Who is UFC strawweight contender Luana Pinheiro? Find out about her life, next fight date, opponent and more here

Luana Pinheiro is a rising strawweight contender in the UFC with a 3-0 promotional record (including her DWCS win). The Brazilian fighter is riding an eight-fight win-streak.

Pinheiro has 11 fights on her MMA record with only one recorded loss in 2017. Following her only professional loss, Luana Pinheiro went on to secure six first-round finishes. The last of which earned her a contract with the premier MMA promotion in Dana White's Contender Series 35 in 2020.

Luana Pinheiro has five submission wins, two knockout victories, two decision wins and one win via DQ against Randa Markos. She holds a black belt in both judo and jiu-jitsu, having earned her black-belt in the latter under the famed André Pederneiras.

Pinheiro, who is ranked No.14 in the strawweight rankings, stands at 5'4" (163 cm) and has a reach of 62 inches. She last fought Sam Hughes at UFC Vegas 43, almost two years ago, to a decision victory. The 29-year-old is slated to make her octagon return against Michelle Waterson-Gomez at UFC 287.

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Does Luana Pinheiro have the makings to be a UFC champion?

At 29 years of age, Luana Pinheiro is at a good place in her MMA career. The Brazilian fighter has been fighting professionally since 2016, and has compiled a 10-1 record.

Pinheiro fought in the Middle Eastern fight promotion BraveFC before being given a shot at a UFC contract in DWCS. She had a 100% finishing rate in the Bahrain-based promotion with submission wins and one KO win in three fights.

Luana Pinheiro vs. Yasmeli Araque at Brace CF 26:

Pinheiro then fought in Dana White's Contender Series 35, where she secured a first-round KO over Stephanie Frausto. She made her promotional debut against Randa Markos at UFC Vegas 25, where an illegal kick by Markos in the first round ensured the victory for Pinheiro via DQ.

Pinheiro has excellent credentials as a grappler, with a base in judo. She has a black-belt in the aforementioned Japanese throw-based martial art, and a black-belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the legendary André Pederneiras.

The fact that Pinheiro has two wins via KO in her last four fights indicates that she is a competent striker who is evolving her game.

Pinheiro is making her octagon comeback at UFC 287 after two years since beating Sam Hughes in 2021. She will face Michelle Waterson-Gomez and will jump up five ranks to No.10 if she beats the 'The Karate Hottie'.

At this point, it might be too early to say if Pinheiro will become champion or not. However, a dominant win over Waterson-Gomez on April 8th will definitely answer some questions about her skill as a fighter and whether she could fight for a title some-day. Luana Pinheiro has all the makings to become a UFC champion, with a couple more wins on her record.