Aisling Daly

Aisling Daly
BornAisling Daly
(1987-12-24) 24 December 1987 (age 36)
Drimnagh, Dublin, Ireland
Other namesAis the Bash[1]
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
DivisionStrawweight
Flyweight
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Muay Thai[2]
Fighting out ofDublin, Ireland
TeamTeam KF Martial Arts, Swords, Ireland [1]
Straight Blast Gym Ireland
TrainerTom King (2nd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt [3]
Rank  Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Matt Thornton[4][5] under John Kavanagh
Years active2007–2015
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins16
By knockout5
By submission8
By decision3
Losses6
By knockout1
By decision5
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Aisling Daly (/ˈæʃlɪŋ ˈdeɪli/ ASH-ling DAY-lee; born 24 December 1987) is a retired Irish female professional mixed martial artist who last competed in the UFC women's strawweight division. Daly had been a professional MMA competitor since 2007.

Daly is well known for her participation in the reality TV series "The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned", season 20. The 12 episodes featured a single elimination tournament that was used to determine two finalists to compete for the first ever UFC woman's straw weight belt. Daly was eliminated in the quarterfinals, and as a result of her showing was offered and accepted a fight on the undercard of the championship fight, which she won.

Daly has competed in several divisions, including strawweight and flyweight. Daly has trained throughout her career at Straight Blast Gym Ireland, under SBGi head coach John Kavanagh. She received her Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from SBG head coach Matt Thornton in October 2016, becoming the first Irish female to earn the prestige.

On 30 January 2017 she officially retired from MMA due to an abnormality in a routine brain scan making it unlikely for her to be cleared to fight again.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Daly began her professional career in Denmark against Nicole Sydboge, defeating her in the second round via guillotine choke. This was followed up by a win over Annika Sitter via TKO after 22 seconds.

Cage Rage

Daly then signed with Cage Rage and debuted against Majanka Lathouwers. Daly won the fight by armbar submission in the second round. She later competed outside of Cage Rage against Nadia van der Wel and won the fight by TKO.

Daly returned at Cage Rage 25 and defeated Aysen Berik, younger sister of Cage Rage veteran Sami Berik, via corner stoppage less than two minutes into the fight, making her the first woman to win a professional bout in Cage Rage.[6][7] She then fought at Cage Rage Contenders and won via TKO, which was followed up by a win at Cage Rage 27 via rear naked choke.

Daly then made two more appearances after Cage Rage's dissolution, winning one via decision and another via TKO.

Bellator Fighting championships

Ranked as the number three female flyweight in the world and the top female mixed martial artist in Ireland, Daly signed with Bellator to compete in their women's 115 lbs tournament.[8]

Her opening round fight was against Lisa Ellis at Bellator 26.[9] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[10]

On 10 April 2011, it was announced that Daly had been released from her Bellator contract.[11]

Daly was scheduled to return to the promotion at Bellator 66 on 20 April 2012 to face Jessica Eye in an NAAFS title rematch.[12] However, Daly was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an ear infection.[13]

Outside of Bellator

Daly faced Molly Helsel at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 39 on 27 November 2010 in Cork, Ireland.[14] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[15]

Daly faced German Sheila Gaff at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 41 on 24 April 2011 in North London, England.[16] She was defeated by TKO in the first round.[17]

She next faced Jessica Eye at NAAFS: Fight Night In The Flats 7 on 4 June 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio.[18] Daly defeated Eye by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round to become NAAFS 125 lbs women's champion.[19]

On three days' notice, Daly agreed to face Angela Hayes at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship: Fight Night 2 on 8 September 2011 in Amman, Jordan. Daly replaced Sheila Gaff, who withdrew from the fight due to illness.[20] She defeated Hayes by armbar submission in 20 seconds.[21]

Daly was scheduled to face Roxanne Modafferi at BlackEye Promotions 5 on 1 October 2011 in Fletcher, North Carolina.[22] However, she was forced to withdraw from the fight due to contractual obligations to NAAFS and instead defended her title against Kelly Warren at NAAFS: Night of Champions 2011 on 23 November 2011 in Canton, Ohio.[23] Daly defeated Warren by submission due to an armbar in the second round.[24]

Daly had planned to compete in Ireland on 24 March 2012 at Battlezone Fighting Championships 5,[25] but her fight was cancelled when opponent Titiana van Polanen Petel suffered a shoulder injury.[12]

On 2 June 2012, Daly faced Rosi Sexton at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 47. The bout was part of a tournament to crown a Cage Warriors 125-pound women's champion.[26][27] Daly was defeated by unanimous decision.[28]

Daly next competed in a 120 lbs catchweight bout against Katja Kankaanpää at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 51 on 31 December 2012.[29] She was defeated by unanimous decision.[30]

Invicta Fighting championships

Daly faced Barb Honchak at Invicta Fighting Championships 3 on 6 October 2012.[31] She was defeated via unanimous decision.[32]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighter

On 3 July 2014, it was announced that Daly was one of the eight remaining contestants on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez.[33]

In the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez it was revealed that the UFC had seeded the fighters. Aisling was seeded 5th of 16 fighters and was paired with the no. 12 seed, Angela Magaña, who she fought in the preliminary round. Daly won the fight via TKO in the third round to advance in the tournament. She was defeated by no. 4 seed Jessica Penne in the quarterfinals via unanimous decision in 3 rounds.[34]

After TUF

Daly's first fight after The Ultimate Fighter was against Alex Chambers at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on 12 December 2014.[35] She was successful in her debut, winning by submission in the first round.

Daly was expected to face Cláudia Gadelha on 11 April 2015 at UFC Fight Night 64.[36] However, Gadelha pulled out of the bout in late March citing a recent muscle spasm in her back. Subsequently, Daly was pulled from the card entirely.[37] In turn, she was quickly re-booked and faced Randa Markos on 25 April 2015 at UFC 186.[38] Daly lost the fight by unanimous decision.[39]

Daly next faced Ericka Almeida on 24 October 2015 at UFC Fight Night: Holohan vs. Smolka. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[40]

On 30 January 2017 Daly announced her retirement following medical tests that revealed an abnormality as a result of a prior brain haemorrhage.[41]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
22 matches 16 wins 6 losses
By knockout 5 1
By submission 8 0
By decision 3 5
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 16–6 Ericka Almeida Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holohan vs. Smolka 24 October 2015 3 5:00 Dublin, Ireland
Loss 15–6 Randa Markos Decision (unanimous) UFC 186 25 April 2015 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 15–5 Alex Chambers Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale 12 December 2014 1 4:53 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Catchweight (118 lbs) bout; Daly missed weight.
Win 14–5 Karla Benitez Submission (armbar) Cage Warriors 63 31 December 2013 2 4:26 Dublin, Ireland Strawweight debut.
Loss 13–5 Katja Kankaanpää Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors: 51 31 December 2012 3 5:00 Dublin, Ireland Catchweight (120 lbs) bout.
Loss 13–4 Barb Honchak Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama 6 October 2012 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Loss 13–3 Rosi Sexton Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors: 47 2 June 2012 3 5:00 Dublin, Ireland CWFC Women's Flyweight Tournament Semi-final
Win 13–2 Kelly Warren Submission (armbar) NAAFS: Night of Champions 2011 23 November 2011 2 4:39 Canton, Ohio, United States Defended NAAFS 125 lbs Women's Championship
Win 12–2 Angela Hayes Submission (armbar) Cage Warriors: Fight Night 2 8 September 2011 1 0:20 Amman, Jordan
Win 11–2 Jessica Eye Submission (rear-naked choke) NAAFS: Fight Night In The Flats 7 4 June 2011 2 4:00 Cleveland, Ohio, United States Won NAAFS 125 lbs Women's Championship
Loss 10–2 Sheila Gaff TKO (knees and punches) Cage Warriors: 41 24 April 2011 1 1:34 North London, United Kingdom
Win 10–1 Molly Helsel Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 39: The Uprising 27 November 2010 3 5:00 Cork, Ireland
Loss 9–1 Lisa Ellis Decision (unanimous) Bellator 26 26 August 2010 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 9–0 Maiju Kujala Decision (unanimous) Rumble in Rush 2 7 November 2009 3 5:00 Dublin, Ireland
Win 8–0 Tevi Say TKO (punches) Cage of Truth 4 22 November 2008 1 2:30 Dublin, Ireland
Win 7–0 Eva Liskova Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Rage 27 12 July 2008 1 1:18 London, United Kingdom
Win 6–0 Myriem el Banouti TKO (punches) Cage Rage Contenders - Ireland vs. Belgium 3 May 2008 1 1:38 Dublin, Ireland
Win 5–0 Aysen Berik TKO (corner stoppage) Cage Rage 25 8 March 2008 1 1:49 London, United Kingdom
Win 4–0 Nadia van der Wel TKO (punches) COT 1 – Battle on the Bay 24 November 2007 2 2:39 Dublin, Ireland
Win 3–0 Myriem Lathouwers Submission (armbar) Cage Rage Contenders: Dynamite 29 September 2007 2 4:43 Dublin, Ireland
Win 2–0 Annika Sitter TKO (punches) ROT 7 – The Next Level 28 July 2007 1 0:22 Dublin, Ireland
Win 1–0 Nicole Sydboge Submission (guillotine choke) Adrenaline 1 – Feel the Rush 5 May 2007 2 1:00 Hvidovre, Denmark

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Jessica Penne Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned 26 November 2014 (airdate) 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Quarterfinal round
Win 1–0 Angela Magaña TKO (punches) 29 October 2014 (airdate) 3 2:34 TUF 20 Elimination round

Championships and accomplishments

  • North American Allied Fight Series 125 lbs Women's Champion (One time; current)
    • One successful title defence

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Aisling "Ais the Bash" Daly Interview". FighterGirls.com. 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  2. ^ "Aisling Daly Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. ^ "AISLING DALY: "EXPECT AGGRESSIVE, ENTERTAINING PERFORMANCES FROM ME"". FightHype.com. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  4. ^ "Aisling Daly – Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  5. ^ McGuire, Mary (8 November 2014). "Women in Sport: Aisling Daly Prepares For The UFC Stage". Her.ie. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  6. ^ "European Throwdown – Three to Watch". Sherdog.com. 22 April 2008.
  7. ^ "'Buzz' Stings Shamrock at Cage Rage". Sherdog.com. 9 March 2008.
  8. ^ "Aisling Daly added to women's tournament". Bellator.com. 22 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Ward vs Daly Now Likely For Bellator 26". MMARising.com. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Lisa Ward Defeats Aisling Daly at Bellator 26". MMARising.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Bellator Fighting Championships Releases Aisling Daly". MMARising.com. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Jessica Eye vs Aisling Daly Rematch Added To Bellator 66". MMARising.com. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Daly Out, Jessica Eye To Face Anita Rodriguez at Bellator 66". MMARising.com. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Sexton vs Krumdiack, Daly vs Helsel at CWFC 39". MMARising.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Rosi Sexton, Aisling Daly Win at Cage Warriors 39". MMARising.com. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  16. ^ "Aisling Daly vs Sheila Gaff Agreed For Cage Warriors 41". MMARising.com. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  17. ^ "Sheila Gaff Quickly Stops Aisling Daly at Cage Warriors 41". MMARising.com. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  18. ^ "Jessica Eye To Face Aisling Daly at June 4 NAAFS Event". MMARising.com. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  19. ^ "NAAFS: "Fight Night In The Flats 7" Play-By-Play & Results". MMARising.com. 4 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Sheila Gaff Out, Daly To Face Hayes at CWFC: Fight Night 2". MMARising.com. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  21. ^ "Aisling Daly Submits Angela Hayes at CWFC: Fight Night 2". MMARising.com. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  22. ^ "Roxanne Modafferi vs Aisling Daly Targeted For BlackEye 5". MMARising.com. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  23. ^ "NAAFS Moves Aisling Daly vs Kelly Warren To November 23". MMARising.com. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  24. ^ "Jessica Eye, Aisling Daly Win At "Night of Champions 2011"". MMARising.com. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  25. ^ "Aisling Daly To Face Titiana Van Polanen Petel on March 24". MMARising.com. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Cage Warriors 125-Pound Women's Tournament Set For April". MMARising.com. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  27. ^ "Rosi Sexton vs Aisling Daly Official For CWFC 47 on June 2". MMARising.com. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  28. ^ "Rosi Sexton Defeats Aisling Daly at Cage Warriors 47". MMARising.com. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  29. ^ "Cage Warriors 51: Daly v Kankaanpaa, James v Philpott". CageWarriors.com. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  30. ^ "Katja Kankaanpää Defeats Aisling Daly at Cage Warriors 51". MMARising.com. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  31. ^ "Barb Honchak vs Aisling Daly Set For Invicta FC 3 Main Card". MMARising.com. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  32. ^ "Invicta FC 3 Results: Jessica Penne Captures Atomweight Title". MMARising.com. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  33. ^ "Full 'TUF 20' cast revealed, includes eight new additions". mmajunkie.com. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  34. ^ Reid, Roberto (27 November 2014). "Performance Replay: Jessica Penne vs. Aisling Daly". mmaplus.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  35. ^ Matt Erickson (11 December 2013). "TUF 20 Finale adds six fights in Las Vegas, including Herrig-Ellis, Torres-Magana". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  36. ^ Staff (12 February 2015). "Ireland's Aisling Daly meets Claudia Gadelha at UFC Fight Night Krakow". ufc.co.nz.
  37. ^ Sean Sheehan (27 March 2015). "Claudia Gadelha reveals she has withdrawn from bout with Aisling Daly in Poland". severemma.com. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  38. ^ Staff (31 March 2015). "With Gadelha out, Aisling Daly vs. Randa Markos official for UFC 186 in Montreal". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  39. ^ Fowlkes, Ben (25 April 2015). "UFC 186 results: Randa Markos outworks 'TUF 20' teammate Aisling Daly". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  40. ^ Brookhouse, Brent (24 October 2015). "UFC Fight Night 76 results: Emotional Aisling Daly punches past Ericka Almeida". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  41. ^ Aisling Daly [@aisydaly] (30 January 2017). "I will be officially retiring from the sport of MMA. This past year a routine brain scan showed up evidence of an abnormality, the remnant of a small haemorrhage that had taken place at some point in the months previous..." – via Instagram.