Jinh Yu Frey
11-10-0
About
Jinh Yu Frey is a 38-year-old UFC strawweight and former Invicta FC atomweight champion with a blue-collar grit and a second act in the sport.
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Jinh Yu Frey is a fighter defined by an unconventional path and late-career resilience. Born in Arkansas in 1985, she built a professional life in nuclear medicine and radiologic science, earning an MBA before competitive instinct drew her into combat sports in her late 20s. She quickly proved herself in regional MMA and Invicta FC, eventually winning the atomweight championship in 2018 with a split decision over Minna Grusander in a rematch. Her title reign was marked by a mix of accomplishment and controversy: she successfully defended the belt but also missed weight in a 2020 title defense against Ashley Cummins, forcing her to vacate. That moment marked a turning point.
Frey made her UFC debut at age 35, a relatively advanced age for a rookie, and has competed at strawweight since. Her fighting style emphasizes volume striking and positional grappling, landing significant strikes at over 2.97 per minute while defending takedowns at a 90% rate. She finished fights with two rear-naked chokes but has relied on decision victories (eight of her 11 wins). In the UFC, she strung together wins over Gloria de Paula and Ashley Yoder in 2021 but encountered stiffer competition thereafter. A brutal first-round knockout loss to Polyana Viana in 2022 was a low point, and subsequent losses to Vanessa Demopoulos and others (including a controversial split-decision setback that media outlets largely scored in her favor) left her with a 5-8 record in the promotion. By late 2023, she was released from the UFC roster.
What distinguishes Frey is the rarity of her profile: a former champion with an advanced degree, competing in her late 30s in the world's premier promotion, driven more by competitive fire than career trajectory. Fans respect the grit, the refusal to accept age as a barrier, and the intellectual depth she brings to an often hyper-physical sport. Her losses have been narrow and her opponents elite, suggesting she remained competitive at the highest level despite her unconventional late entry into professional fighting.
Why fans love Yu Frey
Frey represents intellectual depth and life experience in a sport often dominated by full-time athletes who turned pro in their 20s. Her MBA, her medical background, her viral early fame for a knockout of Darla Harris, and her willingness to compete at 38 in the UFC all appeal to fans who value fighters who have lived multiple lives. Her calm demeanor in interviews and her evident professionalism also build respect.
Why some fans hate Yu Frey
Frey was removed from the UFC roster after a series of losses, and she is remembered by some for the controversial 2018 Invicta decision win over Minna Grusander that was widely regarded as a robbery. Additionally, she missed weight when defending her Invicta atomweight title against Ashley Cummins in 2020, which led to her vacating the belt and drew criticism from weight-discipline advocates.
