For all but a fortunate few fighters, MMA is a rollercoaster ride, full of soaring highs and crushing lows; the difference lies in how they deal with those extremes. Ilara Joanne takes them all in stride and keeps her focus on the part she can control—namely, the future.
As Joanne prepares for her matchup with Saray Orozco at 2025 PFL World Tournament 6: Semifinals on Friday in Wichita, Kansas, she has dropped four of her last five bouts dating back to the beginning of 2023. While those losses have come against elite foes including 2025 semifinalists Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop and 2024 runner-up Taila Santos, a return to the win column would surely be welcome.