Pearl Gonzalez


Pearlmelia Marie Keyser Gonzalez is an American mixed martial artist. She formerly competed for Ultimate Fighting Championships, and currently fights in the strawweight division of the Invicta Fighting Championships.

Background

Gonzalez was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were both drug and alcohol abusers, disturbing her childhood and adolescence. Her parents eventually separated, leaving Pearl with her father and rest of the siblings with their mother. Her father, after getting clean, placed her in combat sport classes when she was eleven years old. Gonzalez later trained in boxing, and won the Golden Gloves amateur championship in 2008. She stopped fighting for a while in order to raise her younger sister, but went back to fighting at 21.
She is of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Irish and African-American descent.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Gonzalez started her amateur career in 2009, and fought professionally since 2012. She competed for the Xtreme Fighting Championship, Xtreme Fighting Organization, Splode Fight Series, and Hoosier Fight Club. Gonzalez amassed a record of 6-1 prior to being signed by UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championships

Gonzalez made her promotional debut on April 8, 2017 at UFC 210 against Cynthia Calvillo. She lost the fight via rear-naked choke.
Her next fight came on October 7, 2017, facing Poliana Botelho at UFC 216. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
After two losses at UFC, Gonzalez was released by UFC and she joined Invicta Fighting Championships shortly after.

Invicta Fighting Championships

Gonzalez made her promotional debut on March 24, 2018 at against Kali Robbins. and she won the fight via unanimous decision.
Gonzalez faced Barbara Acioly on May 4, 2018 at. She submitted Acioly and won the fight.
Gonzalez faced Daiane Firmino on September 1, 2018 at. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Gonzalez faced Vanessa Porto for the vacant flyweight title at Invicta FC 34 on February 15, 2019. She lost the fight via technical decision.
On October 4, 2019, Gonzalez faced Brogan Walker-Sanchez at. She won the fight via unanimous decision.
Gonzalez faced Miranda Maverick at on February 7, 2020. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts