The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale Scouting Report: Claudia Gadelha

Name – Claudia Gadelha
Current Age – 27
Record – 13-1
Weight Class – Strawweight (115 pounds)
Height – 5’4”
Reach – 63”
Team/Gym – Nova Uniao

Striking 8/10

Gadelha is a good but not great striker. Her technical aptitude is solid and she is tough as nails but she isn’t as fluid as top tier strikers. What she lacks in fluidity she does make up for in power and grit.

Wrestling/Grappling 9/10

This is where Gadelha truly shines as she is a great grappler. Her takedown defense if phenomenal and she knows how to get fights to the ground. She is explosive and powerful unlike most other women in the strawweight division. She has the ability to take a fight to the mat almost at will.

Submissions 9/10

A black belt under the great Andre Pederneiras – the youngest in Nova Uniao’s history – and a three-time world BJJ champion Gadelha is most dangerous when the fight hits the mat. Her guard passes are elite and she doesn’t take unnecessary risks. Even though she has yet to submit anyone in the UFC it is clear how advanced her ground game is.

Athleticism/Conditioning 9/10

Powerful, explosive, quick and well-conditioned Gadelha is a superior athlete. For being only 115 pounds her physicality and strength is incredible. She is the kind of fighter you simply do not want to be grabbed by because once you are you are in trouble.

Fight IQ 8/10

Gadelha comes from one of the best camps in all of MMA. Nova Uniao has developed some of the best talents the sport has ever seen. That atmosphere of greatness and that support has made Gadelha into a very heady fighter. But even though she has a great fight mind she does allow herself to get baited into the striking game too much.

Overall 43/50