Claudia Gadelha relieved to put life, career transitions behind her ahead of UFC 246

LAS VEGAS – The past year was a major transition period for UFC strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha.

The former UFC title challenger made significant life changes inside and outside the cage, all leading up to her UFC 246 bout Saturday against Alexa Grasso (11-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC).

In terms of career adjustments, Gadelha (17-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has relocated from Nevada to New Jersey. She now trains under prominent MMA minds Mark Henry and Ricardo Almeida, who Gadelha credits for advancements in all facets of her game.

“(I get) great strategic training in New Jersey,” Gadelha told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “I have amazing coaches. Mark Henry and Ricardo Almeida have been good additions to my life. I’m taking advantage of that. … I’m fighting smarter now.

“I’ve been learning so much standup and correcting mistakes with Mark Henry. I feel good to fight with Alexa on the feet, as well.”

Gadelha indicated she hopes the final outcome of Saturday’s bout will be more satisfying than her previous outing. At UFC 239 in July, Gadelha defeated Randa Markos by unanimous decision. However, she was unhappy with her performance.

“I did enough to win, but I could have done a lot more,” Gadelha said. “Those big transitions in my life were very difficult – very hard in my personal life. It was effecting my career. That’s why I wanted to get settled.

“Now, I’m happy with the training I have. I’m happy with the family I have in New Jersey. I feel like I’m now in the place I needed to be to show good performances in the octagon.”

In the past, Gadelha has pointed to personal matters as a contributing factor to falling short of her personal standards. While analyzing viewers are quick to rush to judgement, Gadelha wishes the critics could try to view things through the eyes of a fighter.

“I watch guys like Frankie Edgar,” Gadelha said. “He finishes training and he goes back to his family – his wife, and his kids. Eddie Alvarez does the same thing. They go back home to their families to be loved. I go back home for nobody. I’m by myself in New Jersey, in America. I moved here three years ago by myself trying to figure out what’s up with that thing. It’s pretty damn hard.

“People don’t realize how hard it is. It’s a big transition, you know? Calm down. Let me work on things I have to work on. I wake up everyday and nobody has to tell me anything. ‘Hey Claudia. You have to train more.’ No, people don’t have to tell me that, or that I have to train less because I’m always working. Things take time and people have to be patient about it.”

UFC 246 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Check out MMA Junkie’s full pre-fight interview with Gadelha in the video above.