Gloria de Paula inked a UFC deal after earning a decision over previously unbeaten Pauline Macias at Dana White‘s Contender Series in 2020, but has come up short in both of her fights since joining the company.
Now slated to meet Diana Belbita at Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 48 event at the UFC APEX, “Glorinha” feels her job could be on the line.
” I’m viewing this fight like it was the Contender [Series],, you know?” de Paula said to MMA Fighting. It’s almost like it’s all-or-nothing .”
With her back against the wall following defeats to Jinh Yu Frey and Cheyanne Vlismas in 2021, de Paula and her girlfriend Mayra Bueno Silva, who also competes in the UFC, decided to move away from Chute Boxe and reunite with de Paula’s first coach Fabi Belai in Campinas, Sao Paulo.
” I’m excited,” de Paula stated. I have not been able show my UFC game. I have had both negative and positive results. I use that to motivate me and train hard so I can show my true self inside the UFC.
“I can’t say exactly [what was missing], but I’m feeling way more prepared now, and I’m sure this will be my chance to show it. It was a full camp. I made sure that my skills improved in every aspect of the game .”
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Belbita also kicked off her UFC career with a 0-2 skid, dropping a decision to Molly McCann before tapping to an armbar against Liana Jojua, but rebounded with a decision victory over Hannah Goldy this past July.
De Paula stated that it has made “all of the difference” for her to work with a Muay Thai coach such as Belai in preparation for this bout. Yet the 26-year-old admits her strategy going into UFC Vegas 48 is heavily dependent on wrestling and grappling since four of Belbita’s six MMA defeats came via submission.
” “It’s the perfect battle for me, and the style matches well with my,” de Paula stated. She’s tall and strong for her division, and she has good reach. I need to keep my eyes open, however, I do have a full game, and will play a completely different game. “I’ll be displaying a ‘Glorinha” that goes beyond the striking.
” We came up with this [gameplan] strategy for our strategy. I trade some, because it’s the best I have, but I also work hard on my wrestling skills to take down her and possibly submit her. … I see myself taking her down, taking her back, and submitting her.”
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