Poliana Botelho

Brazilian mixed martial artist

Poliana Botelho

Born|  (1988-12-15) December 15, 1988 (age 35)
Muriae, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Residence| Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nationality| Brazilian
Height| 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Weight| 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division| Strawweight (2016-present)
Flyweight (2013-2016)
Reach| 67 in (170 cm)
Style| Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Fighting out of| Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Team| Nova União
Rank| Black belt in Muay Thai[2]
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Michele Tavares[3]
Years active| 2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total| 14
Wins| 9
By knockout| 6
By decision| 3
Losses| 5
By submission| 2
By decision| 3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Poliana Botelho (born December 15, 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the strawweight division of Bellator MMA. She previously has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and held the Women's Flyweight Championship in the Xtreme Fighting Championships.

## Mixed martial arts career[edit]

### Early career[edit]

Botelho made her professional debut in 2013, getting knockout wins over Thais Raphaela and Ingrid Schwartz in Favela Kombat and KTAF respectively. In 2014, she fought for the vacant flyweight title in the promotion Bitetti Combat. She lost the bout via Unanimous Decision to fellow Brazilian Mixed Martial Artist Viviane Pereira. She later signed to the Xtreme Fighting Championships as a Flyweight.

### Xtreme Fighting Championships[edit]

In 2014, Botelho joined XFC's second women's flyweight tournament. She made her promotional debut in September 2014 at XFCi 6 against Karina Rodriguez, winning the fight by TKO. The win propelled her to the tournament's semifinal round.[4]

Botelho was then slated to fight Taila Santos at XFCi 8 in December 2014. However, Santos failed to make weight, leading to the cancelation of the bout. Botelho, in turn, was advanced to the tournament's final round.[5]

In March 2015, Botelho fought once more under the XFC banner, this time taking on Antonia Silvaneide in the Women's Flyweight Tournament Final at XFCi 9. She won the fight by TKO in the first round, becoming the second winner in the history of the tournament.[6] After the win, she was honored with a parade in her hometown.[7]

Later that year, Botelho faced Argentine fighter Silvana Gómez Juárez, this time for the vacant XFC Women's Flyweight belt at XFCi 11. Despite being dropped and nearly submitted in the early rounds, Botelho went on to win the fight after a doctor stoppage between rounds. Botelho became the promotion's Women's Flyweight Champion.[8]

After her success in XFC, Botelho vacated the title and was signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2016.[9]

### Ultimate Fighting Championship[edit]

Botelho joined the UFC's strawweight division. She was expected to make her UFC debut against Valerie Letourneau at UFC 206, but was forced to pull out due to injury. She was replaced by former opponent and fellow XFC champion Viviane Pereira.[10]

Botelho fought Pearl Gonzalez at UFC 216 on October 7, 2017.[11] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[12]

Botelho faced Syuri Kondo on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129.[13] She won the fight via TKO due to a body kick and punches just 33 seconds into the first round.[14]

Botelho faced Cynthia Calvillo on November 17, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 140.[15] At the weigh-ins, Calvillo weighed in at 118 lbs, 2 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight limit of 116 lbs. She was fined 20 percent of her purse, which went to Botelho, and the bout proceeded at catchweight.[16] She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round one.[17]

Botelho was briefly linked to a matchup with Paige VanZant at UFC 236 on April 13,[18] However, just days after the pairing was leaked, VanZant announced that she would not be competing on the card due to a fractured right arm.[19] VanZant was replaced by Lauren Mueller.[20] She won the fight by unanimous decision.[21]

Botelho was scheduled to face Maryna Moroz on August 17, 2019 at UFC 241.[22] However, it was reported on August 1, 2019 that Moroz was forced to pull out from the event citing injury.[23]

Botelho faced Gillian Robertson on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 180.[24] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[25]

Botelho was scheduled to face Ji Yeon Kim on May 1, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[26] However, Kim pulled out of the fight on March 22 citing injury and was replaced by Mayra Bueno Silva.[27] Bueno suffered a back injury in late March and she was pulled from the bout.[28] Bueno was replaced by Luana Carolina.[29] She lost the close bout via split decision.[30]

Botelho was scheduled to face Ji Yeon Kim on January 22, 2022 at UFC 270,[31] but Botelho pulled out instead and the pairing was scrapped.[32][33]

Botelho faced Karine Silva on June 4, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 207.[34] She lost the fight via brabo choke in round one.[35]

After her last loss, it was announced that Botelho was no longer under contract with the UFC.[36]

### Invicta FC[edit]

Botelho faced Helen Peralta at Invicta FC 49: Delboni vs. DeCoursey on September 28, 2022.[37] She won the bout via unanimous decision.[38]

### Bellator MMA[edit]

Soon after her victory in Invicta, Botelho was signed to a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA.[39]

## Championships and accomplishments[edit]

### Mixed martial arts[edit]

* Xtreme Fighting Championships
* Xtreme Fighting Championships Women's Flyweight Champion (One time)  vs. Silvana Gómez Juárez[40]

## Personal life[edit]

In February 2023, Botelho announced on her social media that she was getting treatment for breast cancer and had a lymph node removed.[41]

## Mixed martial arts record[edit]

Professional record breakdown  14 matches | 9 wins | 5 losses

|
|

By knockout | 6  | 0
By submission | 0  | 2
By decision | 3  | 3
Res.  | Record  | Opponent  | Method  | Event  | Date  | Round  | Time  | Location  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Win  | 9–5  | Helen Peralta | Decision (unanimous)  | Invicta FC 49 | September 28, 2022 | 3  | 5:00  | Hinton, Oklahoma, United States  |
Loss  | 8–5  | Karine Silva | Submission (brabo choke)  | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik | June 4, 2022 | 1  | 4:55  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  |
Loss  | 8–4  | Luana Carolina | Decision (split)  | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 3  | 5:00  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  | Catchweight (128.5 lb) bout; Carolina missed weight.
Loss  | 8–3  | Gillian Robertson | Decision (unanimous)  | UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie | October 18, 2020 | 3  | 5:00  | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  |
Win  | 8–2  | Lauren Mueller | Decision (unanimous)  | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 | 3  | 5:00  | Atlanta, Georgia, United States  | Return to Flyweight.
Loss  | 7–2  | Cynthia Calvillo | Submission (rear-naked choke)  | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | November 17, 2018 | 1  | 4:48  | Buenos Aires, Argentina  | Catchweight (118 lb) bout; Calvillo missed weight.
Win  | 7–1  | Syuri Kondo | TKO (body kick and punches)  | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 1  | 0:33  | Santiago, Chile  |
Win  | 6–1  | Pearl Gonzalez | Decision (unanimous)  | UFC 216 | October 7, 2017 | 3  | 5:00  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  | Strawweight debut.
Win  | 5–1  | Silvana Gómez Juárez | TKO (doctor stoppage)  | XFC International 11 | September 19, 2015 | 4  | 5:00  | São Paulo, Brazil  | Won the vacant XFC Flyweight Championship.
Win  | 4–1  | Antonia Silvaneide  | TKO (punches)  | XFC International 9 | March 14, 2015 | 1  | 1:36  | São Paulo, Brazil  |
Win  | 3–1  | Karina Rodríguez | TKO (body kick)  | XFC International 6 | September 27, 2014 | 3  | 2:15  | Araraquara, Brazil  |
Loss  | 2–1  | Viviane Pereira | Decision (unanimous)  | Bitetti Combat 20  | June 7, 2014 | 3  | 5:00  | Armação dos Búzios, Brazil  | For the vacant Bitetti Combat Women's Flyweight Championship.
Win  | 2–0  | Ingrid Schwartz  | TKO (punches)  | KTA Fight 1  | December 14, 2013 | 1  | N/A  | Cataguases, Brazil  |
Win  | 1–0  | Thais Raphaela  | TKO (punches)  | Favela Kombat 8  | September 28, 2013 | 1  | N/A  | Niterói, Brazil  |

[42]

## See also[edit]

* List of current Bellator MMA fighters
* List of female mixed martial artists

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Poliana Botelho UFC profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
2. ^ Renato Senna (May 1, 2017). "No aguardo do UFC, brasileira promete: "Vou chegar metendo o pé na porta"" (in Portuguese). Torcedores.com.
3. ^ Poliana Botelho (@polibotelho) (December 3, 2015). ""Hoje peguei a faixa azul com professora Michele Tavares.. Oss"". Twitter. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
4. ^ Staff (2014-09-27). "XFCi6". xfcmma.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
5. ^ Staff (2015-02-16). "Botelho one win from tournament championship". xfcmma.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
6. ^ Staff (2015-03-14). "Botelho wins Flyweight Tournament". xfcmma.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
7. ^ Staff (2015-03-28). "Botelho parade". xfcmma.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
8. ^ "Campeã do XFC, Poliana Botelho comemora ano e projeta 2016 melhor". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-11-16.
9. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2016-05-03). "UFC signs Botelho". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
10. ^ Staff (2016-10-26). "Valérie Létourneau finally confronts Viviane Pereira at UFC 206" (in French). rds.ca. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
11. ^ MMAjunkie staff (2017-08-30). "Pearl Gonzalez vs. debuting Poliana Botelho officially booked for UFC 216". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
12. ^ Ericson, Matt (7 October 2017). "UFC 216 results: Poliana Botelho outworks takedown-hungry Pearl Gonzalez for decision sweep". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
13. ^ DNA, MMA (10 February 2018). "Poliana Botelho stuit op Syuri Kondo tijdens UFC Fight Night Santiago (Chili)". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2018-02-10.
14. ^ "UFC Fight Night 129 results: Poliana Botelho liver kick shuts down Syuri Kondo in 33 seconds". MMAjunkie. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
15. ^ Marcelo Barone and Raphael Marinho (2018-08-17). "Poliana Botelho faces American Cynthia Calvillo at UFC Buenos Aires" (in Portuguese). sportv.globo.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
16. ^ "UFC Buenos Aires: Magny vs. Santiago Set, but Cynthia Calivillo Misses Weight | MMAWeekly.copm". www.mmaweekly.com. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
17. ^ "UFC Argentina results: Cynthia Calvillo choke taps Poliana Botelho in first". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-18.
18. ^ Raphael Marinho (2020-02-20). "Poliana Botelho faces Paige VanZant at UFC 236, April 13" (in Portuguese). sportv.globo.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
19. ^ Mike Bohn (2018-02-28). "UFC's Paige VanZant says she's suffered another arm fracture". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
20. ^ DNA, MMA (28 February 2019). "Paige VanZant geblesseerd, Poliana Botelho treft nu Lauren Mueller tijdens UFC 236". Retrieved 2019-03-01.
21. ^ "UFC 236 results: Poliana Botelho survives late charge, takes decision over Lauren Mueller". MMA Junkie. 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
22. ^ "UFC acerta luta entre Poliana Botelho e Maryna Moroz para Anaheim, dia 17 de agosto". Sportv (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-06-13.
23. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2019-07-31). "Maryna Moroz out of UFC 241 fight with Poliana Botelho". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
24. ^ DNA, MMA (2020-07-29). "Gillian Robertson treft Poliana Botelho tijdens UFC evenement op 17 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
25. ^ Anderson, Jay (2020-10-17). "UFC Fight Island 6 Results: Gillian Robertson Dominates Poliana Botelho". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
26. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-02-10). "Poliana Botelho treft Ji Yeon Kim tijdens UFC evenement op 1 mei". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
27. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-03-22). "Poliana Botelho meets Mayra Bueno Silva on May 1". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
28. ^ Farah Hannoun (2021-03-31). "UFC on ESPN 23: Mayra Bueno Silva out of Poliana Botelho fight due to back injury". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
29. ^ Marinho, Raphael. "UFC encaminha Luana Dread contra Poliana Botelho para 1º de maio". globoesporte (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 1 April 2021.
30. ^ "UFC on ESPN 23 play-by-play and live results". MMA Junkie. 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
31. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-10-02). "Ji Yeon Kim vs. Poliana Botelho toegevoegd aan UFC 270 op 22 januari". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
32. ^ Staff (2021-11-26). "Ji Yeon Kim faces Poliana Botelho at UFC 270". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
33. ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2022-01-12). "Ji Yeon Kim faces Poliana Botelho at UFC 270". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
34. ^ Marcel Dorff. "UFC BRAZILIAN WOMEN BOTELHO & SILVA MEET ON JUNE 4". www.eurosport.com. Retrieved 2022-02-09.(in Dutch)
35. ^ Bitter, Shawn (2022-06-04). "UFC Vegas 56: Karine Silva Makes UFC Debut, Finishes Botelho With D'Arce". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
36. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-06-16). "Infamous Askar Mozharov, Poliana Botelho Latest to Exit UFC". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
37. ^ Anderson, Jay (24 August 2022). "Multiple Fights Announced for Invicta FC 49 in Oklahoma". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
38. ^ King, Kristen (2022-09-29). "Invicta FC 49 results, highlights: Jillian DeCoursey dethrones Jéssica Delboni in the first round". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
39. ^ Ribas, Diego; Vegas, em Las. "Ex-UFC, Poliana Botelho assina contrato com o rival Bellator - Ag. Fight - Agência de notícias" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-10-21.
40. ^ "Campeã do XFC, Poliana Botelho comemora ano e projeta 2016 melhor". globoesporte.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-11-16.
41. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2023-02-12). "Bellator's Poliana Botelho reveals she's battling breast cancer, undergoes surgery". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
42. ^ Sherdog.com. "Poliana Botelho MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

## External links[edit]

* Professional MMA record for Poliana Botelho from Sherdog
* Poliana Botelho at UFC