Gabriella Fernandes

When and why did you start training for fighting? I first started training martial arts to lose weight, but after some time I started to enjoy this activity so much that I decided to take a risk and join fighting competitions, first at an amateur level, but slowly I found my place as a professional.  

What are your current ranks in martial arts? I am a black belt in Taekwondo and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

What titles have you held?  LFA belt in flyweight division, several medals in surfing and athletics championships (state champion in athletics and taekwondo). Several titles and medals in jiu jitsu championships. 

Who is your favorite fighter and why? A fighter I admire and draw inspiration from is Anderson Silva. He has overcome adversity many times and even with his age he kept fighting at the highest level.

Do you have any heroes?  Yes, my hero is my mother. She raised four children and her granddaughters almost entirely on her own. She never let us go without anything, educated us, and still teaches me how to be an independent woman. She taught all of her children to be people with values and character.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It was a dream, a goal and turned into my personal achievement. I promised myself that before I died, I will step into the UFC Octagon. Along the way my dream grew, but I still keep focused on improving my technique and becoming a better athlete. 

What fight do you consider the most important of your career so far and why? The fight I had in China in 2024. Not because I was the underdog or because of the opponent, but because of everything I had to go through to get there. I sacrificed a lot, living inside the gym and being far away from my family during a very difficult moment. My sister passed away three weeks before the fight, and I also injured my hands and my foot. Even with all those challenges, I never thought about giving up. The strength that this sport gives me is something supernatural and impossible to explain.

Is there a cause you would like to support using your platform? Right now I don’t have much time to focus on this area, but in the future I would like to support and encourage children and women through martial arts. I want to create a social project focused on culture, education, and sports, which are things we often lack in Brazil. I started training in a social project, and today I am here. If I can help or “save” a few people through martial arts, I will already be giving back what was once given to me.

Beyond a championship or money, what motivates you? What motivates me is overcoming challenges and evolving in my work. When I see the results of my effort and I improve day after day as an athlete and as a person, that makes me very happy and motivated.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn?  I started studying Management at the University in Natal, but I decided to interrupt my studies to focus on training.  

What was your job before you started fighting? Boxing personal trainer and surfing instructor  

Favorite grappling technique: Rear naked choke

Favorite Striking technique: High kick

Tell us about your life outside of fighting: I have two furry kids (my cats). They are currently being taken care of by my mother because I now live in Miami. I also love traveling, exploring different cultures, and surfing with my friends. I’m a simple person, and for me that’s what life is about.