Claudia Gadelha offers ‘no excuses’ in official statement made after UFC Japan loss

Many people were under the assumption that Claudia Gadelha was the second best women’s strawweight fighter in the world behind current UFC champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. After all, Jedrzejczyk was the only fighter to have defeated Gadelha leading up to this weekend and Gadelha nearly defeated “Joanna Champion” in their first meeting back in 2014.

To much surprise, Gadelha was steam rolled by fellow title contender Jessica Andrade last night (Fri., Sept. 22, 2017) at UFC Fight Night 117 live on FXX from inside the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The former title challenger was able to land some good shots in the early going, but Andrade dominated bell-to-bell by pressing forward, scoring heavy ground-and-pound, bloodying her opponent, and never taking her foot off the gas.

Gadelha did earn a Fight of the Night bonus for absorbing massive punishment and lasting all three rounds, but the defeat speaks for itself. After the loss, “Claudinha” took to Instagram to address her fans and immediate future:

“No excuses. All merit goes to Jessica. Congratulations on your performance,” Gadelha wrote. “Now my heart asks me to say something to you guys because I am feeling how much loved I am, how blessed I am, and how much I live the life I asked God for. I'm happy to see real friends and fans in defeat too, and that's priceless. Thank you all for everything! I want to come here also to communicate that I will take some time off. I just went through 3 fights in 10 months, 10 months of much learning but also very tiring. I need time with my parents who are in Brazil loving me in the same way, my entire family as well. I'm going to be Ana Claudia a little more, breathe light things and enjoy the pleasures of life a little bit. With the certainty that Claudinha will come back stronger. Thanks to those who got my back!! Love you all!!”

Gadelha, 28, obviously still has a bright future in this sport. Losing one fight, even in this sort of fashion, doesn’t ruin all promise. It may temporarily derail short-term title aspirations, but a contender like Gadelha should, and most likely will, bounce back quickly.

And if the Brazilian decides to take her talents north to the newly-instated UFC women’s flyweight division then she’ll be able to contend for UFC gold quicker than if she stayed at strawweight.

For complete UFC Fight Night 117 results and coverage click here.