Joselyne Edwards Bio
Joselyne Celina Edwards Loboriel, born on September 29, 1995, is a Panamanian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the women’s Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fighting out of Kings MMA, she carries the ring name “La Pantera” and stands among the ranked contenders in her division. As of April 29, 2025, she is ranked #14 in the official UFC women’s bantamweight rankings.
Edwards has built her reputation through a blend of striking and grappling, drawing on years of boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training. With a professional record built since 2015, she continues to represent Panama on the global stage of mixed martial arts.
Early Life and Background
Joselyne Celina Edwards Loboriel was born on September 29, 1995, in Panama City, Panama, where she still resides. Growing up in the Central American nation, she discovered combat sports at a young age, beginning boxing training at 13 years old. She spent four years sharpening her striking skills in the ring before turning her attention to mixed martial arts at the age of 17.
Her introduction to MMA came after watching the UFC on television, though Panama City at the time did not offer a dedicated MMA gym. This led her to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where she trained for six months before making her professional debut. Her early grappling foundation eventually earned her a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Path to MMA
Edwards began her professional mixed martial arts career in 2015, competing in the women’s bantamweight division. She quickly established herself on the Panamanian regional scene, compiling a 9–2 record while capturing the UCC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. She successfully defended that title twice, demonstrating her early ability to compete at a high level within her home country.
In 2018, Edwards relocated her training camp to the United States to pursue greater opportunities. She defeated former Bellator fighter Jessica Middleton via TKO on May 18, 2018, and followed that with a victory over highly regarded prospect Brenda Gonzales at KOTC: Aggressive Lifestyle, claiming the KOTC Bantamweight Championship via armbar. Later that year, she challenged for the LFA Women’s Bantamweight Championship but lost a close split decision to Sarah Alpar at LFA 55.
Joselyne Edwards Career
Early Career (2015–2020)
Edwards spent her formative years dominating the Panamanian regional circuit, where her UCC Women’s Bantamweight Championship reign helped introduce her name to a broader audience. Her move to the United States in 2018 marked a turning point, as she tested herself against seasoned international competition. Victories over Jessica Middleton and Brenda Gonzales demonstrated her finishing ability and championship pedigree.
Her 9–2 regional record and titles at UCC and KOTC positioned her as one of Panama’s premier MMA exports. By the end of 2020, she had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, ready to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
UFC Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Edwards made her UFC debut on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar, stepping in as a replacement for Bethe Correia to face Wu Yanan. She won the bout via unanimous decision, announcing herself in the promotion with a composed performance. She followed that with a loss to Karol Rosa at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov, also by unanimous decision.
After a cancelled booking in August 2021, Edwards faced Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori, losing via unanimous decision. She rebounded at UFC 275 in June 2022, defeating Ramona Pascual by unanimous decision, and later that month took a short-notice fight against Ji Yeon Kim at UFC 277, winning by split decision despite a weigh-in miss that cost her 20 percent of her purse.
In 2023, Edwards edged Lucie Pudilová via a controversial split decision at UFC on ESPN 44, though media outlets largely scored the fight for Pudilová. She closed the year with a unanimous decision loss to Nora Cornolle at UFC Fight Night 226.
Kings MMA Era (2024–Present)
Edwards faced Ailín Pérez at UFC 302 on June 1, 2024, losing by unanimous decision in a bout preceded by an alleged altercation at UFC Fight Night 232. She then met Tamires Vidal on October 19, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 245, missing weight by three pounds but bouncing back with a third-round rear-naked choke submission victory.
Her 2025 campaign began with a first-round technical knockout of Chelsea Chandler at UFC on ESPN 66 on April 26, 2025. Later, on August 9, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 72, she stepped in on short notice to face Priscila Cachoeira after Mayra Bueno Silva withdrew, winning by first-round knockout and earning a Performance of the Night award for the effort.
Driving Style and Strengths
Edwards is an orthodox fighter who blends her boxing background with a developing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game. Her reach of 178 centimeters gives her an advantage in the bantamweight division, and her finishing instincts have produced seven wins by knockout and one by submission. Training at Kings MMA has refined her overall skill set, allowing her to evolve as a well-rounded mixed martial artist.
Notable Events and Milestones
Edwards captured the UCC Women’s Bantamweight Championship and the KOTC Bantamweight Championship before entering the UFC, establishing her as a championship-caliber fighter early in her career. Her first-round knockout of Priscila Cachoeira at UFC on ESPN 72 earned her a Performance of the Night award, cementing her place among the division’s dangerous finishers. She has consistently taken short-notice fights throughout her UFC tenure, demonstrating durability and willingness to compete against all comers.
Joselyne Edwards Career Wins
Joselyne Celina Edwards Loboriel has compiled a professional record of 16 wins against 6 losses across 22 total bouts. Her victories are split between five wins by decision, seven by knockout, and one by submission, reflecting a well-rounded finishing ability across all phases of the sport.
UFC Highlights
Edwards made an immediate impact in her UFC debut against Wu Yanan, winning by unanimous decision in January 2021. She added notable wins over Ji Yeon Kim, Lucie Pudilová, Ramona Pascual, Chelsea Chandler, and Priscila Cachoeira, with the latter earning a Performance of the Night award. Her victories over Chandler and Cachoeira both came inside the first round, highlighting her growing power at 135 pounds.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Edwards captured the UCC Women’s Bantamweight Championship in Panama and defended it twice, establishing herself as a top regional talent. She later won the KOTC Bantamweight Championship with a first-round armbar over Brenda Gonzales, a victory that foreshadowed her finishing ability on the international stage.
Joselyne Edwards Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joselyne Celina Edwards Loboriel was raised in Panama City, Panama, where she first encountered combat sports during her teenage years. Publicly available information about her parents and extended family remains limited, with no widely confirmed details about a family lineage in combat sports.
Personal Life
Edwards currently resides in Panama City, Panama, and trains at Kings MMA. Details about her marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly confirmed at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Edwards opened her 2025 campaign on April 26 at UFC on ESPN 66, where she stopped Chelsea Chandler by technical knockout in the first round. The victory reinforced her position inside the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings, where she sits at #14 as of late April 2025.
Later in the year, she accepted a short-notice replacement bout against Priscila Cachoeira at UFC on ESPN 72 on August 9, 2025, following the withdrawal of Mayra Bueno Silva. Edwards delivered a first-round knockout, earning a Performance of the Night bonus and signaling her intent to climb further up the bantamweight ladder.
With momentum from two consecutive first-round finishes and continued development at Kings MMA, Edwards enters the remainder of 2025 as one of the most dangerous strikers in the women’s bantamweight division. Her combination of power, experience, and finishing instincts makes her a compelling contender heading into the final stretch of the year.