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BIOGRAPHY
Ana Cláudia Dantas Gadelha, born on December 7, 1988, is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist known for her significant contributions to the Women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Since 2022, Gadelha plays a significant role for UFC in fighter development focusing on her native land, Brazil.
Gadelha’s journey hasn’t been without hurdles. During her childhood and teenage years, she developed a rebellious personality, which frequently sparked conflict with her mother, who believed her behavior was not suited to a young girl. Furthermore, her parents strongly opposed her interest in martial arts. Finding herself in an unhealthy environment filled with drugs and poor influences, her parents saw it best to relocate her to Natal to complete her high school studies, an experience that completely changed the trajectory of her life.
In secrecy, Gadelha began her first steps toward martial arts at 14 when she started working out at a gym. A turning point occurred when she attended an MMA event in Natal and was fueled with passion after witnessing a female match. At this event, she encountered Jair Lourenço who extended an invitation for her to attend a class at his academy. In a fortunate coincidence, her father planned to rent an apartment in Kimura headquarters, which solidified her connection with Nova União.
From then on, Gadelha committed herself to martial arts, leaving behind the earlier destructive influences. By the age of 18, she moved to Rio de Janeiro, a city that witnessed her flourishing success in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and her debut in MMA. She credits martial arts for transforming her life and molding her into the person she is today.
Previously, Gadelha trained at Nova União with the former UFC Featherweight Champion, José Aldo, and became the youngest BJJ black belt in Nova União’s history. In 2016, she exhibited her entrepreneurial side by opening her own gym in March and making a decisive move to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, in August. Additionally, Gadelha expanded her training portfolio by working at the Jackson-Wink MMA Academy.
In 2018, Gadelha relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, to train at the UFC Performance Institute and Xtreme Couture.
June 5, 2008, marked a milestone in Gadelha’s career when she made her professional MMA debut at Force Fighting Championship 1 against Elaine Leite, securing a victory in just 17 seconds. Maintaining her undefeated record, she claimed victory in her next six fights.
However, in 2011, Gadelha’s career hit a bump when she developed complications with a vein in her leg requiring her to take off from fighting temporarily. Upon overcoming this health issue, she partook in a documentary project called ‘Fight Xchange,’ that chronicled the life of six mixed martial artists from Canada and Brazil as they trained and prepared for upcoming fights.
In 2012, Gadelha made her successful North American MMA debut against Valérie Létourneau at Wreck MMA: Road to Glory and marked her first TKO win later the same year when she defeated Adriana Vieira at Shooto Brazil 34.
The following year, Gadelha’s fans honored her commitment to the sport and recognized her as the ‘Fan Favorite Fighter of the Year 2013’, demonstrating the respect and dedication she had garnered in the world of MMA.
Despite the setback in 2011 and a broken nose injury that hindered her debut at Invicta FC 4, Gadelha continued to clinch victories and pivotal moments in her career. She finally debuted at Invicta FC 6, replacing the injured champion Carla Esparza against fellow undefeated fighter Ayaka Hamasaki. Despite a point deduction in the first round, she emerged victorious and secured a shot at Esparza’s strawweight title. On December 7, 2013, her title shot was withdrawn due to gastroenteritis.
Subsequently, the UFC signed Gadelha along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete in the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter aiming to hail the first-ever UFC Strawweight champion.
The following years saw Gadelha in an array of fights within UFC, showcasing her talent, resilience, and strategy, and building her reputation as one of the premier figures in women’s MMA.
However, like any athlete, her journey was marked with a series of wins and losses, fostering growth, learning, and constant evolution. She faced renowned fighters like Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Jessica Aguilar, and Carla Esparza securing victories in some and losing others.
She continuously exhibited her fighting spirit and made comeback after a series of setbacks. In her career, Gadelha encountered injuries, weight issues, and other challenges that led to the cancellation of some of her fights, but none deterred her phase.
On December 17, 2021, after leaving an indelible mark in MMA history, Gadelha announced her retirement from professional fights. Currently, she continues her association with UFC and is set to contribute actively in developing young athletes in Brazil, her homeland, leveraging her vast experience and invaluable insights. Throughout her journey, Gadelha has remained an epitome of resilience and commitment, embodying the spirit of martial arts both inside and outside the octagon.