Leslie Smith

Smith was expected to face Jessy Miele at Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020. However, the whole event was eventually cancelled due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

An April 16, 2019, it was announced that Smith has signed with Bellator MMA. She faced Sinead Kavanagh in her promotional debut at Bellator 224 on July 12, 2019. She won the fight by majority decision.

Smith faced Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 233 on November 8, 2019. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Smith fought Jessica Eye at UFC 180. The bout was stopped in the 2nd round due to a stoppage by the cage-side doctor, as Smith's cauliflower ear split open.

Smith was scheduled to face Aspen Ladd on April 21, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 128. At the weigh-ins, Ladd weighed in at 137.8 pounds, 1.8 pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight upper limit of 136 pounds. Ladd offered Leslie an additional $5,000 on top of her 20% purse deduction. However, the fight was removed from the card after Smith refused to fight at catchweight. Subsequently, the UFC paid Smith her show and win money but then released her from the promotion.

In 2018, Smith started Project Spearhead, an organization that is attempting to unionize UFC and MMA fighters. Smith also recently gave a speech during a conference for the Economic Policy Institute regarding Project Spearhead.

Smith faced Amanda Lemos on July 16, 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio. She won the fight via TKO due to a combination of punches and elbows in the second round.

Smith fought Rin Nakai at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir on March 20, 2016. She won the fight by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, and 29–28).

Smith fought Cris Cyborg at UFC 198 on May 14, 2016. She lost the fight by TKO early in the first round.

Smith next faced Irene Aldana on December 17, 2016 at UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson. She won the fight by unanimous decision. The bout also earned Smith her first Fight of the Night bonus award in the UFC.

In August 2016, Smith revealed that she had a benign tumor on her stomach.

On April 8, 2014, it was announced that Smith would step in to replace an injured Amanda Nunes against Sarah Kaufman at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale on April 16, 2014. She lost the rematch via unanimous decision.

Smith faced Jessamyn Duke at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Miller on July 16, 2014. Smith won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Smith competed once again for Invicta FC on January 5, 2013, this time on the main card of Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt against Raquel Pennington. Smith defeated Pennington by unanimous decision.

Having gone unbeaten in three fights, Smith moved up in competition at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson when she faced former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion Sarah Kaufman on April 5, 2013. Smith lost a controversial split decision to Kaufman, which drew booing from the crowd. During the fight, Kaufman used footwork to stay on the outside whilst Smith played the aggressor and set a high work rate. Smith was able to drop Kaufman with a head kick in the second round but was unable to stop a late surge from Kaufman in the final round. The fight was declared Fight of the Night (Smith's second) and both fighters were awarded bonuses.

Smith returned to fight at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg on July 13, 2013. She made her flyweight debut against Jennifer Maia in a title eliminator bout. Smith won the fight via unanimous decision. The bout was named Fight of the Night.

Smith challenged Barb Honchak for the Invicta FC flyweight championship at Invicta FC 7 on December 7, 2013. She lost the fight via unanimous decision and earned yet another Fight of the Night bonus.

A documentary about Smith's early career, Fight For It, was released in 2012.

Smith entered Invicta Fighting Championships as a prospect with a 3-2 professional mixed martial arts record. She made her debut at Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen on April 28, 2012. In her first bout with the organization, she fought veteran Kaitlin Young to an exciting draw, earning the Fight of the Night bonus (US$1,500 bonus to each fighter).

Leslie Smith (born August 17, 1982) is an American professional female mixed martial artist, who competes in Bellator MMA. She formerly competed in Invicta FC where she was a main card staple of the organization, having fought on the main card four times in the first five shows. She also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Smith fights out of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team and is noted for a similar level of high volume striking and aggressiveness to other members of that camp. Smith most recently competed in the Bellator Fighting Championships at featherweight.