Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Karolina Kowalkiewicz (born 15 October 1985) is a Polish mixed martial artist.

She currently fights for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

She is the former KSW Women's Flyweight Champion.

As of January 23, 2024, she is #13 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

Kowalkiewicz began her mixed martial arts career at the age of sixteen when she began training in Krav Maga.

She later trained in Muay Thai and decided to make it a career.

She fought two amateur fights before turning pro.

Kowalkiewicz made her professional debut in her native Poland in May 2012.

Over the next three-and-a-half years she amassed an undefeated record of seven wins against no losses.

She fought primarily for the Poland-based KSW promotion - where she was the Flyweight champion - and also made her U.S. debut for Invicta FC in November 2014.

In late October 2015, it was announced that Kowalkiewicz had signed with the UFC.

She faced Randa Markos on December 19, 2015 at UFC on FOX 17.

She was successful in her debut, winning the fight by unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz next faced Heather Jo Clark on May 8, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz defeated Rose Namajunas by split decision on July 30, 2016 at UFC 201 to earn the next title shot at then-champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

This performance earned her a Fight of the Night bonus.

Kowalkiewicz fought for the Strawweight title and lost to champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk by unanimous decision on November 12, 2016 at UFC 205.

Kowalkiewicz faced Cláudia Gadelha on June 3, 2017 in the co-main event at UFC 212.

She lost the fight via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Kowalkiewicz faced Jodie Esquibel on October 21, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Till.

She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz faced Felice Herrig on April 7, 2018 at UFC 223.

She won the fight by split decision.

Kowalkiewicz fought Jéssica Andrade on September 8, 2018 at UFC 228.

She lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Kowalkiewicz faced Michelle Waterson at UFC on ESPN 2 on March 30, 2019.

She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz faced Alexa Grasso on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238.

She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz faced Yan Xiaonan on February 23, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168.

She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz faced Jessica Penne on August 7, 2021 at UFC 265.

She lost the fight via an armbar in round one.

After a one-year hiatus, Kowalkiewicz faced Felice Herrig on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207.

Kowalkiewicz snapped a 5 bout losing streak, submitting Herrig via rear-naked choke in the second round.

Kowalkiewicz faced Silvana Gómez Juárez on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281.

She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kowalkiewicz faced Vanessa Demopoulos on May 13, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 223.

At the weigh-ins, Demopoulos weighed in at 117.5 pounds, one and half pounds over the women's strawweight non-title fight limit.