Shanna Marie Leonard Young (born February 20, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division. She has previously competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Young, following her younger brother, started Shotokan karate at the age of eight and after a few years switched to competitive karate in which she competed until high school. She started wrestling while attending Franklin County High School and after faring well solely against boys she took a wrestling scholarship at King University where she was an All-American in 2010. She later transferred to East Tennessee State University from where she graduated with bachelor's degree in exercise science.
After three relatively comfortable victories, Young took a hard-fought split decision over Pam Sorenson. After her win over Pam, she received news that she'd suffered a torn labrum in her hip. After recovering from that injury, she tore the same labrum again. She was out for two years due to these injuries before returning to fight for Invicta FC.
Young was supposed to face Raquel Pa'aluhi in her Invicta FC debut, but Raquel pulled out and was replaced by Lisa Verzosa on September 1, 2018, at . She lost the fight via a split decision.
After losing this fight, she fought twice for Valor Fighting Challenge, winning both fights via stoppage before being invited on Dana White's Contender Series to face Sarah Alpar on August 13, 2019. She lost the fight via 2nd round submission.
Afterwards, she returned to Invicta and fought Maiju Suotama on November 1, 2019, at . She won the fight via unanimous decision.
After Mariya Agapova was forced to pull out of her fight against Daiana Torquato on February 7, 2020, at , Shanna Young replaced Mariya but she was not medically cleared after she fell ill the week of weigh ins.
Young made her UFC debut as a replacement for Nicco Montaño against Macy Chiasson on February 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 167. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Young faced Stephanie Egger on October 2, 2021, at . She lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Young faced Gina Mazany on April 30, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 35. She won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Young was scheduled to face Miranda Maverick on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278. However, the bout was cancelled due to Young was hospitalised due to weight cutting issues. The pair was rescheduled at UFC Fight Night 214. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On November 16, 2022, it was announced that Young was no longer on the UFC roster.
Young faced Sandra Lavado on February 24, 2024, at PFL Challenger Series 13, winning the bout via unanimous decision.
Young faced Kana Watanabe at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024, and lost the bout by unanimous decision. Young missed weight, so she was fined a percentage of her purse and given a point deduction in the standings.
Young faced Ilara Joanne at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Young made her return to Invicta at against Pamela Boveda on November 6, 2024. She would win the fight via technical knockout just 23 seconds into the first round.
In her next fight, Young would face Katharina Lehner at on February 7, 2025. She would lose the fight via split decision.
Young has two sons, Chase (born 2010) and Raylon (born 2020).
|- |Win |align=center|11âÂÂ8 |Amena Hadaya |Decision (unanimous) |UAE Warriors 62 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |- |Loss |align=center|10âÂÂ8 |Katharina Lehner |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |- |Win |align=center|10âÂÂ7 |Pámela Bóveda Aguirre |TKO (knees to the body and punches) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:23 |Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|9âÂÂ7 |Ilara Joanne |Decision (unanimous) |PFL 4 (2024) | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|9âÂÂ6 |Kana Watanabe |Decision (unanimous) |PFL 1 (2024) | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |San Antonio, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|9âÂÂ5 |Sandra Lavado |Decision (unanimous) |PFL Challenger Series 13 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Orlando, Florida, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|8âÂÂ5 |Miranda Maverick |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|8âÂÂ4 |Gina Mazany |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|3:11 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|7âÂÂ4 |Stephanie Egger |TKO (elbow) | | | align=center|2 | align=center|2:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Loss | align=center|7âÂÂ3 | Macy Chiasson |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |- | Win | align=center|7âÂÂ2 | Maiju Suotama |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |- | Loss | align=center|6âÂÂ2 | Sarah Alpar | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Dana White's Contender Series 24 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 2:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 6âÂÂ1 | Anastasia Bruce | Submission (mounted triangle choke) |Valor Fighting Challenge 56 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:35 |Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 5âÂÂ1 | Jessica Borga | Submission (punches) | Valor Fighting Challenge 54 | |align=Center|3 |align=center|3:24 |Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 4âÂÂ1 | Lisa Verzosa | Decision (split) | | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 4âÂÂ0 | Pam Sorenson | Decision (split) | KOTC: Generation X | | align=center| 5 | align=center| 5:00 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 3âÂÂ0 | Christina Jobe | TKO (retirement) | KOTC: Bear Brawl | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Carlton, Minnesota, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 2âÂÂ0 | Moriel Charneski | Decision (majority) | KOTC: Attack Mode | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 1âÂÂ0 | Katelyn Dykas | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Valor Fights 22 | | align=center|3 | align=center|1:53 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States |