Tonya Evinger’s initial tour of the UFC hasn’t exactly been a joy ride. As the reigning Invicta FC bantamweight champion transitioning over, her first task was to bulk up and face one Cris Cyborg at UFC 214 for the featherweight title. Because she’s made of grit and burlap, Evinger gladly accepted. As so many others that went before her, she came up short, succumbing to a tough fought third-round TKO.
Since then it’s been a career on tumble dry. Fights booked, and fights cancelled. Once because she was injured in training camp (for her fight with Marion Reneau), once because her opponent was injured in the lead-up to the fight (Ketlen Vieira).