Born and raised on the outskirts of Minas Gerais, Stephanie Luciano He turned adversity into fuel to achieve his dreams. The fighter, who debuts in ufc vegas 95 this Saturday (10) against compatriot Talita Alencar, overcame a childhood marked by poverty and proximity to crime to reach the biggest MMA event in the world.
In an exclusive interview to SUPER FIGHTS, 'Rondinha', as she is known, recalled the challenges she overcame to get here. Exchanging bracelets and paçoca at school to pay for the bus and the promising start in jiu-jitsu were just some of the obstacles that the Minas Gerais native had to overcome.
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“I lost my father when I was 13 years old. It changed me and my family. My mother, after a while, had an abusive relationship. I was a teenager, I saw all this happening, I couldn't really understand it. I spent a lot of time on the street because I didn't want to stay indoors. I'm from the community, from the favela. Like it or not, he sells drugs outside my house. It could have been a path and finding jiu-jitsu at the time was really good”, revealed Stephanie.
Her passion for martial arts helped her find a purpose and channel all the negative energy she was experiencing. At just 13 years old, Stephanie started training jiu-jitsu and, two years later, joined MMA.
“I fell in love with jiu-jitsu and it was there that I spent all the bad energy I was experiencing at the time. When I started, I paid 30 reais to train. I didn't have the money. I talked to my master about assembling and dismantling the mat and having an opportunity. I would just like to continue. I trained without a kimono, without a belt. I continued, the project ended and, later, I saw what it was like to train for competition in another category. I suffered a lot at the beginning due to the level and I said that this is where I wanted to stay”, he added.
'Rondinha' impressed Dana White
Stephanie's determination caught the attention of Dana White. Despite the draw against Talita Alencar, the UFC president invited her to join the organization's roster. The duel is, to this day, the only one that ended in a draw in the history of the Contender Series.
“He said I’m a special girl. And I feel like a really special girl. I feel like this is a girl from the outskirts, who didn't have a dollar, who is fighting for dollars. I'm so happy to be here. The opportunity is bizarre. When I saw the draw (in Contender), I thought it wouldn't work. The feeling was incredible, seeing Dana White talking about me. That's what I love to do. I will always donate a lot. Don’t expect anything less,” said the fighter.
Dengue affected UFC debut
Her UFC debut took longer than she expected. The initial opponent, Shauna Bannon, was injured and was replaced by Julia Polastri. Shortly before the fight, Stephanie also contracted dengue fever and suffered a knee injury.
“I trained with dizziness, headaches and stomach pains. I went to the doctor, taking medicine. I was crying in training. With dengue, it's a no-brainer. I felt sick, I had allergies, a fever and I didn’t want to get out of bed,” she revealed.
This Saturday, the Brazilian will face her compatriot Talita Alencar, an old acquaintance.
“I’m ready and prepared. It's going to be a show. Don't miss Saturday now. Let's go. It’s a beating,” Stephanie promised.
At 24, Stephanie Luciano has a record of five wins, one defeat and one draw. She stood out in the 'Jungle Fight', the organization in which she was champion, and also had a spell in LFA.
