Cynthia Calvillo Bio: Early Life, Career & Net Worth

This article was last updated by on

Cynthia Calvillo, an excellent martial artist, was born on July 13, 1987, and participates in the strawweight and flyweight sections of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

According to October 19, 2020, she is #4 in the UFC women’s flyweight rankings. And as of November 23, 2020, she is ranked #12 in UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings.

There is a prevalent saying by the world’s best martial artist, Bruce Lee. It goes on to say,

“Never take your eyes off your foe even if you are bowing”

This saying ultimately hits Cynthia. She has many manners and qualities familiar to Bruce Lee and all his expressions.

Cynthia has been to many martial arts contests and has crucially been a part of many of them.

Let’s ponder the incredible journey this woman has made so far. This woman has accomplished many.

Click here to learn about another great martial artist, Maycee Barber from UFC.

Cynthia Calvillo
Cynthia Calvillo

Before we dive in, let’s have a look at quick facts:

Cynthia Calvillo | Quick Facts

Full name Cynthia Calvillo
Known As Cynthia
Other Name Not Available
Birthdate July 13, 1997
Birthplace San Jose, California, United States
Religion Christian
Nationality Mexican and American
Horoscope Cancer
Father’s name Toribio Calvillo
Mother’s name Maria Calvillo
Siblings Elder Brother
Sibling’s name Not Available
Age 26 Years Old
Height 1.63 m (5 ft and 4 inches)
Weight 125 lbs. (57 kg)
Reach 63 inches (163 cm)
Eye color Dark Brown
Hair Color Black
Marital Status Unmarried
Relationship Status Not Known
Children None
Profession Mixed Martial Artist
Current division in MMA Flyweight
Fought against K. Chookagian, J. Eye, M. Rodriguez, C. Casey, P. Botelho
Style Grappling
Affiliation   Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Debut Fight in UFC Amateur debut in 2012
Former Affiliation Not Available
Teams Team Alpha Male (2019)
American Kickboxing Academy (2020–present)
Net worth $250 K
Social Media Handles InstagramTwitter, Facebook
Last Update March, 2024

Cynthia Calvillo | Early Life, Education, Family

Cynthia is an American female mixed martial artist who has earned fame competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s strawweight class.

Since 2016, an expert has won many prestigious regards, including the “2017 Rookie of the Year Award” from MMA Junkie, and was listed as one of the top 10 rivals in the UFC in 2017.

She was born on July 13, 1987, in San Jose, California, U.S.A. Her birth sign is Cancer. Calvillo retains an American citizen and is of Mexican ethnicity. She was raised adjacent to her older brother by their father, Toribio, and mother, Maria.

Though Calvillo has been keen on athletics since childhood, her parents didn’t have enough money to put her into organized sports. Hence, she began toughness by battling in the street after school with her brother and neighbor.

Cynthia Calvillo | Career

Early Career

Calvillo made her amateur debut for the first time in 2012. She hoarded a 5-1 record during her four years career, including four championships and three ends.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 2016, she made her expert debut, swaying three pro victories in 5 months, including two specialized knockout finishes.

Cynthia Calvillo
Cynthia Calvillo

On March 4, 2017, she made her UFC debut against Amanda Cooper at UFC 209. Cavillo won the fight via submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round.

Cynthia won her initial three professional fights when she got the call to join the UFC in March 2017.

In her expert career, Calvillo has collectively put a solid 8-1-1 record with winnings over Pearl Gonzalez Joanne Calderwood and her most fresh win over Cortney Casey in February 2019.

Check out the article about Joanne Calderwood. Click on the link to learn more.

Her only UFC failure came under the control of Carla Esparza in 2017 in a single decision. Calvillo’s last UFC fight with Marina Rodriguez in December 2019 ended in a draw.

Calvillo met Joanne in a strawweight bout on July 16, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 113. Joanne came in at 118 pounds at the weigh-ins, two pounds over the strawweight end of a total of 116 pounds.

As a result, she was taxed 20% of her purse, which went to Calvillo, and their bout moved as listed as a catchweight bout. Calvillo won the fight via a single decision.

Calvillo fronted Carla Esparza on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. She lost the bout by joint decision, with all three judges scoring the match 29-28 for Esparza.

You may want to read about Carla Esparza. Click on the link to learn more.

 After the fight, it was shown that Calvillo had lost an in-competition drug test for drug metabolites.

Suspension

As a result, she was ousted by USADA for six months with the energy to defeat the halt for three months by achieving a USADA-licensed drug awareness plan. The Nevada Athletic Commission later stretched this to 9 months.

However, Cynthia stood Poliana Botelho on November 17, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 140. At the weigh-ins, she held in at 118 pounds, 2 pounds over the strawweight non-title bout end of 116 pints.

She was penalized 20 percent of her purse, which went to her foe, Botelho, and the bout moved. She conquered the attack via a rear-naked choke in round one.

Cynthia met Cortney Casey on February 17, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 1. She won the bout by a single choice.

Calvillo was listed to battle Lívia Renata Souza on July 13, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 13. But, on June 7, 2019, it was told that Calvillo was forced to pull out of the bout due to a broken foot, and Brianna van Buren redeemed her.

Scheduled to a new place

Calvillo was listed to face Cláudia Gadelha on December 7, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 7. However, on October 22, 2019, it was stated that Gadelha was made to retire from the bout due to a shaky finger and torn ligament, and Marina Rodriguez restored her.

After three rounds of fighting, the bout ended with a majority draw.

Later, Cynthia was cataloged to face Antonina Shevchenko on April 25, 2020. However, on April 9, Dana White, the UFC president, stated that this event was delayed to a future date.

Instead, Calvillo faced Jessica Eye on June 13, 2020, in UFC’s leading event on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo.

On June 12, Eye missed weight at the weigh-ins, weighing in at 126.25 pounds, a quarter pound over the non-title flyweight limit of 126 pounds.

However, the bout continued as a catchweight fight, and Eye was punished with 25% of her purse. Calvillo won the contest via a single decision.

Also, she was expected to face Lauren Murphy on October 25, 2020, at UFC 254. However, Calvillo was made bar from the bout for an undisclosed logic, and promotional rookie Liliya Shakirova displaced her.

Her only UFC loss came at the hands of Carla Esparza in 2017 in a single decision. Calvillo’s last UFC bout with Marina Rodriguez in December 2019 ended in a tie.

Injury

Calvillo recently had a shoulder injury in 2020. She is under medication and undergoing surgery to mend her shoulder. She recently posted a post on her social media walls.

Cynthia Calvillo responds to criticism surrounding the announcement of her primary event fight with Jessica Eye – “If you guys want to sh*t on it, then go ahead. I guarantee you (abusive word) wouldn’t do it.”

Reply to critics

Cynthia Calvillo has her share of critics in her fight against Jessica’s “Evil” Eye. For starters, Calvillo took this fight on the concise remark.

She said she was looking to fight again in July after descending back into the gym a month ago to train for the first time in months since the start of the pandemic.

Her manager looked for fights and saw Eye had an occasion on her schedule when they neared the UFC.

“The UFC returned and said, ‘How about the main event in three weeks?’ I was like, yes. You don’t say no to those chances,” Calvillo told ABC 10 in Sacramento.

Calvillo said she has the wonder element in her corner because most people didn’t concede why she would take a fight against the No. 1 contender in the flyweight division, her first fight in the more difficult weight class.

The 32-year-old said she holds flyweight is the better class for her based on her most recent track record and missing weight twice as a strawweight, where she was ranked No. 13.

“I think this is the right weight class for me. I still have to pay regard to what I’m eating and stuff like that, but it’s not the same way, whereas, like before, I felt vexing like a rabbit. Now I can eat healthily, but I can eat warm, fresh foods. I feel great. I think this is the right class that I refer to.”

Further reply in other show

When the news broke that Cynthia and Eye, a recent title challenger, would be at the top of the marquee, it led to a striking reaction from fans and Calvillo herself.

“Fairly, to tell you the fact, I, myself, was amazed that this befell,” Calvillo said on the What the Heck show. “Notably rating that I had dropped weight the last fight, my track record has been a little bit off these last pair of times.”

Cynthia replied that she should put on the best shows—getting a draw and dropping weight—and knew it was a rare scene with COVID. She meant she had to pull out of the other fight because this sh*t’s been going on.

Cynthia was just glad she would get something.

Formerly, Calvillo was listed to fight Antonina Shevchenko at UFC Lincoln in April before the event was canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

Once the PR returned to action with a trio of events in Jacksonville, Fla., Calvillo felt safe enough to reach out to her manager to take the basic steps for getting back to the game.

While she was plotting a July return to the octagon, a significant yet short-notice event came her way that she couldn’t pass up.

“When it befell, I was like, ‘I’m gonna take it,’” Calvillo told. “I know many people don’t concur with it, but, honestly, F y’all to tell you the fact.”

Also, read about another talented martial artist Bethe Correia. Click on the link to learn more.

All about Eye

While the fight situation with Eye was met with wonder, it was also met with a lot of negativity on social media—something the new American Kickboxing Academy post was well conscious of.

“I don’t care what people say,” Calvillo said. “What was I assumed to say, ‘No, guys. I’m afraid I have to sicken with this chief plan. I don’t know why you people did this; we’re not going to do it?’ No, of course, we’re going to grab the thing.”

Cynthia Calvillo and Jessica Eye
Cynthia Calvillo and Jessica Eye

“As chumps and where we’re at, whoever would be in my place would surely, 100 percent take that fight. And if you people want to blabber on it, then resume the nuisance. I assure you mf would do it.”

“It is what it is. You guys might differ, but these are mad times, and I will run with the thing. I will go out there and put on the sight of my time, notably getting up to one hundred and twenty-five. Those weight cuts are going to be simple cash to me.”

“I can take these small goes, and I’m amused to be able to do that again. I’m taking Dana up on that proposal to have at least four bouts this year. I will get that done—the main event or no.”

The so-called eye is a fighter Calvillo has been paying regard to for a long time. After failing four even bouts, “Evil” cut down to the flyweight class and picked up three consecutive victories, which led to a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 238 this past June.

Fight Explained

Against Shevchenko, Eye suffered a crushing blow but could jump back with an expected outcome win over Viviane Araujo at UFC 245 in December.

While Calvillo sees and hears the negativity from fans about the central event booking for June 13, she has been customary since signing with the UFC in 2017.

“It’s been so mad, man,” Calvillo said. “I’ve had to haggle with so many people saying sh*t, whether it was my last fight dropping weight or when I got swung. My initial year as a rookie was the most reliable.”

“Everybody, at the front, was like, ‘Who the hell is this girl?’ Next thing you know, everybody’s on the f train. I lose, get swayed, and now I’m back on the other side.”

“It’s a lot of ups and downs. I’m done with it, and I already know how people are on social media. It’s a bunch of people that say sh*t online.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had anybody talk sh*t—fans or these people that talk to me online—have ever spoken to me like that in person. You’re just going to get a stack of these fools out there, and that’s fine.”

“You can attune in, watch to see me get beat up, or win. Whatever, it doesn’t value. I’m just glad to be here and get to do what I love every freakin’ day. You’ll get probed anyway, so you might as well do it doing what you relish.”

Cynthia Calvillo vs. Danielle Kelly

On December 12, 2019, Cynthia Calvillo faced Danielle Kelly during the Quintet Ultra: Grappling Team Survival Match. The bout was the main card held in Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Kelly defeated Cynthis via submission in the first round within 17 seconds as the bout started. 

Initially, she first fought in San Jose, California, United States, and her fighting style includes Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and Muay Thai.

Furthermore, she has fought in two divisions to date, which are the strawweight and flyweight divisions.

Until now, Cynthia has played a total of 1 match, among which she has maintained nine wins and two losses with a draw.

Among those nine wins, two were by knockout, three via submission, and four by decision. 

However, both of his losses were by decision. 

Cynthia Calvillo | Net Worth

UFC star Calvillo has earned her cash widely through her expert mixed martial arts career.

During UFC 210, Calvillo got $25000, with $12000 from the show, plus an extra $12000 win tip and $2500 from Reebok aid. So, she got paid $41000 plus $2500 from Reebok aid at UFC fight night 219.

Further, she earned $14000 from the show, an extra $14000 win bonus, a $2,500 Reebok aid, and $3,200 from Calderwood for dropping weight at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio.

The UFC paid $41,000 after she beat Carla Esparza at UFC 219.

She has so far got UFC earnings of around $250,000.

Calvillo has not shared her exact net worth figure; she feigned that her net worth is no less than the six-digit figure by gazing at her career.

Cynthia Calvillo | Social Media

Instagram: 164k followers (@cynthia.calvillo)

Twitter: 15.5k followers (@cyn_calvillo)

Facebook: 148k likes (@cynthiacalvillo.ufc )

Cynthia Calvillo | FAQs

Are Cynthia and Eye friends?

Yes, hopefully, they are still friends even after so much feud.

How much does Cynthia earn?

This lady doesn’t like disclosing her income or net worth, so it is not announced yet. But as per the survey, she doesn’t earn less than $250k.

Is Cynthia married?

No, not yet. Even her relationship status is unknown.

Does Cynthia have a coach? What is her walk-out song?

Back in March 2020, Cynthia Calvillo left her coach, Justin Buchholz. Since then, it has been unknown who is coaching her. 

Her walkout song is ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain. 

Is Cynthia Calvillo dating?

At the moment, Cynthia Calvillo isn’t dating anyone and describes herself as a dog momma. 

Who won between Katlyn Chookagian and Cynthia Calvillo?

The November 2020 match between Katylin Chookagian and Cynthia Calvillo occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. Well, Cynthia lost the game back then. 

Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah is an engineer and content writer passionate about sports and athletics. With a background in engineering and a love for all things active, Sanjib brings a unique perspective to the world of sports writing. Whether he is covering the latest trends in sports technology or sharing tips on improving your game, Sanjib's words are always rooted in a deep appreciation for players' hard work and dedication everywhere. In his free time, you can find him hitting the courts or hitting the trails, always looking for new ways to challenge himself and improve his skills.

Related articles

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share article

Latest News