Janay Harding (born September 28, 1994) is a New Zealand

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 competes in the

Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

division. She is most notable for her time in

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...

Background

Harding was born in

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

, New Zealand but moved to Australia's Gold Coast at the age of ten when her father, Geoffrey Charlton, passed away. Starting martial arts at a young age, Harding earned a black belt in karate at the age of 14.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Harding started her professional MMA career in 2014, compiled a 3–2 record, though the two losses on her professional record came against current UFC fighter Jessica-Rose Clark and previous Bellator title challenger Arlene Blencowe, while also losing to Megan Anderson in an amateur bout. Harding made her international debut in May 2017, travelling to Hong Kong where she secured a second round stoppage over Ramona Pascual.

Bellator MMA

Signing with

in December 2017, Harding made her promotional debut against Amber Leibrock at Bellator 199 on May 12, 2018. She lost the bout via unanimous decision. Harding faced Sinead Kavanagh at Bellator 207 on October 12, 2018. She won the bout after it was stopped due to a cut. Harding faced Marina Mokhnatkina on March 29, 2019 at Bellator 219. She won the bout via unanimous decision. Harding faced Amanda Bell at Bellator 233 on November 8, 2019. She lost the fight via third-round knockout. Harding faced Jessy Miele at Bellator 251 on November 5, 2020. She won the bout via unanimous decision. Harding faced Leah McCourt on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259. At the weigh-ins, McCourt weighed in at 149.4 pounds, three and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and McCourt was fined a percentage of her purse, which went to Harding. After looking dominant in the second round with her striking, Harding was caught with an upkick while trying to pass McCourt's guard and fell into a triangle choke, losing the bout via submission. Harding faced

Dayana Silva Dayana Silva (born August 17, 1990) is a Brazilian female mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division. A professional MMA fighter since 2009, she has formerly competed in Bellator MMA. ...

on April 23, 2022 at Bellator 279. She lost the bout via unanimous decision. Harding faced Sinead Kavanagh in a rematch on February 25, 2023 at Bellator 291. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Boxing

Harding faced Tayla Harris for the vacant Australian female super-welterweight title at The Melbourne Pavilion on November 22, 2019. She lost the bout via TKO in the 4th round.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 6–8 , Jamie Edenden , Decision (unanimous) , Beatdown Promotions 5 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Eatons Hill, Queensland, Australia , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–7 , Sinead Kavanagh , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 291 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

, Ireland , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–6 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 279 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

, Hawaii, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–5 , Leah McCourt , Submission (triangle choke) , Bellator 259 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:42 , Uncasville, Connecticut, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–4 , Jessy Miele , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 251 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Uncasville, Connecticut, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 5–4 , Amanda Bell , TKO (punches) , Bellator 233 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:44 ,

Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma, United States. It is located near the Texas state border. The population was 400 at the 2020 census. Geography Thackerville is situated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 77 and State High ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–3 , Marina Mokhnatkina , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 219 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Temecula, California Temecula (; , ; Luiseño language, Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and was Municipal corpora ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–3 , Sinead Kavanagh , TKO (cut) , Bellator 207 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 , Uncasville, Connecticut, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–3 , Amber Leibrock , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 199 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

San Jose, California San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...

, , - , Win , align=center, 3–2 , Ramona Pascual , TKO (elbows and punches) , Fight Factory Gym: E-1 World Championship , , align=Center, 2 , align=center, 1:43 , Hong Kong , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–2 , Arlene Blencowe , KO (punches) , Legend MMA 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:08 ,

Gold Coast, Queensland The Gold Coast, also known by its initials, GC, is a coastal city and region in the state of Queensland, Australia, located approximately south-southeast of the centre of the list of Australian capital cities, state capital, Brisbane. It is ...

Australia , , - , Loss , align=center, 2–1 , Jessica-Rose Clark , Decision (unanimous) , Eternal MMA 19 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Jess Doueihi , TKO (punches) , Brace 36 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:26 , Sydney, Australia , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Helen Malone , TKO (punches) , Eternal MMA 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:59 ,

, Australia , , -

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Janay 1994 births Living people New Zealand female mixed martial artists Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing karate Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists from the Gold Coast, Queensland Bellator female fighters New Zealand female karateka New Zealand women boxers Martial artists from Christchurch 21st-century New Zealand sportswomen