Sports News Report
League: UFCSport: MMACountry: GlobalCategory: Scores & Results

Melissa Amaya prepares for The Ultimate Fighter 34 debut this summer

2 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 3:04 AM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

Summary

Melissa Amaya, a native of Chaparral, New Mexico, is set to compete in The Ultimate Fighter 34, which debuts this summer following a UFC event. Amaya, who holds an undefeated professional MMA record of 8-0, initially did not envision a fighting career. Her journey began with a kickboxing class at UNM and evolved into a full-time pursuit after overcoming personal struggles with depression. She currently trains at Sikjitsu MMA in Spokane, Washington, balancing her nursing career and fight training. The reality show will air its 12-episode season on Tuesdays after the premier episode.

Source Links
Yahoo Sports
By the Numbers
  • •Melissa Amaya enters The Ultimate Fighter 34 this summer.
  • •She has an undefeated professional MMA record of 8-0.
  • •Amaya trained at Sikjitsu MMA while working as a nurse.
  • •She initially tried kickboxing at UNM, later embracing MMA.
  • •The show airs weekly on Tuesdays after its debut episode.
Latest Updates
  • 3:04 AMYahoo Sports — New Mexico fighter scores upset in season premiere of The Ultimate Fighter 34
  • 3:06 AMYahoo Sports — Southern New Mexico native, UNM grad battle-tested heading into new season of The Ultimate Fighter
What they're saying
"

The Ultimate Fighter 34 Episode 1: Sunday, following the UFC White House fight card (then Tuesday’s each week to follow), streamed on Paramount+ Fighting was never really on Melissa Amaya’s radar. Sure, she grew up in Chaparral, New Mexico, with three brothers and tried keeping up with them — never backing down athletically, adventurously or physically. But fighting? That wasn’t really her thing ...

"

New Mexico native Melissa Amaya, a 31-year-old mixed martial artist from Chaparral who graduated with a nursing degree from UNM in 2018, won her strawweight fight against Anna Melisano in Sunday’s debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter 34. Amaya, who is on the team coached by former UFC champion Daniel Cormier, submitted Melisano, who was the No. 1 ranked women's strawweight fighter on Michael ...

Related Teams & Leagues
UFCMMA

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days