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Sijara Eubanks

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Sijara Eubanks
Eubanks poses after her weigh-in at UFC 230 in 2018
BornSijara Jihan Eubanks[1]
(1985-04-27) April 27, 1985 (age 39)
Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Other namesSarJ
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
DivisionBantamweight
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out ofBricktown, New Jersey, United States
TeamTeam Lloyd Irvin (2008–2016)[2]
Nick Catone MMA (2016–present)[3][2]
TrainerNick Catone[3]
Mark Henry[3]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4] under Lloyd Irvin[5]
Years active2015–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins7
By knockout3
By decision4
Losses7
By knockout1
By decision6
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  United States
World Jiu-Jitsu Championship[6]
Silver medal – second place 2016 California, USA -74 kg (Black)
Bronze medal – third place 2015 California, USA -69 kg (Black)
Gold medal – first place 2014 California, USA -74 kg (Brown)
Silver medal – second place 2013 California, USA -74 kg (Brown)

Sijara Jihan Eubanks (born April 27, 1985)[1] is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently fights in the women's bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background

Eubanks was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from High School of Commerce.[2] She then went to Morgan State University.[7] She started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Lloyd Irvin in 2008 and to extend her repertoire for mixed martial arts, she later started boxing and other disciplines.[2] She competed in jiu-jitsu, winning the Women's No-Gi Advanced Absolute division in the 2011 Grapplers Quest World Championship Finals and IBJJF World Championship as a brown belt in 2014.[8][9][2]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After an undefeated MMA record as an amateur, she turned pro in April 2015.

Invicta FC

Eubanks made her professional debut on April 24, 2015 against Gina Begley at Invicta FC 12.[10] She won the fight via TKO in the first round.[11]

In her second pro bout Eubanks faced Katlyn Chookagian at Cage Fury FC 52 on October 31, 2015.[12] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[13]

In her second fight for Invicta FC, Eubanks faced AmberLynn Orr on July 29, 2016 at Invicta FC 18.[14] She won the fight via TKO in the first round.[15]

In her third fight for the promotion, Eubanks faced Aspen Ladd on January 14, 2017 at Invicta FC 21.[16] She lost the fight via unanimous decision, bringing her record to 2-2 before joining The Ultimate Fighter.[17]

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2017, it was announced that Eubanks would be one of the fighters featured on The Ultimate Fighter 26, where the process to crown the UFC's inaugural 125-pound women's champion will take place.[18]

In the first round, Eubanks defeated Maia Stevenson via submission in the second round, allowing her to move on to the next stage of the competition.[19] In the quarterfinals, Eubanks faced DeAnna Bennett and won the fight via knockout in round one.[20] In the semifinals, Eubanks faced Roxanne Modafferi. She won the fight via unanimous decision after three rounds.[21]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Eubanks was scheduled to face Nicco Montaño on December 1, 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale for the inaugural UFC Women’s Flyweight title.[21] She was pulled from the fight for kidney failure while trying to make weight and was replaced by Roxanne Modafferi.[22][23]

Eubanks made her UFC debut against Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes on June 1, 2018. She won the bout via unanimous decision.[24]

Eubanks was scheduled to face Valentina Shevchenko for the vacant UFC Women's Flyweight Championship at UFC 230 on November 3, 2018.[25] However, the fight was canceled on October 9, 2018 after the UFC announced that a fight between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis would instead main event UFC 230 and that Shevchenko would also return to her original bout for the vacant title, against Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 231.[26] Eubanks remained on the card and faced Roxanne Modafferi.[27] At the weigh-ins, Eubanks weighed in at 127.2 pounds, 1.2 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit of 126 and she was fined 20 percent of her purse, which went to her opponent Modafferi.[28] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

A rematch with Aspen Ladd took place on May 18, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 152.[30] Eubanks lost to Ladd for the second time by unanimous decision.[31] This fight earned her the Fight of the Night award.[32]

Eubanks faced Bethe Correia at UFC on ESPN+ 17.[33] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[34]

Eubanks was scheduled to face Sarah Moras on April 18, 2020 at UFC 249.[35] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed[36] and rescheduled to May 13, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira.[37] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[38]

Eubanks was scheduled to face Macy Chiasson on September 5, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176.[39] However, Chiasson pulled out of the fight for undisclosed medical reasons and was replaced by Karol Rosa.[40] Rosa pulled out on September 3 due to complications related to her weight cut. Eubanks competed a week later at UFC Fight Night 177 on September 12, 2020 against Julia Avila.[41] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[42]

As the first fight of her new contract with the UFC, Eubanks was scheduled for a quick turnaround (replacing injured Marion Reneau) and faced Ketlen Vieira on September 27, 2020 at UFC 253.[43][44] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[45]

Eubanks faced Pannie Kianzad on December 19, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 183.[46] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[47]

Eubanks was scheduled to face Karol Rosa on June 12, 2021 at UFC 263.[48] However, Rosa pulled out of the fight in late-May citing an injury. In turn, Eubanks was removed from the card and instead faced promotional newcomer Elise Reed on July 24, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 27.[49] Eubanks won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[50]

Eubanks was scheduled to face Luana Carolina, replacing Maryna Moroz, on October 16, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 195.[51] In turn Eubanks was pulled from the event due to Covid-19 protocol and she was replaced by Lupita Godinez.[52]

Eubanks faced Melissa Gatto on December 18, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus.[53] At the weigh-ins, Eubanks weighed in at 127.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight.[54][55] She lost the fight via body kick TKO in the third round.[56]

Eubanks was scheduled to face Maryna Moroz on July 9, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209.[57] However, the pair was moved to UFC Fight Night 210 on September 17, 2022 for undisclosed reasons.[58] In early September, Moroz was rebooked against Jennifer Maia at UFC Fight Night 215 on November 19, 2022.[59] In late August, Eubanks withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons with the promotion seeking a new opponent for Moroz.[60]

Personal life

Eubanks is an openly lesbian athlete.[61]

In February 2021, Eubanks came under fire from many MMA fans and media after a video was posted to her Twitter page that showed Eubanks in a physical confrontation with her former live-in partner, Lilly Ruiz, in front of their child. In a statement posted to her Instagram page, Eubanks claimed that she was the victim of domestic violence and denied any claims that she was abusive to any partners. No charges were filed.[62]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches 7 wins 7 losses
By knockout 3 1
By decision 4 6
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 7–7 Melissa Gatto TKO (body kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus December 18, 2021 3 0:45 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (127.5 lb) bout; Eubanks missed weight.
Win 7–6 Elise Reed TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw July 24, 2021 1 3:49 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Return to Flyweight.
Loss 6–6 Pannie Kianzad Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal December 19, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 6–5 Ketlen Vieira Decision (unanimous) UFC 253 September 27, 2020 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 6–4 Julia Avila Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill September 12, 2020 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–4 Sarah Moras Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira May 13, 2020 3 5:00 Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Loss 4–4 Bethe Correia Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens September 21, 2019 3 5:00 Mexico City, Mexico
Loss 4–3 Aspen Ladd Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee May 18, 2019 3 5:00 Rochester, New York, United States Return to Bantamweight. Fight of the Night.
Win 4–2 Roxanne Modafferi Decision (unanimous) UFC 230 November 3, 2018 3 5:00 New York City, New York, United States Catchweight (127.2 lb) bout; Eubanks missed weight.
Win 3–2 Lauren Murphy Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes June 1, 2018 3 5:00 Utica, New York, United States Return to Flyweight.
Loss 2–2 Aspen Ladd Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet January 14, 2017 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 2–1 Amber Lynn TKO (punches and elbows) Invicta FC 18: Grasso vs. Esquibel July 29, 2016 1 4:41 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Return to Bantamweight.
Loss 1–1 Katlyn Chookagian Decision (unanimous) Cage Fury Fighting Championships 52 October 31, 2015 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Flyweight debut.
Win 1–0 Gina Begley TKO (punches) Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. Souza April 24, 2015 1 4:59 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Bantamweight debut.

[63]

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–0 Roxanne Modafferi Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion November 29, 2017 (air date) 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 26 Semi-final round.
Win 2–0 DeAnna Bennett KO (head kick) November 8, 2017 (air date) 1 1:25 TUF 26 Quarter-final round.
Win 1–0 Maia Stevenson Submission (kimura) September 27, 2017 (air date) 2 1:52 TUF 26 preliminary round.

[63]

References

  1. ^ a b Mixed martial arts show results Date: September 12, 2020
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  4. ^ Thomas Gerbasi (September 26, 2017). "Get To Know TUF Cast: Sijara Eubanks". UFC.com.
  5. ^ "Sijara Eubanks of Team Lloyd Irvin Made Black Belt Coaching Debut". prweb.com. July 14, 2014.
  6. ^ "IBJJF Results". Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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  57. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-05-11). "Maryna Moroz vs. Sijara Eubanks Lined Up for UFC's July 9 Card". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  58. ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-06-17). "Sijara Eubanks vs. Maryna Moroz Moves To September 17 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-29.
  59. ^ Rezende, Lucas (2022-09-02). "Report: Maryna Moroz's bout rescheduled again, takes on former UFC title challenger in November". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  60. ^ Alex Behunin [@AlexBehunin] (2022-08-25). "Sijara Eubanks is out of the fight with Maryna Moroz on September 17" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Twitter.
  61. ^ Dave Doyle (2018-06-27). "Sijara Eubanks determined to march from NYC Pride to UFC flyweight title". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  62. ^ Evan Wheeler (February 23, 2021). "UFC's Sijara Eubanks Releases Statement After Domestic Violence Allegations: "I Suffered"". Fightful.com.
  63. ^ a b "Sijara "SarJ" Eubanks". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
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