Luana Munize Barbosa Pinheiro[5] (born November 18, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC). As of November 12, 2024, she is #14 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.[6]

Luana Pinheiro
BornLuana Munize Barbosa Pinheiro
(1993-11-18) November 18, 1993 (age 31)
João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
DivisionStrawweight
Reach62[1] in (157 cm)
Fighting out ofRio de Janeiro, Brazil
TeamBH Rhinos[2]
Nova União[3]
RankBlack belt in Judo[4]
Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4]
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total15
Wins11
By knockout2
By submission5
By decision3
By disqualification1
Losses4
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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Pinheiro was born into a family of judokas and started the sport at the age of two in her hometown of João Pessoa.[7] After an accomplished junior career in judo she moved to Belo Horizonte in 2011 in pursuit of a spot in the Brazilian Olympic judo team.[7][8] However, her Olympic dreams didn't materialize and she opted to start training mixed martial arts in late 2015.[7][9][10]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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Pinheiro racked a 7–1 record, competing in Brazilian regional circuit and Brave Combat Federation before being invited to Dana White's Contender Series.

Dana White's Contender Series

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Pinheiro faced Stephanie Frausto at Dana White's Contender Series 35 on November 10, 2020. She won the fight via first-round technical knockout and was awarded a UFC contract.[11][12]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Pinheiro was scheduled to make her promotional debut against Randa Markos on March 27, 2021, at UFC 260.[13] However, Markos was removed from the card on March 18 after testing positive for COVID-19.[14] The bout was rescheduled for May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[15] Pinheiro won the bout via disqualification in the first round after Markos accidentally upkicked her in the head, rendering her unable to continue.[16]

Pinheiro was scheduled to make her sophomore appearance in the organization against Jessica Penne at UFC Fight Night 198 on November 20, 2021.[17] However Penne withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reason and she was replaced by Sam Hughes.[18] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[19]

Pinheiro was again scheduled to face Jessica Penne on April 30, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208.[20] Their bout is once again cancelled due to Pinheiro pulling out due to an undisclosed injury.[21]

Pinhero faced Michelle Waterson on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287.[22] She won the close bout via split decision.[23]

Pinhero faced Amanda Ribas on November 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 232.[24] She lost the fight by TKO in the third round.[25]

Pinhero faced Angela Hill on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.[26] She lost the bout by a guillotine choke submission in the second round.[27]

Pinhero faced Gillian Robertson on November 9, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 247.[28] She lost the fight by unanimous decision.[29]

Professional grappling career

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Pinheiro competed against Ffion Davies in the co-main event of ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024.[30] She lost the match by submission in the first round.[31]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
15 matches 11 wins 4 losses
By knockout 2 1
By submission 5 1
By decision 3 2
By disqualification 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–4 Gillian Robertson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Prates November 9, 2024 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 11–3 Angela Hill Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy May 18, 2024 2 4:12 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 11–2 Amanda Ribas TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig November 18, 2023 3 3:53 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 11–1 Michelle Waterson-Gomez Decision (split) UFC 287 April 8, 2023 3 5:00 Miami, Florida, United States
Win 10–1 Sam Hughes Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate November 20, 2021 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9–1 Randa Markos DQ (illegal upkick) UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka May 1, 2021 1 4:16 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 8–1 Stephanie Frausto KO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 35 November 10, 2020 1 2:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 7–1 Helen Harper KO (punches) Brave CF 29 November 15, 2019 1 3:00 Isa Town, Bahrain
Win 6–1 Yasmeli Araque Submission (rear-naked choke) Brave CF 26 September 7, 2019 1 2:34 Bogotá, Colombia
Win 5–1 Elaine Leal Submission (guillotine choke) Brave CF 11 April 13, 2019 1 4:46 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 4–1 Jessica Kelly Soares Rodrigues Submission (rear-naked choke) Federação Fight 7 March 10, 2018 1 2:37 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 3–1 Charlene Batista de Souza Submission (armbar) Federação Fight 4 July 1, 2017 1 1:40 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Loss 2–1 Cris Macfer Ferreira Macedo Decision (split) All Fights 1 March 19, 2017 3 5:00 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 2–0 Jessica Kelly Soares Rodrigues Submission (armbar) BH Sparta 10 November 19, 2016 1 2:00 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Win 1–0 Thatiane Araújo Decision (unanimous) BH Sparta 9 October 9, 2016 3 5:00 Belo Horizonte, Brazil

[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stats | UFC". www.ufcstats.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  2. ^ "GMI: A musa do judô que abraçou o MMA e já faz estragos". graciemag.com (in Portuguese). March 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ex-Minas, Luana Pinheiro mostrou DNA de judoca para vencer a segunda no UFC". superesportes.com.br (in Portuguese). November 22, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Luana Pinheiro | UFC". UFC.com. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Sherdog.com. "Luana Pinheiro MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  6. ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  7. ^ a b c Lucas Barros (March 20, 2015). "Expresso Paraíba: conheça a história da musa do judô, Luana Pinheiro". Globo.com (in Portuguese).
  8. ^ "Nova Ronda? Luana Pinheiro se inspira em estrela americana para mostrar força do judô no UFC". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  9. ^ "Inspirada em Ronda, Luana Pinheiro estreia no UFC contra "maior desafio da vida"". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  10. ^ Superesportes (2021-04-30). "Mineira 'de coração': Luana Pinheiro, ex-judoca do Minas, estreia no UFC". Superesportes (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  11. ^ Mike Heck (November 10, 2020). "DWCS video: Luana Pinheiro crushes Stephanie Frausto with vicious combination". mmafighting.com.
  12. ^ Steven Marrocco (2020-11-10). "DWCS Season 4: Week 9 results: Three win contracts with Natan Levy earning high praise". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  13. ^ Farah Hannoun (2021-03-05). "Randa Markos vs. Luana Pinheiro added to UFC 260". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  14. ^ Evelyn Rodrigues and Raphael Marinho (2021-03-18). "Randa Markos off UFC 260 for covid-19 protocol and Luana Pinheiro waits for a new rival". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18. (in Portuguese)
  15. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2021-03-22). "Randa Markos vs. Luana Pinheiro set for May 1 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  16. ^ "UFC on ESPN 23 results: Randa Markos disqualified for illegal upkick on Luana Pinheiro". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  17. ^ "Luana Pinheiro enfrenta Jessica Penne no UFC em novembro". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  18. ^ "With Jessica Penne out, Sam Hughes steps in against Luana Pinheiro at UFC Fight Night 198". MMA Junkie. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  19. ^ Alex Behunin (November 20, 2021). "UFC Vegas 43: Luana Pinheiro Defeats Sam Hughes Via Unanimous Decision". cagesidepress.com.
  20. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2022-02-07). "Jessica Penne vs. Luana Pinheiro back on, set for April 30 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
  21. ^ Staff (2022-04-26). "Jéssica Bate-Estaca returns to strawweight at 5th in the UFC ranking and remains on the flyweight list". ge.globo.com. Retrieved 2022-04-30. (in Portuguese)
  22. ^ https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/16/23558196/michelle-waterson-gomez-vs-luana-pinheiro-set-for-ufc-287
  23. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-04-08). "UFC 287: Luana Pinheiro Wins Razor-Close Decision Against Michelle Waterson-Gomez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  24. ^ "Amanda Ribas renova com UFC e enfrenta Luana Pinheiro em novembro". ge (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  25. ^ Dewar, Val (2023-11-18). "UFC Vegas 82: Amanda Ribas Stages Gritty Comeback After First-Round Pummeling, Finishes Luana Pinheiro". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  26. ^ King, Nolan (2024-02-22). "UFC strawweight contenders Angela Hill, Luana Pinheiro collide in May". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  27. ^ Anderson, Jay (2024-05-18). "UFC Vegas 92: Angela Hill Shows Well-Rounded Skillset, Hits Mounted Guillotine on Luana Pinheiro". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  28. ^ Nolan King (2024-07-31). "UFC books Luana Pinheiro vs. Gillian Robertson for November". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  29. ^ Jay Anderson (2024-11-09). "UFC Vegas 100: Gillian Robertson's Grappling On Display Against Luana Pinheiro". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  30. ^ "ADXC 2 Full Lineup And Preview". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  31. ^ "ADXC 2 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Luana Pinheiro MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
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