Felice Herrig

Felice Nicole Herrig (born September 18, 1984) is an American retired kickboxer, Muay Thai fighter, and mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the strawweight division.

Background Herrig was born in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. She had a younger brother, who died of pancreatic cancer at the age of two. Herrig began her career practicing kickboxing and Muay Thai before transitioning to MMA in 2009. Herrig graduated from Buffalo Grove High School in 2003.

Kickboxing career

Prior to Herrig's move to mixed martial arts, she held a professional kickboxing record of 23–5. She was ranked as high as number 2 in the World in the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Women's Muay Thai Bantamweight Division.

As a pro kickboxer, Herrig won the International Kickboxing Federation Pro Muay Thai United States Bantamweight Title. She won the title on November 15, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois, US, when she defeated Katie Meehan by unanimous decision (49-46, 48–47, 49–46).

As an amateur, she was a two-time International Kickboxing Federation Open Tournament Champion.

On August 21, 2005, Herrig became the 2005 IKF North American Classic Amateur Full Contact Rules Bantamweight Tournament Champion when she defeated Terri French of Little Rock, Arkansas, US, by unanimous decision 30–27 on all 3 judges cards.

On July 30, 2006, Herrig defended her IKF Tournament Title at the 2006 IKF World Classic when she defeated Stacy Chung of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada by unanimous decision 29–28 on all 3 judges cards.

She has also competed in the World Combat League with the St. Louis Enforcers.

Mixed martial arts career Felice Herrig at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan; the second stop on the annual Vice Chairman's USO Tour, March 31, 2019. Herrig appeared on Fight Girls in 2007 on the Oxygen and won her fight in Thailand against a champion Thai fighter. She was later scheduled to appear on another reality show about women's MMA called the Ultimate Women Challenge.

She faced Michele Gutierrez at Unconquered 1: November Reign on November 20, 2009, and won the fight by armbar submission in the second round.

Herrig faced Jessica Rakoczy at Bellator 14 on April 15, 2010. She won the fight via split decision.

Herrig faced Amanda LaVoy at XFO 37 on December 4, 2010. She won the fight via armbar submission in the first round.

On January 14, 2011, Herrig faced Barb Honchak at Hoosier Fight Club 6: New Years Nemesis in Valparaiso, Indiana. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Herrig faced Andrea Miller at Chicago Cagefighting Championship 3 on March 5, 2011. She won the fight by TKO in the first round.

Herrig faced Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc at XFO 39 on May 13, 2011, at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Her scheduled bout against undefeated Kelly Warren at Fight Tour on August 20, 2011, was cancelled due to Warren weighing in 7 pounds overweight.

Herrig faced Carla Esparza at XFC 15: Tribute on December 2, 2011, in Tampa, Florida. She was defeated by unanimous decision.

On April 13, 2012, Herrig faced Patricia Vidonic at XFC 17: Apocalypse in Jackson, Tennessee. She defeated Vidonic by unanimous decision.

Herrig next faced Simona Soukupova at XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown on August 3, 2012. She defeated Soukupova by unanimous decision.

Herrig was scheduled to return to Bellator to face Michele Gutierrez in a rematch at Bellator 84 on December 14, 2012. However, Gutierrez withdrew from the fight on December 1 and Herrig instead competed in a rematch against Patricia Vidonic. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Herrig next competed against Heather Clark at Bellator 94 on March 28, 2013. She won the fight via split decision. The fight ended controversially as following the final bell Herrig unleashed a yell of celebration in her opponent's face, which prompted a post-fight backhand punch from Clark. Herrig retaliated with a punch of her own, before order was restored.

Invicta Fighting Championships On August 13, 2013, it was announced that Herrig had signed a multi-fight deal with Invicta Fighting Championships. She faced Tecia Torres at Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith on December 7, 2013 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter 20 On December 11, 2013, it was announced that Herrig was signed by the UFC along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter, which will crown the first ever UFC women's strawweight champion.

Herrig was the sixth fighter to go to coach Anthony Pettis. She faced rival Heather Jo Clark in a rematch in the preliminary round of the tournament. Herrig again won the fight by unanimous decision. She lost to Randa Markos via submission in the quarterfinal round of competition.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Herrig's first fight after The Ultimate Fighter was against Lisa Ellis at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014. She won the fight via submission in the second round.

Herrig faced Paige VanZant on April 18, 2015, at UFC on Fox 15. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Herrig next faced Kailin Curran at UFC on Fox 20 on July 23, 2016. She won the fight by rear naked choke just two minutes into the first round.

Herrig next faced Alexa Grasso on February 4, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 104. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Herrig faced Justine Kish on June 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Herrig faced Cortney Casey on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218. She won the fight via split decision.

Herrig faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223. She lost the fight by split decision.

Herrig next faced Michelle Waterson on October 6, 2018, at UFC 229. She lost the fight via unanimous decision

Herrig was expected to face Xiaonan Yan on June 8, 2019, at UFC 238. However, on April 30, 2019, it was reported that Herrig suffered from a torn ACL and was pulled from the event.

Herrig faced Virna Jandiroba on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252. She lost the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.

After a two-year hiatus, Herrig faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207. Herrig lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round, retiring after the bout. She retired from competing in MMA after the loss.

Boxing career Herrig made her professional boxing debut against Veronika Dmitriyeva on July 22, 2023. She won the bout via fourth-round technical knockout.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC.com Awards 2017: Ranked #8 Upset of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Virna Jandiroba Submission (armbar) UFC 252

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Michelle Waterson Decision (unanimous) UFC 229

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Karolina Kowalkiewicz Decision (split) UFC 223

Brooklyn, New York, United States Win

Cortney Casey Decision (split) UFC 218

Detroit, Michigan, United States Win

Justine Kish Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Win

Alexa Grasso Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Kailin Curran Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko

Chicago, Illinois, United States Loss

Paige VanZant Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Lisa Ellis Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Tecia Torres Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Heather Jo Clark Decision (split) Bellator 94

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Patricia Vidonic Decision (unanimous) Bellator 84

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Simona Soukupova Decision (unanimous) XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Patricia Vidonic Decision (unanimous) XFC 17: Apocalypse

Jackson, Tennessee, United States Loss

Carla Esparza Decision (unanimous) XFC 15: Tribute

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc Decision (unanimous) Xtreme Fighting Organization 39

Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States Win

Andrea Miller TKO (punches) Chicago Cagefighting Championship 3

Villa Park, Illinois, United States Loss

Barb Honchak Decision (unanimous) Hoosier Fight Club 6: New Years Nemesis

Valparaiso, Indiana, United States Win

Amanda LaVoy Submission (armbar) Xtreme Fighting Organization 37

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Jessica Rakoczy Decision (split) Bellator 14

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Michele Gutierrez Submission (armbar) Unconquered 1: November Reign

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Loss

Valerie Coolbaugh Decision (split) Xtreme Fighting Organization 29

Lakemoor, Illinois, United States Loss

Iman Achhal Decision (split) UWC: Man "O" War

Fairfax, Virginia, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Randa Markos Submission (scarf-hold armlock)

(airdate)

Win

Heather Jo Clark Decision (unanimous) (airdate)

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

Professional boxing record

Media appearances Herrig is a playable character in the 2011 video game Supremacy MMA for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. She also appeared in American Ninja Warrior in 2015, and again in 2016, but did not complete the initial courses.