| Cory McKenna | |
| Other Names: | Poppins |
| Birth Date: | 11 July 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Cwmbran, Wales |
| Weight Lb: | 115 |
| Reach: | 58.0 in[1] |
| Rank: | Brown belt in jiu-jitsu. |
| Stance: | Orthodox |
| Fighting Out Of: | Cwmbran, Wales |
| Team: | Team Alpha Male |
| Years Active: | 2018–present |
| Mma Kowin: | 2 |
| Mma Subwin: | 2 |
| Mma Decwin: | 4 |
| Mma Subloss: | 1 |
| Mma Decloss: | 2 |
| Sherdog: | 178347 |
Cory McKenna (born 11 July 1999) is a Welsh professional mixed martial artist who competes as a strawweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. She has also competed for Cage Warriors.
Born in Wales, McKenna spent the majority of her childhood in Colchester, England due to her father's role in the army. Her mother, Wendy, also competes in mixed martial arts and has a professional record of 1–2.[2]
McKenna began training in karate aged 10, and after advancing through Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, started training in mixed martial arts aged 13. She became a full-time athlete two years later while occasionally coaching to help fund fights. As an amateur, McKenna went 7–0 and held championships at strawweight and featherweight.[3] [4]
In March 2018, McKenna made her professional debut at Cage Warriors 91 and beat Maria Vittoria Colonna after a first-round retirement.[5] She faced Eva Dourthe three months later at Cage Warriors 94 and won via split decision.[6] In September 2018, McKenna suffered her first defeat after a split decision loss against Micol Di Segni at Cage Warriors 97.[7]
In April 2019, McKenna faced Fannie Redman at Cage Warriors 104. She won the fight via rear naked choke in the second round.[8] A month later, she beat Giulia Chinello at Cage Warriors 105 via ground and pound in the first round.[9] In October 2019, McKenna was due to fight Griet Eeckhout at Cage Warriors 108, but the fight was cancelled after her opponent failed to make weight.[10] In April 2020, her fight with Lanchana Green was also called off after Cage Warriors 114 was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.[10] [11]
On 11 August 2020, McKenna appeared on Dana White's Contender Series 2020.[12] After winning via unanimous decision against Vanessa Demopoulos, McKenna was awarded a UFC contract.[13] The deal saw her became the first Welsh female and youngest ever British fighter to sign for the promotion.[14]
McKenna made her promotional debut against Kay Hansen on 14 November 2020 at .[15] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]
In her sophomore performance, she faced Elise Reed on 19 March 2022, at .[17] She lost the fight via split decision.[18]
McKenna faced Miranda Granger on 6 August 2022 at UFC on ESPN 40.[19] She won the fight via a shoulder choke in round two.[20]
McKenna faced Cheyanne Vlismas on 17 December 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216.[21] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
McKenna faced Jaqueline Amorim on March 16, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 239.[23] She lost the bout via an armbar submmission in the first round.[24]
McKenna is scheduled to face Polyana Viana on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244.[25]
McKenna is a keen painter and often shares her artwork on Instagram.
|-|Loss|align=center|8–3|Jaqueline Amorim|Submission (armbar)|||align=center|1|align=center|1:38|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–2|Cheyanne Vlismas|Decision (unanimous)|| |align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–2|Miranda Granger|Submission (Von Flue choke)|||align=center| 2|align=center|1:03|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|6–2|Elise Reed|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|London, England||-|Win|align=center| 6–1|Kay Hansen|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center| 5–1|Vanessa Demopoulos|Decision (unanimous)|Dana White's Contender Series 28||align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center| 4–1|Giulia Chinello|TKO (punches)|Cage Warriors 105||align=center| 1|align=center| 2:15|Colchester, England||-|Win|align=center| 3–1|Fannie Redman|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Cage Warriors 104||align=center| 2|align=center| 2:06|Cardiff, Wales||-|Loss|align=center| 2–1|Micol Di Segni|Decision (split)|Cage Warriors 97||align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Cardiff, Wales||-|Win|align=center| 2–0|Eva Dourthe|Decision (split)|Cage Warriors 94||align=center| 3|align=center| 5:00|Antwerp, Belgium||-|Win|align=center| 1–0|Maria Vittoria Colonna|TKO (corner stoppage)|Cage Warriors 91||align=center| 1|align=center| 5:00|Newport, Wales||-[27]