Leslie Smith (fighter)

Leslie Smith
Born August 17, 1982
Other names The Peacemaker
Residence Pleasant Hill, California, United States
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
Division Flyweight (2013)
Bantamweight
Reach 67 in (170 cm)
Fighting out of Pleasant Hill, California, United States
Team Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Rank Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie[1]
Years active 2008-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 14
Wins 7
By knockout 4
By decision 3
Losses 6
By knockout 1
By decision 5
Draws 1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Leslie Smith (born August 17, 1982) is an American professional female mixed martial artist.[2] She formerly fought for Invicta FC where she was a main card staple of the organization, having fought on the main card four times in the first five shows.[3] She also fought in Bellator Fighting Championships. Smith fights out of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team and is noted for a similar level of high volume striking and aggressiveness to other members of that camp. Smith currently competes for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Smith is currently the #3-ranked 125-pound female MMA fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.[4]

A documentary about Leslie Smith's early career, Fight for It, was released in 2012.

Early Life

Leslie Smith has her A.A. degree from Pikes Peak Community College.[5]

Martial arts career

Invicta FC

Smith entered Invicta Fighting Championships as a prospect with a 3-2 professional mixed martial arts record. She made her debut at Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen on April 28, 2012. In her first bout with the organization, she fought veteran Kaitlin Young to an exciting draw, earning the "Fight of the Night" bonus (US$1,500 bonus to each fighter).[6]

Amanda Nunes was scheduled to fight Milana Dudieva at Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann, but Dudieva withdrew from the fight on July 9 due to a medical illness and was replaced by Smith. However, on July 20, Smith suffered a hand injury that forced her to also withdraw from the fight. She was then replaced by Raquel Pa'aluhi in the fight with Nunes.[7]

Smith was then scheduled to fight Cat Zingano at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama, but the promotion allowed Zingano to withdraw from the fight so that she could accept a fight for Strikeforce. Zingano was replaced by pro boxer and undefeated MMA fighter, Kim Connor-Hamby. Sarah Kaufman was set to fight Kaitlin Young, but an injury forced Kaufman to withdraw from the fight on September 17. As a result, Smith was moved from her fight with Connor-Hamby in order to face Young in a rematch from their Fight of the Night draw at Invicta FC 1 to determine a final winner. This time, Smith was able to get the better of Young and she defeated her by TKO in the second round.[8]

Smith competed once again for Invicta FC on January 5, 2013, this time on the main card of Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt against Raquel Pennington. Smith defeated Pennington by unanimous decision.[9]

Having gone unbeaten in three fights, Smith moved up in competition at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson when she faced former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion Sarah Kaufman on April 5, 2013.[10][11] Smith lost a controversial split decision to Kaufman, which drew booing from the crowd. During the fight, Kaufman used footwork to stay on the outside whilst Smith played the aggressor and set a high work rate. Smith was able to drop Kaufman with a head kick in the second round but was unable to stop a late surge from Kaufman in the final round.[12] The fight was declared "Fight of the Night" (Smith's second) and both fighters were awarded bonuses.[13]

Smith returned to fight at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg on July 13, 2013.[14] She made her flyweight debut against Jennifer Maia in a title eliminator bout.[15] Smith won the fight via unanimous decision.[16][17] The bout was named "Fight of the Night."[18]

Smith challenged Barb Honchak for the Invicta FC flyweight championship at Invicta FC 7 on December 7, 2013. She lost the fight via unanimous decision and earned yet another "Fight of the Night" bonus.[19]<ref name="Invicta FC 7 News - MMARising.com>Sargent, Robert (2013-10-11). "Barb Honchak vs Leslie Smith Title Bout Set For Invicta FC 7". News. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-10-17.</ref>

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On April 8, 2014, it was announced that Smith would step in to replace an injured Amanda Nunes against Sarah Kaufman at the The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale on April 16, 2014.[20] She lost the rematch via unanimous decision.

Smith faced Jessamyn Duke at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller on July 16, 2014.[21] Smith won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Smith fought Jessica Eye at UFC 180 in Mexico City.[22] The fight was stopped in the 2nd round due to a stoppage by the fight doctor because Smith's ear was beginning to separate from her head from her cauliflower ear breaking open.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–6–1 Jessica Eye TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 180 November 15, 2014 2 1:30 Mexico City, Mexico
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–5–1 Jessamyn Duke TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller July 16, 2014 1 2:24 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–5–1 Sarah Kaufman Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy April 16, 2014 3 5:00 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada Return to Bantamweight
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 6–4–1 Barb Honchak Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith December 7, 2013 5 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States For the Invicta FC Flyweight Championship; Fight of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–3–1 Jennifer Maia Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg July 13, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Flyweight debut; Fight of the Night
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–3–1 Sarah Kaufman Decision (split) Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson April 5, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Fight of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–2–1 Raquel Pennington Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt January 5, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–2–1 Kaitlin Young TKO (punches) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama October 6, 2012 2 2:19 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background:#c5d2ea; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-draw" |Draw 3–2–1 Kaitlin Young Draw (split) Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen April 28, 2012 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Fight of the Night
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3–2 Ediane Gomes Decision (unanimous) BEP 5: Breast Cancer Beatdown October 1, 2011 3 5:00 Fletcher, North Carolina, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–1 Julia Griffin Decision (unanimous) FE: Arctic Combat 2 March 19, 2010 3 3:00 Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–1 Louise Johnson TKO (punches) Kickdown 74: Grudge January 23, 2010 2 1:35 Denver, Colorado, United States Won the Kickdown Women's Bantamweight Championship.[23]
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 1–1 Kerry Vera Decision (unanimous) Bellator 7 May 15, 2009 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Louise Johnson TKO (punches) Kickdown 61: Retaliation March 6, 2009 3 4:16 Denver, Colorado, United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Leslie Smith - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Leslie Smith MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  3. ↑ "Leslie Smith Invicta FC Fighter Page". InvictaFC.com. 2013-04-20.
  4. ↑ "Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings". Canada: MMARising.com. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
  5. ↑ "Leslie Smith UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014.
  6. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2012-04-29). "Invicta FC 1 Bonuses: Young, Smith Win Fight Of The Night". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  7. ↑ "Dudieva Withdraws, Setting up Showdown between KO Artists Leslie Smith and Amanda Nunes". News. United States: InvictaFC.com. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  8. ↑ Doyle, Dave (2012-07-09). "Invicta FC 3 Results: Penne vs. Sugiyama". Results. United States: MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  9. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2013-01-05). "Invicta FC 4 Results: Carla Esparza Wins Strawweight Title". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  10. ↑ Marrocco, Steven (2013-01-10). "Invicta FC 5 Targeted For April 13 In Cali, Champ Penne Meets Karate Hottie". News. United States: MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  11. ↑ Chiappetta, Mike (2013-02-08). "Sarah Kaufman vs. Leslie Smith, Kaitlin Young vs. Amanda Nunes added to Invicta FC 5". News. United States: MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  12. ↑ Doyle, Dave (2013-04-05). "Invicta FC 5 results: Sarah Kaufman wins thriller over Leslie Smith". Results. United States: MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  13. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2013-04-06). "Invicta FC 5 Bonuses: Kaufman vs Smith Wins Fight Of The Night". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  14. ↑ Bratcher, Jack (2013-04-19). "Invicta FC 6 full fight card announced for July 13 in Kansas City". News. United States: ProMMANow.com. Retrieved 2013-04-20.
  15. ↑ Thomas, Luke (2013-05-01). "Leslie Smith signs multi-fight agreement with Invicta, faces Jennifer Maia in July". News. United States: MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  16. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2013-07-13). "Invicta FC 6 Results: Cris Cyborg Wins Featherweight Title". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  17. ↑ MMAjunkie.com Staff (2013-07-13). "Invicta FC 6 results: Cris 'Cyborg' claims featherweight belt with TKO win". News. United States: MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  18. ↑ Sargent, Robert (2013-07-13). "Invicta FC 6 Bonuses: Smith vs Maia Named Fight Of The Night". Articles. Canada: MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  19. ↑ {{cite
  20. ↑ Karim Zidan (April 8, 2014). "Amanda Nunes out, Leslie Smith in TUF Nations Finale bout with Sarah Kaufman". bloodyelbow.com.
  21. ↑ Dave Doyle (2014-06-10). "Jessamyn Duke, Leslie Smith will face off at Atlantic City UFC Fight Night card". MMAfighting.com. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  22. ↑ MMAjunkie Staff (2014-09-25). "Jessica Eye vs. Leslie Smith booked for UFC 180 in Mexico City". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  23. ↑ "Kickdown 74 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.

External links