Liana Jojua Explained

Liana Jojua
Other Names:She Wolf
Birth Date:22 March 1995
Birth Place:Tbilisi, Georgia
Nationality:Georgian
Russian
Weight Lb:125
Weight Class:Flyweight
Bantamweight
Reach:62 in[1]
Style:Muay Thai, Wrestling, Kudo
Stance:Orthodox
Fighting Out Of:Grozny, Russia
Team:Akhmat Fighting Club
Syndicate MMA (2021–present)[2]
Years Active:2015–present
Mma Kowin:1
Mma Subwin:6
Mma Decwin:1
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Subloss:1
Mma Decloss:3
Sherdog:208997

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.[3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Jojua faced Sarah Moras on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242.[4] [5] 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.[6] Jojua lost the fight via TKO in the third round.[7]

Move down to flyweight

Jojua faced Diana Belbiţă at on July 16, 2020. She won the fight via armbar in first round.[8]

Jojua faced Miranda Maverick on October 24, 2020 at UFC 254.[9] She lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.[10]

Jojua was expected to face Cortney Casey on August 21, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 29.[11] However, Jojua was forced out of the fight due to visa issues.[12] The matchup was rescheduled at UFC Fight Night 197 on November 13, 2021.[13] 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.[14] Jojua lost the bout via unanimous decision.[15]

After the loss, it was announced that Jojua was released from UFC.[16]

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.[17]

Personal life

She is a teacher and graduated from Moscow State Pedagogical University. She also has a secondary musical education in vocals and piano.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Loss|align=center|8–6|Dariya Zheleznyakova|Decision (unanimous)|Ares FC 6||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Paris, France||-|Loss|align=center|8–5|Cortney Casey|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-| Loss| align=center|8–4| Miranda Maverick| TKO (doctor stoppage)| UFC 254| | align=center|1| align=center|5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-| Win| align=center|8–3| Diana Belbiţă|Submission (armbar)| ||align=center|1|align=center|2:47|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-| Loss| align=center|7–3| Sarah Moras|TKO (punches)|UFC 242 ||align=center|3|align=center|2:26|Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates||-| Win| align=center|7–2| Marina Mokhnatkina| Decision (majority)| Fight Nights Global 83: Alibekov vs. Aliev| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Moscow, Russia||-| Win| align=center|6–2| Viktoriya Shalimova| Submission (heel hook)|Emir FC: Selection 1| | align=center|1| align=center|0:28| Moscow, Russia||-| Win| align=center| 5–2| Karina Vasilenko|Submission (armbar)|Fight Nights Global 71: Mineev vs. Michailidis||align=center| 1|align=center| 4:15| Moscow, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 4–2| Tao Li| Submission (armbar)| Kunlun Fight MMA 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:14| Beijing, China||-| Win| align=center| 3–2| Valeria Pak| Submission (armbar)| SLMMA 7: Ivanov vs. Karapetyan| | align=center| 2| align=center| N/A| Moscow, Russia| |-| Loss| align=center| 2–2| Na Liang| Submission (rear-naked choke)| WLF E.P.I.C. 7| | align=center| 2| align=center| N/A| Zhengzhou, China| |-| Loss| align=center| 2–1| Zamzagul Fayzallanova| Decision (split)| Alash Pride: Atyrau the Beautiful| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Atyrau, Kazakhstan| |-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Tatyana Pevneva| TKO (punches)| Octagon Fighting Sensation 5| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:07| Yaroslavl, Russia||-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Ekaterina Golovatova| Submission (armbar)| Kumite Fight 4| | align=center| 3| align=center| N/A| Moscow, Russia|[20]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stats UFC. 2021-04-02. ufcstats.com.
  2. Web site: Full Steam Ahead For Liana Jojua. November 12, 2021. Ultimate Fighting Championship. McKenzie Pavacich.
  3. Web site: Welcome to the UFC: Liana Jojuad. CageSide Press. Staff. 2019-06-15. 2020-09-07.
  4. Web site: Liana Jojua faces Sarah Moras at UFC 242. 2019-06-20. AsianMMA. en. 2019-09-06.
  5. Web site: Welcome to the UFC: Liana Jojuad. CageSide Press. Staff. 2019-06-15. 2020-09-07.
  6. Web site: UFC 242 weigh-in results: All fights official despite one miss. 2019-09-06. MMA Junkie. en. 2019-09-06.
  7. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2019-09-07. UFC 242 Results: Sarah Moras Returns to Win Column With Dominant Finish of Liana Jojua. 2021-04-02. Cageside Press. en-US.
  8. Web site: UFC Fight Island 1 Results: Liana Jojua Armbars Diana Belbita in First Round. CageSide Press. Staff. 2020-06-15. 2020-09-07.
  9. Web site: Liana Jojua vs. Miranda Maverick added to UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi. mmadna.nl. Staff. 2020-09-07. 2020-09-07.
  10. Web site: Anderson. Jay. 2020-10-24. UFC 254 Results: Miranda Maverick Smashes Liana Jojua in Debut. 2020-10-24. Cageside Press. en-US.
  11. Web site: 2021-07-09. UFC books Cortney Casey vs. Liana Jojua for Aug. 21 event. 2021-07-09. Nolan King. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  12. Web site: Heck. Mike. 2021-08-12. Visa issues scratch Liana Jojua from UFC Vegas 34, Cortney Casey targets future matchup. 2021-08-13. MMA Fighting. en.
  13. Web site: 2021-09-18. Fight Announcement: Cortney Casey vs Liana Jojua on Nov 13. 2021-11-13. The AllStar. en-US.
  14. Web site: Lee. Alexander K.. 2021-11-12. UFC Vegas 42 weigh-in results: Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez on point for main event, two others miss. 2021-11-13. MMA Fighting. en.
  15. Web site: Behunin. Alex. 2021-11-13. UFC Vegas 42: Cortney Casey Snaps Two-Fight Skid, Beats Liana Jojua. 2021-11-13. Cageside Press. en-US.
  16. Web site: Cruz. Guilherme. 2021-11-17. Liana Jojua no longer on UFC roster after weight miss, loss to Cortney Casey. 2021-11-17. MMA Fighting. en.
  17. Web site: Angelini . Olivier . 2022-05-20 . ARES 6 – Résultats des combats . 2022-06-07 . Boxemag.com . fr-FR.
  18. Web site: Liana Jojua. UFC.com. Staff. 2020-06-15. 2021-04-02.
  19. Web site: Welcome to the UFC: Liana Jojuad. CageSide Press. Staff. 2019-06-15. 2020-09-07.
  20. Web site: Sherdog.com. Liana Jojua. 2020-08-07. Sherdog.