"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 was a Silver Medalist in 2003 World Championships and Bronze Medalist in 2005 & 2007 World Championships. She started wrestling at the age of 14 in Marion, North Carolina at McDowell High School.

McMann is currently ranked as the No. 11 pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com and the No. 5 135-pound female fighter according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.

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

McMann attended McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina where, in addition to wrestling, she participated in theatre productions. She earned a degree in Theatre at Lock Haven University, where she was a member of the school's wrestling team under the coaching of Carl Poff from 1999-2003. She previously attended University of Minnesota-Morris from 1998-1999, where she was coached by Doug Reese. She has graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.

Sara does volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and Safe Homes. 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 the 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. Blackford was attending the Columbus Law School at Catholic University.

McMann is the mother of one child, a daughter who was born in 2009. The father is McMann's partner Trent Goodale, the head wrestling coach at Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina.

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 issues 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.

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.

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.

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.

In February 2013, McMann officially joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship. On April 27, 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 undisclosed personal reasons. As a result, Kaufman was pulled from the event as well.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Invicta Fighting Championships
  • Fight of the Night (One time)

• Women's MMA Awards
  • 2011 Mighty Mia Inspirational Fighter of the Year

Submission grappling

• Abu Dhabi Combat Club
  • 2011 ADCC 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
  • 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)

Mixed martial arts record

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	7-0	Sheila Gaff	TKO (punches)	UFC 159	April 27, 2013	1	4:06	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win	6-0	Shayna Baszler	Decision (unanimous)	Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann	July 28, 2012	3	5:00	Kansas City, Kansas, United States	Invicta FC Bantamweight title eliminator; Fight of the Night.
Win	5-0	Hitomi Akano	Decision (unanimous)	ProElite 3: Da Spyder vs. Minowaman	January 21, 2012	3	5:00	Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win	4-0	Raquel Pa'aluhi	Submission (americana)	ProElite 1: Arlovski vs. Lopez	August 27, 2011	3	2:53	Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win	3-0	Tonya Evinger	Decision (unanimous)	Titan Fighting Championships 19	July 29, 2011	3	5:00	Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win	2-0	Julie Malenfant	Submission (punches)	BlackEye Promotions 4	June 17, 2011	1	0:32	Fletcher, North Carolina, United States
Win	1-0	Christina Marks	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Universal Cage Combat: Revolution	May 28, 2011	1	1:41	Lawrenceburg, Indiana, United States

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org