Claudia Gadelha eyes early 2016 return, vows to ‘run through’ Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Claudia Gadelha earned a shot at the UFC title with a win over Jessica Aguilar, and she hopes to be back inside the Octagon early next year.

The Nova Uniao strawweight, who lost to Joanna Jedrzejczyk via split decision in 2014, injured her left hand during her UFC 190 win over former WSOF champion Aguilar on Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro, but is already back to training.

“I returned to training today, even though I can’t use my left hand,” Gadelha told MMAFighting.com on Thursday. “I will train boxing using my right hand, work my legs, do some physical training, everything but use my left hand.”

Gadelha expects to be 100 percent cleared to start her camp in October or November, and targets early 2016 for her return to action in a rematch against Jedrzejczyk.

“I should fight in January of February,” she said. “I tore a ligament on my middle finger, and the doctor said I will be 100 percent to punch again and start my camp in three months. I will work other things during this time, get stronger, more flexible, faster, and when I’m ready to punch with my left hand, I’ll start my camp.”

After scoring a close decision win over Gadelha, Jedrzejczyk stopped Carla Esparza in March to win the 115-pound title and defended it for the first time with a dominant TKO victory over Jessica Penne in June.

At 2-1 under the UFC banner with a pair of decisions, Gadelha sends a message to the current strawweight champion.

“Tell her I’m gonna run through her like a runaway train,” said the Brazilian.

Claudia Gadelha earned a shot at the UFC title with a win over Jessica Aguilar, and she hopes to be back inside the Octagon early next year.

The Nova Uniao strawweight, who lost to Joanna Jedrzejczyk via split decision in 2014, injured her left hand during her UFC 190 win over former WSOF champion Aguilar on Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro, but is already back to training.

“I returned to training today, even though I can’t use my left hand,” Gadelha told MMAFighting.com on Thursday. “I will train boxing using my right hand, work my legs, do some physical training, everything but use my left hand.”

Gadelha expects to be 100 percent cleared to start her camp in October or November, and targets early 2016 for her return to action in a rematch against Jedrzejczyk.

“I should fight in January of February,” she said. “I tore a ligament on my middle finger, and the doctor said I will be 100 percent to punch again and start my camp in three months. I will work other things during this time, get stronger, more flexible, faster, and when I’m ready to punch with my left hand, I’ll start my camp.”

After scoring a close decision win over Gadelha, Jedrzejczyk stopped Carla Esparza in March to win the 115-pound title and defended it for the first time with a dominant TKO victory over Jessica Penne in June.

At 2-1 under the UFC banner with a pair of decisions, Gadelha sends a message to the current strawweight champion.

“Tell her I’m gonna run through her like a runaway train,” said the Brazilian.