Victoria Leonardo
Background. Born in the Pomona section of Galloway Township, New Jersey, Leonardo moved with her family to Shreveport, Louisiana when she was 4 years old. Studying Italian in high school helped Leonardo discover her love for foreign languages, but she switched to Spanish for her field of study in college. She was one of the last students out of Louisiana State University in Shreveport to major in a foreign language before the program was discontinued. With her degree, she teaches Spanish at Calvary Baptist Academy. Mixed martial arts career. Early career & Invicta. After starting her career in 2018  winning both her fights for Legacy Fighting Alliance, Victoria made her Invicta Fighting Championships against Miranda Maverick on September 1, 2018 at . She lost via a submission. She picked up three straight submission wins, against Monica Medina at Gulf Coast MMA 2, against Jamie Milanowski at , and against Malin Hermansson at Bellator 218. On August 9, 2019, Leonardo faced Stephanie Geltmacher at . She won the fight via unanimous decision. On February 7, 2020, Leonardo faced Erin Blanchfield at . In the second round Leonardo got dropped with a head kick, getting stopped by stoppage. Victoria faced Liz Tracy at on September  17, 2020. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Leonardo competed at Dana White's Contender Series 36 where she fought and won against Chelsea Hackett on November 17, 2020 for an UFC contract. Ultimate Fighting Championship. Victoria was scheduled to face fellow newcomer Natalia Silva on January 20, 2021 at UFC on ESPN 20. Silva pulled out due to a fractured ulna and was replaced by fellow newcomer Manon Fiorot. She lost the fight via TKO in round two. Leonardo faced Melissa Gatto on August 7, 2021 at UFC 265. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round  two after the doctor stopped the fight between rounds two and three due to an arm injury.