Luana Carolina's Steady Improvement

In the modern sport of MMA, athletes typically go through a lengthy development process before they reach the world’s top organization – assuming they make it at all, that is. Outside of a few celebrated phenoms, most fighters rack up 10, 20 or more bouts in local or regional promotions, honing their craft on smaller stages for smaller stakes, hoping to attract the attention of an entity such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

That was not the case for Luana Carolina. As the 31-year-old Brazilian prepares to face Lucie Pudilova in a flyweight feature on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 60 in Las Vegas, she reflects on the path that brought her to the UFC Octagon after just six professional bouts. She recognizes that her relatively early call up to the big leagues meant that part of her learning process has taken place under the bright lights, but maintains that she has no regrets and is grateful for the opportunity.

“I believe it was the right moment,” Carolina told Sherdog.com. “Many other fighters wanted this opportunity but didn’t get it. But I also understand that it was an early debut. I ended up learning to be an MMA fighter inside the world’s biggest organization. It wasn’t easy. I was initially victorious, but because of that I had to learn through my highs and lows, I learned that you just can’t go there and bang it out. You have to study all the situations that UFC fighters might find themselves in. In the end – yes – it happened at the right time.”

Now with a 10-4 record, more than half of those bouts having taken place in the UFC, Carolina can point to some of the improvements she has made to her skills. Where her first four UFC wins came by decision, in her latest outing in February at UFC Fight Night 235, she punished Julija Stoliarenko for most of three rounds en route to a last-second technical knockout victory. Carolina credits her experience and preparation, pointing to her team of coaches.

“My last opponent was very tough and dangerous,” she said. “She’s had eight first-round finishes. But my coaches and I studied her extensively. Since before my last defeat, I had started to make several changes to my game and training sessions. I knew that I could become more than I already was. I have more to offer as an athlete. I started training with coach Michel ‘Cubano,’ who gave me a greater vision of how I wanted to be seen as a fighter. In no way did I want to be just another fighter in the UFC. Now, I’m headed to my ninth fight in the organization. This is because I was able to show my evolution. I have been showing this in my most recent fights. The plan [against Stoliarenko] was indeed to look for a KO. The plan was to keep moving, stuff her takedowns, watch out for her ground attacks, with the knowledge that I could potentially knock her out. Prior to the UFC, most of my wins in muay thai and MMA had been by knockout. As time went by, as I felt I was very resistant, I got used to winning by decision. I started thinking differently. I can win before it goes to decision. I have the weapons to finish earlier.”

Looking at Pudilova and the task ahead of her this week, Carolina recognizes the threat presented by the former Oktagon MMA champ, and looks forward to seeing how the UFC Apex crowd reacts to the Brazil vs. Czech Republic showdown. “I think the fans will be somewhat neutral,” she said. “Neither one of us is American. In the fight, I expect she’ll want to strike a little with me. But, as we’ve seen in her other fights against strikers, she’ll go for takedowns. She’s good at that. But I’m training and getting ready for it. I plan to strike but I’m ready for the ground, same as my last opponent. I’m getting ready for what Pudilova does best, but I personally don’t care if we keep it standing or go to the mat.”

That willingness to engage with her opponent wherever the fight takes place is another sign of Carolina’s maturation into a well-rounded MMA fighter. Previously a striker by training and preference, “Dread” once again credits her team. “I’m training under head coach Rafael 'Tocha,' who’s also my husband,” she said. “He works remotely with coach Michel Cubano who’s back in Brazil. They’re my two instructions. But I also work with Chase Pami [at Gold Rush Wrestling in Las Vegas]. I also work on my jiu-jitsu with Rafael ‘Rafinha’ Domingos. I attend the collective training sessions at Syndicate MMA. And I’ve been working with boxing instructor Yaikel Kindelan. Boxing is one of the first things I got back to doing since I came here [to the U.S.]. Everything is going very well. I’m adapting well. I remain in touch with my coaches in Brazil. They communicate with my coaches here. For example, Marcelo Zotovici coordinates jiu-jitsu with Rafael Domingos here. They communicate well and that’s shown in my performances.”

Amid all the improvements in her game, one thing that has remained a challenge for Carolina is the scale. Her dominant performance against Stoliarenko was marred by having failed to make the flyweight limit, her second such incident in the UFC. While Carolina is willing give her reasons for the latest miss, she is more interested in making improvements than excuses – and it starts this week.

“Last time [against Stoliarenko], I had different weight-cutting instructions,” she said. “That’s where I made a mistake. I had been shedding weight, same as all my other fights. But at the very end, the weight got stuck. I didn’t know what happened. And the other time [against Poliana Botelho], I didn’t make weight because it was short-notice. I was coming off an inactive period due to a knee injury and had to shed 16 kg [35 pounds] in a month. But more recently I’ve been working closely with my nutritionist and conditioning coaches. I underwent various exams to measure muscle mass, body fat, and such. That is so I can always make weight, since it also has a financial effect. I can’t imagine that any fighter would choose not to make weight. We’re sad when that happens. Making weight is the fight before the fight itself.”

Assuming all goes well on the scale and in the cage this week, Carolina has some loftier goals in her sights. “My first plan is the next fight. All my focus is on having the best fight of my life and being victorious. After this, I want someone in the top 15. I deserve a chance to be ranked. I’ve been in the UFC for long enough. I’ve shown my evolution.”