Sara McMann

Sara McMann
Born September 24, 1980
Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality Irish American
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
Division Bantamweight
Reach 67.0 in (170 cm)[1]
Style Wrestling, Grappling
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Gaffney, South Carolina, U.S.
Team Revolution MMA, Limestone Wrestling
Rank Olympian Freestyle Wrestling
Mixed martial arts record
Total 10
Wins 8
By knockout 1
By submission 3
By decision 4
Losses 2
By knockout 1
By decision 1
University Gardner–Webb University
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
University of Minnesota Morris
Notable school(s) McDowell High School
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Sara McMann
Medal record
Competitor for  United States
Women's freestyle wrestling
Olympic Games
Silver 2004 Athens -63 kg
World Championships
Silver 2003 New York -63 kg
Bronze 2005 Budapest -63 kg
Bronze 2007 Baku -63 kg
Pan American Games
Gold 2003 Santo Domingo -63 kg
Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro -63 kg
Pan American Championships
Silver 2000 Cali -62 kg
Bronze 2001 Santo Domingo -62 kg

Sara McMann (born September 24, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler. She is the first American woman in history to receive a silver medal in Olympic wrestling, which she won at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She wrestled in the Women's Freestyle 63 kg or 138.75 lb weight class. McMann won silver medal in the 2003 world championships and a bronze medal in the 2005 and 2007 world championships. She started wrestling at the age of 14 in Marion, North Carolina at McDowell High School.

McMann is currently ranked as the No. 12 pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com[2] and the No. 7 135-pound female fighter according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.[3] As of January 27, 2014, she is #4 in official UFC women's bantamweight rankings.[4]

Personal life

McMann's parents are Paula Jean and Thomas William McMann. She has one sister, Nickolina, and had one brother, Jason. Jason, who wrestled at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland, was murdered Jan. 23, 1999 at the age of 21.[5][6]

McMann attended McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina where she was coached by Timothy Hutchins. In addition to wrestling, she participated in theatre productions. She earned a degree in Theatre at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the school's wrestling team under the coaching of Carl Poff from 1999 to 2003. She previously attended University of Minnesota Morris from 1998 to 1999, where she was coached by Doug Reese.

In August 2010, McMann was awarded a MA/EDS with a major in mental health counseling from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.[7][8]

McMann does volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity, a Christian housing ministry. She traveled to Sri Lanka with Olympic teammates to help victims of the Tsunami rebuild homes for those displaced by the tidal wave. She also helps with youth clubs and speaks to upcoming girls and boys about wrestling.

On September 3, 2004, while driving her Jeep in Colorado on the way to Iowa with her fiance, former ASU three-time NCAA All-American wrestler Steven Blackford as her passenger, the vehicle ran off the road and rolled over. He was ejected from the vehicle, and died at the scene. McMann was hospitalized with a broken arm and other minor injuries.[9]

McMann is the mother of one child, a daughter who was born in 2009. The father is Trent Goodale[10] former head wrestling coach at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. As of August 29, 2014 Sara McMann has officially taken on the nickname of "THE" Sara McMann. The nickname was originally started by her Revolution Fight Team and close friends. It became official upon her 5-year-old daughter saying "OMG is that "THE" Sara McMann."[11]

Mixed martial arts career

McMann announced in late 2010 that she had signed a three-fight contract with Strikeforce. She planned to fight at 135 pounds.[12] However, she did not sign on with the promotion due to an extension clause in the contract.[13]

McMann was first scheduled to make her professional mixed martial arts debut on November 14, 2010 in Jamaica, but the event was cancelled due to safety problems with the cage.[14]

She then had more fights fall apart after opponents backed out, including a scheduled April 30, 2011 fight against Mariah Johnson.[15]

On May 28, 2011, McMann made her pro MMA debut at Universal Cage Combat: Revolution. She defeated Christina Marks by submission in the first round.[16]

McMann faced fellow Olympian Julie Malenfant at Blackeye Promotions 4 on June 17, 2011. McMann defeated Malenfant by TKO early in the first round.[17]

McMann faced Tonya Evinger at Titan Fighting Championships 19 on July 29, 2011.[18] The fight served as the co-main event.[19] McMann defeated Evinger by unanimous decision.[13]

ProElite

After ProElite reincarnated under new management, McMann faced Raquel Pa'aluhi on the promotion's first event post-EliteXC at ProElite 1: Arlovski vs. Lopez on August 27, 2011.[13] She defeated Pa'aluhi by submission due to an americana in the third round.[20]

McMann returned to ProElite to face Hitomi Akano at ProElite 3 on January 21, 2012.[21] She defeated Akano by unanimous decision.[22]

Invicta Fighting Championships

On April 28, it was announced that McMann would face Shayna Baszler in the main event of Invicta Fighting Championships 2. The event took place on July 28, 2012.[23] McMann defeated Baszler via unanimous decision and the bout was named fight of the night. The bout was a title eliminator, with the winner scheduled to face the winner of Alexis Davis vs. Hitomi Akano.[24][25]

Strikeforce

On September 4, 2012, it was announced McMann had signed with Strikeforce.[26] She was expected to debut at Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir against former bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche,[27] but the event was cancelled.[28]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In February 2013, McMann officially joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[29] It was rumored she turned down a fight with then title holder Ronda Rousey, however this was false information and no such fight was offered or even presented to McMann at the time.[30] She became the third female to earn a victory in the UFC by defeating Sheila Gaff at UFC 159.[31]

McMann was slated to face former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman on August 28, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 27.[32] However, McMann withdrew from the bout for, at the time, undisclosed personal reasons.[33] In January 2015, she disclosed that the reason for withdrawing was due to her father battling aggressive lymphoma.[34]

McMann faced Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 170. She lost the fight by TKO after getting knocked down with a knee to the body.[35]

McMann faced promotional newcomer Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night 47 on August 16, 2014.[36] McMann won the fight by split decision.[37]

McMann fought Miesha Tate at UFC 183 on January 31, 2015.[38] Despite a strong first round, she lost by majority decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Submission grappling

Amateur wrestling

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 8–2 Miesha Tate Decision (majority) UFC 183 January 31, 2015 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–1 Lauren Murphy Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux August 16, 2014 3 5:00 Bangor, Maine, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–1 Ronda Rousey TKO (knee to the body) UFC 170 February 22, 2014 1 1:06 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–0 Sheila Gaff TKO (punches) UFC 159 April 27, 2013 1 4:06 Newark, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–0 Shayna Baszler Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann July 28, 2012 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Invicta FC Bantamweight title eliminator; Fight of the Night.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 Hitomi Akano Decision (unanimous) ProElite 3: Da Spyder vs. Minowaman January 21, 2012 3 5:00 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Raquel Pa'aluhi Submission (americana) ProElite 1: Arlovski vs. Lopez August 27, 2011 3 2:53 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Tonya Evinger Decision (unanimous) Titan Fighting Championships 19 July 29, 2011 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Julie Malenfant TKO (punches) BlackEye Promotions 4 June 17, 2011 1 0:32 Fletcher, North Carolina, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Christina Marks Submission (rear-naked choke) Universal Cage Combat: Revolution May 28, 2011 1 1:41 Lawrenceburg, Indiana, United States

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Bader vs. Saint Preux". UFC.com. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Women's MMA Pound-For-Pound Rankings". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  3. ↑ "Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  4. ↑ UFC Fighter Rankings
  5. ↑ Skalko, Sherry. "McMann finds solace in wrestling". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  6. ↑ Berra, Lindsay. "The rules are 'There are no rules'". ESPN the Magazine. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  7. ↑ http://www.ufc.com/fighter/Sara-McMann
  8. ↑ http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100826/ARTICLES/100829781
  9. ↑ http://gazette.com/mcmann-close-to-plea-deal-for-charges-in-fatal-crash/article/7172
  10. ↑ "Sara McMann found love again in Coach Goodale". February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-019. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ↑ Trent Goodale
  12. ↑ "Olympic Silver Medalist McMann Inks Deal with Strikeforce". Sherdog.com. 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Sara McMann Defeats Tonya Evinger In TFC 19 Co-Feature". MMARising.com. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
  14. ↑ "Sara McMann's Pro MMA Debut Cancelled In Jamaica". MMARising.com. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  15. ↑ "Olympic Silver Medalist McMann's Debut Delayed Again". Sherdog.com. 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  16. ↑ "Olympian Sara McMann Wins Long-Awaited Pro MMA Debut". MMARising.com. 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  17. ↑ "Sara McMann Impressive In Blackeye Promotions 4 Victory". MMARising.com. 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  18. ↑ "Sara McMann vs Tonya Evinger Agreed For Titan FC 19". MMARising.com. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  19. ↑ "Bobby Lashley Pulls Out of Titan Fighting Bout". MMAFighting.com. 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  20. ↑ "Sara McMann Submits Raquel Pa'aluhi At ProElite In Hawaii". MMARising.com. 2011-08-28. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  21. ↑ "Hitomi Akano vs Sara McMann Targeted For ProElite 3". MMARising.com. 2011-12-03. Retrieved 2011-12-03.
  22. ↑ "Sara McMann Dominates Hitomi Akano In ProElite 3 Co-Main". MMARising.com. 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  23. ↑ "Sara McMann Faces Shayna Baszler In Invicta FC 2 Headliner". MMARising.com. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  24. ↑ "Invicta FC 2 Results: McMann, Davis & Carmouche Victorious". MMARising.com. 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  25. ↑ "McMann, Baszler Discuss Invicta FC 2 Fight Of The Night". MMARising.com. 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  26. ↑ "Undefeated Olympic medalist Sara McMann signs with Strikeforce". MMAjunkie.com. 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  27. ↑ "Sara McMann vs. Liz Carmouche targeted for 'Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir'". MMAjunkie.com. 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2012-09-07.
  28. ↑ "Strikeforce cancels Nov. 3 event in Oklahoma City, plans January return". MMAjunkie.com. 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  29. ↑ "UFC Confirms Sara McMann, Alexis Davis Signed To Contracts". Fightline.com. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  30. ↑ Trent Goodale
  31. ↑ "UFC 159: What We Learned From Sheila Gaff vs. Sara McMann". BleacherReport.com. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  32. ↑ "Canada's Sarah Kaufman Signed to UFC on Fox Sports 1 2 Fight". TopMMANews.com. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  33. ↑ "Sara McMann out vs. Sarah Kaufman at UFC Fight Night 27, replacement sought". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  34. ↑ Chuck Mindenhall (2015-01-26). "Sara McMann: Title fight against Rousey helped save her father’s life". mmafighting.com.
  35. ↑ "Ronda Rousey vs. Sara McMann Booked for UFC 170 in February". BleacherReport.com. 2013-12-29. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  36. ↑ "Sara McMann meets Invicta FC champion Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night 47". mmafighting.com. 2014-07-03. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  37. ↑ Robert Sargent (2014-08-16). "Sara McMann Edges Out Lauren Murphy At UFC Fight Night 47". mmarising.com. Retrieved 2014-08-16.
  38. ↑ Thomas Myers (13 November 2014). "Miesha Tate vs Sara McMann women's match announced for UFC 183 in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.com.