Mara Romero Borella

Mara Romero Borella
Born	Maria Chiara[1] (1986-06-03) 3 June 1986 (age 38) Ponte dell'Olio, Piacenza, Italy
Other names	Maravilla
Nationality	Italian
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight	125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division	Bantamweight Flyweight
Reach	69[2] in (175 cm)
Style	Judo, Kickboxing
Fighting out of	Coconut Creek, Florida, United States[2]
Team	American Top Team
Rank	Black belt in Judo[2] Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2] Black belt in Kickboxing[2] Black belt in Shoot Boxing[2]
Years active	2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	22
Wins	11
By knockout	3
By submission	4
By decision	4
Losses	9
By knockout	4
By submission	3
By decision	2
No contests	2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Marachiara Romero Borella[3] (born June 3, 1986) is an Italian professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background

Borella taught Judo and was a personal trainer before a friend introduced her to MMA, which started her MMA career.[2] Her father is Italian, and her mother is Honduran.[4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Borella started her professional MMA career in 2014 and fought primarily in the European circuit. Borella joined Invicta Fighting Championships (Invicta) prior to signing with the UFC in 2017.[5]

Invicta Fighting Championships

Borella faced Milana Dudieva on July 15, 2017, at FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella.[6] She won the fight via a split decision with the scoreboard of (30-27, 28-29 29-28).[7]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Borella made her UFC debut on October 7, 2017. Borella faced Kalindra Faria at UFC 216 in Las Vegas, United States, replacing Andrea Lee.[8][9] She won the fight via a submission.[10]

Borella next faced Katlyn Chookagian on January 27, 2018, at UFC on Fox 27.[11] She lost the fight via a unanimous decision.[12]

Borella faced Taila Santos on February 2, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2.[13] She won the fight by split decision.[14]

Borella faced Lauren Murphy on August 3, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 5.[15] She lost the fight via TKO in the third round.[16]

Borella faced Montana De La Rosa on February 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 167.[17] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[18]

Borella faced Cortney Casey on May 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris.[19] She lost the bout in the first round via submission through an armbar.[20]

Borella was expected to face promotional newcomer Miranda Maverick on June 27, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker.[21] However, Maverick was forced to pull out due to injury. In turn, Borella was removed from the card and will be rescheduled for a future event.[22]

Borella faced Mayra Bueno Silva on September 5, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 177.[23] She lost the fight via a submission in round one.[24]

On October 2, 2020, it was reported Borella was released by UFC.[25]

Post-UFC career

After the release, Borella again signed with the Invicta FC and was scheduled to face Brogan Walker-Sanchez at Invicta FC 44 on August 27, 2021. However, Borella was forced to withdraw from the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Emilee King.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• Kombat League
  • Kombat League Bantamweight Champion (One time)[2]

Controversies

Suspension for 26 years for distributing and selling of cocaine

Borella was arrested by Italian authorities under "Operation Flanker" for distributing and selling cocaine and cannabis[1] at sporting venues, an operation conducted by the Investigative Unit of the Carabinieri of Piacenza in Emilia and Lombardy.[27] Borella entered into plea deals in 2012 along with 33 defendants where punishments were of up to one and four years in prison. She spent a period in prison and later under house arrest for the incident.[1]

Borella was also suspended by the National Anti Doping Agency of Italy for 15 years for distributing and selling prohibited drugs. The same agency then added an additional 11-year suspension, for a total of 26 years, until 2044, for use of Italian sporting facilities while serving a suspension under the Italian Anti Doping Code article 4.12.3.[28] It was reported on October 19, 2018, that Borella was free to compete in the UFC as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) UFC anti-doping program does not consider Borella's criminal activity a violation, as it was unrelated to performance enhancement.[29]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

22 matches	11 wins	9 losses
By knockout	3	4
By submission	4	3
By decision	4	2
No contests	2

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	12–9 (2)	Mayra Bueno Silva	Submission (armbar)	UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley	September 19, 2020	1	2:29	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	12–8 (2)	Cortney Casey	Submission (armbar)	UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris	May 16, 2020	1	3:36	Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Loss	12–7 (2)	Montana De La Rosa	Decision (unanimous)	UFC Fight Night: Anderson vs. Błachowicz 2	February 15, 2020	3	5:00	Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
Loss	12–6 (2)	Lauren Murphy	TKO (knee and elbows)	UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler	August 3, 2019	3	1:46	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win	12–5 (2)	Taila Santos	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2	February 2, 2019	3	5:00	Fortaleza, Brazil
Loss	11–5 (2)	Katlyn Chookagian	Decision (unanimous)	UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2	January 27, 2018	3	5:00	Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win	11–4 (2)	Kalindra Faria	Submission (rear-naked choke)	UFC 216	October 7, 2017	1	2:54	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	10–4 (2)	Milana Dudieva	Decision (split)	Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella	July 15, 2017	3	5:00	Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win	9–4 (2)	Iren Racz	Decision (unanimous)	Mushin Fighting 3	February 25, 2017	3	5:00	Nuvolera, Italy
Win	8–4 (2)	Maria Casanova	Submission (armbar)	Kombat League: Colosseum 4	November 26, 2016	2	2:34	Sassari, Italy
NC	7–4 (2)	Lena Ovchynnikova	NC (overturned by WMMAF)	WMMAF 2016	May 13, 2016	3	5:00	Lviv, Ukraine	Originally a split decision win for Ovchynnikova; overturned later by WMMAF after review.
Win	7–4 (1)	Suvi Salmimies	Decision (Split)	Cage 34	February 13, 2016	3	5:00	Helsinki, Finland
Win	6–4 (1)	Lucrezia Ria	Submission (armbar)	Kombat League: Colosseum 3	December 5, 2015	2	3:45	Sardinia, Italy
Loss	5–4 (1)	Jin Tang	TKO (punches)	Kunlun Fight 33	October 31, 2015	1	4:35	Changde, China
Loss	5–3 (1)	Stephanie Egger	TKO (corner stoppage)	Arena Fighting Games	October 4, 2015	1	5:00	Milan, Italy
Loss	5–2 (1)	Anna Elmose	KO (punches)	UCL 23	May 23, 2015	2	0:45	Copenhagen, Denmark
Win	5–1 (1)	Liubov Tiupina	Submission (armbar)	WMMAF 2015	April 17, 2015	1	1:40	Lviv, Ukraine
Win	4–1 (1)	Katia Curro	TKO (punches)	Shoot Fighting Championship 16	March 7, 2015	1	4:18	Mazzano, Italy
NC	3–1 (1)	Donatella Panu	NC (overturned)	FIGMMA: Colosseum MMA in the Cage	December 6, 2014	1	4:00	Sassari, Italy	Originally a submission (armbar) win for Borella; overturned by FIGMMA
Win	3–1	Elena Bondarenko	TKO (punches)	WMMAF 2014	October 18, 2014	2	1:30	Lviv, Ukraine
Win	2–1	Ileana Bianzeno	Decision (unanimous)	Kombat League: Cage Fight 14	September 13, 2014	3	5:00	Venezia, Italy
Loss	1–1	Debi Studer	Submission (guillotine choke)	Max Monster 2	April 12, 2014	2	N/A	Sempach, Switzerland
Win	1–0	Sara Regini	TKO (punches)	Shoot Fighting Championship 12	March 1, 2014	1	1:33	Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy

[30]

See also

• List of female mixed martial artists

References

1. "MMA, riassunto squalifica Mara Romero Borella - 4once.it". www.4once.it (in Italian). 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
2. "Mara Romero Borella - Official UFC Profile". UFC. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
3. "STATE OF NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRYATHLETIC COMMISSION" (PDF). boxing.nv.gov. October 7, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
4. "La sfida più grande di Mara Romero Borella". www.ultimouomo.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-10-25.
5. "Mara Romero Borella ("Kunoichici") | MMA Fighter Page | Tapology". Tapology. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
6. Admin (2017-07-15). "Invicta FC 24 main event now Milana Dudieva vs. Mara Romero Borella". Roll Till You Puke. Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
7. "Invicta 24: Mara Borella vence russa; brasileira Bárbara Acioly é nocauteada". sportv.globo.com/site/combate (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-09-17.
8. Sherdog.com. "Report: Andrea Lee Removed From UFC 216 Bout Against Kalindra Faria". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
9. "UFC's Jeff Novitzky explains exemption for Kalindra Faria and Mara Romero Borella". MMAjunkie. 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
10. "UFC 216 results: Mara Romero Borella makes easy work of Kalindra Faria for 1st-round tap". MMAjunkie. 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
11. "Mara Romero Borella e Katlyn Chookagian faccia a faccia - 4once.it". www.4once.it (in Italian). 27 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
12. "UFC on FOX 27 results: Katlyn Chookagian outworks Mara Romero Borella for decision". MMAjunkie. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
13. "Six fights added to UFC Fortaleza". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
14. "UFC Fortaleza results: Mara Romero Borella takes split call over Taila Santos". MMAjunkie. 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
15. Staff (2018-06-20). "Octagon returns to Newark on August 3". UFC. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
16. Doherty, Dan (2019-08-03). "UFC Newark Results: Lauren Murphy Finishes Mara Romero Borella With Beautiful Knee". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
17. Jay Anderson (2019-11-23). "Montana De La Rosa vs. Mara Romero Borella set for February 15, 2020". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
18. Anderson, Jay (2020-02-15). "UFC Rio Rancho Results: Montana De La Rosa Tops Mara Romero Borella in History-Making Fight". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
19. Martin, Damon (2020-05-01). "UFC reveals full fight cards for May 13 and May 16 events". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
20. "Cortney Casey vs. Mara Romero Borella Results and News - UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Overeem vs. Harris - MMA Fighting". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-05-17.
21. Staff (2020-06-18). "Mara Romero Borella meets UFC debutante Miranda Maverick on June 27". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-06-18. (in Dutch)
22. "Miranda Maverick out of UFC on ESPN 12 bout with Mara Romero Borella due to injury". MMA Junkie. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
23. DNA, MMA (2020-07-17). "Mayra Bueno Silva treft Mara Romero Borella tijdens UFC evenement op 5 september". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
24. Anderson, Jay (2020-09-19). "UFC Vegas 11 Results: Mayra Bueno Silva Submits Mara Romero Borella". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
25. Martin, Damon (2020-10-02). "Mara Romero Borella, Iuri Alcantara, Jeff Hughes and Khadis Ibragimov released by UFC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
26. Guilherme Cruz (August 23, 2021). "Mara Romero Borella, Monique Adriane knocked out of upcoming Invicta FC 44 card". mmafighting.com.
27. "L'inchiesta - Cocaina e rugby, fermata una campionessa di body building" (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-09-17.
28. "UFC flyweight Mara Romero Borella slapped with 26-year suspension by Italian Anti Doping Agency | BJPenn.com". | BJPenn.com. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
29. "USADA: Despite Italian ban, Mara Romero Borella cleared to fight". MMAjunkie. 2018-10-20. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
30. Sherdog.com. "Mara". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-09-27.

External links

• Official website
• Professional MMA record for Mara Romero Borella from Sherdog
• Mara Romero Borella at UFC