Claudia Gadelha: ‘My abs will look even better’ at UFC on FOX 13

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Undefeated strawweight Claudia Gadelha improved to 12-0 in MMA with a unanimous decision over Tina Lahdemaki in her UFC debut in July. Besides the win, Gadelha’s abs were one of the most discussed topics that night.

Making her return against fellow undefeated prospect Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC on FOX 13 on Dec. 13, Gadelha says her abs will look even better on weigh-ins.

“I don’t think about my abs that much, it’s just consequence of my hard work,” Gadelha said with a laugh. “I will be doing a different strategy for my next fight. I’m working with a doctor and a nutritionist, so instead of cutting 22 pounds on fight week, I lost 9 pounds of body fat and will only dehydrate 13 pounds on fight week, so my abs will look even better [laughs].”

Gadelha could earn a shot at the UFC strawweight championship with a win over Jedrzejczyk, and she knows that being successful inside the Octagon is not enough in women’s MMA.

“Unfortunately, fans don’t see you only as a fighter. As a marketing standpoint, you have to show your female side,” she said. “In men’s MMA, you just have to go there and fight. They see women’s MMA by both sides.

“I think that posing for a nude photo shoot is too much,” she continued. “Some photo shoots here and there is enough. I would do it. I did that already in the past. A bikini photo shoot, that’s fine.”

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Undefeated strawweight Claudia Gadelha improved to 12-0 in MMA with a unanimous decision over Tina Lahdemaki in her UFC debut in July. Besides the win, Gadelha’s abs were one of the most discussed topics that night.

Making her return against fellow undefeated prospect Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC on FOX 13 on Dec. 13, Gadelha says her abs will look even better on weigh-ins.

“I don’t think about my abs that much, it’s just consequence of my hard work,” Gadelha said with a laugh. “I will be doing a different strategy for my next fight. I’m working with a doctor and a nutritionist, so instead of cutting 22 pounds on fight week, I lost 9 pounds of body fat and will only dehydrate 13 pounds on fight week, so my abs will look even better [laughs].”

Gadelha could earn a shot at the UFC strawweight championship with a win over Jedrzejczyk, and she knows that being successful inside the Octagon is not enough in women’s MMA.

“Unfortunately, fans don’t see you only as a fighter. As a marketing standpoint, you have to show your female side,” she said. “In men’s MMA, you just have to go there and fight. They see women’s MMA by both sides.

“I think that posing for a nude photo shoot is too much,” she continued. “Some photo shoots here and there is enough. I would do it. I did that already in the past. A bikini photo shoot, that’s fine.”