Bec Rawlings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bec Rawlings |
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Rawlings in 2022
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| Born | 11 February 1989 Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Other names | Rowdy |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
| Division | Strawweight (2012–2016) Flyweight (2017–present) |
| Reach | 64 in (163 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Team | Impact MMA (until 2014) Alliance MMA (2014–present) Gamebred Combat Club (present) |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 17 |
| Wins | 8 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 6 |
Bec Rawlings (born 11 February 1989) is an Australian athlete who competes in two exciting sports: mixed martial arts (MMA) and bare-knuckle boxing. She is known for her tough and aggressive fighting style.
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Early Life and Start in Sports
Bec Rawlings grew up in Tasmania, Australia. When she was younger, she loved playing many different sports. These included basketball, gymnastics, and athletics.
As a teenager, Bec found it hard to stay motivated. In 2010, she discovered mixed martial arts. She decided to try MMA as a way to challenge herself. This is where she met professional MMA fighter Dan Hyatt. Meeting him made her want to become an MMA fighter too.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Bec Rawlings is known for her strong and aggressive way of fighting. She started her MMA journey in Launceston, Tasmania, in 2010. To get more chances to fight, she moved to Brisbane, Australia, in early 2011.
First Fights in Australia
Bec had her first professional MMA fight on 15 October 2011. It was at an event called BRACE 12 in Hobart, Tasmania. She fought Rhiannon Thompson. Even though Bec lost this first fight, it was called the "fight of the night" because it was so exciting.
After her first fight, Bec worked hard to find more opportunities. She wanted to fight in her best weight class. She quickly won two fights by making her opponents give up. She beat Sarah Morrison and Daniela Marjanovic. She then won two more fights against Rachel Sheridan and Christina Tatnell. This gave her a winning streak of four fights in 2012. Because she was doing so well, a big North American fighting company, Invicta Fighting Championships, noticed her.
Fighting in Invicta FC
In November 2012, Bec Rawlings signed a contract with Invicta Fighting Championships. She was going to compete in their strawweight division. Her first big fight was against Carla Esparza for the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship. Bec lost this fight by a decision from the judges.
Even though she lost, this fight was her first outside Australia. Her strong personality also helped her get a lot of attention in the Australian news. The president of Invicta FC was very surprised by how popular Bec became. Fans even voted her their "2012 Favourite Female Fighter."
Bec's next fight in Invicta FC was against Jasminka Cive on 5 April 2013. She won this fight in the first round by making her opponent give up. Later, she fought Mizuki Inoue on 13 July 2013. Bec lost this fight by a decision.
Joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Bec's contract with Invicta FC was moved to the UFC in December 2013. This happened when the UFC created a new division for women strawweight fighters. The UFC also announced a special TV show called The Ultimate Fighter. This show would find the first UFC women's strawweight champion.
The Ultimate Fighter Show
Bec was chosen to be on the show. She was picked by coach Gilbert Melendez. She was supposed to fight Justine Kish, but Justine got hurt. So, Bec fought Tecia Torres instead. Bec lost this fight by a decision after two rounds.
After The Ultimate Fighter
After the show, Bec had her first official UFC fight on 12 December 2014. She fought Heather Jo Clark and lost by a decision.
Bec was set to fight Seo Hee Ham in May 2015. But Ham had to pull out, and Lisa Ellis took her place. Bec won this fight in the first round by making Ellis give up.
Her next fight was planned against Paige VanZant on 27 August 2016. Bec lost this fight in the second round. She was knocked out after a flying head kick and punches from VanZant.
Bec fought Tecia Torres again on 4 February 2017. Bec weighed in a little over the limit for her weight class. So, she had to give 20% of her prize money to Tecia Torres. Bec lost this fight by a decision.
Moving to Flyweight
Bec decided to move up to the flyweight division. She was supposed to fight Joanne Calderwood in November 2017. But Calderwood pulled out, and Jessica-Rose Clark stepped in. Clark also weighed in over the limit. Bec lost this fight by a split decision, meaning some judges thought she won, and others thought she lost.
Bec's last UFC fight was against Ashlee Evans-Smith on 7 April 2018. She lost this fight by a decision. After losing four fights in a row, Bec was no longer part of the UFC.
Fighting in Bellator MMA
After doing well in bare-knuckle boxing, Bec signed a contract with Bellator. She had her first fight with Bellator on 25 October 2019 against Ilara Joanne. She lost this fight by her opponent making her give up in the second round.
Bec then fought Elina Kallionidou on 22 February 2020. She won this fight by a decision from the judges. In July 2021, it was announced that Bec was no longer fighting for Bellator.
Bare-Knuckle Boxing Career
In bare-knuckle boxing, fighters use their fists without gloves.
First Time in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
On 9 May 2018, it was announced that Bec would join the Bare Knuckle FC (BKFC). She fought Alma Garcia at the very first BKFC event on 2 June 2018. Bec won the fight because Garcia could not continue after the second round. Soon after her win, Bec was given the first ever Police Gazette Women's Featherweight World Championship. This is a big title in bare-knuckle boxing.
Bec defended her title for the first time against Britain Hart on 25 August 2018. She won this fight by a split decision. On 2 February 2019, Bec Rawlings beat Cecilia Flores by a unanimous decision in Mexico.
Return to BKFC
In July 2021, Bec signed a new contract with BKFC. She was scheduled to fight Britain Hart again on 13 May 2022, but the fight was canceled. They rescheduled the fight for 24 June 2022. Bec lost this fight by a unanimous decision.
She then challenged Christine Ferea for the BKFC Women's Flyweight Championship twice. She lost both times, first by a technical knockout in April 2023, and then by a unanimous decision in December 2023.
Bec Rawlings is scheduled to fight Taylor Starling on 25 January 2025.
Professional Boxing Career
Bec Rawlings also tried professional boxing. She had her first boxing match against Natasha Kurene on 3 December 2022. She lost this fight by a unanimous decision.
Personal Life
Bec Rawlings has two sons. She was previously married to Dan Hyatt, but they divorced in 2013. In 2014, she started using her maiden name, Rawlings. She was in a relationship with fellow Australian MMA fighter Ben Wall, but they later separated. As of 2018, Bec is in a relationship with Australian professional boxer Adrian Rodriguez.
Achievements and Awards
Bare-knuckle boxing
- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
- Police Gazette Women's Featherweight World Championship (one time)
- She successfully defended this title two times.
- Police Gazette Women's Featherweight World Championship (one time)
Images for kids
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Rawlings in 2022
See also
In Spanish: Bec Rawlings para niños
- List of female mixed martial artists
