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Biography
Liana Jojua (born March 22, 1995) is a Georgian mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. She has formerly fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and she was also the inaugural and former Fight Nights Global Women's Bantamweight Champion.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Jojua's interest in MMA started after watching Gina Carano's fights as a 16-year-old. Coming from a background in Muay Thai, she made her MMA debut in September 2015. After winning her initial fight, she went on a two-fight skid in 2016, but Jojua hit her stride and went on a five-fight win streak which culminated in her winning the FNG Women's Bantamweight Championship against Marina Mokhnatkina.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Jojua faced Sarah Moras on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. At the weigh-ins, Moras weighed in at 138 lbs, 2 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136 lbs. Moras was fined 20% of her fight purse to Jojua, and the bout proceeded at catchweight. Jojua lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
Move down to flyweight
Jojua faced Diana Belbiţă at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige on July 16, 2020. She won the fight via armbar in first round.
Jojua faced Miranda Maverick on October 24, 2020at UFC 254. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.
Jojua was expected to face Cortney Casey on August 21, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 29. However, Jojua was forced out of the fight due to visa issues. The matchup was rescheduled at UFC Fight Night 197 on November 13, 2021. At the weigh-ins, Jojua weighed in at 128.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight with Jojua fined 30% of her purse, which went to her opponent Casey. Jojua lost the bout via unanimous decision.
After the loss, it was announced that Jojua was released from UFC.
Post UFC
Jojua made her first appearance post UFC release and faced Dariya Zheleznyakova on May 20, 2022 at Ares FC 6. She lost by the way of unanimous decision.
Personal life
She is a teacher and graduated from Moscow State Pedagogical University. She also has a secondary musical education in vocals and piano.
Championships and accomplishments
- Fight Nights Global
- FNG Women's Bantamweight Championship (One time; inaugural)
Mixed martial arts record
| 14 matches | 8 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 2 |
| By submission | 6 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 8–6 | Dariya Zheleznyakova | Decision (unanimous) | Ares FC 6 | May 20, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Loss | 8–5 | Cortney Casey | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez | November 13, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (128.5 lb) bout; Jojua missed weight. |
| Loss | 8–4 | Miranda Maverick | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 254 | October 24, 2020 | 1 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 8–3 | Diana Belbiţă | Submission (armbar) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige | July 16, 2020 | 1 | 2:47 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Flyweight debut. |
| Loss | 7–3 | Sarah Moras | TKO (punches) | UFC 242 | September 7, 2019 | 3 | 2:26 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Catchweight (138 lb) bout; Moras missed weight. |
| Win | 7–2 | Marina Mokhnatkina | Decision (majority) | Fight Nights Global 83: Alibekov vs. Aliev | February 22, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | Won the inaugural FNG Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–2 | Viktoriya Shalimova | Submission (heel hook) | Emir FC: Selection 1 | December 29, 2017 | 1 | 0:28 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 5–2 | Karina Vasilenko | Submission (armbar) | Fight Nights Global 71: Mineev vs. Michailidis | July 29, 2017 | 1 | 4:15 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 4–2 | Tao Li | Submission (armbar) | Kunlun Fight MMA 7 | December 15, 2016 | 1 | 3:14 | Beijing, China | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 3–2 | Valeria Pak | Submission (armbar) | SLMMA 7: Ivanov vs. Karapetyan | November 6, 2016 | 2 | N/A | Moscow, Russia | Featherweight debut. |
| Loss | 2–2 | Na Liang | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WLF E.P.I.C. 7 | August 20, 2016 | 2 | N/A | Zhengzhou, China | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Zamzagul Fayzallanova | Decision (split) | Alash Pride: Atyrau the Beautiful | January 16, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Atyrau, Kazakhstan | Catchweight (143 lb) |
| Win | 2–0 | Tatyana Pevneva | TKO (punches) | Octagon Fighting Sensation 5 | October 3, 2015 | 1 | 3:07 | Yaroslavl, Russia | Catchweight (137 lb) |
| Win | 1–0 | Ekaterina Golovatova | Submission (armbar) | Kumite Fight 4 | September 27, 2015 | 3 | N/A | Moscow, Russia | Bantamweight debut. |