Top strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha wants a rematch with champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, and she made an ironclad case for that return bout with a shutout three-round unanimous decision win over highly-touted newcomer Jessica Aguilar.
“Dana White, make my title shot happen,” Gadelha said to the UFC President sitting Octagonside. “I am the best strawweight in the world and I’m gonna prove that.”
All three judges saw it 30-27 for the number one-ranked Gadelha, now 13-1; Aguilar falls to 19-5.
Florida’s Aguilar came out firing at the start of the bout, but Gadelha calmly countered with hard combinations that lit her foe up and bloodied her nose in the fourth minute. With under a minute left, Gadelha slammed Aguilar to the mat and took her back, capping off a dominant opening frame.
Rio’s Gadelha put Aguilar in trouble with an uppercut as the second round opened, and the Brazilian went on to deliver another thudding slam. As the two rose, Aguilar tried to get her bearings back, but Gadelha was steadily piling up the points as she issued out the punishment from all angles.
Aguilar showed signs of life in the final round, landing several hard kicks to the leg and the occasional right hand to the face, prompting Gadelha to seek and get a late takedown that allowed her a breather before the final bell. Now her sights are set on Jedrzejczyk, who Gadelha dropped a split decision to last December.
“This fight has to happen,” Gadelha said. “I’ll be here, ready for you (Jedrzejczyk) whenever you want.”
Dear @JoannaMMA {Insert Speech} love, @ClaudiaGadelha_ #Sinister2 in theaters 8.21.15 http://t.co/N0Ecn6ohka
— #UFC190 (@ufc) August 2, 2015
