Felice Herrig
Born Name: Felice Nicole Herrig
Date of Birth: September 18, 1984
Place of Birth: Buffalo Grove, Illinois, United States
Other names: Lil Bulldog
Residence: Crystal Lake, Illinois
Nationality: American
Education: Buffalo Grove High School
Height: 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight: 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division: Strawweight
Reach: 65 in (165 cm)
Style: Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out of: Crystal Lake, Illinois
Team: Alliance MMA (2009)
Team Curran (2010–2020)
Valle Flow Striking (2020–present)
Rank: Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jeff Curran

Felice Nicole Herrig (born September 18, 1984) is an American kickboxer, Muay Thai fighter, and mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the strawweight division. As of June 30, 2020, she is #15 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

Background
Herrig was born in Buffalo Grove, Illinois and she began her career practicing kickboxing and Muay Thai before transitioning to MMA in 2009. Herrig graduated from Buffalo Grove High School in 2003.

Kickboxing career
Prior to Felice "Lil' Bulldog" Herrig's move to mixed martial arts, Herrig held a professional kickboxing record of 23-5. She is currently ranked number 2 in the World in the IKF International Kickboxing Federation Pro Women's Muay Thai Bantamweight Division.

As a pro kickboxer, Herrig won the International Kickboxing Federation Pro Muay Thai United States Bantamweight Title. She won the title on November 15, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois, US, when she defeated Katie Meehan by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46).

As an amateur, she was a two-time International Kickboxing Federation Open Tournament Champion.

On August 21, 2005, in Orlando, Florida, US, Herrig became the 2005 IKF North American Classic Amateur Full Contact Rules Bantamweight Tournament Champion when she defeated Terri French of Little Rock, Arkansas, US, by unanimous decision 30-27 on all 3 judges cards.

On July 30, 2006 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US, Herrig defended her IKF Tournament Title at the 2006 IKF World Classic when she defeated Stacy Chung of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada by unanimous decision 29-28 on all 3 judges cards.

She has also competed in the World Combat League with the St. Louis Enforcers.

Mixed martial arts career
Herrig appeared on Fight Girls in 2007 on the Oxygen and won her fight in Thailand against a champion Thai fighter. She was later scheduled to appear on another reality show about women's MMA called the Ultimate Women Challenge.

Herrig faced Iman Achhal at UWC: Man "O" War on February 21, 2009 in her MMA debut. She lost the fight by split decision.

She faced Michele Gutierrez at Unconquered 1: November Reign on November 20, 2009 and won the fight by armbar submission in the second round.

Herrig faced Jessica Rakoczy at Bellator 14 on April 15, 2010. She won the fight via split decision.

Herrig faced Amanda LaVoy at XFO 37 on December 4, 2010. She won the fight via armbar submission in the first round.

On January 14, 2011, Herrig faced Barb Honchak at Hoosier Fight Club 6: New Years Nemesis in Valparaiso, Indiana. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Herrig faced Andrea Miller at Chicago Cagefighting Championship 3 on March 5, 2011. She won the fight by TKO in the first round.

Herrig faced Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc at XFO 39 on May 13, 2011 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Her scheduled bout against undefeated Kelly Warren at Fight Tour on August 20, 2011 was cancelled due to Warren weighing in 7 pounds overweight.

Herrig faced Carla Esparza at XFC 15: Tribute on December 2, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. She was defeated by unanimous decision.

On April 13, 2012, Herrig faced Patricia Vidonic at XFC 17: Apocalypse in Jackson, Tennessee. She defeated Vidonic by unanimous decision.

Herrig next faced Simona Soukupova at XFC 19: Charlotte Showdown on August 3, 2012. She defeated Soukupova by unanimous decision.

Herrig was scheduled to return to Bellator to face Michele Gutierrez in a rematch at Bellator 84 on December 14, 2012. However, Gutierrez withdrew from the fight on December 1 and Herrig instead competed in a rematch against Patricia Vidonic. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Herrig next competed against Heather Clark at Bellator 94 on March 28, 2013. She won the fight via split decision. The fight ended controversially as following the final bell Herrig unleashed a yell of celebration in her opponent's face, which prompted a post-fight backhand punch from Clark. Herrig retaliated with a punch of her own, before order was restored.

Invicta Fighting Championships
On August 13, 2013, it was announced that Herrig had signed a multi-fight deal with Invicta Fighting Championships. She faced Tecia Torres at Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith on December 7, 2013 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.

The Ultimate Fighter 20
On December 11, 2013, it was announced that Herrig was signed by the UFC along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter, which will crown the first ever UFC women's strawweight champion.

Herrig was the sixth fighter to go to coach Anthony Pettis. She faced rival Heather Jo Clark in a rematch in the preliminary round of the tournament. Herrig again won the fight by unanimous decision. She lost to Randa Markos via submission in the quarterfinal round of competition.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Herrig's first fight after The Ultimate Fighter was against Lisa Ellis at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014. She won the fight via submission in the second round.

Herrig faced Paige VanZant on April 18, 2015 at UFC on Fox 15. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Herrig next faced Kailin Curran at UFC on Fox 20 on July 23, 2016. She won the fight by rear naked choke just two minutes into the first round.

Herrig next faced Alexa Grasso on February 4, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 104. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Herrig faced Justine Kish on June 25, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Herrig faced Cortney Casey on December 2, 2017 at UFC 218. She won the fight via split decision.

Herrig faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on April 7, 2018 at UFC 223. She lost the fight by split decision.

Herrig next faced Michelle Waterson on October 6, 2018 at UFC 229. She lost the fight via unanimous decision

Herrig was expected to face Xiaonan Yan on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238. However, on April 30, 2019 it was reported that Herrig suffered from a torn ACL and was pulled from the event.

Herrig faced Virna Jandiroba on August 15, 2020 at UFC 252. She lost the fight via a submission.

Media appearances
Herrig is a playable character in the video game Supremacy MMA for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. She also appeared in American Ninja Warrior (season 7), in 2015.

News article is edited by: soni - 5-11-2021, 10:07