- Sara McMann
-
Sara McMann 
Born September 24, 1980
Takoma Park, MarylandNationality American Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) Style Wrestling Fighting out of Gaffney, South Carolina Rank Olympian Freestyle Wrestling Mixed martial arts record Total 4 Wins 4 By knockout 1 By submission 2 By decision 1 Losses 0 Other information Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog Sara McMann (born September 24, 1980) is the first American woman in history to receive a silver medal in women's wrestling at the 2004 Summer Olympics games in Athens, Greece. She wrestled in the Women's Freestyle 63 kg or 138.75 lb weight class. Sara was a Silver Medalist in 2003 World Championships and Bronze Medalist in 2005 & 2007 World Championships. Sara started wrestling at the age of 14 in Marion, North Carolina at McDowell High School.
McMann is currently the #9-ranked 135-pound female MMA fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.[1]
Olympic medal record Women's Wrestling Silver 2004 Athens Freestyle (63 kg) FILA Wrestling World Championships Silver 2003 New York 63 kg Bronze 2005 Budapest 63 kg Bronze 2007 Baku 63 kg Contents
Family
Sara's parents are Thomas William McMann and Paula Jean McMann. She has one sister, Nickolina McMann, and one brother, Jason McMann. Sara's brother, Jason, who wrestled at Quince Orchard High School in Maryland, was murdered Jan. 23, 1999 at the age of 21.[2][3]
Education
McMann attended McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina where, in addition to wrestling, she participated in theatre productions. She earned a degree in Theatre at Lock Haven University, where she was a member of the school's wrestling team under the coaching of Carl Poff from 1999-2003. She previously attended University of Minnesota-Morris from 1998-1999, where she was coached by Doug Reese. She has graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Off the mat
Sara does volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity and Safe Homes. She traveled to Sri Lanka with Olympic teammates to help victims of the Tsunami rebuild homes for those displaced by the tidal wave. She also helps with youth clubs and speaks to upcoming girls and boys about wrestling.
While driving her Jeep in Colorado on the way to the Iowa with her fiance, former ASU three-time NCAA All-American wrestler Steven Blackford as her passenger, the vehicle ran off the road and rolled over. He was ejected from the vehicle, and died at the scene. McMann was hospitalized with a broken arm and other minor injuries. Blackford was attending the Columbus Law School at Catholic University.
Mixed martial arts career
McMann announced in late 2010 that she had signed a three-fight contract with Strikeforce. She planned to fight at 135 pounds.[4] However, she did not sign on with the promotion due to an extension clause in the contract.[5]
McMann was first scheduled to make her professional mixed martial arts debut on November 14, 2010 in Jamaica, but the event was cancelled due to safety issues with the cage.[6]
She then had more fights fall apart after opponents backed out, including a scheduled April 30, 2011 fight against Mariah Johnson.[7]
On May 28, 2011, McMann at last made her pro MMA debut at Universal Cage Combat: Revolution in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. She defeated Christina Marks by submission in the first round.[8]
McMann faced fellow Olympian Julie Malenfant at Blackeye Promotions 4 on June 17, 2011 in Fletcher, North Carolina. McMann defeated Malenfant by TKO early in the first round.[9]
McMann faced Tonya Evinger at Titan Fighting Championships 19 on July 29, 2011 in Kansas City, Kansas.[10] The fight served as the co-main event.[11] McMann defeated Evinger by unanimous decision.[5]
McMann faced Raquel Pa'aluhi at ProElite: Arlovski vs. Lopez on August 27, 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii.[5] She defeated Pa'aluhi by submission due to a keylock in the third round.[12]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown 4 matches 4 wins 0 losses By knockout 1 0 By submission 2 0 By decision 1 0 Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes Win 4-0 Raquel Pa'aluhi Submission (keylock) ProElite: Arlovski vs. Lopez August 27, 2011 3 2:53 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Win 3-0 Tonya Evinger Decision (unanimous) Titan Fighting Championships 19 July 29, 2011 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win 2-0 Julie Malenfant TKO (punches) Blackeye Promotions 4 June 17, 2011 1 0:32 Fletcher, North Carolina, United States Win 1-0 Christina Marks Submission (rear-naked choke) Universal Cage Combat: Revolution May 28, 2011 1 1:41 Lawrenceburg, Indiana, United States Career highlights
- 2004 Summer Olympics
- Silver Medal, Freestyle - 63 kg 2004 Athens, Greece
- 2003 World silver medalist
- 2005 World bronze medalist
- 2007 World bronze medalist
- Two-time Pan American Games champion (2003, 2007)
- Seven-time U.S. World Team member (2000-03, 2005-07)
- Six-time U.S. Nationals champion (2000-03, 2006-07)
- Fifth in 2000 Junior World Championships
- Two-time Pan American Games champion (2003, 2007)
- Seven-time U.S. World Team member (2000-03, 2005-07)
- Six-time U.S. Nationals champion (2000-03, 2006-07)
- Fifth in 2000 Junior World Championships
- The Hayastan Grappling Challenge Women's East Coast Champion (2009)
- Amateur mixed martial arts record: 3-0
References
- ^ "Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings". MMARising.com. http://www.mmarising.com/rankings/unified-womens-mixed-martial-arts-rankings/. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
- ^ Skalko, Sherry. "McMann finds solace in wrestling". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/wrestling/columns/story?id=1857176. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
- ^ Berra, Lindsay. "The rules are 'There are no rules'". ESPN the Magazine. http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3382953. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
- ^ "Olympic Silver Medalist McMann Inks Deal with Strikeforce". Sherdog.com. 2010-12-27. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Olympic-Silver-Medalist-McMann-Inks-Deal-with-Strikeforce-28683. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Sara McMann Defeats Tonya Evinger In TFC 19 Co-Feature". MMARising.com. 2011-07-29. http://www.mmarising.com/articles/2011/07/29/sara-mcmann-defeats-tonya-evinger-in-tfc-19-co-feature/. Retrieved 2011-07-29.
- ^ "Sara McMann's Pro MMA Debut Cancelled In Jamaica". MMARising.com. 2010-11-16. http://www.mmarising.com/news/2010/11/16/sara-mcmanns-pro-mma-debut-cancelled-in-jamaica/. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
- ^ "Olympic Silver Medalist McMann's Debut Delayed Again". Sherdog.com. 2011-04-29. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Olympic-Silver-Medalist-McManns-Debut-Delayed-Again-31982. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
- ^ "Olympian Sara McMann Wins Long-Awaited Pro MMA Debut". MMARising.com. 2011-05-29. http://www.mmarising.com/articles/2011/05/29/olympian-sara-mcmann-wins-long-awaited-pro-mma-debut/. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
- ^ "Sara McMann Impressive In Blackeye Promotions 4 Victory". MMARising.com. 2011-06-17. http://www.mmarising.com/articles/2011/06/17/sara-mcmann-impressive-in-blackeye-promotions-4-victory/. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ^ "Sara McMann vs Tonya Evinger Agreed For Titan FC 19". MMARising.com. 2011-07-20. http://www.mmarising.com/news/2011/07/20/sara-mcmann-vs-tonya-evinger-agreed-for-titan-fc-19/. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
- ^ "Bobby Lashley Pulls Out of Titan Fighting Bout". MMAFighting.com. 2011-07-22. http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/07/22/bobby-lashley-pulls-out-of-titan-fighting-bout/. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
- ^ "Sara McMann Submits Raquel Pa'aluhi At ProElite In Hawaii". MMARising.com. 2011-08-28. http://www.mmarising.com/articles/2011/08/28/sara-mcmann-submits-raquel-paaluhi-at-proelite-in-hawaii/. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
External links
Categories:- Wrestlers at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Olympic wrestlers of the United States
- Olympic silver medalists for the United States
- American sport wrestlers
- People from Montgomery County, Maryland
- 1980 births
- Living people
- Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania alumni
- University of Minnesota alumni
- People from McDowell County, North Carolina
- Female mixed martial artists
- Olympic medalists in wrestling
- American Olympic medalist stubs
- 2004 Summer Olympics
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