Meet UFC stunner Ashley Yoder who keeps Instagram fans entertained with bikini by day and hits brutal KOs at night

ASHLEY YODER returns to the octagon at UFC 252 – the American who entertains fans with bikini shots by day and delivers brutal performances at night.

The 32-year-old faces former Invicta champion Livia Renata Souza on Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic’s undercard.

6

Ashley Yoder returns to the octagon at UFC 252

6

Yoder entertains fans with bikini shots by day and delivers brutal performances at night

Yoder only began training in MMA aged 18, after the death of her brother Michael.

What started as a means of venting anger soon turned into a career transition for ‘Spider Monkey’.

Yoder, who worked as a lifeguard before fighting for the UFC, made her pro debut in 2014, ten years after first picking up the gloves.

That year she took part in the ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ 20 tryout, but was not chosen to be a cast member.

After going 5-1 on the independent circuit, Yoder eventually got her place on the TUF series and was coached by UFC legend Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

6

Yoder only began training in MMA aged 18, after the death of her brother

6

The American made her pro debut in 2014, ten years after first picking up the gloves.

6

Yoder was coached by UFC legend Joanna Jedrzejczyk on The Ultimate Fighter

She beat Jodie Esquibel in round 1 by split decision and moved on to face Kate Jackson.

But Yoder lost the fight on the cards and was eliminated from the show.

UFC president Dana White clearly saw potential in her, later signing the strawweight.

The submission specialist got off to a bad start in MMA’s top flight, losing her first three fights in the octagon.

But she saved her UFC career in 2018, beating Amanda Cooper and followed it up with another win, against Syuri Kondo a year later.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt lost her last fight, to Randa Markos in October, but insists she is a mentally and technically greater fighter now.

Exclusive

SLAM DUNK Chelsea closing in on £40MILLION move for Dunk to beat rivals Spurs

Gossip

DEAN AND DONE Man Utd to offer Henderson on loan after Sheff Utd sign Cherries’ Ramsdale

PEP TALK Pep blasted as a ‘fraud’ as furious Man City fans blame team and tactics

KANE IT HAPPEN? How Barcelona could line up under Pochettino after raid on Tottenham

Exclusive

H-OWL-ER EFL wanted to RELEGATE Sheffield Wednesday – but bungled case saved the Owls

Gossip

CHANGE OF LUC Arsenal star Torreira set for swap transfer with Roma midfielder Diawara

Yoder said: “Even things that I was throwing in fights, I didn’t really learn; sometimes it just came natural throwing random things.

“But learning the techniques behind those things and actually throwing them with intent is something new that I’ve been doing and it’s really fun.

“I definitely think in this fight camp and since my last fight, I’m in a better place mentally than I have been in a long time.”

6

Yoder saved her UFC career in 2018, Paige VanZant vows to prove she is not just a pretty face and is happy to be joining Bareknuckle Boxing