Sheila Gaff (December 29, 1989) is a German mixed martial artist, and was fighting in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but was released on August 12, 2013. Since May 14, 2015 she has been under contract with XFC. She is known for her berserker fighting style, which has resulted in most of her wins and losses coming via (T)KO stoppage within the first two minutes. Gaff has also worked a lot on her ground fighting, which led to successful participations in grappling tournaments. She is also known for being the first-ever woman released by UFC.[1]

Sheila Gaff
Born (1989-12-29) December 29, 1989 (age 34)
Bad Hersfeld, West Germany
Other namesThe German Tank
NationalityGerman
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st)
DivisionBantamweight
Flyweight
Featherweight
Strawweight
Reach64 in (163 cm)
Fighting out ofOffenbach am Main, Germany
TeamPyranha MMA
Years active2006–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total17
Wins10
By knockout5
By submission5
Losses7
By knockout3
By submission2
By decision1
By disqualification1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: August 4, 2013 (2013-08-04)

Mixed martial arts career

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Gaff made her mixed martial arts debut on September 2, 2006. She won six of her first eight fights over the next three years.

On March 27, 2010, Gaff competed in a one-night tournament at Upcoming Glory 7. She defeated Lena Buytendijk in the first round and lost to Romy Ruyssen later in the night.

Gaff faced Cindy Dandois two months later at M-1 Selection 2010: Western Europe Round 3. She was disqualified after landing an illegal knee early in the third round.[2]

On February 26, 2011, Gaff dropped down to 125 pounds to face Hanna Sillen at The Zone FC 8: Inferno. She defeated Sillen by knockout in eight seconds.

Cage Warriors

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Gaff made her Cage Warriors debut when she fought Ireland's Aisling Daly at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 41 on April 24, 2011 in Kentish Town, London.[3] She defeated Daly by TKO in the first round.[4]

Gaff was then scheduled to face Angela Hayes at Cage Warriors: Fight Night 2, but had to pull out due to illness and was replaced by Aisling Daly.[5]

Gaff next fought Jennifer Maia at Cage Warriors: Fight Night 4 as part of a four-woman flyweight tournament to crown the inaugural Cage Warriors women's flyweight champion. She defeated Maia via knockout in ten seconds. Gaff began the fight with a sucker punch instead of touching gloves.[6]

Gaff was scheduled to face Rosi Sexton in the tournament final at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 49 on October 27, 2012 in Cardiff, Wales. Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) drug testing was used in the weeks prior to the planned fight.[7] However, the bout was cancelled on October 19 when Gaff withdrew due to illness.[8]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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On March 1, 2013, German website groundandpound.de reported that Gaff had signed a 4-fight contract with the UFC to join the UFC women's bantamweight division.[9] She faced Sara McMann at UFC 159 on April 27.[10] Gaff lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[11]

In her second fight with the promotion, Gaff faced Amanda Nunes at UFC 163 on August 3, 2013.[12] She lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[13][14] On August 12, 2013 German MMA magazine GroundandPound reported her release from the UFC.[15] She was also the first-ever woman released by UFC.[16]

On April 14, 2015 Gaff signed a 6-fight contract with XFC. She joins the Strawweight division of the organisation.[17] Gaff debuted at XFCi 11 in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 19, 2015 against Antonia Silvaneide. She won the fight via submission in Round 1.

After XFC closing operations for undetermined time, Gaff signed a 1-fight contract with Polish organization KSW. She faced Brazilian prospect Ariane Lipski at her debut at KSW 36. She lost via knockout in the first round.[18]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
17 matches 10 wins 7 losses
By knockout 5 3
By submission 5 2
By decision 0 1
By disqualification 0 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 10–7 Milena Bojić TKO (punches) Dynasty Fighting Championship February 23, 2019 1 0:07 Frankfurt, Germany
Loss 9–7 Ariane Lipski KO (punches) KSW 36 October 1, 2016 1 2:09 Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland
Win 9–6 Antonia Silvaneide Submission (armbar) XFCi 11 September 19, 2015 1 4:46 São Paulo, Brazil XFCi Women's Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Loss 8–6 Amanda Nunes TKO (punches and elbows) UFC 163 August 3, 2013 1 2:08 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 8–5 Sara McMann TKO (punches) UFC 159 April 27, 2013 1 4:06 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 8–4 Jennifer Maia KO (punches) Cage Warriors Fight Night 4 March 16, 2012 1 0:10 Dubai, United Arab Emirates CWFC Women's Flyweight Tournament Semifinal
Win 7–4 Aisling Daly TKO (knees and punches) Cage Warriors 41 April 24, 2011 1 1:34 Kentish Town, North London, England
Win 6–4 Hanna Sillen KO (punches) The Zone FC 8: Inferno February 26, 2011 1 0:08 Gothenburg, Sweden
Loss 5–4 Milana Dudieva Decision (unanimous) ProFC 22 December 17, 2010 3 5:00 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Loss 5–3 Cindy Dandois DQ (illegal knee to the head) M-1 Selection 2010: Western Europe Round 3 May 29, 2010 3 0:10 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 5–2 Romy Ruyssen Submission (armbar) Upcoming Glory 7 March 27, 2010 1 1:08 Overijssel, Netherlands
Win 5–1 Lena Buytendijk Submission (armbar) Upcoming Glory 7 March 27, 2010 1 4:30 Overijssel, Netherlands
Win 4–1 Alexandra Buch Submission (heel hook) MMA Berlin: Tournament 16 September 26, 2009 1 1:59 Berlin, Germany
Win 3–1 Dalia Grakulskyte Submission (rear-naked choke) Night of Pain 2nd September 12, 2009 1 1:26 Darmstadt, Germany
Win 2–1 Tania Loureiro TKO (Punches) Hamburger Kafig - First Strike December 9, 2008 1 0:30 Hamburg, Germany
Win 1–1 Lydia Myska Submission (armbar) FCA: Fight Club Plauen May 10, 2008 1 0:30 Plauen, Germany
Loss 0–1 Majanka Lathouwers Submission (rear-naked choke) UFR: Mix Fight Gala September 23, 2006 1 N/A Neuwied, Germany

Mixed martial arts amateur record

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Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 3–0–1 Julie Larsen Submission (armbar) FG: Fight Night 2 January 24, 2009 1 1:04 Odense, Denmark
Win 2–0–1 Katharina Albinus TKO (punches) FFA: New Talents 8 September 6, 2008 1 1:54 Eschwege, Germany
Draw 1–0–1 Tania Loureiro Draw FFA: New Talents 6 September 1, 2007 2 5:00 Eschwege, Germany
Win 1–0 Annett Sonntag TKO (punches) FFA: New Talents 2 September 2, 2006 1 1:20 Eschwege, Germany

References

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  1. ^ "Sheila Gaff first-ever woman released by UFC following back-to-back losses". www.mmamania.com. 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  2. ^ "Dandois To Face Kunitskaya At M-1 Challenge 22". MMARising.com. 2010-11-17. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  3. ^ "Aisling Daly vs Sheila Gaff Agreed For Cage Warriors 41". MMARising.com. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  4. ^ "Sheila Gaff Quickly Stops Aisling Daly At Cage Warriors 41". MMARising.com. 2011-04-24. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
  5. ^ "Sheila Gaff Out, Daly To Face Hayes At CWFC: Fight Night 2". MMARising.com. 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  6. ^ "Mike Hayes Handles 'Big Daddy' For Cage Warriors Heavyweight Strap In Dubai". Sherdog.com. 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  7. ^ "Rosi Sexton vs Sheila Gaff Official For Cage Warriors 49". MMARising.com. 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
  8. ^ "Sheila Gaff Withdraws From CWFC Title Bout With Rosi Sexton". MMARising.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  9. ^ "Sheila Gaff debütiert in der UFC". GroundandPound.de. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  10. ^ "Olympic medalist Sara McMann vs. Sheila Gaff joins UFC 159 lineup". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  11. ^ "UFC 159 results/photos: Sara McMann dominates, TKOs Sheila Gaff". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-04-27. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
  12. ^ "Sheila Gaff vs Amanda Nunes Added To UFC 163 In Brazil". MMARising.com. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  13. ^ "Amanda Nunes Stops Sheila Gaff At UFC 163 In Brazil". MMARising.com. 2013-08-03. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  14. ^ "UFC 163 results and photos: Amanda Nunes elbows way to TKO of Sheila Gaff". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-08-03. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  15. ^ "Sheila Gaff released from UFC". GroundandPound.de. 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  16. ^ "Sheila Gaff first-ever woman released by UFC following back-to-back losses". www.mmamania.com. 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2013-08-13.
  17. ^ "Sheila Gaff unterschreibt Vertrag mit XFC". GroundandPound.de. 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  18. ^ "Ariane Lipski ubija Sheilę Gaff!". Lowking.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-06-10.

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