Cummins started martial arts as a child with karate. She continued as a practitioner until she reached 18 years old. It was later that she started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, muay thai and boxing.
Cummins was scheduled to make her professional debut against Chelsea Colarelli at XFN 5, for Colarelli's XFL Strawweight title. Her debut came after a successful amateur career, during which she went on a perfect 8–0 run.[5] Cummins won the fight by a fifth-round rear-naked choke, following a back-and-forth fight.[6]
Cummins was scheduled to fight Stephanie Frausto at NAAFS: Caged Fury 16. She won the fight by a unanimous decision.[7]
Invicta FC
Invicta FC Strawweight career
Cummins was scheduled to make her debut with Invicta FC at their very first event, against Sofia Bagherdai. She won the fight by unanimous decision.[8]
In her second fight with the organization, Cummins was scheduled to fight Joanne Calderwood at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama. Cummins lost the fight by a first-round knockout. Cummins lost vision in one of her eyes during the bout, as a results of a punch, which didn't return following the end of the fight. The injury required surgery, with her vision returning two months later.[9]
Following her eye surgery, Cummins returned to fight Emily Kagan at Invicta FC 6: Cyborg vs. Coenen 2.[10] Cummins lost the fight by split decision, although the majority of media members awarded her the victory.[11]
She briefly left Invicta to fight Nicole Smith at Bellator 157: Dynamite 2. Cummins won the fight by submission.[14]
Invicta FC Atomweight career
In her next fight, Cummins moved down to atomweight to fight Amber Brown at Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II. Brown was likewise moving down to atomweight from strawweight.[15] Cummins won the fight by unanimous decision.[16] This victory earned Cummins a "Performance of the Night" award.[17]
After her successful atomweight debut, Cummins was scheduled to fight the one-time Invicta Atomweight title challenger Jinh Yu Frey at Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella.[18] Frey won the fight by unanimous decision, winning all three rounds of a bout that consisted mostly of grappling exchanges.[19]
Her last two victories earned Cummins the chance to fight a rematch with the reigning Invicta Atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey at Invicta FC 39: Frey vs. Cummins II.[24] Frey came into the bout 0.8 lbs over the title limit of 105 lbs, which resulted in her being stripped of the championship belt and only Cummins being eligible to win the title.[25] Frey won the fight by unanimous decision.[26]
Due to Frey missing weight, the Invicta FC Atomweight title was left vacant. A rematch was impossible, as Frey signed with the UFC in the meantime. As a results of all this, Cummins was scheduled to fight Alesha Zappitella for the vacant title at Invicta FC 42: Cummins vs. Zappitella.[27] Cummins was the more dominant party throughout the first two rounds, winning the majority of striking exchanges and stopping Zappitella's takedowns. In the first minute of the third round, Zappitella managed to land an early takedown and countered Cummins' guillotine choke attempt with a Von Flue choke.[28] It was the first Von Flue choke finish in Invicta FC history.[29]
Bellator MMA
Cummins faced Randi Field on March 31, 2023 at Bellator 293.[30] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[31]
For the vacant Invicta FC Atomweight Championship. Frey missed weight (105.8 lb) and was stripped of the title. Only Cummins was eligible to win the title.
^ ab"Invicta FC". twitter.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021. The #InvictaFC22 bonuses: FOTN: Sunna Davíðsdóttir and Mallory Martin POTN: Livia Renata Souza and Ashley Cummins
