Luana Pinheiro
Born (1993-11-18) November 18, 1993 (age 30)
João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
Height5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionStrawweight
Reach62[1] in (157 cm)
Fighting out ofBelo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
TeamBH Rhinos[2]
Nova União[3]
RankBlack belt in Judo[4]
Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4]
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total13
Wins11
By knockout2
By submission5
By decision3
By disqualification1
Losses2
By knockout1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Luana Pinheiro (born November 18, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of January 23, 2024, she is #9 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.[5]

Background

Pinheiro was born into a family of judokas and started the sport at the age of two in her hometown of João Pessoa.[6] After an accomplished junior career in judo she moved to Belo Horizonte in 2011 in pursuit of a spot in the Brazilian Olympic judo team.[6][7] Ultimately, her Olympic dreams didn't materialize and she opted to start training mixed martial arts in late 2015.[6][8][9]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Pinheiro racked a 7–1 record, competing in Brazilian regional circuit and Brave Combat Federation before being invited to Dana White's Contender Series.

Dana White's Contender Series

Pinheiro faced Stephanie Frausto at Dana White's Contender Series 35 on November 10, 2020. She won the fight via first-round technical knockout and was awarded a UFC contract.[10][11]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Pinheiro was scheduled to make her promotional debut against Randa Markos on March 27, 2021, at UFC 260.[12] However, Markos was removed from the card on March 18 after testing positive for COVID-19.[13] The bout was rescheduled for May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[14] Pinheiro won the bout via disqualification in the first round after Markos accidentally upkicked her in the head, rendering her unable to continue.[15]

Pinheiro was scheduled to make her sophomore appearance in the organization against Jessica Penne at UFC Fight Night 198 on November 20, 2021.[16] However Penne withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reason and she was replaced by Sam Hughes.[17] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[18]

Pinheiro was again scheduled to face Jessica Penne on April 30, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208.[19] Their bout is once again cancelled due to Pinheiro pulling out due to an undisclosed injury.[20]

Pinhero faced Michelle Waterson on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287. [21] She won the close bout via split decision.[22]

Pinhero faced Amanda Ribas on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232.[23] She lost the fight by TKO in the third round.[24]

Professional grappling career

Pinheiro competed against Ffion Davies in the co-main event of ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024.[25] She lost the match by submission in the first round.[26]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
13 matches 11 wins 2 losses
By knockout 2 1
By submission 5 0
By decision 3 1
By disqualification 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–2 Amanda Ribas TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig November 18, 2023 3 3:53 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–1 Michelle Waterson-Gomez Decision (split) UFC 287 April 8, 2023 3 5:00 Miami, Florida, United States
Win 10–1 Sam Hughes Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate November 20, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9–1 Randa Markos DQ (illegal upkick) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka May 1, 2021 1 4:16 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 8–1 Stephanie Frausto KO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 35 November 10, 2020 1 2:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 7–1 Helen Harper KO (punches) Brave CF 29 November 15, 2019 1 3:00 Isa Town, Bahrain
Win 6–1 Yasmeli Araque Submission (rear-naked choke) Brave CF 26 September 7, 2019 1 2:34 Bogotá, Colombia
Win 5–1 Elaine Leal Submission (guillotine choke) Brave CF 11 April 13, 2019 1 4:46 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 4–1 Jessica Kelly Soares Rodrigues Submission (rear-naked choke) Federação Fight 7 March 10, 2018 1 2:37 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 3–1 Charlene Batista de Souza Submission (armbar) Federação Fight 4 July 1, 2017 1 1:40 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Loss 2–1 Cris Macfer Ferreira Macedo Decision (split) All Fights 1 March 19, 2017 3 5:00 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 2–0 Jessica Kelly Soares Rodrigues Submission (armbar) BH Sparta 10 November 19, 2016 1 2:00 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 1–0 Thatiane Araújo Decision (unanimous) BH Sparta 9 October 9, 2016 3 5:00 Belo Horizonte, Brazil

[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Stats | UFC". www.ufcstats.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. ^ "GMI: A musa do judô que abraçou o MMA e já faz estragos". graciemag.com (in Portuguese). March 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ex-Minas, Luana Pinheiro mostrou DNA de judoca para vencer a segunda no UFC". superesportes.com.br (in Portuguese). November 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Luana Pinheiro | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  6. ^ a b c Lucas Barros (March 20, 2015). "Expresso Paraíba: conheça a história da musa do judô, Luana Pinheiro". Globo.com (in Portuguese).
  7. ^ "Nova Ronda? Luana Pinheiro se inspira em estrela americana para mostrar força do judô no UFC". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  8. ^ "Inspirada em Ronda, Luana Pinheiro estreia no UFC contra "maior desafio da vida"". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  9. ^ Superesportes (2021-04-30). "Mineira 'de coração': Luana Pinheiro, ex-judoca do Minas, estreia no UFC". Superesportes (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  10. ^ Mike Heck (November 10, 2020). "DWCS video: Luana Pinheiro crushes Stephanie Frausto with vicious combination". mmafighting.com.
  11. ^ Steven Marrocco (2020-11-10). "DWCS Season 4: Week 9 results: Three win contracts with Natan Levy earning high praise". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  12. ^ Farah Hannoun (2021-03-05). "Randa Markos vs. Luana Pinheiro added to UFC 260". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  13. ^ Evelyn Rodrigues and Raphael Marinho (2021-03-18). "Randa Markos off UFC 260 for covid-19 protocol and Luana Pinheiro waits for a new rival". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18. (in Portuguese)
  14. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2021-03-22). "Randa Markos vs. Luana Pinheiro set for May 1 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  15. ^ "UFC on ESPN 23 results: Randa Markos disqualified for illegal upkick on Luana Pinheiro". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  16. ^ "Luana Pinheiro enfrenta Jessica Penne no UFC em novembro". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  17. ^ "With Jessica Penne out, Sam Hughes steps in against Luana Pinheiro at UFC Fight Night 198". MMA Junkie. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  18. ^ Alex Behunin (November 20, 2021). "UFC Vegas 43: Luana Pinheiro Defeats Sam Hughes Via Unanimous Decision". cagesidepress.com.
  19. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2022-02-07). "Jessica Penne vs. Luana Pinheiro back on, set for April 30 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
  20. ^ Staff (2022-04-26). "Jéssica Bate-Estaca returns to strawweight at 5th in the UFC ranking and remains on the flyweight list". ge.globo.com. Retrieved 2022-04-30. (in Portuguese)
  21. ^ https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/16/23558196/michelle-waterson-gomez-vs-luana-pinheiro-set-for-ufc-287
  22. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-04-08). "UFC 287: Luana Pinheiro Wins Razor-Close Decision Against Michelle Waterson-Gomez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  23. ^ "Amanda Ribas renova com UFC e enfrenta Luana Pinheiro em novembro". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  24. ^ Dewar, Val (2023-11-18). "UFC Vegas 82: Amanda Ribas Stages Gritty Comeback After First-Round Pummeling, Finishes Luana Pinheiro". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  25. ^ "ADXC 2 Full Lineup And Preview". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  26. ^ "ADXC 2 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Luana Pinheiro MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-02-08.

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