Jessica Rakoczy is an American professional mixed martial artist and former professional boxer. She has competed in both sports at the highest levels. Rakoczy is known for her striking skills and resilience. She is a seven-time Women’s Lightweight Boxing Champion of the world.
Here we have Jessica Rakoczy’s career, net worth, prize money earnings, achievements, biography, and more.
Jessica Rakoczy’s Biography and Career
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jessica Rakoczy |
| Date of Birth | April 14, 1977 |
| Birthplace | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | American/Canadian |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| MMA Debut | 2009 |
| Boxing Record | 33-3-0 (3 No Contests) |
| MMA Record | 1-5-0 (MMA) |
| Children | 1 son |
Jessica Rakoczy was born on April 14, 1977, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a tough environment and turned to sports to escape her struggles.
Rakoczy initially pursued boxing before transitioning into mixed martial arts (MMA) later in her career. She holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada and has one son.
Boxing Career
Rakoczy e is a seven-time Women’s Lightweight World Champion. Throughout her boxing career, she competed against some of the best in the sport. Notable wins include her victory over Belinda Laracuente and her successful defenses of her lightweight title.
Rakoczy’s accomplishments in the ring made her a dominant figure in women’s boxing during her prime.
- In 2004, she won a unanimous decision against Lisa Lewis to claim the vacant IBA Female Lightweight Title.
- She defended her IBA title in 2005, beating Belinda Laracuente and winning the NABA Female Lightweight Title.
- Rakoczy achieved a major career milestone by defeating Jane Couch via TKO in 2005 to defend her IBA title and claim the WBC Female Lightweight Title.
- However, later in 2005, she lost the IBA and WBC titles to Eliza Olson via unanimous decision.
- In 2007, she was defeated by Ann Saccurato, losing the WBC Female Lightweight Title.
- She bounced back in 2013, winning the vacant WIBA Super Bantamweight Title by unanimous decision against Ada Vélez.
MMA Career
Rakoczy made her MMA debut in 2009, later transitioning fully to the sport after her boxing career. She gained wider recognition when she appeared on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), competing in the first-ever women’s season of the show.
Under coach Miesha Tate, Rakoczy reached the finals, where she fought Julianna Peña at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. Despite losing by TKO, Rakoczy’s striking skills were evident, and she earned respect in the MMA community for making a successful transition from boxing.
She retired with a professional MMA record of 1 win and 5 losses.
Achievements
- WBC Lightweight World Champion (Boxing)
- NABF Lightweight Champion (Boxing)
- Finalist on The Ultimate Fighter 18 (MMA)
Jessica Rakoczy’s Net Worth Details
Jessica Rakoczy’s net worth is estimated to be between $500,000 to $1 million as of 2025.
Her boxing career contributed most to her earnings, with significant prize money coming from her title fights.
Her MMA earnings were relatively modest, though her appearance on The Ultimate Fighter and her UFC fights helped boost her financial standing.
Prize Money Earnings
| Fight | Date | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Julianna Peña (TUF 18 Finale) | Nov 30, 2013 | $40,000 (estimate) |
| Tatiana Suarez (UFC Fight Night) | Jul 7, 2016 | $30,000 (estimate) |
Net Worth Growth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $400,000 |
| 2021 | $450,000 |
| 2022 | $500,000 |
| 2023 | $550,000 |
| 2024 | $600,000 |
Endorsements
Rakoczy has had sponsorship deals during her combat sports career with brands such as Tapout, Venum, and Everlast, largely due to her high-profile boxing career and UFC exposure.
Professional Boxing Records
| Result | Wins | Losses | Draws | No Contests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 33 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| By KO | 12 | 1 | – | – |
| By Decision | 21 | 2 | – | – |
MMA Records
| 7 matches | 1 win | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 2 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| No contests | 1 | |
FAQs
1. Who is Jessica Rakoczy?
Jessica Rakoczy is a retired Canadian professional boxer and mixed martial artist from Hamilton, Ontario. Born on April 14, 1977, she became a seven-time world champion in women’s lightweight boxing and later transitioned to MMA, competing in organizations like the UFC. She was inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018.
2. What are Jessica Rakoczy’s major boxing accomplishments?
Rakoczy held multiple world titles, including the WIBA Lightweight Championship (three times), WBC Lightweight Championship (twice), NABF Lightweight Championship, and NABA Lightweight Championship. She retired with a professional boxing record of 33 wins (12 KOs), 3 losses, and 1 no-contest.
3. When did Jessica Rakoczy start her MMA career?
She began her MMA career in 2009, making her professional debut at Tachi Palace Fights 1. She later gained prominence as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate in 2013, reaching the tournament finals.
4. What was Jessica Rakoczy’s UFC record?
In the UFC, Rakoczy competed in the strawweight and bantamweight divisions, finishing with a professional MMA record of 1 win, 5 losses, and 1 no-contest. Notable fights include losses to Julianna Peña (TUF 18 Finale) and Valérie Létourneau (UFC 186).
5. How did Jessica Rakoczy perform on The Ultimate Fighter?
She won three exhibition matches on The Ultimate Fighter 18, defeating Revelina Berto (submission), Roxanne Modafferi (TKO), and Raquel Pennington (decision). She advanced to the finals but lost to Julianna Peña via first-round TKO.
6. What titles did Jessica Rakoczy hold in boxing?
Her championships include:
- WIBA Super Bantamweight Title (2013)
- WBC Lightweight Title (2005, 2007)
- IBA Lightweight Title (2004)
- NABF Lightweight Title (2006, 2008)
- NABA Lightweight Title (2005).
7. What was Jessica Rakoczy’s background before turning professional?
A multi-sport athlete in high school, Rakoczy played hockey, baseball, football, and more. She began boxing at age 20, won the 1998 Ontario Female Bantamweight Title as an amateur, and turned pro in 2000.
8. What is Jessica Rakoczy doing after retiring from combat sports?
She works as a Special Constable with Peel Regional Police in Ontario, serving as an instructor in their Incident Response Training Unit. This career shift followed her retirement in 2015.
9. Why was one of Jessica Rakoczy’s MMA fights ruled a no-contest?
A 2010 fight against Jennifer Scott was overturned to a no-contest after Rakoczy tested positive for a banned substance. She initially won via TKO, but the result was vacated.
10. What is Jessica Rakoczy’s legacy in combat sports?
She is celebrated as one of Canada’s most decorated female boxers, pioneering women’s participation in both boxing and MMA. Her resilience in transitioning between sports and her historic title wins solidified her as a trailblazer in women’s combat athletics.
