| Mara Romero Borella | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maria Chiara[1] (1986-06-03)3 June 1986 (age 39) Ponte dell'Olio,Piacenza, Italy |
| Other names | Maravilla |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Bantamweight Flyweight |
| Reach | 69[2] in (175 cm) |
| Style | Judo,Kickboxing |
| Fighting out of | Coconut Creek, Florida, United States[2] |
| Team | American Top Team |
| Rank | Black belt inJudo[2] Brown belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2] Black belt inKickboxing[2] Black belt inShoot Boxing[2] |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 22 |
| Wins | 11 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| No contests | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Marachiara Romero Borella[3] (born June 3, 1986) is an Italian professionalmixed martial artist who competed in theWomen's Flyweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship.
Borella taughtJudo and was apersonal trainer before a friend introduced her to MMA, which started her MMA career.[2] Her father is Italian, and her mother is Honduran.[4]
Borella started her professional MMA career in 2014 and fought primarily in the European circuit. Borella joinedInvicta Fighting Championships (Invicta) prior to signing with the UFC in 2017.[5]
Borella facedMilana Dudieva on July 15, 2017, atFC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella.[6] She won the fight via a split decision with the scoreboard of (30-27, 28-29 29-28).[7]
Borella made her UFC debut on October 7, 2017. Borella facedKalindra Faria atUFC 216 inLas Vegas, United States, replacingAndrea Lee.[8][9] She won the fight via a submission.[10]
Borella next facedKatlyn Chookagian on January 27, 2018, atUFC on Fox 27.[11] She lost the fight via a unanimous decision.[12]
Borella facedTaila Santos on February 2, 2019, atUFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2.[13] She won the fight by split decision.[14]
Borella facedLauren Murphy on August 3, 2019, atUFC on ESPN 5.[15] She lost the fight via TKO in the third round.[16]
Borella facedMontana De La Rosa on February 15, 2020, atUFC Fight Night 167.[17] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[18]
Borella facedCortney Casey on May 16, 2020, atUFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris.[19] She lost the bout in the first round via submission through an armbar.[20]
Borella was expected to face promotional newcomerMiranda Maverick on June 27, 2020, atUFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker.[21] However, Maverick was forced to pull out due to injury. In turn, Borella was removed from the card and will be rescheduled for a future event.[22]
Borella facedMayra Bueno Silva on September 5, 2020, atUFC Fight Night 177.[23] She lost the fight via a submission in round one.[24]
On October 2, 2020, it was reported Borella was released by UFC.[25]
After the release, Borella again signed with the Invicta FC and was scheduled to face Brogan Walker-Sanchez atInvicta FC 44 on August 27, 2021. However, Borella was forced to withdraw from the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Emilee King.[26]
Borella was arrested by Italian authorities under "Operation Flanker" for distributing and selling cocaine and cannabis[1] at sporting venues, an operation conducted by the Investigative Unit of the Carabinieri of Piacenza inEmilia andLombardy.[27] Borella entered into plea deals in 2012 along with 33 defendants where punishments were of up to one and four years in prison. She spent a period in prison and later under house arrest for the incident.[1]
Borella was also suspended by the National Anti Doping Agency of Italy for 15 years for distributing and selling prohibited drugs. The same agency then added an additional 11-year suspension, for a total of 26 years, until 2044, for use of Italian sporting facilities while serving a suspension under the Italian Anti Doping Code article 4.12.3.[28] It was reported on October 19, 2018, that Borella was free to compete in the UFC as theUnited States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) UFC anti-doping program does not consider Borella's criminal activity a violation, as it was unrelated to performance enhancement.[29]
| 22 matches | 11 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 4 |
| By submission | 4 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| No contests | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 12–9 (2) | Mayra Bueno Silva | Submission (armbar) | UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley | September 19, 2020 | 1 | 2:29 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 12–8 (2) | Cortney Casey | Submission (armbar) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris | May 16, 2020 | 1 | 3:36 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 12–7 (2) | Montana De La Rosa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | February 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |
| Loss | 12–6 (2) | Lauren Murphy | TKO (knee and elbows) | UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler | August 3, 2019 | 3 | 1:46 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 12–5 (2) | Taila Santos | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 | February 2, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Loss | 11–5 (2) | Katlyn Chookagian | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 | January 27, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 (2) | Kalindra Faria | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 216 | October 7, 2017 | 1 | 2:54 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–4 (2) | Milana Dudieva | Decision (split) | Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella | July 15, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 9–4 (2) | Iren Racz | Decision (unanimous) | Mushin Fighting 3 | February 25, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Nuvolera, Italy | |
| Win | 8–4 (2) | Maria Casanova | Submission (armbar) | Kombat League: Colosseum 4 | November 26, 2016 | 2 | 2:34 | Sassari, Italy | |
| NC | 7–4 (2) | Lena Ovchynnikova | NC (overturned by WMMAF) | WMMAF 2016 | May 13, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lviv, Ukraine | Originally a split decision win for Ovchynnikova; overturned later by WMMAF after review. |
| Win | 7–4 (1) | Suvi Salmimies | Decision (Split) | Cage 34 | February 13, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Win | 6–4 (1) | Lucrezia Ria | Submission (armbar) | Kombat League: Colosseum 3 | December 5, 2015 | 2 | 3:45 | Sardinia, Italy | |
| Loss | 5–4 (1) | Jin Tang | TKO (punches) | Kunlun Fight 33 | October 31, 2015 | 1 | 4:35 | Changde, China | |
| Loss | 5–3 (1) | Stephanie Egger | TKO (corner stoppage) | Arena Fighting Games | October 4, 2015 | 1 | 5:00 | Milan, Italy | |
| Loss | 5–2 (1) | Anna Elmose | KO (punches) | UCL 23 | May 23, 2015 | 2 | 0:45 | Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Win | 5–1 (1) | Liubov Tiupina | Submission (armbar) | WMMAF 2015 | April 17, 2015 | 1 | 1:40 | Lviv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 4–1 (1) | Katia Curro | TKO (punches) | Shoot Fighting Championship 16 | March 7, 2015 | 1 | 4:18 | Mazzano, Italy | |
| NC | 3–1 (1) | Donatella Panu | NC (overturned) | FIGMMA: Colosseum MMA in the Cage | December 6, 2014 | 1 | 4:00 | Sassari, Italy | Originally a submission (armbar) win for Borella; overturned by FIGMMA |
| Win | 3–1 | Elena Bondarenko | TKO (punches) | WMMAF 2014 | October 18, 2014 | 2 | 1:30 | Lviv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 2–1 | Ileana Bianzeno | Decision (unanimous) | Kombat League: Cage Fight 14 | September 13, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Venezia, Italy | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Debi Studer | Submission (guillotine choke) | Max Monster 2 | April 12, 2014 | 2 | N/A | Sempach, Switzerland | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sara Regini | TKO (punches) | Shoot Fighting Championship 12 | March 1, 2014 | 1 | 1:33 | Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy |