DeAnna Bennett

DeAnna Danielle Bennett (born November 18, 1984) Bennett briefly attended an art college, but dropped out. She credits her "being a fat kid" for motivating her to join a kickboxing gym to stay in shape, and eventually competing in Muay Thai kickboxing.

In her second fight for the promotion, Bennett faced Jennifer Maia on December 5, 2014, at Invicta FC 10. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Bennett next faced Norma Rueda Center on February 27, 2015, at Invicta FC 11. She again won the fight by unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter In August 2017, it was announced that Bennett 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. Bennett was selected seventh by coach Eddie Alvarez. She faced Karine Gevorgyan in the opening round and won via TKO in the first round. In the quarter-finals Bennett faced Sijara Eubanks losing via first round knockout.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Bennett faced Melinda Fábián on December 1, 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion#The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale. The fight ended as a majority draw and Bennett was subsequently released from the promotion.

Return to Invicta Bennett returned to Invicta to face Karina Rodríguez on March 24, 2018 at Invicta FC 28: Morandin vs. Jandiroba. She won the fight by split decision. Bennett then entered a flyweight tournament where she defeated Miranda Maverick by unanimous decision but lost in the final in a rematch against Karina Rodriguez.

Bellator Bennett made her promotional debut against Liz Carmouche at Bellator 246 on September 12, 2020. She lost the bout via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Bennett was scheduled to face Alejandra Lara on July 31, 2021 at Bellator 263. The bout was rescheduled for unknown reasons to take place on August 20, 2021 at Bellator 265. On August 13, it was announced that the bout was moved once again, this time to Bellator 266. At the weigh-ins, Bennett missed weight for her bout. Bennett weighed in at 129.2 pounds, 3.2 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Bennett was fined a percentage of her purse which went to Lara. Bennett won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision.

Bennett faced Justine Kish on February 19, 2022 at Bellator 274. She won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision.

Bennett rematched Justine Kish on August 12, 2022 at Bellator 284. At weigh ins, Kish came in at 128.4 lbs, 2.4 pounds over the weight limit, for the flyweight bout, resulting in her being a fined a percentage of her purse which went to Bennett and the bout proceeded at catchweight. Bennett won the bout again via unanimous decision.

Bennett faced Liz Carmouche in a rematch for the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship on April 21, 2023 at Bellator 294. At the weigh-ins, Bennett weighed in at 126.2 pounds, 1.2 pounds over the title flyweight fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight with Bennett being fined 30% of her purse, which went to Carmouche. Carmouche also chose to keep the title on the line, meaning if she lost the fight, the title would have become vacant. She lost the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the fourth round.

Professional grappling career

Bennett was booked to compete against Marissa Pacelli at Fury Pro Grappling 7 on May 27, 2023. She lost the match by unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Rayla Nascimento Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 62

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Liz Tracy Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 57

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Viviane Pereira Submission (guillotine choke) XFC: Detroit Grand Prix 2

Detroit, Michigan, United States Loss

Liz Carmouche Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 294

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win

Justine Kish Decision (unanimous) Bellator 284

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Win

Justine Kish Decision (unanimous) Bellator 274

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Alejandra Lara Decision (unanimous) Bellator 266

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Liz Carmouche Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 246

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Miranda Maverick Submission (neck crank) Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Karina Rodríguez Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 35

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Miranda Maverick Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 34

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Kelly Kobold Decision (unanimous) Tuff-N-Uff: Fight Night

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Karina Rodríguez Decision (split) Invicta FC 28

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Draw

Melinda Fábián Draw (majority) The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jodie Esquibel Decision (split) Invicta FC 22

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Roxanne Modafferi Decision (split) Invicta FC 16

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Lívia Renata Souza TKO (body kick and punches) Invicta FC 15

Costa Mesa, California, United States Win

Katja Kankaanpää Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 14

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Norma Rueda Center Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 11

Los Angeles, California, United States Win

Jennifer Maia Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 10

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Michelle Ould TKO (body kick) Invicta FC 8

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Colleen Schneider Submission (rear-naked choke) Showdown Fights 14

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Sharon Jacobson Submission (rear-naked choke) Showdown Fights 13

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Julianna Peña Decision (unanimous) Showdown Fights 10

Orem, Utah, United States Win

Andrea Miller TKO (punches) Showdown Fights 6

Orem, Utah, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition record Win

Daiana Torquato Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Liz Tracy Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC Phoenix Series 2

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Sijara Eubanks KO (head kick)

(air date)

Win

Karine Gevorgyan TKO (punches) (air date)