Stephanie Egger: From Judo to the UFC, here is her story

Stephanie Egger, born on August 12, 1988, is a talented female mixed martial artist hailing from Switzerland. Competing in the Bantamweight division of the esteemed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Egger has showcased her skills and determination in the octagon.

Early Life and Judo Success

Raised in St. Gallen, Switzerland, alongside three siblings, including Swiss politician Mike Egger, she has embarked on a remarkable journey in the world of martial arts.

Egger's martial arts journey began at a tender age of five when she started training in judo. Her dedication and commitment to the sport led her to attain a black belt in judo, showcasing her proficiency in this discipline.

Notably, she emerged victorious in the 2010 European U23 Championships and claimed the Swiss Judo championship title in the +63 kg category from 2011 to 2013. Despite her accomplishments, nagging injuries prompted Egger to retire from judo competition.

However, her passion for combat sports remained unwavering, leading her to discover mixed martial arts through grappling and boxing training. In 2019, she even secured a win in the ADCC European Trial at 60 kg, further solidifying her prowess in various disciplines.

Egger's dedication to her craft is evident not only in the countless hours she spends training daily but also in her work at her family's restaurant in Berneck. Balancing her responsibilities, both in and outside of the octagon, showcases her unwavering work ethic and commitment to her goals.

Transition into MMA

In her professional MMA career, Egger has faced formidable opponents and achieved notable victories. After winning her initial two bouts against Judith Ruis and Mara Romero Borella via first-round stoppages, she encountered Alexa Conners at Invicta FC 20: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya. Although she fought valiantly, Egger suffered a split decision loss in this bout. Undeterred by setbacks, she showcased her resilience and secured a TKO victory in the first round against Eeva Siiskonen at Buddy MMA Clash 2.

Continuing her remarkable journey, Egger faced Reina Miura at Rizin 17 in a catchweight bout and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.

Debut in the UFC

This success led to her UFC debut, where she replaced Bea Malecki and fought Tracy Cortez at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. Despite her best efforts, Egger fell short in this bout, losing via unanimous decision.

Egger's determination remained unwavering as she faced various challenges in her career. Although she encountered unforeseen circumstances and was unable to compete against Sarah Alpar at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt, she returned to the octagon against Shanna Young at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker. Displaying her skills and resilience, Egger secured a thrilling technical knockout victory in the second round.

Her momentum continued as she faced Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC Fight Night 201, triumphing with a first-round armbar submission.

This achievement earned Egger her first Performance of the Night bonus award, a testament to her exceptional skills and technique. However, her journey also encompasses moments of defeat, such as her loss to Mayra Bueno Silva via armbar submission in the first round at UFC on ESPN 40.

Undeterred by setbacks, Egger persevered and faced Ailin Perez, stepping in as a replacement for Zarah Fairn Dos Santos, at UFC Fight Night 209. Demonstrating her prowess, she secured a victory via a rear-naked choke in the second round. However, her most recent bout against Irina Alekseeva at UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón ended in a loss via knee bar submission in the first round.

Stephanie Egger's journey in the world of MMA is a testament to her passion, dedication, and resilience. As she continues to face new challenges and pursue her dreams, fans eagerly await her future performances in the octagon, where she will undoubtedly showcase her skills and leave a lasting impact on the sport she loves.

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