Michelle Montague celebrates after defeating Abigail Montes during PFL 2023 week 9 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on August 23, 2023 in New York City. Photo: Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Michelle 'Wild One' Montague has made the history books, becoming the first New Zealand woman to sign with UFC.
The 31 year old joins the world's top martial arts fighters who have signed under the promotion, her management agency announced.
Matamata's montague is no stranger to physical contact or competition.
Not only has she competed alongside Olympic BMX rider Sarah Walker in the Oceania continental championship, she was a forward for the Waikato women's rugby team and went to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022 for wrestling.
Back in 2018 she told RNZ her long term goal was to become New Zealand's first female to enter the UFC - she has done just that.
In 2018 Michelle Montague told RNZ her goal was to become New Zealand's first female to enter the UFC. Photo: United World Wrestling
Now training at mixed martial arts gym American Top Team in Florida, Montague looks to drop a division to bantamweight, after fighting most recently at featherweight.
Coached by Carlo Meister, she is currently 13th best female featherweight in MMA's world-wide ranking.
She signs with the promotion with a 6-0 professional MMA record, fighting at lightweight and featherweight.
Her next upcoming bout is reportedly against Brazil's Luana Carolina at bantamweight in Perth on 27 September, however the fight is yet to be confirmed by the promotion.
Kiwi fighter Navajo Stirling is also reportedly fighting against Brazil's Rodolfo Bellato on the same UFC card.
Career accomplishments
- IMMAF World Champion (Women's Lightweight Division, 2019)
- Pro MMA Wins at PFL MMA, Bellator MMA & iKon Fighting Championships
- UWW World Championships Competitor
- NZ Commonwealth Games Representative Freestyle Wrestling 2018 & 2022
- Oceania Wrestling Champion
- Colby Harris Memorial Cup Recipient 2018
- Multiple NZ Grappler National Champion
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