Claudia Gadelha is one of the top women’s mixed martial artists on the planet. Currently signed by the UFC, Gadelha was one of the first women in the promotion’s strawweight division to earn a crack at the title. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt currently holds a professional record of 16-4, with 7 wins coming by way of submission.
Gadelha was not initially supported in her MMA career with her parents opposing the training, so she was forced to secretly begin training at her gym.
“The sport was teaching me how I should deal with life. Today, I am a completely different person, thanks to martial arts,” she said.
She has also previously discussed her rough childhood:
“I have a brother, but my father always asked me first when he needed help to carry things, because I was stronger than my brother and could handle more (weight),” Andrade said.
“When I wasn’t at school, I was at the farm. I think this strength of mine came from the farm. Spending my childhood carrying hampers to throw on the fork lifts, to mow corn, carrying weight around. I think the strength I have today is thanks to all this work from when I was a kid.”
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