Denise Kielholtz

Denise Kielholtz (born 30 March 1989) is a Dutch professional mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer, who competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). As of 21 April 2026, she is #6 in the PFL women's flyweight rankings.

Mixed martial arts career

Kielholtz made her professional MMA debut at Torarica Summer Fights 1 in October 2015. She lost the fight via submission.

Bellator MMA

Kielholtz signed with Bellator in 2016, appearing in the promotion's inaugural kickboxing card, Bellator Kickboxing 1 in Turin, Italy on 16 April 2016. She would go 4–1 in kickboxing for the promotion, winning the Flyweight Championship along the way.

Kielholtz then made her Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 188 against Jessica Middleton. She won the fight via submission.

Kielholtz was expected to face Lena Ovchynnikova in the co-main event of Bellator 196 in Budapest, Hungary on 6 April 2018. However, Ovchynnikova pulled out of the fight and was replaced by Petra Částková. Kielholtz won the fight by unanimous decision.

Kielholtz faced Veta Arteaga on 21 September 2018, at Bellator 205. She lost the fight via a submission.

Kielholtz faced Bryony Tyrell at Bellator 223 on 22 June 2019. She won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Kielholtz faced Sabriye Şengül at Bellator London 2 on 23 November 2019. She won the fight via an Americana submission in the first round.

Kielholtz faced Kristina Williams at Bellator 239 on 21 February 2020. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Kielholtz faced former Bellator Women's Flyweight title challenger Kate Jackson at Bellator 247 on 1 October 2020. She won the bout via knockout just 43 seconds into the first round. Subsequently, she signed a new contract with the Bellator MMA.

Kielholtz fought for the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship against champion Juliana Velasquez on 16 July 2021, at Bellator 262. She lost the bout in a razor thin split decision.

Kielholtz faced Kana Watanabe on 13 May 2022, at Bellator 281. She lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round.

Kielholtz faced Ilara Joanne on 9 December 2022, at Bellator 289. She lost the fight via split decision.

Kielholtz faced Paula Cristina on 12 May 2023, at Bellator 296. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Kielholtz faced Sumiko Inaba on 17 November 2023, at Bellator 301. In a bout contested mostly on the feet, Kielholtz maintained the advantage and won the bout via unanimous decision.

Kielholtz was scheduled to face Taila Santos on 4 April 2024, at PFL 1. However, a week before the event it was announced that Kielholtz had pulled out.

Kielholtz was scheduled to face Dakota Ditcheva at PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis on 7 February 2026. However, Ditcheva withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Antonia Silvaneide. Kielholtz won the bout via unanimous decision.

The bout with Ditcheva was rescheduled and took place on 31 July 2026, at PFL New York. Kielholtz lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Personal life Kielholtz was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch father and a Curaçaoan mother. She is married to kickboxer Hesdy Gerges.

Championships and awards Kickboxing Bellator Kickboxing Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship (One time, inaugural, final) Enfusion 2014 Enfusion Live Champion 57 kg (1 Title Def.) 2012 Enfusion -60 kg (Winner) World Muay Thai Association 2013 WMTA Super Bantamweight World Champion World Full Contact Association 2013 WFCA European Champion, -57 kg Slamm 2011 Slamm Women's Championship -60 kg

Judo 2008 Dutch Team Championships 2006 Dutch Open Espoir U20 Tournament 2005 Scottish Open U20 Championships Edinburgh 2005 Scottish Open Championships Edinburgh 2005 Dutch Championships U17 2004 Dutch Open Espoir U17 Tournament 2003 Dutch Championships U15 Nieuwegein 2002 Dutch Championships U15 Nieuwegein

Boxing 2012 Amateur Arabic Featherweight World Champion 55 kg (Defeated Lorena Klijn) -56 kg

Mixed martial arts record

Kickboxing record

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2022-10-29 || Win ||align=left| Laura Pileri || HIT IT || Rotterdam, Netherlands || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 19–2 |- |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2017-04-08 || Win ||align=left| Martine Michieletto || Bellator Kickboxing 5 || Turin, Italy || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 || 18–2 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2016-12-10 || Win ||align=left| Gloria Peritore || Bellator Kickboxing 4|| Florence, Italy || Decision (split) || 5 || 3:00 || 17–2 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2016-09-17 || Win ||align=left| Renata Lantos || Bellator Kickboxing 3 || Budapest, Hungary || Decision (unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 16–2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2016-06-24 || Loss ||align=left| Gloria Peritore || Bellator Kickboxing 2 || St. Louis, United States || Decision (split) || 3 || 3:00 || 15–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2016-04-16 || Win ||align=left| Veronica Vernocchi || Bellator Kickboxing 1 || Turin, Italy || Decision (split) || 3 || 3:00 || 15–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2014-11-23 || Win ||align=left| Tiffany van Soest || Enfusion Live 22 || Groningen, Netherlands || Decision (unanimous) || 5 || 3:00 || 14–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2014-04-26 || Win ||align=left| Lucia Krajčovič || Enfusion Live 17 || Žilina, Slovakia || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 13–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2014-04-26 || Win ||align=left| Ilona Wijmans || Enfusion Live 12 || Alkmaar, Netherlands || Decision (Overturned) || 5 ||3:00 || 12–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2013-09-17 || Win||align=left| Vicky Church || Enfusion 4: Search for the SuperPro, Finals || Ko Samui, Thailand || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 11–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2013-09-17 || Win||align=left| Manal Salman || Enfusion 4: Search for the SuperPro, Semi Finals || Ko Samui, Thailand || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00 || 10–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2013-06-29 || Win ||align=left| Christi Brereton || Enfusion Live 6 || London, United Kingdom || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 ||3:00 || 9–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2013-04-13 || Win ||align=left| Alena Hola || || Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands || Decision || || || 8–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2013-02-18 || Win ||align=left| Christina Morales || || The Hague, Netherlands || Decision || 5 || 2:00 || 7–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2012-12-02 || Win ||align=left| Lucy Payne || Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators, Final || Ljubljana, Slovenia || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 6–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2012-12-02 || Win ||align=left| Lindsay Scheer || Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators, Semi Finals || Ljubljana, Slovenia || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 5–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2012-05-27 || Win ||align=left| Kateřina Svobodová || Slamm 7: Holland vs Thailand || || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 4–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2011-12-28 || Win ||align=left| || Slamm!! Soema Na Basi II || Paramaribo, Suriname || Decision (unanimous) || || 3:00 || 3–1 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2011-04-10 || Win ||align=left| Sindy Huyer || Almere's Finest || Almere, Netherlands || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2010-08-29 || Win ||align=left| Lindsay Scheer || Slamm Fighting with the Stars - B- Class || Suriname || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2009-11-29 || Loss ||align=left| Lindsay Scheer || Slamm Holland vs. Thailand || || Decision || 3 || 3:00 || 0–1 |- | colspan=9 | Legend:

References

External links

Denise Kielholtz

Bron en licentie