Claudia Gadelha is back in action at UFC 212 (Photo: Jim Edwards)

Claudia Gadelha has promised to finish Karolina Kowalkiewicz when the two top strawweight contenders clash at UFC 212 in Rio de Janiero.

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The two women come into the bout having both lost decisions to champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk last year with the knowledge they must win and do so in style to have any chance of a second crack at the crown.

Getting another title shot is undoubtedly the priority for Gadelha, but she insisted the strawweight belt has taken a backseat ahead of her next fight.

‘I’m not really thinking about the title right now,’ Gadelha told Metro.co.uk.




‘I’m just concentrating on Karolina and the other girls coming up.

Gadelha vs. Kowalkiewicz Name: Claudia Gadelha

Claudia Gadelha MMA Record: 14-2-0 (Win-Loss-Draw)

14-2-0 (Win-Loss-Draw) Nickname: Claudinha

Claudinha Current Streak: 1 Win

1 Win Age: 28 Name: Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Karolina Kowalkiewicz MMA Record: 10-1-0 (Win-Loss-Draw)

10-1-0 (Win-Loss-Draw) Current Streak: 1 Loss

1 Loss Age: 31



Karolina Kowalkiewicz comes into the fight on the back of her loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk (Picture: Getty)

‘I’ve already fought Joanna twice and I don’t think that fight is going to happen again now.

‘My goal now is to look better and get better you know and change the whole thing.

‘Whoever wins between Jessica [Andrade] and Joanna is going to say a lot because if Joanna loses the title, Karolina and I are next in line, but if Joanna wins I don’t see me or Karolina fighting here again at all.’

With her focus fully on taking Kowalkiewicz out in Rio, Gadelha spoke about the benefit of fighting in her home country and in front of her own Brazilian people.

‘I think one of my best fights in the UFC was in Rio, it’s not where I was born, but it’s where I grew up,’ Gadelha said.

‘I lived there for over ten years, I have family, friends and people that live there and I really felt their great energy when I was walking to the octagon.

‘I’m excited to go back there and experience the same thing again.’





Claudia Gadelha talks UFC 212 and Karolina Kowalkiewicz Claudinha Gadelha speaks about her fight with Karolina Kowalkiewicz at #UFC212She’s says she see’s holes in her game and that she will be looking for a finish ….I also ask her how I get rock hard abs Geplaatst door Jim Edwards – MMA op Vrijdag 17 maart 2017

Despite Kowalkiewicz only having been beaten once in her professional career, Gadelha thinks she holds a number of advantages over her because she has never been tested by a real wrestler.

The Brazilian believes Kowalkiewicz is in for a rude awakening and she will be able to finish the fight inside the distance.

‘I think she’s hungry and that she’s a fighter that always walks forward,’ Gadelha said.

‘She hasn’t fought anyone with my style just yet.

Gadelha is an accomplished wrestler (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m sure I’m the best wrestler in the division and I’ve got the best ground [game] in the division.

‘My striking is coming on and I’ve been working so hard at it to get better every day.

‘I’m sure she’s fought no one with that pressure–Joanna is a good fighter, but it’s a different kind of game.

‘Karolina makes a lot of mistakes and this is an advantage to me.’

That's how a woman should dress, like a warrior, like a survivor, like a hard worker. Everything else doesn't matter. #dresslikeawoman pic.twitter.com/v04eCmc8ap — Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) February 4, 2017

Gadelha doubled down on insisting she has the advantage over Kowalkiewicz when she was asked how she envisaged the fight going down on June 3.

The Brazilian was adamant that wherever the fight goes she would be in control and that the judges will not be called upon on the night.



‘I’m still studying her game and everything and we are still ten, eleven weeks away from the fight, but I already see a lot of mistakes in her game,’ Gadelha said.

‘I see submissions and I see knockouts there.’

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