Cat Zingano
Zingano serves food at Schofield Barracks in 2019
Born (1982-07-01) July 1, 1982 (age 41)
Winona, Minnesota, U.S.
Other namesAlpha
Height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFlyweight
Bantamweight
Featherweight
Reach68 in (173 cm)
Fighting out ofDenver, Colorado, U.S.
TeamBlack House
Alliance MMA
RankBrown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1]
WrestlingNCAA Division III Wrestling[2]
Mixed martial arts record
Total19
Wins14
By knockout5
By submission4
By decision5
Losses5
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  United States
Women's Submission Wrestling
ADCC North American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Belleville -60kg

Cat Zingano (née Albert[citation needed]; born July 1, 1982) is an American mixed martial artist, currently signed to Bellator MMA, competing in the Women's Featherweight division. Zingano also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and on April 13, 2013, she became the first woman to win a UFC fight by technical knockout (TKO). At the time of her departure from the UFC, she was No. 7 in the official UFC bantamweight rankings.[3]

Early life

Zingano began her career in combat sports with wrestling at age 12. She attended Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, where she got involved with combat sports after joining the wrestling team.[4] She eventually became part of both the University of the Cumberlands (2001) and MacMurray College women's wrestling teams and became a 4-time All-American and National Champion.[5]

In 2007 Zingano discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), shortly after she started to compete and won many tournaments including the World Championships (Mundials) in Los Angeles, and the Rio de Janeiro State Championships in Brazil, along with several State titles in Colorado.

In October 2007, after doing a few months of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Zingano competed in her first amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight and instantly knew that MMA was something she wanted to compete in.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Zingano made her pro MMA debut on June 13, 2008, at Ring of Fire 32,[7] and submitted Karina Taylor with an armbar in the first round.[8]

On December 10, 2010, Zingano faced Carina Damm at Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She defeated Damm by TKO in the second round.[9]

Zingano next faced Takayo Hashi at Fight To Win: Outlaws on May 14, 2011.[10] She defeated Hashi via knockout from a slam in the third round.[11]

Invicta FC and Strikeforce

Zingano was scheduled to face Anita Rodriguez at Invicta Fighting Championships 1, but she was forced to withdraw from the card due to an injury.[12]

Zingano had signed on to face Amanda Nunes at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy on September 29, 2012,[13] but the event was cancelled when Gilbert Melendez, who was set to defend his title against Pat Healy, sustained a knee injury in training that forced his withdrawal from the card.[14]

Zingano instead faced Raquel Pennington at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs Sugiyama on October 6, 2012.[15][16] She defeated Pennington by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round.[17]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In February 2013, it was revealed that Zingano would participate in the second women's match in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history. She fought Miesha Tate on April 13, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.[18] Zingano defeated Tate by TKO in the third round.[19] The bout was named Fight of the Night.[20]

As the winner of the bout, Zingano was set to become a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 18 against Ronda Rousey and be the next challenger for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.[21] However, on May 28, it was announced that Zingano was out as coach/opponent for Rousey after she had suffered a knee injury earlier in the month which required surgery and had been replaced by Tate.[22] On October 3, 2013, Zingano underwent PRP (Platelet-rich plasma) and stem cell treatment on both of her knees.[23]

After nearly a year and a half away from the sport due to injury, Zingano returned to the Octagon in the fall of 2014. She faced Amanda Nunes on September 27, 2014, at UFC 178.[24] After losing the first round, Zingano came back in the two subsequent rounds to win via TKO in the third round. After the fight she said "That whole first round, I just got my head caved in, I was dizzy; I couldn't be in light for a month. I put on like 30 pounds because my pituitary gland got knocked around and my hormones were all screwed up. I had never been hit like that in a fight. You know, it really freaked me out because it was like, man, I am my son's only parent. If I'm all screwed up and I can't drive and I can't work and say this injury is so bad I can't fight anymore...what if I'm incapable of doing that? I can't get to the point where my brain is mush and I can barely talk, because my son's life depends on my health."[25]

A matchup between Ronda Rousey and Zingano took place at UFC 184 for the women's bantamweight title.[26] Zingano was quickly submitted in the fight's opening seconds.[27]

Zingano returned to face Julianna Peña at UFC 200 on July 9, 2016.[28] She lost the match by decision, with judges all returning 29-28 scores in favor of Peña.[29]

Zingano faced Ketlen Vieira on March 3, 2018, at UFC 222.[30] She lost the fight via split decision.[31]

She then faced Marion Reneau at UFC Fight Night 133 on July 14, 2018.[32] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[33]

Zingano faced Megan Anderson in a featherweight fight on December 29, 2018, at UFC 232.[34] She lost the fight in a bizarre way, via technical knock out in round one after an eye injury from an Anderson kick that didn't allow her to continue. Anderson's toe grazed Zingano's eyeball, rendering her unable to continue due to blurred vision.[35] Although the injury looked like it could potentially be serious, Zingano later reported that the condition of her eye was getting better.[36] On January 14, 2019, it was revealed that Zingano appealed the loss on the grounds of Unified Rules of MMA's definition of eye gouging.[37] CSAC upheld Anderson's win at the commission meeting on February 19, 2019.[38]

On August 14, 2019, it was announced that Zingano had been released from the UFC.[39]

Bellator MMA

On October 29, 2019, it was announced that Zingano had signed with Bellator MMA.[40]

In her promotional debut, Zingano faced Gabby Holloway at Bellator 245 on September 11, 2020.[41] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[42]

Zingano faced Olivia Parker on April 9, 2021 at Bellator 256.[43] She won the bout via first round armbar submission.[44]

Zingano was scheduled to face Pam Sorenson on March 11, 2022 at Bellator 276.[45] However, Zingano was forced to pull out due to injury and the bout was cancelled.[46] The bout was rebooked for Bellator 282 on June 24, 2022.[47] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[48]

Zingano faced Leah McCourt on March 31, 2023 at Bellator 293.[49] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[50]

Zingano faced reigning champion Cris Cyborg for the Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship on October 7, 2023, at Bellator 300.[51] She lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[52]

Personal life

Zingano married Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mauricio Zingano in 2010. Her husband committed suicide on January 13, 2014.[53][54][55] She has a son (born 2006),[56][57] making her the first mother to compete in the UFC.[19] Ahead of her second Bellator MMA fight, she set up a scholarship fund to help students who have been recently bereaved with $10,000.[58]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
19 matches 14 wins 5 losses
By knockout 5 2
By submission 4 1
By decision 5 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 14–5 Cris Cyborg TKO (punches) Bellator 300 October 7, 2023 1 4:01 San Diego, California, United States For the Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship.
Win 14–4 Leah McCourt Decision (unanimous) Bellator 293 March 31, 2023 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win 13–4 Pam Sorenson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 282 June 24, 2022 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 12–4 Olivia Parker Submission (armbar) Bellator 256 April 9, 2021 1 2:56 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 11–4 Gabby Holloway Decision (unanimous) Bellator 245 September 11, 2020 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Catchweight (150.7 lbs) bout; Holloway missed weight.
Loss 10–4 Megan Anderson TKO (eye injury) UFC 232 December 29, 2018 1 1:01 Inglewood, California, United States Featherweight debut.
Win 10–3 Marion Reneau Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov July 14, 2018 3 5:00 Boise, Idaho, United States
Loss 9–3 Ketlen Vieira Decision (split) UFC 222 March 3, 2018 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 9–2 Julianna Peña Decision (unanimous) UFC 200 July 9, 2016 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 9–1 Ronda Rousey Submission (straight armbar) UFC 184 February 28, 2015 1 0:14 Los Angeles, California, United States For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win 9–0 Amanda Nunes TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 178 September 27, 2014 3 1:21 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 8–0 Miesha Tate TKO (knees and elbow) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen Finale April 13, 2013 3 2:55 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 7–0 Raquel Pennington Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs Sugiyama October 6, 2012 2 3:32 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Return to Bantamweight.
Win 6–0 Takayo Hashi KO (slam) Fight To Win: Outlaws May 14, 2011 3 4:42 Denver, Colorado, United States Won the Fight To Win Women's Flyweight Championship.
Win 5–0 Carina Damm TKO (punches and elbows) Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl December 10, 2010 2 3:37 Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
Win 4–0 Ivana Coleman TKO (punches) Ring Of Fire 38: Ascension June 5, 2010 1 1:54 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Won the inaugural Ring Of Fire Women's Flyweight Championship.
Win 3–0 Barb Honchak Decision (unanimous) Fight To Win: Phenoms January 30, 2010 3 5:00 Denver, Colorado, United States Won the Fight To Win Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Win 2–0 Angela Samaro Submission (anaconda choke) Ring Of Fire 33: Adrenaline January 10, 2009 2 3:40 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 1–0 Karina Taylor Submission (armbar) Ring Of Fire 32: Respect June 13, 2008 1 2:30 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Won the inaugural Ring Of Fire Women's Bantamweight Championship.

[59]

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–1 Krystal Macatol Submission (armbar) Battlequest 8 April 11, 2008 1 0:51 Denver, Colorado, United States
Loss 2–1 Louise Johnson TKO (punches) Kickdown Classic 45: Season's Beatings 2 December 8, 2007 3 2:24 Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Win 2–0 Colette Elaine Garcia TKO (punches) Ring Of Fire 31: Undisputed December 1, 2007 3 0:45 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 1–0 Ann Wyborny TKO (punches) Premier Championship Fighting 1: HellRazor October 26, 2007 1 1:43 Denver, Colorado, United States

Pay-per-view bouts

No Event Fight Date Venue City PPV buys
1. UFC 184 Rousey vs. Zingano February 28, 2015 Staples Center Los Angeles, California, United States 590,000[60]

See also

References

  1. ^ @CatZingano (March 18, 2021). ""So I got my brown belt last night 🤎"" (Tweet). Retrieved March 20, 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "The 9 lives of Cat Zingano" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  3. ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  4. ^ "Cat Zingano (Fighter Bio)". Archived from the original on 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  5. ^ "The 9 lives of Cat Zingano" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  6. ^ "Cat Zingano MMA Bio". Archived from the original on 2013-09-01. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  7. ^ "Xtreme Couture's Karina Taylor vs. Cat Albert In Ring Of Fire • MMA News". MMA News. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  8. ^ "You are being redirected..." www.graciemag.com. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  9. ^ "Cat Zingano, Carla Esparza Earn Wins At "Winter Brawl"". MMARising.com. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  10. ^ "Cat Zingano To Face Takayo Hashi In May 14 Title Fight". MMARising.com. 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  11. ^ "Cat Zingano Knocks Out Takayo Hashi At F2W: "Outlaws"". MMARising.com. 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  12. ^ "Cat Zingano Injured, Off Invicta Fighting Championships 1 Card". MMARising.com. 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  13. ^ "Cat Zingano signs with Strikeforce, meets Amanda Nunes in Sacramento". MMAjunkie.com. 2012-08-29. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  14. ^ "Gilbert Melendez injured, Saturday's 'Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy' card canceled". MMAjunkie.com. 2012-09-24. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  15. ^ "Cat Zingano Rejoins Invicta FC 3 Card, Faces Raquel Pennington". MMARising.com. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  16. ^ "From Strikeforce back to Invicta FC 3, Cat Zingano now meets Raquel Pennington". MMAjunkie.com. 2012-09-26. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  17. ^ "Invicta FC 3 Results: Jessica Penne Captures Atomweight Title". MMARising.com. 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  18. ^ "Second UFC women's fight set: Miesha Tate meets Cat Zingano at TUF 17 Finale". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
  19. ^ a b Maggie Hendricks (2013-04-13). "Cat Zingano gets TKO win, 'TUF' coaching gig and title fight against Ronda Rousey". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  20. ^ "TUF 17 Finale bonuses: Zingano, Tate, Browne, Pineda earn $50,000". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  21. ^ Keith Grienke (2013-03-16). "Rousey to Coach TUF 18; Men/Women Bantamweights to Compete". TopMMANews.com. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
  22. ^ A.J. Perez (2013-05-28). "Tate replacing Zingano on TUF". FoxSports.com. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  23. ^ "Cat Zingano undergoes PRP and stem cell treatment at Ortho Regenerative Institute". OrthoRegeneration.com. 2013-10-09. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  24. ^ Kevin Iole (2014-07-10). "Cat Zingano returns to action against Amanda Nunes at UFC 178". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  25. ^ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2650554-the-survivor-cat-zingano-on-life-death-and-her-ufc-future The Survivor: Cat Zingano on Life, Death and Her UFC Future
  26. ^ "Cat Zingano vs. Ronda Rousey Confirmed - MMA News Now". Archived from the original on 2014-12-29. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  27. ^ Matt Erickson (2015-03-01). "UFC 184 results, photos: Ronda Rousey needs just 14 seconds to tap Cat Zingano". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  28. ^ Cole, Ross (2016-04-08). "Cat Zingano Vs Julianna Pena Confirmed For UFC 200". MMA Insight. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  29. ^ "UFC 200 results: Julianna Pena outgrapples former title challenger Cat Zingano for decision win". MMAjunkie. 2016-07-10. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  30. ^ "Cat Zingano returns against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 222". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  31. ^ "UFC 222 results: Ketlen Vieira's top game too much for Cat Zingano". MMAjunkie. 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  32. ^ "Cat Zingano vs. Marion Reneau, Liz Carmouche vs. Jennifer Maia Among Bouts Announced for UFC Boise". cagesidepress.com. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  33. ^ "UFC Fight Night 133 results: Cat Zingano's relentless takedown game grinds out Marion Reneau". MMAjunkie. 2018-07-15. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  34. ^ "Cat Zingano vs. Megan Anderson Added to UFC 232". Cageside Press. 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  35. ^ "UFC 232 results: Megan Anderson kick to the eye stops Cat Zingano". MMAjunkie. 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  36. ^ "Cat Zingano says her eye will be OK after bizarre UFC 232 ending vs. Megan Anderson". mmajunkie.com. 2018-12-30.
  37. ^ Steven Marrocco (January 16, 2019). "Cat Zingano appeals TKO loss to Megan Anderson at UFC 232". mmajunkie.com.
  38. ^ Marc Raimondi (February 19, 2019). "CSAC upholds Megan Anderson's UFC 232 win over Cat Zingano". mmafighting.com.
  39. ^ "Cat Zingano, former women's bantamweight title challenger, released by UFC". MMA Junkie. 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  40. ^ Guillen, Adam Jr. (2019-10-29). "Zingano Signs With Bellator MMA". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  41. ^ "Davis-Machida 2, Archuleta-Mix title fight lead back-to-back Bellator shows Sept. 11-12". mmajunkie.com. August 19, 2020.
  42. ^ Anderson, Jay (2020-09-11). "Bellator 245 Results: Cat Zingano Emerges Victorious in Promotional Debut". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  43. ^ Raimondi, Marc (22 March 2021). "Zingano to face Parker at Bellator 256 on April 9". ESPN.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  44. ^ Anderson, Jay (9 April 2021). "Bellator 256 Results: Cat Zingano Submits Olivia Parker Early". Cageside Press. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  45. ^ Heck, Mike (2022-02-15). "Cat Zingano vs. Pam Sorenson, John Salter vs. Johnny Eblen among additions to Bellator 276 lineup". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  46. ^ "Cat Zingano injured, Bellator 276 fight with Pam Sorenson canceled". MMA Junkie. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  47. ^ Heck, Mike (2022-05-03). "Cat Zingano vs. Pam Sorenson rebooking targeted for Bellator 282". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  48. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-06-24). "Bellator 282: Cat Zingano Dominant Despite Point Deduction in Fight Against Pam Sorenson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  49. ^ "Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James, Cat Zingano vs. Leah McCourt headline Bellator 293 on March 31". MMA Junkie. 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  50. ^ "Bellator 293 results: Cat Zingano wins grueling decision over Leah McCourt in entertaining scrap". MMA Junkie. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  51. ^ Guillen Jr, Adam (2023-08-09). "Bellator 300 set with four title fights featuring Ryan Bader, Cris Cyborg and Usman Nurmagomedov". SBNation. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  52. ^ Dewar, Val (2023-10-07). "Bellator 300: Cris Cyborg Dispatches Cat Zingano With Ease Inside of One Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  53. ^ Okamoto, Brett (15 January 2014). "Mauricio Zingano found dead". ESPN. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  54. ^ "Mauricio Zingano, husband of UFC contender Cat Zingano, dead at 37". msn.foxsports.com. 2014-01-14.
  55. ^ "Mauricio Zingano, UFC fighter Cat Zingano's husband, found dead at home". mmajunkie.com. 2014-01-14.
  56. ^ Maggie Hendricks (2013-02-28). "New UFC fighters Cat Zingano and Sara McMann bring maternal instinct to the cage". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  57. ^ Cat Zingano (July 11, 2020). "My baby turns 14 today! Help me say happy birthday to the funniest, the kindest and the most powerful motivator in my life @alphacubzingano !!!". instagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24.
  58. ^ "Cat Zingano Sets up $10,000 Scholarship Ahead of Bellator Fight". 8 April 2021.
  59. ^ "Cat". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  60. ^ "UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano | MMA Event". Tapology.

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