Denise Kielholtz
Dutch mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denise Kielholtz (born 30 March 1989) is a Dutch professional mixed martial artist and Muay Thai kickboxer, who competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). As of April 21, 2026, she is #6 in the PFL women's flyweight rankings.[2]
30 March 1989
Amsterdam, Netherlands
| Denise Kielholtz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Denise Kielholtz 30 March 1989 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Other names | Miss Dynamite |
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 58.06 kg (128.0 lb; 9.143 st) |
| Division | Flyweight |
| Style | Kickboxing, Judo |
| Fighting out of | Almere-Buiten, Flevoland, Netherlands |
| Team | Team Schreiber (MMA)[1] |
| Rank | Black Belt in Judo |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 51 |
| Wins | 48 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 15 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 6 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Spouse | Hesdy Gerges |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career
Kielholtz made her professional MMA debut at Torarica Summer Fights 1 in October, 2015. She lost the fight via submission.
Bellator MMA
Kielholtz signed with Bellator in 2016, appearing in the promotion's inaugural kickboxing card, Bellator Kickboxing 1 in Turin, Italy on April 16, 2016.[3] She would go 4–1 in kickboxing for the promotion, winning the Flyweight Championship along the way.
Kielholtz then made her Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 188 against Jessica Middleton. She won the fight via submission.[4]
Kielholtz was expected to face Lena Ovchynnikova in the co-main event of Bellator 196 in Budapest, Hungary on April 6, 2018.[5] However, Ovchynnikova pulled out of the fight and was replaced by Petra Částková. Kielholtz won the fight by unanimous decision.
Kielholtz faced Veta Arteaga on September 21, 2018 at Bellator 205.[6] She lost the fight via a submission.[7]
Kielholtz faced Bryony Tyrell at Bellator 223 on June 22, 2019.[8] She won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Kielholtz faced Sabriye Şengül at Bellator London 2 on November 23, 2019.[9] She won the fight via an Americana submission in the first round.
Kielholtz faced Kristina Williams at Bellator 239 on February 21, 2020.[10] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
Kielholtz faced former Bellator Women's Flyweight title challenger Kate Jackson at Bellator 247 on October 1, 2020. She won the bout via knockout just 43 seconds into the first round. Subsequently, she signed a new contract with the Bellator MMA.[11]
Kielholtz fought for the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship against champion Juliana Velasquez on July 16, 2021 at Bellator 262.[12] She lost the bout in a razor thin split decision.[13]
Kielholtz faced Kana Watanabe on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281.[14] She lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round.[15]
Kielholtz faced Ilara Joanne on December 9, 2022, at Bellator 289.[16] She lost the fight via split decision.[17][18]
Kielholtz faced Paula Cristina on May 12, 2023 at Bellator 296.[19] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[20][21]
Kielholtz faced Sumiko Inaba on November 17, 2023 at Bellator 301.[22] In a bout contested mostly on the feet, Kielholtz maintained the advantage and won the bout via unanimous decision.[23]
Kielholtz was scheduled to face Taila Santos on April 4, 2024 at PFL 1.[24] However, a week before the event it was announced that Kielholtz had pulled out.[25]
Kielholtz was scheduled to face Dakota Ditcheva at PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis on February 7, 2026.[26] However, Ditcheva withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Antonia Silvaneide.[27] Kielholtz won the bout via unanimous decision.[28]
The bout with Ditcheva was re-scheduled and took place on 31 July 2026, at PFL New York.[29] Kielholtz lost the bout via unanimous decision.[30]
Personal life
Kielholtz was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch father and a Curaçaoan mother.[31] She is married to kickboxer Hesdy Gerges.[32]
Championships and awards
Kickboxing
- Bellator Kickboxing
- Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship (One time, inaugural, final)
- Enfusion
- 2014 Enfusion Live Champion 57 kg (1 Title Def.)
- 2012 Enfusion -60 kg (Winner)
- World Muay Thai Association
- 2013 WMTA Super Bantamweight World Champion
- World Full Contact Association
- 2013 WFCA European Champion, -57 kg
- Slamm
- 2011 Slamm Women's Championship -60 kg
Judo
- 2008 Dutch Team Championships
- 2006 Dutch Open Espoir U20 Tournament
- 2005 Scottish Open U20 Championships Edinburgh
- 2005 Scottish Open Championships Edinburgh
- 2005 Dutch Championships U17
- 2004 Dutch Open Espoir U17 Tournament
- 2003 Dutch Championships U15 Nieuwegein
- 2002 Dutch Championships U15 Nieuwegein
Boxing
- 2012 Amateur Arabic Featherweight World Champion 55 kg (Defeated Lorena Klijn) -56 kg [33]
Mixed martial arts record
| 15 matches | 9 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 9–6 | Dakota Ditcheva | Decision (unanimous) | PFL New York: Nurmagomedov vs. Colgan | July 31, 2026 | 3 | 5:00 | Elmont, New York, United States | |
| Win | 9–5 | Antonia Silvaneide | Decision (unanimous) | PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis | February 7, 2026 | 3 | 5:00 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Catchweight (127 lb) bout; Silvaneide missed weight. |
| Win | 8–5 | Sumiko Inaba | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 301 | November 17, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 7–5 | Paula Cristina | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 296 | May 12, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Loss | 6–5 | Ilara Joanne | Decision (split) | Bellator 289 | December 9, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 6–4 | Kana Watanabe | Submission (triangle choke) | Bellator 281 | May 13, 2022 | 2 | 3:03 | London, England | Kielholtz was deducted one point in round 2 due to illegal upkick. |
| Loss | 6–3 | Juliana Velasquez | Decision (split) | Bellator 262 | July 16, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | For the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship. |
| Win | 6–2 | Kate Jackson | KO (punches) | Bellator 247 | October 1, 2020 | 1 | 0:43 | Milan, Italy | |
| Win | 5–2 | Kristina Williams | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 239 | February 21, 2020 | 1 | 2:15 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Sabriye Şengül | Submission (americana) | Bellator London 2 | November 23, 2019 | 1 | 0:32 | London, England | |
| Win | 3–2 | Bryony Tyrell | TKO (punches) | Bellator 223 | June 22, 2019 | 3 | 2:48 | London, England | |
| Loss | 2–2 | Veta Arteaga | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 205 | September 21, 2018 | 2 | 4:24 | Boise, Idaho, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Petra Částková | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 196 | April 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Budapest, Hungary | |
| Win | 1–1 | Jessica Middleton | Submission (scarfhold armbar) | Bellator 188 | November 16, 2017 | 1 | 1:16 | Tel Aviv, Israel | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Juliete de Souza Silva | Submission (armbar) | Torarica Summer Fights 1 | October 31, 2015 | 1 | N/A | Paramaribo, Suriname | Flyweight debut. |
Kickboxing record
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-29 | Win |  Laura Pileri | HIT IT | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 19–2 |
| 2017-04-08 | Win | Martine Michieletto | Bellator Kickboxing 5 | Turin, Italy | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | 18–2 |
| Retains Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2016-12-10 | Win | Gloria Peritore | Bellator Kickboxing 4[34] | Florence, Italy | Decision (split) | 5 | 3:00 | 17–2 |
| Wins Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2016-09-17 | Win |  Renata Lantos | Bellator Kickboxing 3 | Budapest, Hungary | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 16–2 |
| 2016-06-24 | Loss | Gloria Peritore | Bellator Kickboxing 2 | St. Louis, United States | Decision (split) | 3 | 3:00 | 15–2 |
| 2016-04-16 | Win | Veronica Vernocchi | Bellator Kickboxing 1 | Turin, Italy | Decision (split) | 3 | 3:00 | 15–1 |
| 2014-11-23 | Win |  Tiffany van Soest | Enfusion Live 22 | Groningen, Netherlands | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | 14–1 |
| Retains Enfusion Live Women's -57 kg/126 lb Championship.[35] | ||||||||
| 2014-04-26 | Win |  Lucia Krajčovič | Enfusion Live 17 | Žilina, Slovakia | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 13–1 |
| 2014-04-26 | Win |  Ilona Wijmans | Enfusion Live 12 | Alkmaar, Netherlands | Decision (Overturned) | 5 | 3:00 | 12–1 |
| Wins Enfusion Live World Title -57 kg. | ||||||||
| 2013-09-17 | Win |  Vicky Church | Enfusion 4: Search for the SuperPro, Finals | Ko Samui, Thailand | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 11–1 |
| Wins Enfusion 4 Ladies Team Captains tournament title -61 kg.[36] | ||||||||
| 2013-09-17 | Win |  Manal Salman | Enfusion 4: Search for the SuperPro, Semi Finals | Ko Samui, Thailand | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 10–1 |
| 2013-06-29 | Win | Christi Brereton | Enfusion Live 6 | London, United Kingdom | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | 9–1 |
| 2013-04-13 | Win |  Alena Hola | Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands | Decision | 8–1 | |||
| Wins WMTA Super Bantamweight World title. | ||||||||
| 2013-02-18 | Win |  Christina Morales | The Hague, Netherlands | Decision | 5 | 2:00 | 7–1 | |
| Wins WFCA kickboxing European title -57 kg. [37] | ||||||||
| 2012-12-02 | Win | Lucy Payne | Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators, Final | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 6–1 |
| Wins Enfusion 3 Ladies Team Captains tournament title -57 kg. | ||||||||
| 2012-12-02 | Win | Lindsay Scheer | Enfusion 3: Trial of the Gladiators, Semi Finals | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 5–1 |
| 2012-05-27 | Win | Kateřina Svobodová | Slamm 7: Holland vs Thailand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 4–1 | |
| 2011-12-28 | Win |  | Slamm!! Soema Na Basi II | Paramaribo, Suriname | Decision (unanimous) | 3:00 | 3–1 | |
| Wins Slamm Women’s Championship -60 kg.[38] | ||||||||
| 2011-04-10 | Win | Sindy Huyer | Almere's Finest | Almere, Netherlands | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 2–1 |
| 2010-08-29 | Win | Lindsay Scheer | Slamm Fighting with the Stars - B- Class | Suriname | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 1–1 |
| 2009-11-29 | Loss | Lindsay Scheer | Slamm Holland vs. Thailand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | 0–1 | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||