This is Former Invicta FC bantamweight champ Evinger’s first fight since facing Cris Cyborg for the 145 pound strap.
Tonya “Triple Threat” Evinger will fight for the first time since losing her featherweight title fight against Cris Cyborg in July.
The former Invicta FC bantamweight champion has been pushing the UFC for a fight, and now she has one against Marion Reneau at UFC Fight Night: “Cowboy vs. Medeiros” on February 18th in Austin, Texas.
Evinger arrived in the UFC on a 10-0-1 streak with 3 KOs and 4 submissions that saw her take the vacant Invicta 135 belt and defend it twice before being called up to the UFC. Many saw it as a long overdue moment, especially with all the other talent the UFC poaches from Invicta. But for Evinger, the call came only after pretty much every single other fighter in the UFC refused to face Cris Cyborg for the vacant UFC women’s featherweight title.
Evinger hung in until the third round, where Cyborg finished her with knees. She’ll be returning to 135 pounds for this fight with Marion Reneau.
Reneau is currently 8-3-1 (4-2-1 UFC) with her last two UFC wins coming via TKO. Her 2017 has included a majority draw with Bethe Correia in Brazil and a third round finish of Talita Bernardo in Rotterdam. Tonya Evinger will be a step up for her, but she’s faced top shelf talent in the past including Holly Holm (who she lost to) and Jessica Andrade (who she beat with a triangle choke).
As the name implies, UFC Fight Night: “Cowboy vs. Medeiros” will be headlined by Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs. Yancy Medeiros. Other fights on the card include Derrick Lewis vs. Marcin Tybura and Sage Northcutt vs. Thibault Gouti.