Luana Pinheiro has surreptitiously risen through the ranks, achieving a spot in the Top 10 of the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division. The hard work for the 30-year-old Brazilian is just beginning, as she will soon have to defend her incredible nine-fight winning streak. Her opponent is Amanda Ribas, who she’ll face in a feature at the UFC Fight Night 232 event, held in Las Vegas. A successful graduate of Dana’s White Contender Series in 2020, Pinheiro boasts an undefeated record in the Octagon and is keen to further her development with this upcoming challenge.
Throughout her time in MMA, Pinheiro has always sought opportunities for growth and self-improvement. “Every day, I seek to continue my evolution. Every fight, every challenge, makes me get better,” she said. Apart from enhancing her own skills, she has a strategic approach towards understanding her opponents, studying not only their strengths, but also techniques to dismantle their game. Transitioning from judo was a major obstacle, but she is now comfortable with striking, and considers herself a well-rounded MMA fighter.
Previously, Pinheiro fought at UFC 287, securing a contentious split-decision victory over former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Michelle Waterson-Gomez on April 8. Though some viewed the outcome as controversial, Pinheiro has no regrets. “I’m a fighter, not a judge,” she said. “I believe that I won since I inflicted more damage and came closer to getting a finish.” The upcoming match against Ribas puts her in a tricky situation, as Ribas is not only an ex-Jungle Fight champion but also a former judo training partner. Having closely followed Ribas’s career, Pinheiro, who has been unbeaten for almost seven years, acknowledges the calibre of the fight and expects each opponent to be tougher than the last.
Preparing for the match at Nova Uniao in Rio de Janeiro under mentor Andre Pederneiras, Pinheiro is confident about her training regimen. “We have very intensive training sessions,” she shared. “We work on wrestling, boxing, muay thai, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu and so on.” Her victory over Ribas could likely make her a top contender in 2024’s women’s strawweight division, currently dominated by two-time champion Weili Zhang. “My aim is to win my next fight, this next challenge, and to climb up another step,” she shared. “Little by little, I’ll be conquering my space, so I can have the title bout I’ve dreamed about.”