Shanna Marie Leonard Young[1] (born February 20, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. She has previously competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
| Shanna Young | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shanna Marie Leonard Young[1] February 20, 1991 Salem, Virginia, United States |
| Other names | The Shanimal |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Bantamweight Flyweight |
| Reach | 65.0 in (165 cm)[2] |
| Team | Tuco O Tapa (formerly)[3] Knoxville Martial Arts Academy (2014–2022)[4] Syndicate MMA (2022–present)[5] |
| Rank | Black belt in karate[6] Blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[6] |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 16 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Young, following her younger brother, started Shotokan karate at the age of eight and after a few years switched to competitive karate in which she competed until high school.[7] She started wrestling while attending Franklin County High School and after faring well solely against boys she took a wrestling scholarship at King University where she was an All-American in 2010.[8][9] She later transferred to East Tennessee State University from where she graduated with bachelor's degree in exercise science.[10][6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career and Invicta FC
After three relatively comfortable victories, Young took a hard-fought split decision over Pam Sorenson. After her win over Pam, she received news that she'd suffered a torn labrum in her hip. After recovering from that injury, she tore the same labrum again. She was out for two years due to these injuries before returning to fight for Invicta FC.
Young was supposed to face Raquel Pa'aluhi in her Invicta FC debut, but Raquel pulled out and was replaced by Lisa Verzosa on September 1, 2018, at Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin.[11] She lost the fight via a split decision.[12]
After losing this fight, she fought twice for Valor Fighting Challenge, winning both fights via stoppage before being invited on Dana White's Contender Series to face Sarah Alpar on August 13, 2019. She lost the fight via 2nd round submission.[13]
Afterwards, she returned to Invicta and fought Maiju Suotama on November 1, 2019, at Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote. She won the fight via unanimous decision.[14]
After Mariya Agapova was forced to pull out of her fight against Daiana Torquato on February 7, 2020, at Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II, Shanna Young replaced Mariya but she was not medically cleared after she fell ill the week of weigh ins.[15]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Young made her UFC debut as a replacement for Nicco Montaño against Macy Chiasson on February 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 167.[16] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[17]
Young faced Stephanie Egger on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker.[18] She lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.[19]
Young faced Gina Mazany on April 30, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 35.[20] She won the fight via TKO in the second round.[21]
Young was scheduled to face Miranda Maverick on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278.[22] However, the bout was cancelled due to Young was hospitalised due to weight cutting issues.[23] The pair was rescheduled at UFC Fight Night 214.[24] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[25]
On November 16, 2022, it was announced that Young was no longer on the UFC roster.[26]
PFL
Young faced Sandra Lavado on February 24, 2024, at PFL Challenger Series 13, winning the bout via unanimous decision.[27]
Young faced Kana Watanabe at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024 and lost the bout by unanimous decision.[28][29] Young missed weight, so she was fined a percentage of her purse and given a point deduction in the standings.[30]
Young faced Ilara Joanne at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[31]
Personal life
Young has two sons, Chase (born 2010) and Ray (born 2020).[5]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- King of the Cage
- Women's Bantamweight Championship (one time; former)[10]
- One successful title defense
- Women's Bantamweight Championship (one time; former)[10]
- Invicta Fighting Championships
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Lisa Verzosa[10]
Mixed martial arts record
| 15 matches | 8 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 1 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 9–7 | Ilara Joanne | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 4 (2024) | June 13, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 9–6 | Kana Watanabe | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 1 (2024) | April 4, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | Catchweight (128.6 lb) bout; Young missed weight. |
| Win | 9–5 | Sandra Lavado | Decision (unanimous) | PFL Challenger Series 13 | February 24, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Catchweight (127.6 lb) bout; Lavado missed weight. |
| Loss | 8–5 | Miranda Maverick | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos | November 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–4 | Gina Mazany | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera | April 30, 2022 | 2 | 3:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Flyweight. |
| Loss | 7–4 | Stephanie Egger | TKO (elbow) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker | October 2, 2021 | 2 | 2:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 7–3 | Macy Chiasson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2 | February 15, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 7–2 | Maiju Suotama | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 38: Murata vs. Ducote | November 1, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 6–2 | Sarah Alpar | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 24 | August 13, 2019 | 2 | 2:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight bout. |
| Win | 6–1 | Anastasia Bruce | Submission (mounted triangle choke) | Valor Fighting Challenge 56 | March 1, 2019 | 1 | 2:35 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 5–1 | Jessica Borga | Submission (punches) | Valor Fighting Challenge 54 | January 19, 2019 | 3 | 3:24 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Lisa Verzosa | Decision (split) | Invicta FC 31: Jandiroba vs. Morandin | September 1, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 4–0 | Pam Sorenson | Decision (split) | KOTC: Generation X | April 8, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | Defended the KOTC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Christina Jobe | TKO (retirement) | KOTC: Bear Brawl | November 21, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | Won the vacant KOTC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Moriel Charneski | Decision (majority) | KOTC: Attack Mode | July 25, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Katelyn Dykas | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Valor Fights 22 | April 11, 2015 | 3 | 1:53 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | Catchweight (128 lb) bout. |