If anybody thought that Daria Berenato, aka Sonya Deville, was going to fade into the background after WWE opted not to renew her contract back in February 2025, they were sadly mistaken.
It's only been approximately three months since WWE made that decision and, in that time, Berenato has made appearances for Invicta Fighting Championships, the world's largest all-women's mixed martial arts organization. Invicta FC began in 2012 and, in the 13 years of its existence, it has proven to be one of the best MMA organizations for women fighters in the entire world.
Berenato appeared at Invicta FC 61 as a special guest and now, at Invicta FC 62, she's officially part of the show. Berenato will serve as a special guest color analyst, on an all-women commentary team.
In preparation for that event, Berenato sat down with Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp and explained how much it means to her to be able to return to MMA and what the future holds for her in that industry.
"As cliché as this sounds, it really feels like I'm coming back home. I had three amateur fights. I was just kind of getting my feet wet when I signed with WWE, but I had been training since I was 15 / 16 years old and that was the first dream. That was what I wanted to do. I wanted to fight MMA and I wanted to act. So I found WWE and it was a great 10 years, but it kind of feels very nostalgic, very full circle, very close to my heart to be going back to where I started," Berenato said.
Prior to competing on WWE Tough Enough and eventually becoming a WWE Superstar, Berenato was an amateur MMA fighter. Berenato said that the original goal was to become a professional fighter.
The full plan was for it to be my career. I was obviously bartending to pay the bills, as we do out in LA, and I was in love with it. It was my whole world. I identified as an MMA fighter and then out of nowhere, a friend of mine, Maria Menounos called me and was like, ‘There's this show, Tough Enough, they wanted me to do it, but I was like, ‘Oh God, no, but I have the perfect girl.’ I was like, ‘Well, what is it?’ and she was like, ‘Well, it's a competition reality show.’ I was like, ‘Alright, well, that sounds like something I'm interested in.’ I didn't know much about wrestling, aside from the Rock and John Cena.
"So I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I'll take this opportunity.’ So one thing led to another that was 10 years ago now. But I really had this weird moment where I had to decide, I had an amateur title shot scheduled for the organization that I had fought for prior and I had to choose between Tough Enough and the amateur fight. It came down to my coaches being like, ‘You're stupid if you don't go do this opportunity, you can always come back to MMA.’ Obviously as you saw play out one thing led to another and I ended up 10 years at WWE. So I think that's why it feels extra special. It wasn't easy when I left it, but it is very exciting coming back," Berenato stated.
Berenato said she had been aware of Invicta FC ever since its inception, in 2012. In fact, she said, Berenato had dreams of fighting for the organization, years before she became a WWE Superstar.
"I had every intention of being—it's easier to say in hindsight, obviously—but I had every intention of being successful in MMA. It was my entire life. I was committed. I was waking up at 6am with my boxing coach for two hours, then going to team training, then sparring. I was in it. So I had every intention of continuing and pursuing that path until Tough Enough came in my path and I went a different route," she said.
As most people known, all roads eventually lead back home and Berenato truly believes that she has come home.
Invicta Fighting Championships 62 is happening on Friday, May 16 at 06:30 p.m. ET, on the CBS Sports Network. The card features Katharina Lehner taking on Olga Rubin; DeAnna Bennett fighting Rayla Nascimento; Milana Dudieva facing off against Amanda Torres and more. Berenato joins former Invicta FC featherweight fighter Megan Anderson, and MMA pioneer Julie Kedzie at the commentary table.
For more on Berenato's last appearance at Invicta FC 61, click here. To learn more about Berenato's relationship with Paul Heyman and what he helped her with in her wrestling career, click here.
