The main event won’t be the only women’s fight at UFC 190.
Claudia Gadelha will compete on the UFC card Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro, the organization announced Wednesday. Her opponent has not yet been determined.
Gadelha (12-1) is regarded as one of the best women’s strawweight fighters in the world. Her lone career loss came against current champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk via split decision at UFC on FOX 14 last December. Many feel that Gadelha should have won that fight on the judges’ scorecards.
While the Brazilian’s foe has not been decided, it will likely be a top contender and the winner will have a solid chance at fighting for the title next. Gadelha, 26, won her UFC debut last July against Tina Lahdemaki and probably would have fought Esparza for the belt had she beaten Jedrzejczyk. Instead, Jedrzejczyk knocked out Esparza in the first round of their UFC 185 co-main event in March.
Gadelha trains out of Rio’s Nova Uniao with the likes of Jose Aldo and Renan Barao. She’s a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with power in her hands.
UFC 190 is headlined by a women’s bantamweight title fight between Ronda Rousey and Bethe Correia. The co-main event pits Brazilian legends Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogeuria. Also on the main card, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will return against Stefan Struve.