| Tonya Evinger | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1981-06-04)June 4, 1981 (age 44) Moses Lake, Washington, U.S. |
| Other names | Triple Threat[1] |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Bantamweight Featherweight |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm)[2] |
| Fighting out of | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Team | Gracie Barra Champions 4 oz Fight Club[3] |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 28 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Tonya Evinger (born June 4, 1981) is an Americanmixed martial artist. She is currently signed withGlobal Fight League (GFL). A professional since 2006, Evinger has previously competed for theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC),EliteXC, Raging Wolf andInvicta Fighting Championships, and was the Invicta Bantamweight Champion.[4]
Evinger played football and wrestled while at Odessa High School in Odessa, Missouri.[5] She went on to wrestle and earn her degree atMissouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri.[6] Evinger's younger twin brothers, Chris and Owen Evinger, are also professionalmixed martial arts fighters.
Evinger facedJennifer Tate at IFC: Warriors Challenge 21 on June 3, 2006, and lost via triangle choke in the second round.[7] The fight was the first women's bout ever sanctioned by theCalifornia State Athletic Commission.[8]
She faced Brittany Pullen at FFF 1: Asian Invasion on February 17, 2007. She won the fight via a 16-second knockout in the first round.[9]
Evinger faced Shonie Plagman at X-1: Extreme Fighting 2 on March 17, 2007. She won the fight by knockout 10 seconds into the second round.[10]
She faced Ginele Marquez at Tuff-N-Uff 2 on April 14, 2007. She won the fight byrear naked choke submission in the third round.[11]
Evinger facedVanessa Porto at FFF 2: Girls Night Out on July 14, 2007. She lost the fight by armbar submission in the first round.[12]
Evinger debuted forElite XC againstGina Carano atEliteXC: Uprising on September 15, 2007. She lost the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[13]
She facedJulie Kedzie atShoXC: Elite Challenger Series on January 25, 2007. She won the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[14]
Evinger facedAlexis Davis at Raging Wolf 7: Mayhem In The Mist 3 on May 8, 2010, for the Raging Wolf Women's Flyweight Championship.[15] She lost the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the third round.[16]
Evinger faced Adrienna Jenkins in a number one contender's bout at Raging Wolf 8: Cage Supremacy on July 17, 2010.[17] She won the fight by TKO in the second round.[18]
On November 6, 2010, Evinger rematched Alexis Davis at Raging Wolf 10. She was defeated by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[19]
Evinger facedSara McMann at Titan Fighting Championships 19 on July 29, 2011, in Kansas City, Kansas.[20] The fight served as the co-main event.[21] Evinger was defeated by unanimous decision.[22]
On September 23, 2011, Evinger stepped in on short notice to face Anita Rodriguez at XFL: Rumble on the River 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She defeated Rodriguez by submission due to a rear-naked choke in round one.[23]
Evinger defeated Lacie Jackson by knockout in the first round at Fight Me MMA on April 13, 2012.[24]
On November 10, 2012, Evinger made her flyweight debut against Carina Damm at Fight Hard MMA. She defeated Damm by split decision.[25]
In August 2013, it was announced that Evinger was one of the fighters selected to be onThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate.[26] In the elimination fight to get into the TUF house, Evinger facedRaquel Pennington and lost via guillotine choke submission in the second round.[27]
On December 7, 2013, Evinger facedSarah D'Alelio at Invicta Fighting Championships 7.[28][29] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[30]
After switching camps to Houston, Texas she joined team Gracie Barra Champions and 4 oz Fight Club, training her Boxing and Kickboxing with Aaron Pena (GBC) and MMA with Jeremy Mahon (4 oz). Evinger next fought Ediane Gomes at Invicta Fighting Championships 8 on September 6, 2014.[31] She won the fight via first round submission.[32]
Evinger next foughtCindy Dandois at Invicta Fighting Championships 10 on December 5, 2014. She won the fight via second round submission, making her the front runner to fight for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title.[33]
Evinger next foughtIrene Aldana for the vacant Invicta FC bantamweight title at Invicta Fighting Championships 13 on July 9, 2015.[34] She dominated the fight from bell to bell, almost finishing the fight early with an arm bar. Evinger would go on to stop Aldana in the 4th round via TKO (punches), claiming the Invicta FC bantamweight title.[35]
Evinger next fought undefeated prospect,Pannie Kianzad. This was originally set as a title defense but both Evinger and Kianzad were unable to make weight, both being fined a percentage of their purse and was changed to a five-round non-title fight. Evinger ended up dispatching Kianzad in the 2nd round by TKO due to punches.[36]
Evinger next foughtColleen Schneider at Invicta Fighting Championships 17 on May 7, 2016. Evinger successfully defended her bantamweight title by unanimous decision. Following the fight, Evinger celebrated her victory by kissing interviewerLaura Sanko on the lips.[37]
Evinger would lose her bantamweight championship in an upset defeat to Russian newcomerYana Kunitskaya by armbar submission in the first round on November 18, 2016. The loss was controversial because the referee told her to move from a legal position which may have led directly to the submission. Evinger appealed her loss and on December 1, 2016, the loss was changed to a no contest, so Evinger retained her title.[38]
Evinger faced Kunitskaya in a rematch in the main event ofInvicta FC 22 on March 25, 2017. She won the fight by submission in the second round to retain her title.[39]
On June 27, 2017, it was announced that Evinger had signed with the UFC and was set to faceCris Cyborg for the vacantUFC Women's Featherweight Championship atUFC 214.[40] She lost the fight by TKO in the third round.[41]
Evinger was scheduled to faceMarion Reneau atUFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros inAustin, Texas, Texas on February 18, 2018.[42] However, on January 9, 2018, she was forced to pull out fight, citing injury.[43]
Evinger was scheduled to faceKetlen Vieira on September 22, 2018, atUFC Fight Night 137.[44] However, on August 7, 2018, Vieira pulled out due to a knee injury.[45] In turn, Evinger was pulled from the card and scheduled to faceAspen Ladd two weeks later atUFC 229.[46] She lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[47]
Evinger facedLina Länsberg on June 1, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 153.[48] She lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.[49][4]
On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Evinger had signed with Global Fight League.[50] However, in April 2025, it was reported that all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.[51]
| 28 matches | 19 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 2 |
| By submission | 7 | 4 |
| By decision | 4 | 2 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–8 (1) | Lina Länsberg | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith | June 1, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Loss | 19–7 (1) | Aspen Ladd | TKO (punches) | UFC 229 | October 6, 2018 | 1 | 3:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Loss | 19–6 (1) | Cris Cyborg | TKO (knees) | UFC 214 | July 29, 2017 | 3 | 1:56 | Anaheim, California, United States | For the vacantUFC Women's Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 19–5 (1) | Yana Kunitskaya | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II | March 25, 2017 | 2 | 4:32 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Defended theInvicta FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| NC | 18–5 (1) | Yana Kunitskaya | NC (overturned) | Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya | November 18, 2016 | 1 | 1:59 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Retained theInvicta FC Bantamweight Championship. Originally a submission (armbar) win for Kunitskaya; overturned after Evinger appealed the loss due to a controversial referee call. Evinger subsequently reinstated as champion. |
| Win | 18–5 | Colleen Schneider | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 17: Evinger vs. Schneider | May 7, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | Defended theInvicta FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 17–5 | Pannie Kianzad | TKO (punches) | Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad | September 12, 2015 | 2 | 3:34 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Non-title bout; Kianzad missed weight (136.7 lbs). Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–5 | Irene Aldana | TKO (punches) | Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin | July 9, 2015 | 4 | 4:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won the vacantInvicta FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–5 | Cindy Dandois | Submission (armbar) | Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio | December 5, 2014 | 2 | 1:23 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 14–5 | Ediane Gomes | Submission (armbar) | Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada | September 6, 2014 | 1 | 3:31 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–5 | Sarah D'Alelio | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith | December 7, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 12–5 | Carina Damm | Decision (split) | Fight Hard MMA | November 10, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 11–5 | Lacie Jackson | KO (punch) | Fight Me MMA | April 13, 2012 | 1 | 1:47 | St. Charles, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 | Anita Rodriguez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | XFL: Rumble on the River 5 | September 23, 2011 | 1 | 1:57 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 9–5 | Sara McMann | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 19 | July 29, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | Catchweight (140 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 9–4 | Alexis Davis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RW 10: Mayhem in the Mist 5 | October 6, 2010 | 1 | 1:25 | Niagara Falls, New York, United States | For the Raging Wolf Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–3 | Adrienna Jenkins | TKO (punches) | RW 8: Cage Supremacy | July 17, 2010 | 2 | 3:16 | Salamanca, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 8–3 | Alexis Davis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RW 7: Mayhem in the Mist 3 | May 8, 2010 | 3 | 1:47 | Niagara Falls, New York, United States | For the Raging Wolf Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–2 | Sarah Schneider | Decision (unanimous) | True Fight Fans | June 6, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Julie Kedzie | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series | January 25, 2008 | 1 | 1:43 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Catchweight (140 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 6–2 | Katrine Alendal | Submission (armbar) | PFP: Ring of Fire | December 9, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Manila, Philippines | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Gina Carano | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EliteXC: Uprising | September 15, 2007 | 1 | 2:53 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Catchweight (140 lbs) bout. |
| Loss | 5–1 | Vanessa Porto | Submission (armbar) | FFF 2: Girls Night Out | July 14, 2007 | 1 | 2:14 | Compton, California, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Ginele Marquez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tuff-N-Uff 2 | April 14, 2007 | 3 | 1:58 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Shonie Plagmann | KO (punch) | X-1: Extreme Fighting 2 | March 17, 2007 | 2 | 0:10 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Angela Hayes | TKO (punches) | Kick Enterprises | March 10, 2007 | 1 | 1:02 | Ft. Myers, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Brittany Pullen | KO (punch) | FFF 1: Asian Invasion | February 17, 2007 | 1 | 0:16 | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| win | 1–0 | Brittany Pullen | KO (punches) | IFC: Warriors Challenge 21 | June 3, 2006 | 2 | 1:56 | Tuolumne, California, United States |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 0 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Raquel Pennington | Submission (guillotine choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate | September 4, 2013 | 2 | Las Vegas, Nevada,United States | Preliminary bout. |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 2ndInvicta FC Bantamweight Champion July 9, 2015 – July 3, 2017 | Succeeded by |