She’s Next – WMMA Weekly Preview
Each week, I’ll highlight one women prospect on my radar and in action in the upcoming days
Zoe Nowicki
Record: 3-0 as a pro, 15-0 as an amateur
Weight Class: Flyweight
Age: 25 years old
Training: Scorpion Fighting System
Combined opponent records: 1-0
Growing up in Michigan, Zoe Nowicki established herself as a decorated wrestler long before stepping into the cage. At Coldwater High School she competed against boys and became only the second female in state history from her division to qualify for the Michigan state wrestling finals. Across her scholastic career she earned multiple state championships and national All-American honors while also competing at national folkstyle tournaments. This foundation in competitive wrestling laid the groundwork for her combat sports trajectory and is reflected in her transition into mixed martial arts.
Nowicki’s amateur MMA résumé was extensive and successful; she amassed a long win streak that showcased her versatility beyond wrestling. Competing internationally in Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts tournaments, she earned victories in various weight classes and formats, including submissions, decisions, and tournament bouts. During her amateur days, she also captured amateur titles and a regional belt with Lights Out Championship in Michigan, submitting her opponent to claim her first championship.
Alongside her combat endeavors, Nowicki pursued collegiate athletics at Adrian College, where she continued to refine her athletic skill set. Her wrestling pedigree includes being a multiple-time national collegiate champion, with numerous appearances at high-level meets and consistent performance against elite competition. This blend of scholastic success and combat sport experience shaped how she approached mixed martial arts from both a technical and competitive mindset.
Since turning professional in June 2024, Zoe has competed under prominent regional promotion Invicta FC. Her professional record reflects continued success with victories via unanimous decisions and submission. Nowicki represents the Scorpion Fighting System, and her tactical adaptability is steadily raising her profile in the flyweight ranks as she continues to accumulate experience and challenge higher-level opponents.
At LFA 227 on Friday, Nowicki steps into a significant flyweight showdown with Brazilian veteran Mariana Piccolo on the main card in Ventura, California. Piccolo, 5-3 as a pro, brings a ton of pro experience on her resumé, with wins over notable opponents. Nowicki will try to carry her early-career momentum in her LFA debut after Invicta FC hase gone kind of dormant lately.
Zoe Nowicki’s game is built on her wrestling base, and it shows immediately once the cage door closes. She is comfortable claiming the center early, pressuring forward and forcing exchanges rather than circling on the outside. Her double leg is her most reliable weapon, shot with confidence and little hesitation, often chained together in volume if the first attempt stalls. While she can spam entries at times, the persistence itself creates opportunities. Once on top, her ground-and-pound is heavy and purposeful, reflecting both her excellent wrestling background and her developing Brazilian jiu jitsu game as a blue belt.
In open space, she moves well for a compact flyweight. Her cardio allows her to maintain a steady pace, staying in the pocket. The striking remains underrated. She is not flashy, but she understands how to mix her hands with takedown threats, which keeps opponents guessing. There is a certain swagger to her approach, a composure that suggests comfort in chaos. Despite facing only three professional opponents so far, those opponents were highly-regarded amateurs, which adds context to her early résumé.
That said, there are clear developmental areas. She is relatively small for the weight class, even if she carries solid physical strength, and her short reach can make range management difficult. She can be hittable when entering, occasionally rushing into counters and struggling to consistently find her distance. The footwork still needs refinement, particularly when exiting exchanges. In clinch sequences she sometimes settles rather than advancing position, and she can have difficulty keeping opponents grounded once they build back to their base. Greater variety in her level changes and a stronger finishing instinct would round out a promising, still-evolving skill set.