Ashlee Evans-Smith: The Story of the UFC fighter you should know

Ashlee Evans-Smith, an American mixed martial artist, has made a name for herself in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competing in both the women's flyweight and bantamweight divisions.

Apart from her fighting career, she also hosts her own podcast titled Sex & Violence with Rebel Girl.

Amateur Career in MMA

During her amateur days, Evans-Smith had an impressive record of 5–4 and held the title of Tuff-N-Uff Champion. Notably, she faced tough opponents with a combined amateur record of 20–1–1 and secured a significant victory over former UFC fighter Jessamyn Duke.

Evans-Smith turned professional on March 2, 2013, participating in the CFA Women's PGA Tournament. In a highly challenging match against her former amateur rival Tori Adams, she avenged a prior loss and emerged victorious through a hard-fought unanimous decision.

Fights in CFA

Following her success, Evans-Smith was scheduled to face Peggy Morgan in the semi-final round at CFA 11. However, she opted to pursue her place in the CFA tournament over auditioning for TUF 18, a decision reported by The Wrestling Observer Newsletter. As a result, Evans-Smith advanced to the tournament finals due to Morgan's withdrawal. Subsequently, news circulated that she would face transgender fighter Fallon Fox after Anna Barone, Morgan's opponent, failed to make weight.

On October 12, 2013, Evans-Smith entered the finals of the CFA 12 tournament as a significant underdog with bookmakers' odds against her. Despite the odds, she showcased her resilience and dominated the fight. However, a referee error caused confusion at the end of the second round, leading to controversy. In the third round, Evans-Smith continued her dominance, delivering a wave of punches until the referee intervened and stopped the fight, awarding her a TKO victory.

WSOF Journey and UFC debut

Following her achievements in CFA, Evans-Smith signed with the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) and emerged victorious against Marciea Allen at WSOF 10. She continued to build her reputation with a perfect 3–0 record.

Evans-Smith's UFC debut came on December 6, 2014, at UFC 181, where she faced Raquel Pennington as a replacement for Holly Holm. Although the fight was intense and closely contested, Pennington secured a bulldog choke at the end of the round, rendering Evans-Smith unconscious. The fight was officially stopped at 4:59 of the first round. Following the fight, Evans-Smith faced a suspension for diuretic use.

Throughout her UFC career, Evans-Smith faced various opponents, including Veronica Macedo, Sarah Moras, and Bec Rawlings, among others. Notably, she secured a technical knockout victory against Macedo and a unanimous decision win over Rawlings.

Unfortunately, injuries and unforeseen circumstances led to changes in some of Evans-Smith's scheduled fights. She faced ups and downs, experiencing both victories and losses in the octagon. Her most recent fight was against Norma Dumont on November 28, 2020, which resulted in a unanimous decision loss.

Evans-Smith faced a setback when she tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone and received a 14-month suspension from USADA, which lasted until March 3, 2023.

As Evans-Smith returns to the octagon, she is set to face Ailín Pérez on July 15, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224. Fans eagerly await her next chapter in the sport, as she continues to showcase her skills and determination as a true warrior.

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