Manon Fiorot Bio
Manon Caroline Fiorot, born on February 17, 1990, in Nice, France, is a French mixed martial artist competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s Flyweight division. Known by the nickname “The Beast,” she trains out of Boxing Squad Maccabi Nice under coach Aldric Cassata and fights from a southpaw stance. Fiorot began her professional MMA career in 2018 and has since built a record of 13 wins and 2 losses, with seven victories coming by knockout. She holds black belts in both karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a rare combination that has shaped her versatile striking base inside the cage.
Outside the cage, Fiorot remains closely tied to her hometown of Nice, where she continues to live and train. Her calm, methodical approach in competition and her willingness to face top opposition have made her one of the most respected European fighters in women’s mixed martial arts. Fiorot’s path from a young karate student to a top UFC contender reflects years of disciplined training across multiple combat disciplines.
Early Life and Background
Manon Fiorot was born in Nice, France, on February 17, 1990. She began her athletic journey at the age of seven when she first started practicing karate. The discipline and structure of martial arts became a central part of her upbringing, and she would later return to the sport with renewed focus as a young adult. Growing up near the French Alps also gave her early exposure to outdoor sports, including snowboarding, which she pursued seriously for a time.
As a teenager, Fiorot attended a snowboarding school and won the French Snowboarding Championship, showcasing the same competitive drive that would later define her fighting career. When she was 18, she stepped away from snowboarding and returned to karate, where she quickly earned her black belt and earned a place on the French national team. In 2014, she was selected for the Karate World Championships, but a serious injury cut that opportunity short. The setback, however, opened the door to a new chapter in striking sports.
During her recovery, Fiorot discovered kickboxing and Muay Thai, and she excelled almost immediately. She built an amateur Muay Thai record of 12 wins and 0 losses, captured two national champion titles, and added three national championship titles in K-1. These accomplishments helped her develop the sharp striking arsenal that would later define her style in the UFC.
Path to MMA
Fiorot’s transition into mixed martial arts began with amateur competition. In 2017, she entered the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) European Open Championships, where she reached the bantamweight final before losing to Cornelia Holm. Months later, she rebounded by winning the IMMAF World Championships, signaling her readiness to turn professional.
Her professional debut came on June 16, 2018, when she faced Leah McCourt at Cage Warriors 94. The bout was a split decision loss, but the experience gave Fiorot a clearer picture of the level required to succeed at the top of the sport. She returned to competition determined to sharpen her ground game alongside her elite striking, eventually earning a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to complement her karate credentials.
Manon Fiorot Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
After her debut loss in Cage Warriors, Fiorot traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2019 to take part in a reality competition called The Fighter, organized by the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC). Over two months of competition, she emerged as the winner and earned a place on the EFC roster. That December, she defeated Amanda Lino to become the EFC Women’s Flyweight World Champion, capturing her first professional title.
Fiorot then moved to UAE Warriors, a promotion based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where she quickly made an impact. She stopped Corinne Laframboise via TKO in the third round at UAE Warriors 12, followed by a second-round TKO of Naomi Tataroglu at UAE Warriors 13. She then defeated Gabriela Campos via first-round TKO at UAE Warriors 14 to claim the UAEW Flyweight Championship, establishing herself as one of the most dangerous finishers outside the UFC.
UFC Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Fiorot made her UFC debut on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20, where she defeated Victoria Leonardo by second-round technical knockout. She followed that with a standing TKO win over replacement opponent Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night 189, and then a unanimous decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva, originally booked for UFC 266 before being shifted to UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont.
In 2022, Fiorot continued her climb with a unanimous decision win over Jennifer Maia at UFC on ESPN 33 and a hard-fought unanimous decision over Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 280. The Chookagian fight came with a dramatic moment at the weigh-ins, where Chookagian came in 1.5 pounds over the flyweight non-title limit and forfeited 20 percent of her purse to Fiorot. By the end of 2022, Fiorot had firmly established herself as a rising contender in the division.
UFC Contender Era (2023–Present)
Fiorot’s first fight on French soil came on September 2, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 226 in Paris, where she faced former UFC Women’s Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in Namajunas’ flyweight debut. Fiorot controlled the bout and earned a unanimous decision victory in front of her home fans. The win elevated her standing and set the stage for her first meeting with a fellow top contender.
On March 30, 2024, Fiorot faced Erin Blanchfield in the main event of UFC on ESPN 54, winning by unanimous decision in a bout originally positioned further down the card. She later served as the backup fighter for the flyweight title trilogy between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306 in September 2024. On May 10, 2025, at UFC 315, she challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship but lost by unanimous decision. Fiorot returned to the win column on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262, defeating Jasmine Jasudavicius by first-round technical knockout.
Style and Strengths
Fiorot is widely regarded as one of the most technically clean strikers in the women’s flyweight division. Her karate and Muay Thai background gives her sharp, diverse kickboxing, while her southpaw stance and 65-inch reach allow her to control distance against most opponents. Working with coach Aldric Cassata, she has steadily added grappling layers to complement her striking, making her a more complete fighter with each outing.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Fiorot’s career include her EFC Flyweight World Championship win in 2019, her UAEW Flyweight Championship run in 2020, and her multiple-fight UFC contract signed after her third Octagon appearance. Beating former champion Rose Namajunas in her Paris homecoming, headlining UFC on ESPN 54 against Erin Blanchfield, and challenging for the UFC title at UFC 315 stand out as defining moments in her rise.
Manon Fiorot Career Wins
Manon Fiorot’s professional record stands at 13 wins and 2 losses across 15 total bouts, with seven wins by knockout, two by decision, and none by submission. Her finishing ability has been a defining trait, particularly during her championship runs in EFC and UAE Warriors, where she racked up three straight TKO victories to capture the UAEW Flyweight Championship.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Fiorot has compiled notable wins over Victoria Leonardo, Tabatha Ricci, Mayra Bueno Silva, Jennifer Maia, Katlyn Chookagian, Rose Namajunas, Erin Blanchfield, and Jasmine Jasudavicius. Her first Octagon victory came by second-round TKO over Leonardo in January 2021, and her most recent win came by first-round TKO over Jasudavicius in October 2025. Several of her UFC victories have come by unanimous decision against ranked opposition, underscoring her ability to grind out wins when a finish is not available.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Fiorot’s most significant runs came in EFC and UAE Warriors, where she captured world championship gold in back-to-back promotions. She also won the IMMAF World Championships in 2017, providing a strong foundation for her professional transition. Her amateur Muay Thai and K-1 national titles further reflect her deep striking pedigree.
Manon Fiorot Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Fiorot’s family supported her early athletic pursuits, including her time at a snowboarding school as a teenager and her later return to combat sports. While details about her parents and siblings are not publicly documented in verified sources, her upbringing in Nice clearly nurtured a strong competitive foundation that has carried through her professional career.
Personal Life
Manon Fiorot continues to reside in Nice, France, the city where she was born and where she trains with Boxing Squad Maccabi Nice. She keeps her personal relationships private, and no public information about a spouse, partner, or children has been confirmed. Her focus outside of training remains centered on her home community in the south of France.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a landmark year for Manon Fiorot, as it began with her first UFC title shot. On May 10, 2025, at UFC 315, she challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship and lost by unanimous decision in a competitive bout. The loss was her first inside the Octagon since her debut, ending a lengthy unbeaten run in the promotion.
Fiorot responded with a strong return on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262, where she stopped Jasmine Jasudavicius via first-round TKO to bounce back into the win column. The finish reaffirmed her dangerous striking and re-established her as a top contender in the flyweight division heading into 2026.
Looking ahead, Fiorot is widely expected to remain in the title picture at 125 pounds. With her southpaw striking, championship-level experience, and the backing of coach Aldric Cassata, she remains well-positioned to earn another shot at UFC gold. Her 2025 performances, both the title challenge and the emphatic comeback win, suggest her best years in the cage may still be ahead.
