Featherweight Duda ‘Cowboyzinha’ Santana is not too worried about her UFC debut against Bea Malecki at UFC Stockholm.
In a battle of Octagon newcomers at UFC Stockholm, female featherweight Eduarda Santana shows little to no worries ahead of her bout against Sweden’s own Bea Malecki, on June 1.
In an interview with Ag Fight, Duda ‘Cowboyzinha’ expressed her desire to trade shots with her opponent, having learned that Malecki is a striker. She also noted that she’s not afraid of her opponent’s height—who towers over the 5’7’’ Santana by four inches. As the Tata Fight Team athlete explained, she’s even been in fights with men before.
“The bigger she is, the harder she falls. I don’t care. I’ve already fought many taller people in the middle of the street in my crazy life. I’ve hit men before. She’s a striker, so I want to trade shots with her. And when she makes a mistake, I’ll take her down. The moment she blinks, I’ll take her down and put her face against the mat.”
Still undefeated, albeit in a short career so far, Santana (3-0) scored all of her wins in 2017 – the year she made her professional debut – winning two bouts by unanimous decision and one via TKO.
Her opponent, Malecki made her own pro debut in 2017, with a win over Faith Davis. She then entered the TUF 28 house, losing to Leah Letson in the opening round. Her UFC debut will be just her second pro bout.
The two women are set to meet this Saturday, June 1st at UFC Fight Night 153, in Stockholm, Sweden. The card will be headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Smith.