Gabriella Fernandes etched her name into the UFC history books with the biggest upset of 2024, based on odds, and it’s the ninth all-time upset in UFC history. She achieved this remarkable feat by submitting the -950 favorite, Wang Cong, at UFC Macau.
After returning to Brazil to celebrate her victory, which earned her a $50,000 check for one of the standout performances that night in China, Fernandes expressed her feelings about being an underdog in an interview with MMA Fighting. She stated that she wasn’t bothered or offended by her status heading into the fight against the undefeated 6-0 flyweight prospect.
“I don’t care about all that, you know?” Fernandes declared. “I care about what I have to do to win. I need to focus on myself regardless of her hype or the fact I’m fighting in her home country or whatnot. It was better for me, actually, because I already knew it would be like that. She had all the pressure to deliver being at her home and the fact she was undefeated. I saw it as an opportunity.”
Wang made her entry into the UFC with a guillotine submission of Paula Luna in May, followed by a swift 62-second victory over Victoria Leonardo three months later. In her initial UFC outings, Fernandes faced defeats against Jasmine Jasudavicius and Tereza Bleda. However, she rebounded with a bonus-winning split decision victory over Carli Judice in June, leading to her signing a new deal with the UFC.
“People start doubting you [after losses], that’s the truth,” Fernandes reflected. “I was the favorite when I debuted in the UFC against Jasmine but then I lost like that, and then I lost again, and people start not giving you credit. It’s just me and my team, and that’s what really matters to me.”
Interestingly, Wang’s swift victory over Leonardo occurred on the night of Fernandes’ birthday party. The 31-year-old thought that a matchup against Wang would be exciting given their respective fighting styles. When the offer came a month later, she accepted immediately. The athlete, who described herself as “humble,” is not keen on calling out other 125-pound fighters after her major upset, but she hopes the promotion will send her a fellow striker now that she’s received the lucrative $50,000 bonus.
“It’s like I won twice,” Fernandes said, reflecting on her bonus as a record underdog. “To win like that, and the bonus. To win at her home, an undefeated girl. It’s another obstacle out of my way. I stay grounded, but I plan on fighting soon. I’ll just recover from the injuries and get back in there. Training while injured was tougher than fighting. Deep down, I knew I was going to win. I said in an interview with the UFC before the fight, ‘She’s 6-1 but doesn’t know yet.’”
Be sure to check out Fernandes’ stunning finish below.
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