Luana Pinheiro Leaves Adversity Behind

Luana Pinheiro was until recently unaccustomed to extended professional hardships, but consecutive defeats and a major health issue have all but removed her margin for error in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s strawweight division.

The 31-year-old Brazilian will look to get back on track when she toes the line against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 26 graduate Gillian Robertson in a featured UFC Vegas 100 attraction this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Pinheiro steps back into view with a 3-2 record inside the Octagon but has not recorded a victory since she eked out a split decision over Michelle Waterson-Gomez well over a year ago.

“Every fight is a learning experience,” she told Sherdog.com. “Everyone we face has a different style. We end up developing new skills each time. We keep evolving every day, figuring out ways to nullify our opponents’ attacks. I’m someone who’s always training, not just during fight camps. It’s something I’ve done since I was a child. Losses are part of our journey. They all teach us something new.”

Pinheiro last competed at UFC 241, where she submitted to a guillotine choke from former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Angela Hill in the second round of their May 18 encounter. Complications arose well before the bout—Pinheiro chose to keep them quiet until now—and intensified right up to the walk-in.

“On fight day, I woke with really bad pain,” she said. “I insisted on fighting. One minute before the fight, I was sick in the bathroom with diarrhea. I almost vomited on my way to the Octagon. I chose to do that. I knew the risks. I felt very well prepared otherwise, mentally and physically. After the fight, I had several exams: an endoscopy, biopsies, every possible test. I was always one to feel anxious before a fight, but it was never this bad. I did learn that when we’re feeling sick, we should listen to our bodies. I then found out I had a bacterial infection in my stomach. I took antibiotics for 28 days. I felt horrible and lost a lot of weight. I also found out I’m lactose intolerant.

“We figured out why I had been feeling randomly sick for years,” Pinheiro added. “The bacterial problem was resolved, and I completely changed my diet. I haven’t ever felt this good. I no longer get stomach pains when training. Maybe if I had won that fight, I would have never investigated my health problems. It was good for my career. I’m feeling more motivated than ever before. I hadn’t spoken about this before because I don’t want to make it seem like an excuse. It was Angela’s night and not mine. It’s possible I could have lost even if I felt fine. Angela deserves her win.”

Fully recovered and optimistic about what the future holds, Pinheiro spent the majority of her training camp at Team Oyama in Irvine, California, where her list of sparring partners included retired two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza.

“She’s perfect for getting ready for my fight, as she has the best wrestling in the weight class,” Pinheiro said. “By defending her takedowns, I’ll be very ready for the fight. She’s an incredible person. She’s a big help and patiently answers all my questions. It’s been great. It motivates me to train with and learn from someone who was the UFC champion. I had never trained with a champion before.”

Pinheiro’s attention next shifts to Anderson, a Din Thomas-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with more submission victories (seven) than any other woman in UFC history.

“She’s a jiu-jitsu specialist,” Pinheiro said. “I’ve watched some of her fights. I’m studying her. She used to fight at flyweight, so she’s strong. In all her fights, she always looks for takedowns so she can work her jiu-jitsu. I’m getting ready for jiu-jitsu, for MMA, for striking. Anything can happen. I’m training hard. I’m focused and feeling positive. I don’t know how the fight will play out, but my arm will be raised at the end. On fight night, I look forward to having fun and bringing home another victory.”