Kerry Cathleen Vera is an American

People of the United States

The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...

 female professional mixed martial artist. She is currently signed to Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

 and previously fought in Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...

.

Vera rose to fame as the winner of the Muay Thai

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...

-themed Fight Girls

Fight Girls

Fight Girls is an Oxygen original reality television series that spun off from a 2006 special which documented seven female fighters' attempts at winning a championship. The initial special aired on August 7, 2006 and the series premiered June 12, 2007. Fight Girls is produced by Scott Messick...

 reality show on the Oxygen

Oxygen (TV channel)

Oxygen is an American cable television specialty channel with television programming marketed towards women, with a format similar to Lifetime.- History :...

 television network in 2007. She also appeared alongside many female mixed martial artists on the Ultimate Women Challenge reality show in 2009.

Early life

Kerry is the second daughter born to real estate agents. She was enrolled in dance at an early age but through her love of Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...

, she discovered Tae Kwon Do and was enrolled in classes at age six. Her older sister, Kelly Kasik is a professional ballroom dancer. Kerry also started entering amateur boxing contests when she was eighteen.

MMA career

Vera made her mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

 debut on May 15, 2009 at Bellator Fighting Championships 7 and defeated Leslie Smith by Unanimous Decision.

She later signed with Strikeforce

Strikeforce

Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...

 and faced Kim Couture

Kim Couture

Kimberly Joy Couture is a professional mixed martial artist. She has fought for and was formerly signed to the Strikeforce promotion. She's the ex-wife of MMA fighter Randy Couture.-Early life:...

 at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears

Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears

Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The fifth Challengers episode took place on November 20, 2009, at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.-Televised card:...

 on November 20, 2009. Vera won the fight by TKO in the first round.

Vera was scheduled to face Julianna Pena at Strikeforce Challengers: Lindland vs. Casey

Strikeforce Challengers: Lindland vs. Casey

Strikeforce Challengers: Lindland vs. Casey was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The eighth Challengers episode took place on May 21, 2010, at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. The event drew an estimated 249,000 viewers, with a peak at 294,000 on Showtime.-Televised...

 on May 21, 2010 but pulled out of the fight due to an injury.

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Win
| align="center" | 2–0
|   Kim Couture

Kim Couture

Kimberly Joy Couture is a professional mixed martial artist. She has fought for and was formerly signed to the Strikeforce promotion. She's the ex-wife of MMA fighter Randy Couture.-Early life:...

| TKO (punches)
| Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears

Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears

Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The fifth Challengers episode took place on November 20, 2009, at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.-Televised card:...

|
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 3:35
|   Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas

Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...

|
|-
| Win
| align="center" | 1–0
|   Leslie Smith
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator VII
|
| align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 5:00
|   Chicago, Illinois
|

See also

• List of female mixed martial artists