Emily Peters Kagan (born July 14, 1981) is an American
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
who last fought in the
Strawweight
Mini flyweight, also known as paperweight, minimumweight, strawweight, or super atomweight, is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
In professional boxing, boxers in the minimumweight division may weigh no more than . This is a relatively new ...
division for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
. She has also fought for
Invicta FC
Invicta Fighting Championships, also known as Invicta FC, is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion dedicated to women's mixed martial arts that was founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion is current ...
.
Mixed martial arts career
Early life and career
Kagan graduated from
Goucher College
Goucher College ( ') is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Towson, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1885 as a Nonsectarian, nonsecterian Women's colleges in the United States, ...
with a degree in business management and began her amateur MMA career in March 2010, recording five wins and two losses. Kagan made her professional MMA debut in September 2012.
She competed twice that year, winning both fights by decision.
Invicta Fighting Championships
In 2013, Kagan signed with the
Invicta FC
Invicta Fighting Championships, also known as Invicta FC, is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion dedicated to women's mixed martial arts that was founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion is current ...
promotion. She made her debut on January 5, 2013 at
Invicta FC 4
This is a list of events that Invicta Fighting Championships have held since their inaugural event, Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen. The promotion has held 66 events as of April 2025.
Invicta FC 62: Lehner vs. Rubin
Invicta FC 62: Lehner vs. R ...
. She lost to
Rose Namajunas
Rose Gertrude Namajunas (born June 29, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight ...
by submission in the third round. Kagan rebounded in her second fight for the promotion at
Invicta FC 6
This is a list of events that Invicta Fighting Championships have held since their inaugural event, Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen. The promotion has held 66 events as of April 2025.
Invicta FC 62: Lehner vs. Rubin
Invicta FC 62: Lehner vs. R ...
on July 13, 2013. She defeated
Ashley Cummins by split decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighter
On December 11, 2013, it was announced that Kagan was signed by the UFC along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete on
The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned, which will crown the first ever UFC strawweight champion.
In the first episode, it was revealed that the UFC had seeded the fighters. Kagan was seeded 15th of 16 fighters and was paired with the no. 2 seed,
Joanne Calderwood
Joanne Wood (; born 23 December 1985) is a Scottish retired professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai champion who competed in the Women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Biography
Wood first started Mu ...
. Calderwood was picked third by Team Pettis, thereby sending Kagan to Team Melendez. In their fight, she lost the bout via majority decision.
After TUF
Kagan's first fight after The Ultimate Fighter was against Angela Hill at
The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Kagan last fought
Kailin Curran at
UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant in Las Vegas losing by submission. In April 2016 Kagan was officially dropped from the UFC roster.
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–3
,
Kailin Curran
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
,
UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 4:13
,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 3–2
,
Angela Hill
Angela Patrice Hill (born January 12, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She was formerly signed with the Invicta Fighting Championships, where ...
, Decision (unanimous)
,
The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, style="text-align:center;", 3–1
,
Ashley Cummins
, Decision (split)
,
Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg
,
, style="text-align:center;", 3
, style="text-align:center;", 5:00
,
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, style="text-align:center;", 2–1
,
Rose Namajunas
Rose Gertrude Namajunas (born June 29, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight ...
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
,
Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt
,
, style="text-align:center;", 3
, style="text-align:center;", 3:44
,
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City (commonly known as KCK) is the third-most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, style="text-align:center;", 2–0
,
Glena Avila
, Decision (split)
, Dakota FC 13: Coming Home
,
, style="text-align:center;", 3
, style="text-align:center;", 5:00
,
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is a city in and the county seat of Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. The city's population was 59,166 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in North Dakota, third-most populous ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, style="text-align:center;", 1–0
, Lynae Lovato
, Decision (unanimous)
, Jackson's MMA Series 9
,
, style="text-align:center;", 3
, style="text-align:center;", 5:00
,
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...
, United States
,
See also
*
List of select Jewish mixed martial artists
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kagan, Emily
1981 births
Living people
American female mixed martial artists
American jujutsuka
Strawweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing jujutsu
Goucher College alumni
Jewish American mixed martial artists
Jewish American sportspeople
Mixed martial artists from Maine
Sportspeople from Albuquerque, New Mexico
21st-century American Jews
21st-century American women
Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters
Jews from Maine