Sara McMann

Sara McMann (born September 24, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler. She is the first American woman in history to receive a silver medal in Olympic wrestling, which she won at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. She wrestled in the Women's Freestyle 63 kg or 138.75 lb weight class. McMann won silver medal in the 2003 world championships and a bronze medal in the 2005 and 2007 world championships. She started wrestling at the age of 14 in Marion, North Carolina at McDowell High School.
McMann was ranked in 2014 as the No. 12 pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com McMann is currently ranked as the No. 10 banthamweight female fighter according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings. In the UFC McMann is currently ranked as the No. 7 in the official UFC women's bantamweight rankings.

McMann's parents are Paula Jean and Thomas William McMann. She has one sister, Nickolina, and had one brother, Jason. Jason, who wrestled at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Maryland, was murdered January 23, 1999 at the age of 21.

McMann attended McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina where she was coached by Timothy Hutchins. In addition to wrestling, she participated in theatre productions. She earned a degree in Theatre at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the school's wrestling team under the coaching of Carl Poff from 1999 to 2003. She previously attended University of Minnesota Morris from 1998 to 1999, where she was coached by Doug Reese.

In August 2010, McMann was awarded a MA/EDS with a major in mental health counseling from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

McMann does volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity, a Christian housing ministry. She traveled to Sri Lanka with Olympic teammates to help victims of the Tsunami rebuild homes for those displaced by the tidal wave. She also helps with youth clubs and speaks to upcoming girls and boys about wrestling.

On September 3, 2004, while driving her Jeep in Colorado on the way to Iowa with her fiance, former ASU three-time NCAA All-American wrestler Steven Blackford as her passenger, the vehicle ran off the road and rolled over. He was ejected from the vehicle, and died at the scene. McMann was hospitalized with a broken arm and other minor injuries, and later charged with careless driving.

McMann is the mother of one child, a daughter who was born in 2009. The father is Trent Goodale former head wrestling coach at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. As of August 29, 2014 Sara McMann has officially taken on the nickname of "THE" Sara McMann. The nickname was originally started by her Revolution Fight Team and close friends. It became official upon her 5-year-old daughter saying "OMG is that "THE" Sara McMann."

McMann announced in late 2010 that she had signed a three-fight contract with Strikeforce. She planned to fight at 135 pounds. However, she did not sign on with the promotion due to an extension clause in the contract.

McMann was first scheduled to make her professional mixed martial arts debut on November 14, 2010 in Jamaica, but the event was cancelled due to safety problems with the cage.

She then had more fights fall apart after opponents backed out, including a scheduled April 30, 2011 fight against Mariah Johnson.

On May 28, 2011, McMann made her pro MMA debut at Universal Cage Combat: Revolution. She defeated Christina Marks by submission in the first round.

McMann faced fellow Olympian Julie Malenfant at Blackeye Promotions 4 on June 17, 2011. McMann defeated Malenfant by TKO early in the first round.

McMann faced Tonya Evinger at Titan Fighting Championships 19 on July 29, 2011. The fight served as the co-main event. McMann defeated Evinger by unanimous decision.

ProElite

After ProElite reincarnated under new management, McMann faced Raquel Pa'aluhi on the promotion's first event post-EliteXC at ProElite 1: Arlovski vs. Lopez on August 27, 2011. She defeated Pa'aluhi by submission due to an americana in the third round.

McMann returned to ProElite to face Hitomi Akano at ProElite 3 on January 21, 2012. She defeated Akano by unanimous decision.

Invicta Fighting Championships

On April 28, it was announced that McMann would face Shayna Baszler in the main event of Invicta Fighting Championships 2. The event took place on July 28, 2012. McMann defeated Baszler via unanimous decision and the bout was named fight of the night. The bout was a title eliminator, with the winner scheduled to face the winner of Alexis Davis vs. Hitomi Akano.

Strikeforce

On September 4, 2012, it was announced McMann had signed with Strikeforce. She was expected to debut at Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir against former bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche, but the event was cancelled.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In February 2013, McMann officially joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It was rumored she turned down a fight with then-title holder Ronda Rousey. However, this was false information and no such fight was offered or even presented to McMann at the time. She became the third female to earn a victory in the UFC by defeating Sheila Gaff at UFC 159.

McMann was slated to face former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman on August 28, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 27. However, McMann withdrew from the bout for, at the time, undisclosed personal reasons. In January 2015, she disclosed that the reason for withdrawing was due to her father battling aggressive lymphoma.

McMann faced Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 170. She lost the fight by TKO after getting knocked down with a knee to the body. This stoppage created controversy, with many sports writers and attendants finding it premature.

McMann faced promotional newcomer Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night 47 on August 16, 2014. McMann won the fight by split decision.

McMann faced Miesha Tate at UFC 183 on January 31, 2015. Despite a strong first round, she lost by majority decision.

McMann faced Amanda Nunes on August 8, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 73. She lost the fight via submission in the first round.

McMann faced Jessica Eye at UFC Fight Night 88 on May 29, 2016. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Sara Mcmann then fought Alexis Davis and beat her by arm triangle choke in Rd 2 after controlling her with her wrestling and transitions

She is expected to face Liz Carmouche at UFC Fight Night 105, on February 19th, 2017.

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Alexis Davis
• Invicta Fighting Championships
  • Fight of the Night (One time)
• Women's MMA Awards
  • 2011 Mighty Mia Inspirational Fighter of the Year

Submission grappling

• ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
  • 2011 North American Championships Silver Medalist
• International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
  • 2009 FILA Grappling World Championships Senior Women's No-Gi Gold Medalist
• USA Wrestling
  • FILA World Team Trials Senior Women's No-Gi 3rd Place (2009)
• North American Grappling Association
  • 2014 North American Championships Women's No-Gi Gold Medalist
  • 2011 North Carolina Championships Women's No-Gi Gold Medalist
  • 2010 Southeast Championships Women's No-Gi Gold Medalist
  • 2009 Southeast Championships Women's No-Gi Gold Medalist

Amateur wrestling

• International Olympic Committee
  • 2004 Summer Olympics Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
• International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
  • 2009 Sunkist Kids International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2007 NYAC Holiday International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2007 Sunkist Kids International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships Senior Women's Freestyle Bronze Medalist
  • 2007 Warsaw Cup Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2007 Pan American Games Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2007 World Cup Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2007 Klippan Lady's Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2007 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2006 World Cup Senior Women's Freestyle Bronze Medalist
  • 2005 FILA Wrestling World Championships Senior Women's Freestyle Bronze Medalist
  • 2004 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Bronze Medalist
  • 2004 Manitoba Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2004 FILA Olympic Test Tournament Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2003 NYAC Christmas International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2003 Women's Championship Cup of Wrestling Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2003 Sunkist Kids International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2003 World Cup Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2003 FILA Wrestling World Championships Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2003 Pan American Games Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2003 Klippan Lady's Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2003 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2002 Henri Deglane Challenge Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2002 Yarygin Memorial International Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2002 Klippan Lady's Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2001 Sunkist Kids International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2001 Pan American Championships Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2001 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2001 Manitoba Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2000 Clansman International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2000 Sunkist Kids International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
  • 2000 Pan American Championships Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2000 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
• USA Wrestling
  • USA Senior Women's Freestyle Olympic Team Trials Winner (2004)
  • USA Senior Women's Freestyle Olympic Team Trials Runner-up (2008)
  • FILA Senior Women's Freestyle World Team Trials Winner (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  • FILA Junior Women's Freestyle World Team Trials Winner (1999, 2000)
  • USA Senior Women's Freestyle National Championship (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)
  • USA Senior Women's Freestyle National Championship Runner-up (2004, 2008)
  • USA University Women's Freestyle National Championship (2002)
  • USA University Women's Freestyle National Championship Runner-up (1998)
  • Northern Plains Senior Women's Freestyle Regional Championship (2008)
  • 2010 ASICS U.S. Open Wrestling Championships Senior Women's Freestyle Silver Medalist
  • 2006 Missouri Valley Showcase Senior Women's Freestyle Gold Medalist
• United States Girls' Wrestling Association
  • USGWA High School National Championship (1998)