Gadelha Wants Title Shot Or Jedrzejczyk Trilogy With UFC Vegas 13 Win

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Claudia Gadelha believes she deserves another shot at the UFC women’s strawweight title if she’s able to knock off red-hot contender Yan Xiaonan tomorrow night (Sat., Nov. 7, 2020) at UFC Vegas 13 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

While Gadelha holds just a 7-4 record as a member of the UFC roster she has competed against the best fighters at 115 pounds since her Octagon debut back in 2014. Gadelha quickly fought her way to a title shot opposite Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2016 but ended up losing via unanimous decision. Gadelha has been clawing her way back to a title shot ever since and believes she’s closer than ever.

Having won her last two trips to the Octagon the Brazilian veteran is hoping a win this weekend will remind everyone that she’s a true legend of the division.

“I think I’m a pioneer in the sport,” Gadelha told reporters during UFC Vegas 13’s virtual media day. “The last couple years of my life have had a big transition, switching camps, moving from Brazil to America. It was very challenging for me. I had to face a lot of adversity.”

While Gadelha is hoping that a win over Xiaonan puts her back in line for a UFC title shot, the Brazilian veteran has a few different options at her disposal. This includes a potential rematch with rival Angela Hill, who Gadelha defeated via split decision this past May. The fight was so close that fans want to see the two contenders run it back, especially considering the bad blood shared between both fighters.

“No, not really. I already beat her,” Gadelha said of a potential rematch with Hill. “Angela talks too much. I don’t like the disrespect for fighters. I respect people that do what I do for a living, because I know how hard it is. I feel like Angela talks too much, and disrespects everybody. She’s already talking sh*t about Tecia Torres, her next opponent. So I’m not worried about her. She should be training hard and then trying to get back on a win streak.”

In addition to Hill, Gadelha could also end up locking horns with Jedrzejczyk for a third time or a rematch with former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza, who defeated Gadelha via split decision back in 2018.

“I would like to fight for the title, but I have some fights I want to do,” Gadelha added. “I want to fight Joanna [Jedrzejczyk] again, and I want to fight Carla [Esparza] again. So after Saturday, if they give me one of those girls, I’ll fight them.”

What say you, Maniacs? If Gadelha can hand Xiaonan her first professional loss in over 10 years does she deserve a title shot? If not, who should Gadelha fight next?

Let’s hear it!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 13 fight card this weekend RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ESPN+ and ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET.