Pannie Kianzad

Pannie Pantea Kianzad (born December 8, 1991) is an Iranian-born Swedish mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the Women's Bantamweight division, having previously fought in Invicta FC and Cage Warriors where she held the bantamweight title.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Kianzad started her martial arts career in boxing when she was around 14 years old and she went on to compete in around 30 amateur boxing fights. In 2010, she competed in the Swedish National Championships in Shootfighting and came in second place claiming the silver medal after losing to Lina Länsberg in the final. The following year, at 19 years of age, she became Swedish Champion in Shootfighting by defeating Genesini Serena by submission (armbar) in the second round.

After turning professional she beat her swedish rival Lina Länsberg in her third fight, which she won by TKO. She racked up five straight wins in smaller organizations before getting signed to Cage Warriors. During this period she transitioned from team Kaisho in Helsingborg, Sweden, to Rumble Sports in Copenhagen, Denmark. As of 2016 Kianzad trains with Arte Suave team in Copenhagen, Denmark

Cage Warriors. In 2014 Kianzad signed with British top promotion Cage Warriors. She made her promotional debut against Megan van Houtum on August 22, 2014, at Cage Warriors 71. She won the fight by TKO in the third round.

Kianzad was expected to face Agnieszka Niedzwiedz for the vacant bantamweight title on November 15, 2014, at Cage Warriors 74, but Niedzwiedz was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an injury and Kianzad's opponent was changed to be Finnish fighter Eeva Siiskonen. After five rounds Kianzad defeated Siiskonen by unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, 49–46) to become Cage Warriors female bantamweight champion.

Invicta Fighting Championship After staying undefeated through her first 7 fights, and claiming the Cage Warriors title, Kianzad got another step up in her career as she got signed by Invicta FC in March, 2015.

She made her promotional debut against Jessica-Rose Clark on July 9, 2015, at Invicta FC 13. Kianzad won the fight by one-sided unanimous decision.

Kianzad was set to face newly crowned champion Tonya Evinger in a title fight on September 14, 2015, at Invicta FC 14. However, Kianzad missed weight for the fight so it was changed to a non-title bout. She lost by TKO in the second round.

She fought Raquel Pa'aluhi on January 14, 2017, at Invicta FC 21. She lost the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Kianzad faced Sarah Kaufman on January 13, 2018, at Invicta FC 27. At weight-ins, Kianzad weighted 136.7 Ibs, missing 0.7 Ibs of the upper limit in bantamweight of 136 Ibs. Kianzad was fined twenty five percent of her fight purse for missing weight. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad fought Bianca Daimoni on May 4, 2018, at Invicta FC 29. At weight-ins, Kianzad weighted 134.8 lbs while Daimoni weighted 139.6, missing 3.6 lbs of the upper limit in bantamweight of 136 lbs and the bout proceeded at catchweight. Daimoni was fined twenty five percent of her fight purse for missing weight Kianzad won the fight via unanimous decision.

About a month later she fought Kerry Hughes on June 9, 2018, at Danish MMA Night 1. Kianzad had a dominant performance and won by unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter 28 In August 2018 Kianzad's sponsor Combat Dollies revealed that she had been selected as a fighter on The Ultimate Fighter 28, where she would compete at featherweight.

Kianzad was the fourth pick (second among featherweights) by coach Kelvin Gastelum. She fought Katharina Lehner in the quarter-finals of the tournament. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

In the semi-finals of the tournament, Kianzad was paired up against Julija Stoliarenko. She won the fight by unanimous decision, securing a spot in the finals.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Kianzad faced Macy Chiasson in the finals on November 30, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale. She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round two.

Kianzad did not receive a contract from UFC after her loss at TUF 28 Finale.

Post-UFC career In her return to the European scene, Kianzad dropped back down to the bantamweight division and faced Bellator veteran Iony Razafiarison on May 11, 2019, at Super Challenge 19. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Return to Ultimate Fighting Championship Kianzad replaced Melissa Gatto in a short notice bout against Julia Avila on July 6, 2019, at UFC 239. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Kianzad faced Jessica-Rose Clark in a re-match on November 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 163. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad was scheduled to face Bethe Correia on May 9, 2020, at UFC 249. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date The bout eventually took place on July 26, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 14. Kianzad won the fight via unanimous decision. Kianzad entered the UFC rankings for the first time in her career after her win over #13 ranked Correia.

Kianzad faced Sijara Eubanks on December 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 183. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad faced on Alexis Davis June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad faced Raquel Pennington on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad faced Lina Länsberg on April 16, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 34. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad faced Ketlen Vieira on July 22, 2023, at UFC on ESPN+ 82. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kianzad faced Macy Chiasson in a rematch on March 16, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 239. She lost the bout by rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

In June 2024, Kianzad was added to EA Sports UFC 5.

Kianzad faced Karol Rosa on August 10, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 61. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On August 28, 2024, it was reported that Kianzad was removed from the UFC roster. She was ranked 12th in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings in August 2024 at the time of removal from the UFC roster. Kianzad's highest career UFC ranking was 6th in the women's bantamweight division, achieved on July 4, 2023, while her highest Fight Matrix ranking was 3rd, achieved on July 1, 2021.

Global Fight League On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Kianzad had signed with Global Fight League. On January 24, 2025, Kianzad was drafted by Team London in the inaugural edition of Global Fight League. However, in April 2025, it was reported that all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.

Fusion Fight League Kianzad was scheduled to fight Maya Stewart on April 11, 2026 in the Fusion Fight League at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Montana, but the fight was cancelled. Kianzad faced Hope Chase on August 7, 2026 in the Fusion Fight League in Billings, Montana.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship First ever Persian female UFC fighter The Ultimate Fighter 28 (Runner-Up) Invicta Fighting Championships Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Bianca Daimoni Cage Warriors Fighting Championship CWFC Women's Bantamweight Championship (One time) Undefeated in the CWFC (2-0) Nordic MMA Awards - MMAViking.com 2013 Female Fighter of the Year 2018 Female Fighter of the Year 2020 Female Fighter of the Year

Shootfighting Swedish Shootfighting League 2010 National Women's Featherweight Shootfighting Championship Silver 2011 National Women's Featherweight Shootfighting Championship Gold

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Hope Chase Submission (armbar) Fusion Fight League: Fights Under the Lights

Billings, Montana, United States Loss

Karol Rosa Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Tybura vs. Spivac 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Macy Chiasson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ketlen Vieira Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura

London, England Win

Lina Länsberg Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Raquel Pennington Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Alexis Davis Decision (unanimous) UFC 263

Glendale, Arizona, United States Win

Sijara Eubanks Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Bethe Correia Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Jessica-Rose Clark Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar

Moscow, Russia Loss

Julia Avila Decision (unanimous) UFC 239

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Iony Razafiarison Decision (unanimous) Superior Challenge 19

Stockholm, Sweden Loss

Macy Chiasson Submission (rear-naked choke) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kerry Hughes Decision (unanimous) Danish MMA Night: Vol. 1

Brøndby, Denmark Win

Bianca Daimoni Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 29: Kaufman vs. Lehner

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Sarah Kaufman Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Raquel Pa'aluhi Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Tonya Evinger TKO (punches) Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Jessica-Rose Clark Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 13: Cyborg vs. Van Duin

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Eeva Siiskonen Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors FC 74

London, England Win

Megan van Houtum TKO (punches) Cage Warriors FC 71

Amman, Jordan Win

Annalisa Bucci Decision (unanimous) Superior Challenge 10

Helsingborg, Sweden Win

Milana Dudieva Decision (unanimous) ProFC 50

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

Lina Länsberg TKO (punches) Trophy MMA 1

Malmö, Sweden Win

Cheryl Flynn TKO (punches) Vision FC 5: Finale

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Helin Paara Decision (unanimous) MMA Raju 9

Tallinn, Estonia Win

Julija Stoliarenko Decision (unanimous)

(airdate)

Win

Katharina Lehner Decision (unanimous) (airdate)