Former LFA interim flyweight champion Gabriella Fernandes took on massive favorite Wang Cong on the main card portion of UFC Macau on Saturday morning and had to dig deep for the comeback in China.
Wang had Fernandes cornered against the cage for most of the first round, landing the better shots, and continued to dominate the action in the second round until Fernandes dropped her with a brutal left hand. Fernandes sensed the moment and immediately started to grapple, taking Wang’s back and locking in a rear-naked choke to leave her unconscious on the ground.
Watch the finish below.
The +520 underdog Gabriella Fernandes chokes out Wang Cong at #UFCMacau! pic.twitter.com/XyrsYsZpJU
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 23, 2024
In her post-fight interview, an emotional Fernandes told Michael Bisping that she dealt with multiple injuries coming into UFC Macau, but had no option but stay in the fight.
“I’m living in the gym for 10 months, away from my family,” Fernandes said. “I lost my father last year, two weeks before my fight [against Tereza Bleda], and I lost. My sister died just over a month ago and I couldn’t be with her, and that’s why this win was for her.
“Both my hands are hurt, my foot is hurt, and I stilled accepted this fight. I came to her home, an undefeated girl, hyped up, and I was the underdog, and now [I won].”
Fernandes is now 10-3 in the sport and 2-2 under the UFC banner, rebounding from a 0-2 start in the company with back-to-back victories over Carli Judice and Wang.
