Bruna Brasil and the Start of Something ‘Special’

Once Bruna Brasil arrived at the door, she decided to just go ahead and break it down.

“The Special One” will make her Ultimate Fighting Championship debut opposite Denise Gomes as part of the UFC on ESPN 44 undercard on Saturday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Brasil punched her ticket to the UFC in September, when she wrecked Marnic Mann with a second-round head kick on Week 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series. The highlight-reel finish left viewers with something by which to remember the 29-year-old Brazilian strawweight ahead of her first Octagon assignment.

“I worked hard to get ready for the Contender Series,” Brasil told Sherdog.com. “We started putting together scenarios to win that fight. We did some incredible work, and I managed to do everything in the fight I had trained for. I was blessed with a beautiful knockout win. That kick sealed my UFC contract. It was an incredible card, and it was the best night of my life.”

Seven months later, Brasil has no plans to rest on her laurels.

“My biggest goal is to be a world champion,” she said. “We’re not only working for me to have a great UFC debut but also to build me into a great champion. It’s a long-term project of intense, hard work. That’s my objective.”

The confrontation with Gomes represents the next step in the process. A product of the same Parana Vale Tudo camp that produced former UFC women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade, the 23-year-old prospect has won six of her past seven bouts. Gomes last appeared at UFC Fight Night 210, where the muay thai practitioner dropped a unanimous decision to Konklak Suphisara on Sept. 17.

“She trains with my old team,” Brasil said. “She’s a warrior. We’ve analyzed the entirety of her fights to formulate the best strategy against her. She’ll probably try to pressure me with her striking and maybe try a single-leg takedown, but I don’t see that she’ll be doing anything different. My goal is to bring a strong and consistent game to frustrate her, so I can knock her out; or if she doesn’t watch out, maybe I’ll submit her. We’re working on my best qualities and on her shortcomings.”

Brasil was quick to credit those who surround her at The Fighting Nerds and Insanis MMA 013 camps where she trains. She subscribes to the it-takes-a-village approach.

“As athletes, we live an intense life,” Brasil said. “It’s a matter of building ourselves up. We must seek great professionals to assist us in evolving. Sometimes you find some place where it doesn’t work out. I have a great team with excellent open-minded professionals. My sacrifices will be worth it in the end. I can hardly wait for my start in the UFC.”