At just 20 years old, Kay Hansen turned some heads by scoring a “Performance of the Night” bonus in her UFC debut. But if you think she’s young now, imagine if she’d have earned her way into the promotion on her own schedule.
While UFC commentator Jon Anik joked about matchmaker Mick Maynard sliding into Hansen’s DMs to offer her a UFC deal, that moment was actually the conclusion of a campaign Hansen (7-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) launched more than two years earlier.
It started out simply enough, with Hansen reaching out to Maynard via Instagram with the “anyone, anywhere, anytime” attitude that UFC officials often like to see.
“Hey. My name is Kay. I’m 18 years old. I’m 1-0. I fought for Invicta in December. Just wanted to throw my name out there. I’m young and hungry. My last fight is on UFC fight pass. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Thank you.”
Just 18 at the time, Hansen made it clear to Maynard that she was ready to set foot in the octagon, despite having just one professional fight to her name. Maynard advised the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu product to keep gaining experience and that he would keep an eye on her progression.
Hansen went out to do exactly that, and although her second professional fight under the Invicta FC banner didn’t go her way, she made sure to let Maynard know she was still intent on making it to the UFC.
“Hi. I know I just lost but I still want to let you know if you ever need a straweight for UFC I’m ready. I just fought for invicta March 24. Thank you.”
Three months later, when Hansen rebounded with a win on the regional scene, she certainly wasn’t going to let the victory go unnoticed.
“Hi, can you take 1 minute out of your day and watch my last post. I fought yesterday, a jiu jitsu black belt and smashed her. I just want to let you know that I’m what you’re looking for. Thank you”
Hansen remained in touch with Maynard, who steadfastly advised her to continue gaining experience, especially against proven talent. She did exactly that, competing six times in her first 13 months as a professional.
With Maynard’s stance clear, Hansen began to offer a helping hand in how best he could utilize her talents in the UFC by suggesting matchups with Mackenzie Dern, Maycee Barber or Hannah Cifers, and even volunteering to fight for free.
“Just throwing it out there that I would like to fight in my hometown at UFC 233 in Anaheim. I can sell tickets, no travel cost, I would even fight for free. I fight next friday for Invicta, if I come out with a W I would be so ready. Mackenzie Dern, the winner of Macee Barber vs Cifers? I don’t really care. I saw you were already matching for it. Just want to throw my name out there? For 115 or 125.”
UFC 233 was expected to take place in January 2019 before it was ultimately scrapped when the promotion struggled to find a suitable headliner. Hansen was undaunted, messaging Maynard about potential fights on Dana White’s Contender Series and letting the matchmaker know she did have a passport ready and would happily fly to Brazil to face Alexa Grasso when the Mexican strawweight was briefly left without an opponent for UFC on ESPN+ 2 in February 2019.
Maynard stuck to his guns: Keep winning, and he’d keep watching.
Hansen was similarly resolute, and the push finally paid off when Maynard reach out to her just six days prior to this past weekend’s card at UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a simple request.
“Hi Kay, can you make weight for June 27? I have an opening v jinh yu Frey”
Hansen lived up to her promise, taking the short-notice fight and securing an impressive third-round submission win over former Invicta FC atomweight champion Jinh Yu Frey, taking home an extra $50,000 in the process.
So if you learn one thing today, people, let the famous words of Wayne Gretzky ring true: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”
Oh, and apologies to Maynard for what’s probably about to happen to his inbox.
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How Kay Hansen campaigned for her UFC shot by sliding into Mick Maynard's DMs at just 18
