LFA, Invicta alum Ashley Nichols dead at 37

Canadian MMA fighter Ashley Nichols has died.

Nichols, a former LFA title challenger and Invicta fighter was 37. Her death was confirmed by her former coach, Jeff Harrison, and other loved on social media Wednesday. No cause of death has been publicly revealed.

“I was fortunate enough to be her mentor and coach at the beginning of that journey,” Harrison wrote on Instagram. “I, along with so many others admired Ashley for being so courageous, driven and resilient. She was proof that you could work hard and improve your situation in life, and literally become the best on planet earth regardless of where you come from.

“She wanted to be the best. Demons haunted her, but she wanted to be the best.”

A proud Chippewas of the Thames First Nation’s woman, Nichols was an accomplished kickboxer and muay thai fighter in conjunction with her 7-4 professional MMA career.

Nicholas competed three times under the LFA banner and twice for Invicta. Following an LFA title challenge defeat to Jaqueline Amorim in 2022, Nichols won three consecutive fights in 2023.

Prior to her death, Nichols was expected to return March 9 at PAWFC 3 in Calgary, Alberta.

Harrison wasn’t the only one to pay tribute to Nichols, as emotional messages and posts flooded social media, many of which can be seen below.

Invicta FC

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Tp97tPo-n/?img_index=1

Tecia Torres

Zack Powell

International Federation of Muaythai Associatons

https://www.facebook.com/IFMAMuaythai/posts/pfbid0sKwrYX2GDcqH16dvBYq3AXGfJmH2KqxdXFLMSX3wTSraHv7Q6gmby9H3JRfCJYBWl

Kru Laura Vuculescu

https://www.facebook.com/blacktigersgym.vuculescu/posts/pfbid0kNCNKFmU37Sn5yyS5DLeugiJXgm2iRbnXrFCwrBkuzEq4cTt1nXmmMYgjQRkGPyVl

Tanya Skjold

https://www.facebook.com/tanyamarie13/posts/pfbid037kiL88uHxPDv9uPFPjBBXrc4ExZ8SkHZAtWY6F3MJgyqiHbhc8S5AYKwSjkvWPigl

Benay Elijah

https://www.facebook.com/benay.elijahcamelo/posts/pfbid02zq3CAizDQrYxR97fm1nEKkzkk2CdNMckZTd4th3uWrCNnvtPsk4zZdicZZMREDSnl

Joey Prevost

https://www.facebook.com/joey.prevost.3/posts/pfbid0GPSfnaXBZ8u1ZuoLBEWqQMXL4m18aXPrHWYWVDuHz72KPbPCzUyC7CRzznX9aP2gl

Angela Hill

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3TXndfSwuj/

Tiffany van Soest

Jessica Eye

Jaqueline Amorim

Helen Peralta

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie