Gabriella Fernandes scored one of the most shocking wins of 2024 when she rocked and choked out -950 favorite Wang Cong in enemy territory at UFC Macau. Finally healed from injuries on both hands and her left foot, sustained prior to that the massive upset, \u201cGabi\u201d re-enters the cage Saturday to face Julija Stoliarenko at UFC Vegas 109.<\/p>\n
Fernandes admits she expected to compete against someone ranked higher in the flyweight division after giving Wang the sole loss of her MMA career so far, but didn\u2019t feel in a position to ask for anything at the moment.<\/p>\n
Stoliarenko is 2-6 in the UFC and hasn\u2019t fought since a stoppage defeat to Luana Carolina in February 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Stoliarenko] agreed [to fighting], and I wouldn\u2019t argue about that,\u201d Fernandes told MMA Fighting. \u201cIn fact, I never choose opponents. When I get to the rankings, then I will debate and see which fights are more interesting for me to continue climbing. But until I get there, I\u2019ll have to go through this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite hoping for a bigger match-up, Fernandes looks back at her UFC debut against Jasmine Jasudavicius as a reminder that everyone has their ups and downs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we can say \u2018no\u2019 to [the UFC],\u201d Fernandes said. \u201cI accept the challenge. It\u2019s a sport, we\u2019re here to be challenged. Everybody in the UFC is there for a reason. There are no easy fights. There never was. A sport is like that, you can win, you can lose, so we can\u2019t underestimate anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always underestimated, and that\u2019s why I don\u2019t underestimate anyone,\u201d she continued. \u201cWhen I started fighting, people didn\u2019t believe I would one day make it to the UFC, no one believed I would have the discipline to continue training. I was too old when I started, my life was completely different, so I\u2019m used to being doubted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandes is the odds-on favorite this time around, but \u201cwon\u2019t absorb this type of pressure\u201d because \u201cI\u2019ve lost early in my career and learned from it,\u201d Also, Wang was favored to beat her in China and everyone saw how that ended.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I\u2019m the favorite now because I\u2019m coming off wins, but I don\u2019t see it like, \u2018Oh, I have to win this,\u2019\u201d Fernandes said. \u201cIn my head, it\u2019s just another challenge I have to go through this Saturday. First, I have to be patient. She\u2019s a grappler and will go for the submission, she likes that jiu-jitsu game and armbars. I can\u2019t be overaggressive because that\u2019s what she wants me to do, and then she grapples. I\u2019ll find my moment eventually, she\u2019ll get tired too, and I\u2019ll do what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stoliarenko scored 10 of her 11 MMA wins via armbar, seven of those in under a minute, and Fernandes knows she can\u2019t make a mistake in that area \u2014 and feels ready to go for an armbar of her own, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat has happened before,\u201d Fernandes said with a laugh. \u201cI fought a black belt and defended so many takedowns and ground and pound from top position that, boom, I saw the opportunity and got the tap. I have submissions as well, but I get the knockdown first and then surprise [on the ground]. It\u2019s MMA, it\u2019s a surprise, and you can use many weapons.\u201d<\/p>\n