fight via TKO in the first round. [47]

Evinger faced Lina Länsberg on June 1, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 153. [48] She lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion. [49] [4]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
28 matches19 wins8 losses
By knockout82
By submission74
By decision42
No contests1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss19–8 (1) Lina Länsberg Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith June 1, 201935:00 Stockholm, Sweden
Loss19–7 (1) Aspen Ladd TKO (punches) UFC 229 October 6, 201813:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesReturn to Bantamweight.
Loss19–6 (1) Cris Cyborg TKO (knees) UFC 214 July 29, 201731:56 Anaheim, California, United StatesFor the vacant UFC Women's Featherweight Championship.
Win19–5 (1) Yana Kunitskaya Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II March 25, 201724:32 Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesDefended the Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship.
NC18–5 (1) Yana Kunitskaya NC (overturned) Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya November 18, 201611:59 Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesRetained the Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship. Originally a submission (armbar) win for Kunitskaya; overturned after Evinger appealed the loss due to a controversial referee call. Evinger subsequently reinstated as champion.
Win18–5 Colleen Schneider Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider May 7, 201655:00 Costa Mesa, California, United StatesDefended the Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship.
Win17–5 Pannie Kianzad TKO (punches) Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad September 12, 201523:34 Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesNon-title bout; Kianzad missed weight (136.7 lbs). Performance of the Night.
Win16–5 Irene Aldana TKO (punches) Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin July 9, 201544:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesWon the vacant Invicta FC Bantamweight Championship.
Win15–5 Cindy Dandois Submission (armbar) Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio December 5, 201421:23 Houston, Texas, United States
Win14–5 Ediane Gomes Submission (armbar) Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada September 6, 201413:31 Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win13–5 Sarah D'Alelio Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith December 7, 201335:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United StatesReturn to Bantamweight.
Win12–5Carina DammDecision (split)Fight Hard MMANovember 10, 201235:00 St. Charles, Missouri, United StatesFlyweight debut.
Win11–5Lacie JacksonKO (punch)Fight Me MMAApril 13, 201211:47 St. Charles, Missouri, United States
Win10–5Anita RodriguezSubmission (rear-naked choke)XFL: Rumble on the River 5September 23, 201111:57 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Loss9–5 Sara McMann Decision (unanimous)Titan FC 19July 29, 201135:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United StatesCatchweight (140 lbs) bout.
Loss9–4 Alexis Davis Submission (rear-naked choke)RW 10: Mayhem in the Mist 5October 6, 201011:25 Niagara Falls, New York, United StatesFor the Raging Wolf Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win9–3 Adrienna Jenkins TKO (punches)RW 8: Cage SupremacyJuly 17, 201023:16 Salamanca, New York, United States
Loss8–3 Alexis Davis Submission (rear-naked choke)RW 7: Mayhem in the Mist 3May 8, 201031:47 Niagara Falls, New York, United StatesFor the Raging Wolf Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win8–2 Sarah Schneider Decision (unanimous)True Fight FansJune 6, 200835:00 Missouri, United States
Win7–2 Julie Kedzie Submission (rear-naked choke) ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series January 25, 200811:43 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesCatchweight (140 lbs) bout.
Win6–2Katrine AlendalSubmission (armbar)PFP: Ring of FireDecember 9, 20071N/A Manila, Philippines
Loss5–2 Gina Carano Submission (rear-naked choke) EliteXC: Uprising September 15, 200712:53 Honolulu, Hawaii, United StatesCatchweight (140 lbs) bout.
Loss5–1 Vanessa Porto Submission (armbar)FFF 2: Girls Night OutJuly 14, 200712:14 Compton, California, United States
Win5–0Ginele MarquezSubmission (rear-naked choke)Tuff-N-Uff 2April 14, 200731:58 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win4–0Shonie PlagmannKO (punch)X-1: Extreme Fighting 2March 17, 200720:10 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win3–0Angela HayesTKO (punches)Kick EnterprisesMarch 10, 200711:02 Ft. Myers, Florida, United States
Win2–0Brittany PullenKO (punch)FFF 1: Asian InvasionFebruary 17, 200710:16 Los Angeles, California, United States
win1–0Brittany PullenKO (punches)IFC: Warriors Challenge 21June 3, 200621:56 Tuolumne, California, United States

[50]

Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss0–1 Raquel Pennington Submission (guillotine choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate September 4, 20132 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Preliminary bout.

See also

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by 2nd Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion
July 9, 2015 – July 3, 2017
Succeeded by