Colleen Schneider Record: 11-8-0

Title runs and the TUF spotlight

The turnaround was real. Schneider strung together wins in India's Super Fight League, capturing championship gold there, and in 2013 she earned a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Season 18, where she faced grappling specialist Shayna Baszler in an exhibition bout and was caught in a first-round armbar. She bounced back later that year with an armbar submission of her own over Christina Marks at Submission Championship 3, showing the grappling growth that came from her catch-wrestling work.

Invicta, Bellator and the toughest tests

Schneider's prime years took her to the sport's most prominent women's stages. In 2014 she ran into rising prospect DeAnna Bennett, who submitted her by rear-naked choke, and in 2015 she met future UFC contender Irene Aldana at Invicta FC 11, again falling to a first-round rear-naked choke. Between those setbacks she rattled off a strong stretch of wins, beating Jingnan Xiong, Bryanna Fissori and Raquel Canuto by decision across Invicta, Pancrase and Kunlun Fight. She challenged herself against the very best, dropping a 2016 decision to longtime champion Tonya Evinger at Invicta FC 17, then signed with Bellator and submitted Chrissie Daniels by anaconda choke at Bellator 170 in 2017. A knee injury in her 2017 bout against Kate Jackson ultimately closed out her active career.

Fighting style

Schneider was the rare fighter who could genuinely threaten in every phase, splitting her 11 wins almost evenly between knockouts, submissions and decisions for a finish rate around 64 percent. Her taekwondo and Muay Thai gave her varied, accurate striking, while her catch-wrestling background produced the armbars and chokes that punctuated several of her best wins. The honest weakness in her record is grappling defense: four of her eight losses came by submission, often early, against opponents who could close the distance and get to her back. Still, her willingness to fight elite competition across multiple disciplines made her one of the era's most respected journeywomen.

Career highlights

• Super Fight League champion — won championship gold in India's Super Fight League, the centerpiece of a career-altering winning stretch.
• The Ultimate Fighter cast member — earned a spot on TUF Season 18 and shared the cage with grappling ace Shayna Baszler.
• Bellator and Invicta veteran — tested herself against champions and contenders including Irene Aldana and Tonya Evinger, scoring an anaconda-choke finish in her Bellator debut.