Ji Yeon Kim
Ji Yeon Kim (born October 18, 1989) is a South Korean mixed martial artist (MMA). She was the Jewels[3] and Gladiator women's bantamweight champion.[4] She competes in the Women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[1]
Ji Yeon Kim | |
---|---|
Born | Kim Ji-yeon October 18, 1989 Incheon, South Korea[1] |
Other names | Fire Fist |
Nationality | South Korean |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Weight | 56.7 kg (125 lb; 8 st 13 lb) |
Division | Bantamweight (2013–2017) Flyweight (2018–present) |
Reach | 72[1] in (183 cm) |
Style | Sanda, Boxing, Hapkido, BJJ |
Fighting out of | Incheon, South Korea |
Team | Impact Gym MOB Training Center[2] |
Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1] 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido[1] Black belt in Wushu[1] |
Years active | 2013–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 14 |
Wins | 9 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 4 |
Losses | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Draws | 2 |
Other information | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 김지연 (金志妍) |
Revised Romanization | Gim Ji-yeon |
McCune–Reischauer | Kim Chi-yŏn |
Background
Kim was born and raised in Incheon, South Korea. She started training in the 8th grade after seeing a kickboxing match on television, which set off her desire for a career in combat sports.[1]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Kim started her professional MMA career in 2013 and fought primarily in South Korea and Japan. Kim acquired a six-fight winning streak and became the Jewels[3] and Gladiator women's bantamweight champion prior to joining the UFC.[4]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Kim made her UFC debut on June 17, 2017. Kim faced Lucie Pudilová at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia in Singapore.[5] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[6]
Kim next faced Justine Kish on January 27, 2018, at UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson.[7] She won the fight via split decision.[8]
Her third fight came on June 23, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Edwards against Melinda Fábián.[9] She won the fight via split decision.[10]
Kim faced Antonina Shevchenko, replacing injured Ashlee Evans-Smith, on November 30, 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale.[11] At the weigh-ins, Kim weighed in at 130.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit of 126. She was fined 20 percent of her purse, which went to her opponent Shevchenko. The bout proceeded at catchweight.[12] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[13]
Kim is scheduled to face Nadia Kassem on October 6, 2019 at UFC 243.[14] At the weigh-ins, Kim weighed in at 128 pounds, 2 pound over the flyweight non-title fight limit of 126. Kim was fined 30% of her purse, which went to her opponent Kassem.[15] She won the fight via technical knockout in round two.[16]
Kim was scheduled to face Sabina Mazo on December 21, 2019 on UFC on ESPN+ 23.[17] However, on November 1, 2019, it was reported that Kim was forced to pull from the event due to undisclosed injury. [18]
Kim was scheduled to face Alexa Grasso on June 27, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker.[19] However, due to travel restrictions for both fighters due to COVID-19 pandemic, the bout was rescheduled on August 29, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 175.[20] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[21]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Jewels (mixed martial arts)
- Jewels Bantamweight Champion (One time) vs. Takayo Hashi[3]
- Gladiator
- Gladiator Bantamweight Champion (One time) vs. Miki Miyauchi[4]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
14 matches | 9 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 2 | 0 |
By submission | 3 | 0 |
By decision | 4 | 3 |
Draws | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 9–3–2 | Alexa Grasso | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić | August 29, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 9–2–2 | Nadia Kassem | KO (punch to the body) | UFC 243 | October 6, 2019 | 2 | 4:59 | Melbourne, Australia | Catchweight (128 lb) bout; Kim missed weight. |
Loss | 8–2–2 | Antonina Shevchenko | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale | November 30, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (130.5 lb) bout; Kim missed weight. |
Win | 8–1–2 | Melinda Fábián | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Edwards | June 23, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
Win | 7–1–2 | Justine Kish | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson | January 27, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Flyweight debut. |
Loss | 6–1–2 | Lucie Pudilová | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia | June 17, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
Win | 6–0–2 | Tao Li | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Top FC 13 | November 5, 2016 | 2 | 1:30 | Seoul, South Korea | |
Win | 5–0–2 | Jin Tang | Decision (unanimous) | Kunlun Fight: Cage Fight Series 5 / Top FC 11 | May 22, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Seoul, South Korea | Catchweight (131 lb) bout. |
Win | 4–0–2 | Takayo Hashi | Decision (unanimous) | Deep Jewels 9 | August 29, 2015 | 3 | 5;00 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the Jewels Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 3–0–2 | Hatice Ozyurt | Submission (armbar) | Road FC 23 | May 2, 2015 | 2 | 1:14 | Seoul, South Korea | Catchweight (138.2 lb) bout; Ozyurt missed weight. |
Win | 2–0–2 | Miki Miyauchi | TKO knees and punches) | Gladiator 81 | March 1, 2015 | 2 | 0:18 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the Gladiator Women’s Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 1–0–2 | Yukimi Kamikaze | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Road FC 18 | August 30, 2014 | 1 | 1:57 | Seoul, South Korea | Catchweight (132 lb) bout. |
Draw | 0–0–2 | Takayo Hashi | Draw (unanimous) | Road FC: Korea vs. Japan | March 9, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Seoul, South Korea | |
Draw | 0–0–1 | Shizuka Sugiyama | Draw (Majority) | Deep: Cage Impact 2013 | November 24, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Bantamweight debut. |
References
- "Ji Yeon Kim - Official UFC Fighter Profile". media.ufc.com. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- "Ji Yeon Kim ("Fire Fist") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- "Mizuki Inoue, Ji Yeon Kim Win Title Bouts At Deep Jewels 9". Women's MMA Today. 2015-08-29. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- "Women's MMA Report: Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg retain titles in a combined 60 seconds". MMAjunkie. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- King, John (2017-05-30). "Lucie Pudilova vs. Ji Yeon Kim official for UFC Singapore - The Sprawl MMA". The Sprawl MMA. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- "UFC Fight Night 111 results: Lucie Pudilova edges Ji Yeon Kim in curtain-jerker". MMAjunkie. 2017-06-17. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- "Kim Ji-yeon to face Justine Kish at UFC on FOX 27 | The Fight Nation". The Fight Nation. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- "UFC on FOX 27 results: Ji Yeon Kim takes split decision from stunned Justine Kish". MMAjunkie. 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- DNA, MMA (2018-05-28). "Women's Flyweight gevecht tussen Melinda Fabian en Ji Yeon Kim tijdens UFC Singapore". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- "UFC Fight Night 132 results: Ji Yeon Kim's power wins split-call over tactical Melinda Fabian". MMAjunkie. 2018-06-23. Retrieved 2018-09-01.
- Marc Raimondi (2018-11-08). "Antonina Shevchenko gets new opponent at TUF 28 Finale with Ashlee Evans-Smith out". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
- "TUF 28 Finale weigh-in results: Dos Anjos vs. Usman set, but two miss". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- "TUF 28 Finale results: Antonina Shevchenko picks apart Ji Yeon Kim in UFC debut". MMAjunkie. 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2018-12-01.
- DNA, MMA. "Tuivasa vs. Spivak en Kassem vs. Kim toegevoegd aan UFC 243 in Melbourne". Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "UFC 243 weigh-in results: Two miss weight, but Whittaker vs. Adesanya official". MMA Junkie. 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
- Anderson, Jay (2019-10-05). "UFC 243 Results: Ji Yeon Kim's Pressure Overwhelms Nadia Kassem". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
- ATSteveDuncan (2019-10-17). "Sabina Mazo vs. Kim Ji-Yeon agregado a UFC Busan". MMA.uno , #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- "Report: Ji Yeon Kim Off UFC Fight Night Busan | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
- Farah Hannoun (2020-03-13). "Alexa Grasso moves up to flyweight, faces Ji Yeon Kim at UFC Austin". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- Staff (2020-06-13). "Ji Yeon Kim and Alexa Grasso re-booked for the August 29 event". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-06-15. (in Dutch)
- Anderson, Jay (2020-08-29). "UFC Vegas 8 Results: Alexa Grasso Successful in Move to Flyweight, Beats Ji Yeon Kim". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-08-30.
- Sherdog.com. "Ji Yeon". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-10-16.