The topic of transgender athletes competing in mixed martial arts (MMA) has been a contentious issue in recent years. The participation of trans fighters like Fallon Fox in women’s divisions has sparked intense debate among MMA enthusiasts.
Transgender Fighter Gita-Marie Figueroa vs. Shane Mistretta
In 2022, MMA fans got a glimpse of what it would look like if trans women were allowed to participate in the men’s division. At World Class Fight League 32 held in Tampa, Florida, transgender fighter Gita-Marie Figueroa faced off against Shane Mistretta. The fight started competitively, with Figueroa completing several takedowns and attempting submissions. However, Mistretta ultimately defeated her by knockout in the first round with an onslaught of close-range strikes. Shane Mistretta now boasts an amateur record of 6-3, while Gita-Marie Figueroa’s record in the amateur ranks stands at 1-2, with both of her losses resulting from first-round knockouts.
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Fallon Fox: The First Openly Transgender MMA Fighter
American fighter Fallon Fox was the first openly transgender athlete in mixed martial arts, with an impressive record of five wins and one loss. Fox began her professional career in 2012 with a TKO victory over Elisha Helsper at King of the Cage – Wild Card. After two consecutive wins, she suffered her only defeat against UFC athlete Ashley Evans Smith at Championship Fighting Alliance 12 in 2013. Fox gained further notoriety in 2014 after breaking Tamikka Brents’s orbital bone during a fight, and in 2020, she was awarded the “Bravest Athlete” title for her achievements in MMA. However, many in the combat sports community, including UFC commentator Joe Rogan, have criticized the decision to allow biologically male fighters like Fox to compete in women’s sports.
