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Leah Letson

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Leah Letson
BornLeah Letson
(1992-08-21) August 21, 1992 (age 32)[1]
Wisconsin, United States
NicknameNidas
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionBantamweight (2014–2017, 2022–present)
Featherweight (2017–2021)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StyleTaekwondo, Karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Fighting out ofMilwaukee, Wisconsin
TeamWanderley Jiu-Jitsu
Pura Vida BJJ
Rank3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo
2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate
Years active2014–2022
Mixed martial arts record
Total7
Wins5
By knockout3
By decision2
Losses2
By knockout1
By decision1
UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee[2]
(BA, Criminology)
(BA, Psychology)
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Leah Letson (born August 21, 1992) is a retired American female mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She reached a career-best ranking of #9 at Women's Featherweight on Fight Matrix on January 7, 2017.[3]

Early life and career

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Leah Letson was born on 21 August 1992 in Wisconsin, United States. Letson started martial arts at five, earning her 2nd degree Karate black belt at age eleven, and her third degree Taekwondo black belt at fourteen. Letson moved to Milwaukee to attend the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee where she started kickboxing, then on the advice of her coaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). While at UW Letson enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2012 and after completing basic training she started training MMA.[4] On November 9, 2013, she won her first amateur fight, a year later she had her first pro fight.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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After losing her debut via split decision against Christina Jobe at KOTC: Industrial Strength on November 22, 2014, Letson won her next 4 bouts, knocking out Shaena Cox in the second round, defeating Allanna Jones via unanimous decision, stopping Sarah Payan via TKO in the first round, culminating with a victory at Invicta FC 21, where Letson faced UFC veteran Elizabeth Phillips, knocking her out with a headkick in the first round.[6]

The Ultimate Fighter

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In 2018, Letson was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters. She was the fourth pick for Team Whittaker.[7] Letson won the quarterfinal bout against Bea Malecki by unanimous decision.[8]

In the semi-finals, Letson faced Macy Chiasson.[9] She lost the bout by way of knockout in round one.[10] In January 2018 the UFC offered her a contract.[2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Letson made her UFC debut at the Ultimate Fighter finale, beating Julija Stoliarenko via split decision.[11]

Letson was scheduled to face Sarah Moras on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 151.[12] However, Letson was removed from the fight in early April for an unspecified medical issue and replaced by Macy Chiasson.[13]

Letson faced Felicia Spencer on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197.[14] She lost the fight via technical knockout in round three.[15]

Letson was scheduled to face UFC newcomer Chelsea Chandler on October 1, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan in a women's bantamweight bout.[16] However, Letson pulled out in late August for personal reasons and was replaced by Julija Stoliarenko.[17]

On January 9, 2023, Letson announced she was retiring from MMA due to losing love for the sport and its taxing nature.[18]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
7 matches 5 wins 2 losses
By knockout 3 1
By decision 2 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 5–2 Felicia Spencer TKO (elbows and punches) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez November 13, 2021 3 4:25 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–1 Julija Stoliarenko Decision (split) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale November 30, 2018 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 4–1 Elizabeth Phillips KO (head kick) Invicta FC 21: Anderson vs. Tweet January 14, 2017 1 1:18 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Featherweight debut.
Win 3–1 Sarah Payant TKO (punches) Premier FC 20 July 30, 2016 1 4:22 Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Win 2–1 Allanna Jones Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Blood Enemies May 21, 2016 3 5:00 Washington, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 1–1 Shaena Cox KO (punch) Pure FC 2 November 14, 2015 2 0:50 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Loss 0–1 Christina Jobe Decision (split) KOTC: Industrial Strength November 22, 2014 3 5:00 Carlton, Minnesota, United States Bantamweight debut.

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Mixed martial arts exhibition record

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Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Macy Chiasson KO (knees to the body) The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters November 28, 2018 (airdate) 1 3:04 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States The Ultimate Fighter 28 Women's Featherweight semi-final round.
Win 1–0 Bea Malecki Decision (unanimous) October 24, 2018 (airdate) 2 5:00 The Ultimate Fighter 28 Women's Featherweight quarter-final round.

Military career

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Leah enlisted with the Air National Guard at the age of 19, serving as a Command and Control Specialist with Volk Field Wisconsin. In 2017 she deployed to the middle east for 6.5 months. During that deployment she ran a jujitsu club teaching members from multiple branches and foreign militia the strategic art of jujitsu. In 2021 she transferred to the 128 Air Refueling Wing(ARW) in Milwaukee retraining as an Aircraft Metals Tech. After retiring from fighting in December 2022 she was quickly selected as a full time recruiter for the 128 ARW. When asked what inspired the career move she said “I can help change someone's life for the better and give them opportunities that they otherwise wouldn't have. It's extremely rewarding.”

Awards and decorations

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  • 2015 LT Col Thomas A Reis Award for volunteer work in her community, being an outstanding Airmen and graduating Magna cum laude from UW Milwaukee.
  • 2018 Achievement Medal
  • 2021 Commendation Medal

Personal life

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In 2016 Letson graduated with degrees in psychology and in criminal justice with a minor in sociology.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Critchfield, Tristen (1992-08-21). "Leah". Sherdog.
  2. ^ a b Mandella, Anthony (2018-08-13). "From UWM to UFC, alum Leah Letson set for ultimate fighting debut". UWM REPORT.
  3. ^ "Fighter Profile". Fight Matrix. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  4. ^ Williams, Kari (2022-01-26). "Military service launches UFC career for Wisconsin Air National Guardsman". Reserve & National Guard.
  5. ^ a b gerbasi, Thomas (10 November 2021). "A 'reinvented' Leah Letson Returns To The Octagon". UFC.
  6. ^ "Invicta FC 21 results: Megan Anderson captures interim 145-pound title, calls out future UFC champ". MMA Junkie. 2017-01-15. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  7. ^ "'The Ultimate Fighter 28: Heavy Hitters' Episode 1 recap". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Krvav okršaj ženske perolake kategorije u šestoj epizodi The Ultimate Fightera". arhiva.fightsite.hr. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  9. ^ "'The Ultimate Fighter 28: Heavy Hitters' Episode 11 recap". MMA Junkie. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  10. ^ "'The Ultimate Fighter 28: Heavy Hitters' Episode 12 recap". MMA Junkie. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  11. ^ "TUF 28 Finale results: Leah Letson outworks Julia Stoliarenko, takes home split decision". December 1, 2018.
  12. ^ Jesse Holland (2019-02-20). "UFC Ottawa official for May 4 on ESPN+". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  13. ^ "Canadian bantamweight Sarah Moras gets new opponent for UFC Ottawa card". chroniclejournal.com. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  14. ^ Dorff, Marcel (2021-09-01). "Voormalig titeluitdaagster Felicia Spencer treft Leah Letson op 13 november in Las Vegas". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  15. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-11-13). "UFC Vegas 42: Felicia Spencer Dominates Returning Leah Letson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  16. ^ Jay Anderson (2022-06-01). "UFC: Leah Letson back to bantamweight, welcomes Chelsea Chandler to octagon on Oct. 1". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  17. ^ Mantas Stankevičius (2022-08-30). "J. Stoliarenko: about the "nickname" of her dreams, the UFC bonus, the biggest sponsors and the upcoming fight". sportas.lt. Retrieved 2022-09-26. (in Lithuanian)
  18. ^ Segura, Danny (2023-01-11). "UFC featherweight Leah Letson announces MMA retirement: 'I simply don't love fighting the way I used to'". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
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