Jillian DeCoursey

Jillian DeCoursey (born July 26, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the atomweight division of the Invicta FC, where she is a former atomweight champion.[2]

Jillian DeCoursey
Born (1984-07-26) July 26, 1984
Queens, New York
Other namesLionheart
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)[1]
Weight48 kg (106 lb; 7 st 8 lb)
DivisionAtomweight
Reach63 in (160 cm)
StyleBJJ, Kickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofQueens, New York, U.S.[1]
TeamRingsport Muay Thai (2016–present)[2][3]
East Coast United (until 2018)[4]
Long Island MMA (2018–present)[4]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Gregg DePasquale[5]
Years active2017–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total10
Wins6
By knockout2
By submission1
By decision3
Losses4
By decision4
UniversityUniversity of Bridgeport
Hunter College
Iona University
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

As of November 21, 2022, Sherdog ranks DeCoursey as the #4 atomweight in the world.[6]

Background

DeCoursey was born and grew up in Queens, New York, United States.[7] DeCoursey started undergraduate studies at University of Bridgeport and graduated from Hunter College.[7] She started Jiu-Jitsu after she finished competing in collegiate basketball at Hunter College.[7] She later picked up Muay Thai and eventually transitioned to mixed martial arts.[8]

DeCoursey also eventually finished her postgraduate studies at Iona University, earning a master's degree and owns her counselling practice in mental health.[2][9][7]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

DeCoursey was signed by Invicta after amassing an amateur record of 8–1.[8] She was an IBJJF brown belt medalist.[2][10]

Invicta Fighting Championships

DeCoursey made her promotional debut on August 31, 2017 at Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi against Ashley Medina.[11] She won the fight via split decision.[12]

Her next fight came on March 24, 2018 at Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba against Rebekah Levine.[13] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[14]

On July 21, 2018, DeCoursey faced Alesha Zappitella, replacing Shino VanHoose,[15] at Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander.[16]

For her next fight, DeCoursey fought outside of Invicta, being scheduled to face Katie Perez at CFFC 80. She won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[17]

DeCoursey returned to Invicta to face Linda Mihalec at Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II. DeCoursey won the fight by unanimous decision.[18]

DeCoursey was scheduled to challenge the reigning Cage Fury FC Strawweight champion Elise Reed at CFFC 91.[19] Reed won the fight by unanimous decision.[20]

DeCoursey was scheduled to participate in a one-night Invicta Phoenix Tournament to determine the next atomweight title challenger.[21] DeCoursey lost the quarterfinal bout against Linda Mihalec by split decision.[22]

DeCoursey faced Lindsey VanZandt on May 11, 2022 at Invicta FC 47.[23] She won the bout after knocking out VanZandt in the first round.[24]

Invicta FC Atomweight Champion

DeCoursey was booked to challenge the reigning Invicta Atomweight champion Jéssica Delboni at Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey on September 28, 2022.[25] DeCoursey won the fight by a first-round submission.[26]

DeCoursey was scheduled to defend the title against Rayanne dos Santos on May 3, 2023, at Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos.[27] She lost the title fight by unanimous decision.[28][29]

Professional grappling career

DeCoursey was invited to compete in the flyweight division of the Combat Jiu-Jitsu world championship on December 20, 2020.[30] She withdrew from the event.

DeCoursey is scheduled to compete in a superfight at Rise Invitational 11 on April 1, 2023 against Chelsea Mapa.[31] Neither woman was able to secure a submission and the match ended in a draw.[32]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
10 matches 6 wins 4 losses
By knockout 2 0
By submission 1 0
By decision 3 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 6–4 Rayanne dos Santos Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 53 May 3, 2023 5 5:00 Denver, Colorado, United States Lost the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.
Win 6–3 Jéssica Delboni Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey September 28, 2022 1 4:49 Hinton, Oklahoma, United States Won the Invicta FC Atomweight Championship.
Win 5–3 Lindsey VanZandt KO (punch) Invicta FC 47: Ducote vs. Zappitella May 11, 2022 1 1:01 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Return to Atomweight.
Loss 4–3 Elise Reed Decision (unanimous) Cage Fury Fighting Championships 91 December 18, 2020 4 5:00 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States Strawweight debut. For the vacant Cage Fury FC Strawweight Championship.
Win 4–2 Linda Mihalec Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II February 7, 2020 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win 3–2 Katie Perez TKO (punches) Cage Fury Fighting Championships 80 November 22, 2019 3 3:00 Hampton, Virginia, United States
Loss 2–2 Kelly D'Angelo Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 35: Bennett vs. Rodriguez II June 7, 2019 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Loss 2–1 Alesha Zappitella Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander July 21, 2018 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 2–0 Rebekah Levine Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 28: Mizuki vs. Jandiroba March 24, 2018 3 5:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win 1–0 Ashley Medina Decision (split) Invicta FC 25: Kunitskaya vs. Pa'aluhi August 31, 2017 3 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States Atomweight debut.

See also

References
  1. "Jillian DeCoursey ("Lionheart") - MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  2. "Jillian DeCoursey – Invicta Fighting Championships". InvictaFC.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. Carroll's Corner MMA Podcast (November 15, 2016). Jillian DeCoursey Interview – via YouTube.
  4. James Lynch (March 19, 2018). Jill Decoursey now training at Long Island MMA ahead of Invicta FC 28 this Saturday – via YouTube.
  5. Jillian DeCoursey [@lionheartjill] (October 24, 2022). "My goals have always been tk be @InvictaFights atomweight champion and to earn my BJJ black belt. Now I can say I've achieved both of my goals. I'm so honored to have been given my black belt from Gregg DePasquale and be the first female black belt from Long Island MMA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. Critchfield, Tristen. "Sherdog's Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings - Women's Atomweight". sherdog.com. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  7. TJ De Santis (August 28, 2017). "Interview: JILLIAN DECOURSEY" (Podcast).
  8. Anderson, Jay (March 21, 2018). "Invicta FC 28's Jillian DeCoursey: "It's Just a Matter of Time" Before Atomweights In UFC". Cageside Press. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  9. Scott Fontana (September 28, 2022). "Jillian DeCoursey, therapist by day, on verge of MMA championship". New York Post.
  10. "Jillian DeCoursey | MMA » BJJ | Awakening Fighters". Awakening Fighters. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  11. Sherdog.com. "Invicta FC 25 Lineup Finalized with Addition of Seven Bouts". Sherdog. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  12. "Invicta FC 25: Jillian DeCoursey Defeats Ashley Medina in Pro Debut • MMA News". MMA News. September 1, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  13. Sherdog.com. "Invicta FC 28 Lineup Includes Strawweight Title Fight, Pearl Gonzalez Debut on March 24". Sherdog. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  14. "Invicta FC 28 FULL RESULTS". www.fight-madness.com (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  15. "Shino VanHoose Out, Jillian DeCoursey Steps in Against Alesha Zappitella at Invicta FC 30 | Invicta Fighting Championships". www.invictafc.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  16. "MMA: Alesha Zappitella eyes fight with Alyse Anderson". AXS. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  17. Roybal, Monica; Seifert, Derek. "CFFC 80 fights for the troops". jble.af.mil. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  18. La Monica, Mark. "LIMMA's Jillian DeCoursey wins Invicta FC 39 bout". Newsday. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  19. Herbison, Zac. "Army vet and entrepreneur Elise Reed puts her title on the line at CFFC 91". mma-prospects.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  20. Tatum, Rob. "CFFC 91 Results: Sabatini Submits Stirn, Reed Edges DeCoursey". combatpress.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  21. Hannoun, Farah. "Invicta FC's Phoenix Tournament to determine No. 1 atomweight contender on June 11". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  22. Al-Shatti, Shaun. "Invicta Phoenix Series 4 results: Jessica Delboni earns title rematch with one-night tournament win". mmafighting.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  23. "Emily Ducote vs. Alesha Zappitella strawweight title fight headlines Invicta FC 47 on May 11". MMA Junkie. March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  24. Bissell, Tim (May 12, 2022). "Invicta FC 47 results and video: Emily Ducote defends title after splitting challenger's eyelid". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  25. Anderson, Jay (July 20, 2022). "Invicta FC: Jessica Delboni vs. Jillian DeCoursey Atomweight Title Fight Set for Sept. 28". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  26. Critchfield, Tristen (September 28, 2022). "Jillian DeCoursey Submits Jessica Delboni, Captures Atomweight Crown at Invicta FC 49". sherdog.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  27. Jay Anderson (March 16, 2023). "Invicta FC 53 announced for May, DeCoursey to defend Atomweight title". Cageside Press. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  28. "Invicta FC 53 results and live video stream". MMA Junkie. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  29. Knapp, Brian (May 3, 2023). "Rayanne Amanda dos Santos Nets Atomweight Title in Dominant Invicta 53 Decision". Sherdog. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  30. Burne, Kathrine. "Combat Jiu Jitsu Female Flyweights Lineup Announced". JitsMagazine. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  31. Jones, Phil. "Rise Invitational 11 To Feature UFC Veterans And Top BJJ Competitors". JitsMagazine. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  32. "Rise Invitational 11 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
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