No Second Thoughts for Bruna Brasil

Bruna Brasil does not fear the unknown.

“The Special One” will test the waters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight division when she collides with Chinese kickboxer Cong Wang as part of the UFC 312 undercard this Saturday at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Brasil’s four previous assignments inside the Octagon have taken place in the 115-pound weight class.

“I’m not used to it,” she told Sherdog.com, “but it’s a challenge given to me by the UFC. I accepted without hesitation. I’m looking forward to showcasing my full potential.”

Brasil owns a 2-2 record in the UFC, having punched her ticket to the promotion with a head kick knockout of Marnic Mann on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022. She entered the UFC on the strength of seven consecutive victories but has since struggled to find consistent results, with wins over Shauna Bannon and Molly McCann offset by losses to Denise Gomes and Konklak Suphisara.

“I’m proud of my career up to now,” Brasil said. “I battled hard to earn my opportunities. I’ve faced great fighters, both in Brazil and overseas in the UFC. It’s been a series of great challenges against tough opponents. I must prove myself with each fight. Of course, losses aren’t what we plan on, but from them, we take the best lessons after the fact. Every fight has its own story, circumstances and difficulties. This next fight will be no different.”

Wang still carries a considerable amount of hype, even after her stunning upset loss to Gabriella Fernandes at UFC Fight Night 248 in November. A decorated sanda practitioner, she started her MMA on a six-fight winning streak prior to her ill-fated encounter with Fernandes.

“She’s a very experienced striker,” Brasil said. “She’s a multiple-time champion kickboxer. She’s also boxed professionally at a very high level. We’ve watched her fights. She’s not perfect. She’s coming off a loss. We saw some of her shortcomings in her last bout. I feel she’ll be very motivated to get back to winning. I’m moving up in weight to accommodate her since she refused other matchups. The pressure is on her. I’ll use it to my advantage. “I’ll play mind games,” she added. “I’ll keep my cool and use my technique. I think that will be the difference maker. I expect to be the winner, regardless of how. We’re working hard to get ready. It’s not easy.”

Brasil operates out of The Fighting Nerds camp fronted by coaches Flavio Alvaro and Pablo Sucupira in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There, she has trained alongside Caio Borralho, Felipe Douglas, Vanessa Messina and Luana Carolina.

“We have some tricks up our sleeve,” Brasil said, “but hard work is always key to victory.”

Win or lose against Wang, Brasil plans to return to the more familiar haunts of the women’s strawweight division once their business with one another concludes.

“I very much want to face a Top 15 opponent in my natural weight class,” she said, “but now, I have a surprise opponent at a higher weight, all the way around the world. My goal is to win this fight and then continue climbing my way towards the rankings and eventually the belt. I’ll always go back to my goal, even when I’m asked to take on an unexpected fight outside of my weight class. I wish to keep winning, putting on shows and letting people see my full skill set. In the end, I live my life doing what I love without stressing about the future.”