1. Cat Zingano is an American mixed martial artist, currently signed to Bellator MMA, competing in the Women's Featherweight division.
35 Facts About Cat Zingano
1. 2.
Cat Zingano began her career in combat sports with wrestling at age 12.
3.
Cat Zingano attended Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, where she got involved with combat sports after joining the wrestling team.
4.
Cat Zingano eventually became part of both the University of the Cumberlands and MacMurray College women's wrestling teams and became a 4-time All-American and National Champion.
5.
In 2007 Cat Zingano discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu, shortly after she started to compete and won many tournaments including the World Championships in Los Angeles, and the Rio de Janeiro State Championships in Brazil, along with several State titles in Colorado.
6.
In October 2007, after doing a few months of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Cat Zingano competed in her first amateur Mixed Martial Arts fight and instantly knew that MMA was something she wanted to compete in.
7.
Cat Zingano made her pro MMA debut on June 13,2008, at Ring of Fire 32, and submitted Karina Taylor with an armbar in the first round.
8.
On December 10,2010, Cat Zingano faced Carina Damm at Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
9.
Cat Zingano defeated Damm by TKO in the second round.
10.
Cat Zingano next faced Takayo Hashi at Fight To Win: Outlaws on May 14,2011.
11.
Cat Zingano defeated Hashi via knockout from a slam in the third round.
12.
Cat Zingano was scheduled to face Anita Rodriguez at Invicta Fighting Championships 1, but she was forced to withdraw from the card due to an injury.
13.
Cat Zingano had signed on to face Amanda Nunes at Strikeforce: Melendez vs Healy on September 29,2012, but the event was cancelled when Gilbert Melendez, who was set to defend his title against Pat Healy, sustained a knee injury in training that forced his withdrawal from the card.
14.
Cat Zingano instead faced Raquel Pennington at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs Sugiyama on October 6,2012.
15.
Cat Zingano defeated Pennington by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round.
16.
In February 2013, it was revealed that Cat Zingano would participate in the second women's match in Ultimate Fighting Championship history.
17.
Cat Zingano fought Miesha Tate on April 13,2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.
18.
On October 3,2013, Cat Zingano underwent PRP and stem cell treatment on both of her knees.
19.
Cat Zingano faced Amanda Nunes on September 27,2014, at UFC 178.
20.
Cat Zingano returned to face Julianna Pena at UFC 200 on July 9,2016.
21.
Cat Zingano faced Ketlen Vieira on March 3,2018, at UFC 222.
22.
Cat Zingano then faced Marion Reneau at UFC Fight Night 133 on July 14,2018.
23.
Cat Zingano faced Megan Anderson in a featherweight fight on December 29,2018, at UFC 232.
24.
Anderson's toe grazed Cat Zingano's eyeball, rendering her unable to continue due to blurred vision.
25.
On January 14,2019, it was revealed that Cat Zingano appealed the loss on the grounds of Unified Rules of MMA's definition of eye gouging.
26.
On October 29,2019, it was announced that Cat Zingano had signed with Bellator MMA.
27.
Cat Zingano faced Olivia Parker on April 9,2021 at Bellator 256.
28.
Cat Zingano won the bout via first round armbar submission.
29.
Cat Zingano was scheduled to face Pam Sorenson on March 11,2022 at Bellator 276.
30.
However, Cat Zingano was forced to pull out due to injury and the bout was cancelled.
31.
Cat Zingano faced Leah McCourt on March 31,2023 at Bellator 293.
32.
Cat Zingano faced reigning champion Cris Cyborg for the Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship on October 7,2023, at Bellator 300.
33.
Cat Zingano lost the fight via TKO in the first round.
34.
Cat Zingano was scheduled to face Alexa Conners in the inaugural Global Fight League event on May 24,2025 at GFL 1.
35.
Cat Zingano married Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mauricio Cat Zingano in 2010.