Gloria Leite de Paula (born June 10, 1995) is a Brazilian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...

currently competing in the strawweight division. A professional since 2017, she most notably fought in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

(UFC).

Background

Daughter of photographers, she worked as a photo model from a young age. Glória was 17 years old and experiencing the pressure of being a third-year high school student when she started training muay thai with her mother to improve her physical conditioning. She liked it so much that she left the entrance exam in the background and started to take the sport more seriously. The passion rose the first time she watched a UFC event from the stands. In August 2015, she tracked Ronda Rousey knocking out Bethe Correia in just 34 seconds and defending the UFC bantamweight belt. Glória left the event in Rio de Janeiro determined to become an MMA fighter.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

She currently holds a professional record of 5-2 with both of her losses coming to members of the UFC Arienne Carnelossi and Isabella de Padua by way of judges’ decisions.

Dana White's Contender Series

de Paula was initially scheduled to face Pauline Macias at Dana White's Contender Series 34 on November 3, 2020. However, de Paula tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

and the bout was rescheduled to take place at Dana White's Contender Series 36 on November 17, 2020. She won the fight via unanimous decision and was awarded a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

de Paula made her promotional debut against

Jinh Yu Frey Jinh Hie Yu Frey (born May 20, 1985) is a Korean-American mixed martial artist and currently competes in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is the former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Background Frey was ...

UFC Fight Night 187 ''UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 187'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 45'' and ''UFC Vegas 21'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 13, 2021 at the UF ...

on March 13, 2021. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Gloria de Paula made her sophomore appearance against

Cheyanne Vlismas Cheyanne Nicolae Vlismas (born June 25, 1995) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Vlismas began training in karate when she was three years old and then ...

at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland on July 31, 2021. She lost the bout via first-round ground-and-pound technical knockout after she was knocked down by a head kick. De Paula faced

Diana Belbiţă Diana Irena Belbiţă (born June 26, 1996) is a Romanian mixed martial artist, and former kickboxing, judo and kempo practitioner. She competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Belbiţă is a former world and ...

on February 19, 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill. She won the fight via unanimous decision. De Paula faced Maria Oliveira on June 18, 2022 at

UFC on ESPN 37 ''UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 37'' and ''UFC Austin'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 18, 2022 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, United ...

. She lost the bout via split decision. 7 out of 13 media scores gave it to De Paula. On June 23, 2022, it was announced that De Paula was not re-signed and no longer on the UFC roster.

Invicta FC

De Paula faced Karolina Wójcik on November 16, 2022 at Invicta FC 50 in the Strawweight tournament semifinal, losing via unanimous decision.

Personal life

De Paula is in a relationship with fellow mixed martial artist

Mayra Bueno Silva Mayra Bueno Silva (born August 22, 1991) is a Brazilian female mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of March 7, 2023, she is #10 in the UFC women's bantamweight rankings. Backg ...

Mixed martial arts record

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São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaWC a ...

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Ariane Carnelossi Ariane Cristina Carnelossi (born November 17, 1992) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Carnelossi enjoyed soccer in her youth, having to give that up aft ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:de Paula, Glória 1995 births Living people Brazilian female mixed martial artists LGBT mixed martial artists LGBT sportspeople from Brazil Strawweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai Brazilian Muay Thai practitioners Female Muay Thai practitioners Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters Sportspeople from Campinas