Emily Ducote

Emily Ducote (born January 1, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She previously competed in Invicta FC, where she was the Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.

Background The daughter of John Ducote and Yvette Bradstreet, Emily was born in Los Angeles, California. She wrestled for Los Gatos High School, ending as a runner-up in state championships in her senior year. With an aspiration to wrestle in the best college team, she moved to the Great Plains in 2012 to study kinesiology at Oklahoma City University. She started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2013 and was promoted to black belt in May 2022. She won the fight by a second-round rear-naked choke submission.

Ducote was scheduled to face Kenya Miranda at Bellator 161 on September 16, 2016. She won the fight by a second-round armbar submission.

Ducote was scheduled to face Ilima-Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 167 on December 3, 2016. Macfarlane won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.

Ducote was scheduled to face Katy Collins at Bellator 174 on March 3, 2017. She won the fight by a first-round rear-naked choke submission.

Ducote was scheduled to face Jessica Middleton at Bellator 181 on July 14, 2017. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 29-27, 29-28, 29-28.

Ducote was scheduled to face Ilima-Lei Macfarlane for the inaugural Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship at Bellator 186 on November 3, 2017. Macfarlane won the fight by a fifth-round armbar submission.

Ducote was scheduled to face Kristina Williams at Bellator 196 on March 2, 2018. Williams won the fight by split decision in a fight where Ducote was dominant and most part of the media called it a controversial decision. Two of the judges scored the fight 29-28 for Williams, while the third judge scored the fight 30-27 for Ducote.

Ducote was scheduled to face Veta Arteaga at Bellator 202 on July 13, 2018. Arteaga won the fight by unanimous decision, extending Ducote's losing streak to three fights.

After she was released by Bellator, Ducote moved down to strawweight for her next bout against Kathryn Paprocki at Xtreme Fight Night 356 on February 1, 2019. She won the fight by a third-round rear-naked choke submission.

Invicta FC Ducote was scheduled to make her promotional debut against Janaisa Morandin at Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote on August 9, 2019. Morandin weighed in three pounds over the strawweight limit, at 119 lbs. Ducote won the fight by a first-round knockout.

In her second promotional appearance, Ducote was scheduled to face Kanako Murata for the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship in the main event of Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote on November 1, 2019. Murata won the fight by split decision, with two judges scoring the bout 48-47 and 49-46 in her favor. The third judge scored the fight 48-47 for Ducote.

Ducote was scheduled to face Juliana Lima in the main event of Invicta FC 40: Ducote vs. Lima on July 2, 2020. She won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding her a 29-28 scorecard.

Ducote was scheduled to face Montserrat Ruiz at Invicta FC 43: King vs. Harrison on November 20, 2020. The fight was later cancelled due to “enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols”.

Ducote was scheduled to face Liz Tracy at Invicta FC on AXS TV: Rodríguez vs. Torquato on May 21, 2021. The fight was later cancelled.

Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Ducote faced UFC veteran Danielle Taylor for the vacant Invicta FC Strawweight Championship at Invicta FC 44: A New Era on August 27, 2021. Her bout with Taylor headlined the first pay-per-view in Invicta FC history. Ducote won the fight by a first-round knockout. She first stopped Taylor in her tracks with a right straight, before flooring her with a head kick.

In her first title defence, Ducote faced Alesha Zappitella on May 11, 2022 at Invicta FC 47. She won the bout after doctor's stopped the bout after the second round due to a cut on Alesha's eyelid.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In June 2022, Ducote signed with the UFC.

Ducote made her promotional debut, replacing Brianna Fortino, against Jessica Penne on July 16, 2022 at UFC on ABC 3. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ducote faced Angela Hill on December 3, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 42. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Ducote was scheduled to face Polyana Viana on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 45. However, the bout was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 223 on May 20, 2023. In turn, Viana withdrew from the bout due to undisclosed reason and was replaced by former LFA Women's Strawweight Champion Lupita Godinez at a catchweight of 120 pounds. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Ducote faced Ashley Yoder on October 14, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 230. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ducote faced Vanessa Demopoulos on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241. She lost the fight by split decision.

On July 30, 2024, it was reported that Ducote was removed from the UFC roster.

Post-UFC Career

Ducote made her return to Invicta in the main event of Invicta FC 58 against Yulia Ostroverkhova on November 6, 2024. She would win the fight via submission in the second round with an armbar.

Championships and accomplishments

Invicta Fighting Championships Invicta FC Strawweight Championship (One time) One successful title defense

Mixed martial arts record Win

Thaiane Souza KO (punch) Invicta FC 61

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Win

Yulia Ostroverkhova Submission (armbar) Invicta FC 58

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Vanessa Demopoulos Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ashley Yoder Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Lupita Godinez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland

Orlando, Florida, United States Win

Jessica Penne Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez

Elmont, New York, United States Win

Alesha Zappitella TKO (doctor stoppage) Invicta FC 47

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Danielle Taylor KO (punch and head kick) Invicta FC 44

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Juliana Lima Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 40

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Kanako Murata Decision (split) Invicta FC 38

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Janaisa Morandin KO (punches) Invicta FC 36

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Kathryn Paprocki Submission (rear-naked choke) Xtreme Fight Night 356

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Veta Arteaga Decision (unanimous) Bellator 202

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Kristina Williams Decision (split) Bellator 196

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Submission (triangle armbar) Bellator 186

University Park, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Jessica Middleton Decision (unanimous) Bellator 181

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Katy Collins Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 174

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Decision (unanimous) Bellator 167

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Kenya Miranda Submission (armbar) Bellator 161

Cedar Park, Texas, United States Win

Bruna Vargas Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 159

Mulvane, Kansas, United States Win

Jianna Denizard Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Fight Night 29

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Win

Ronnie Nanney Decision (unanimous) OKC: Charity Fight Night 2016

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Emily Whitmire Decision (unanimous) Freestyle Cage Fighting 50

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States