Alex Chambers
{{short description|Australian mixed martial artist}}
{{For|the 19th century soldier|Alexander Chambers}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Alex Chambers
| other_names = Astro Girl{{ cite web |url= http://fightland.vice.com/blog/an-astrophysicist-from-australia-is-the-lightest-fighter-in-ufc-history|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140428145407/http://fightland.vice.com/blog/an-astrophysicist-from-australia-is-the-lightest-fighter-in-ufc-history|url-status= dead|archive-date= 28 April 2014|work= Vice |title= An Astrophysicist from Australia is the Lightest Fighter in UFC History|access-date=5 December 2014 }}{{ cite web |url= http://www.news.com.au/sport/ufc/alex-chambers-joins-the-ultimate-fighter/story-fnkjww7x-1227046488411|work= The News |location=Adelaide|title= Alex Chambers joins The Ultimate Fighter |access-date=11 December 2014 }}
| image =
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Alexandra Chambers
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|10|28}}
| birth_place = New South Wales, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| residence =
| nationality = Australian
| weight = {{convert|115|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}
| weight_class = Strawweight
Atomweight
| reach = {{convert|63|in|cm|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.awakeningfighters.com/athletes/alex-chambers|title=Alex Chambers Awakening Profile|publisher=Awakeningfighters.com|access-date=2016-02-20}}
| stance =
| fighting_out_of = Sydney, Australia
| team = [http://www.vt1mma.com.au/ VT1 Mixed Martial Arts Academy] & [http://gracieacademy.com.au/ Gracie Academy Chatswood]
| rank = 3rd dan black belt in Karate{{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/tuf/fighter/Alex-Chambers|title=TUF Fighter: Alex Chambers|publisher=UFC.com|access-date=5 September 2015}}
Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
| wrestling =
| university = University of Sydney
| school =
| years_active = 2010–
| mma_kowin = 2
| mma_subwin = 2
| mma_decwin = 1
| mma_koloss =
| mma_subloss = 4
| mma_decloss = 1
| mma_draw =
| mma_nc =
| url =
| sherdog = 65649
| footnotes =
| updated =
}}
Alex Chambers (born 28 October 1978) is an Australian mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division. A professional mixed martial artist since 2010, she has also fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Invicta FC.{{cite web |url= http://www.insidemma.com.au/fighters/418-alex-chambers-wmmas-next-big-thing- |publisher= Fight |title= Alex Chambers: WMMA's next big thing |access-date= 11 December 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141211064104/http://www.insidemma.com.au/fighters/418-alex-chambers-wmmas-next-big-thing- |archive-date= 11 December 2014 |url-status= dead }}{{ cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3778658.htm|work= ABC News |title= Cage fighting draws fighting to the ring |access-date=11 December 2014 }} She was also a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned.{{ cite web |url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/knockout-mma-fighter-alex-chambers-stars-in-first-allfemale-ultimate-fighter-reality-series/story-fngr8hax-1227045427805?nk=0e005ff6997197464dd3dc36b4e41ff7|publisher= The Daily Telegraph |title= Knockout MMA fighter Alex Chambers stars in first all-female Ultimate Fighter reality series |access-date=11 December 2014 }}
Mixed martial arts career
=Early career=
Chambers started learning karate when she was a child. By the time she was in university, she held a 3rd dan in karate and was competing on an international stage.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
Chambers discovered her first (and current) MMA gym through the MMA Underground Forums. Under her gym's tutelage, she was able to become a BJJ national champion before she made her professional MMA debut in May 2010 for the Rize promotion in Australia. It was the first female MMA bout to ever take place in New South Wales state history. She won her debut as well as a subsequent bout which happened around two months later.
After a period of dormancy in 2011, Chambers returned in March 2012 to fight for the Jewels promotion in Japan. She faced Mizuki Inoue and lost the fight via submission. Chambers then returned to Australia to fight in the Brace For War promotion where she was featured as main event on Brace's first ever all female card. She defeated Mika Nagano by TKO on the card.
=Invicta Fighting championships=
In 2013, Chambers signed with the Invicta FC promotion. She made her US debut on 5 April 2013 at Invicta FC 5 in an atomweight bout. She defeated Jodie Esquibel by submission early in the first round.
=Ultimate Fighting Championship=
==The Ultimate Fighter==
On 11 December 2013, it was announced that Chambers was signed by the UFC along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned, which will crown the first ever UFC strawweight champion.{{cite web|url=http://mmainsider.net/13572/ufc-announce-plans-for-strawweight-division-with-tuf-20-signings-of-several-invicta-fc-roster-confirmed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212021107/http://mmainsider.net/13572/ufc-announce-plans-for-strawweight-division-with-tuf-20-signings-of-several-invicta-fc-roster-confirmed|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 December 2013|title=UFC Announce Plans for Strawweight Division with TUF 20, Signings of Several Invicta FC Roster Confirmed|publisher=MMAInsider.net|author=Dave Reid|date=11 December 2013|access-date=11 December 2013}}
In the first episode, it was revealed that the UFC had seeded the fighters. Chambers was seeded 10th of 16 fighters and was paired with the no. 7 seed, Rose Namajunas. Namajunas was picked fourth by Team Melendez, thereby sending Chambers to Team Pettis. In their fight, she lost the bout via submission in the first round.
==After TUF==
In her first fight after The Ultimate Fighter, Chambers faced Aisling Daly at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on 12 December 2014.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/12/tuf-20-finale-adds-six-fights-in-las-vegas-including-herrig-ellis-torres-magana|title=TUF 20 Finale adds six fights in Las Vegas, including Herrig-Ellis, Torres-Magana|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Matt Erickson|date=11 December 2013|access-date=11 December 2013}} She lost the fight via submission in the first round.
Chambers faced Kailin Curran on 10 May 2015 at UFC Fight Night 65.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/02/ufc-fight-night-65-official-for-australia-with-hunt-miocic-tavares-whittaker-more|title=UFC Fight Night 65 official for Australia with Hunt-Miocic, Tavares-Whittaker, more|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=17 February 2015|access-date=17 February 2015}} After losing the first two rounds, Chambers came back in the third round to win via submission.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/05/ufc-fight-night-65-results-alex-chambers-pulls-off-comeback-submission-of-kailin-curran|title=UFC Fight Night 65 results: Alex Chambers pulls off comeback submission of Kailin Curran|publisher=mmajunkie.com|first=Steven|last=Marrocco|date=10 May 2015}} The win also earned Chambers her first Performance of the Night bonus award.{{cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/05/ufc-fight-night-65-bonuses-with-10-finishes-in-12-fights-who-got-50000|title=UFC Fight Night 65 bonuses: With 10 finishes in 12 fights, who got $50,000?|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Staff|date=2015-05-10|access-date=2015-05-10}}
Chambers faced Paige VanZant on 5 September 2015 at UFC 191. She lost the fight via submission in the third round.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2015/09/ufc-191-results-paige-vanzant-dominates-taps-alex-chambers-with-armbar|title=UFC 191 results, highlights: Paige VanZant dominates, taps Alex Chambers with armbar|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Brent Brookhouse|access-date=2015-09-05|date=2015-09-05}}
Chambers faced Nadia Kassem at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura on 19 November 2017 in Sydney, Australia.{{Cite news|url=http://mmadna.nl/alex-chambers-keert-eindelijk-terug-tegen-nadia-kassem-tijdens-ufc-sydney/|title=Alex Chambers keert eindelijk terug tegen Nadia Kassem tijdens UFC Sydney|date=2017-08-24|work=MMA DNA|access-date=2017-08-25|language=Dutch}} At the weight-ins, Kassem weighed in at 120 pounds, 4 pounds over the strawweight upper limit of 116 pounds. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Kassem forfeited 30% of her purse to Chambers.{{Cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/11/ufc-fight-night-121-sydney-early-weigh-in-results-live-video-stream|title=UFC Fight Night 121 official weigh-in results: Headliner set, but four fighters heavy|date=2017-11-18|work=MMAjunkie|access-date=2017-11-18|language=en-US}} Chambers lost the fight by unanimous decision.{{Cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/11/ufc-fight-night-121-results-nadia-kassem-goes-the-distance-to-top-gritty-alex-chambers|title=UFC Fight Night 121 results: Nadia Kassem goes the distance to top gritty Alex Chambers|date=2017-11-19|work=MMAjunkie|access-date=2017-11-19|language=en-US}}
Chambers faced Lívia Renata Souza on 22 September 2018 at UFC Fight Night 137.{{Cite web|url=http://mmadna.nl/livia-renata-souza-maakt-ufc-debuut-in-sao-paulo-tegen-alex-chambers/|title=Livia Renata Souza maakt UFC debuut in São Paulo tegen Alex Chambers|last=DNA|first=MMA|website=mmadna.nl|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-27}} She lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round one.{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/09/ufc-sao-paulo-results-livia-renata-souza-debuts-in-spectacular-fashion-overwhelms-alex-chambers|title=UFC Sao Paulo results: Livia Renata Souza debuts in spectacular fashion, overwhelms Alex Chambers|date=2018-09-22|work=MMAjunkie|access-date=2018-09-23|language=en-US}}
In February 2021, it was reported that Chambers and UFC had parted ways.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-news-nine-fighters-released-bellator-re-signs-dalton-rosta|title=Insiders' Scoop: Nine UFC departures that went unnoticed, UFC 262 plans, and more|author=Nolan King|date=February 17, 2021|work=MMAjunkie.com}}
Personal life
Before becoming a professional MMA fighter, Chambers attended the University of Sydney where she did a double degree in science and mechatronics engineering. Chambers aspired to become an astrophysicist or a robotics engineer before discovering her love for MMA.{{ cite web |url= http://www.news.com.au/sport/ufc/alex-chambers-forgoes-a-robotics-career-for-a-life-inside-the-octagon/story-fnkjww7x-1227152908834|publisher= News.com.au |title= Alex Chambers forgoes a robotics career for a life inside the Octagon |access-date=13 December 2014 }}
Chambers trained at the same gym as fellow UFC fighter and TUF alumni Richard Walsh for seven years.Murray, Oliver. [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/vt1-academy-fighters-richard-walsh-and-alex-chambers-take-step-closer-to-ultimate-fighting-championship-dreams/story-fngr8h9d-1226784207050?nk=71c08ab0ecf08de905b131d4f65d2c38 "VT1 Academy fighters Richard Walsh and Alex Chambers take step closer to Ultimate Fighting Championship dreams"], The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 16 December 2013. Retrieved on 23 July 2014.
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Kailin Curran
- UFC.com Awards
- 2015: Ranked #6 Submission of the Year {{small|vs. Kailin Curran}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/news/10-best-top-ufc-submissions-2015|title=10 Best 2013 Top UFC submissions of 2015|date=December 23, 2015|author=Thomas Gerbasi|work=Ultimate Fighting Championship}}
Mixed martial arts record
{{MMArecordbox
| ko-wins=2
| ko-losses=0
| sub-wins=2
| sub-losses=4
| dec-wins=1
| dec-losses=1
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|5–5
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders
|{{dts|format=dmy|2018|September|22}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:21
|São Paulo, Brazil
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|5–4
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura
|{{dts|format=dmy|2017|November|19}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Sydney, Australia
|{{small|Catchweight (120 lbs) bout; Kassem missed weight.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|5–3
|Submission (armbar)
|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|September|5}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|1:01
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|5–2
|Submission (armbar)
|UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Hunt
|{{dts|format=dmy|2015|May|10}}
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:15
|Adelaide, Australia
|{{small|Performance of the Night.}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|4–2
|Submission (armbar)
|The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale
|{{dts|format=dmy|2014|December|12}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:53
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|{{small|Return to Strawweight; Daly missed weight (118 lbs).}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center |4–1
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson
|{{dts|format=dmy|2013|April|5}}
|align=center | 1
|align=center | 1:35
|Kansas City, Missouri, United States
|{{small|Atomweight debut.}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center |3–1
|TKO (knee and punches)
|BFW 17: Brace Girls
|{{dts|format=dmy|2012|October|27}}
|align=center | 1
|align=center | 0:42
|Southport, Australia
|
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center |2–1
|Submission (armbar)
|Jewels 18th Ring
|{{dts|format=dmy|2012|March|3}}
|align=center | 1
|align=center | 4:32
|Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center |2–0
|Claire Fryer
|TKO (punches)
|Rize 6: Defiance
|{{dts|format=dmy|2010|July|31}}
|align=center | 1
|align=center | 2:57
|Chandler, Australia
|
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center |1–0
|Jessica Tolhurst
|Decision (unanimous)
|Rize 5: Revolution
|{{dts|format=dmy|2010|May|29}}
|align=center | 3
|align=center | 3:00
|Chandler, Australia
|
|-
|}
=Mixed martial arts exhibition record=
{{MMA exhibition record box
| draws=
| nc=
| ko-wins=
| ko-losses=
| sub-wins=
| sub-losses= 1
| dec-wins=
| dec-losses=
| dq-wins=
| dq-losses=
| other-wins=
| other-losses=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|align=center|0–1
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned
|{{dts|format=dmy|2014|November|05}} (airdate)
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:38
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|{{small|TUF 20 Elimination round}}
{{end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.awakeningfighters.com/athletes/alex-chambers Alex Chambers] at [http://www.awakeningfighters.com/ Awakening Fighters]
- {{UFC|alex-chambers}}
- {{Sherdog}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Alex}}
Category:Martial artists from Sydney
Category:Sportswomen from New South Wales
Category:Australian female karateka
Category:Australian astrophysicists
Category:Australian female mixed martial artists
Category:Strawweight mixed martial artists
Category:Atomweight mixed martial artists
Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing karate
Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:University of Sydney alumni
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters