Luana Pinheiro Bio
Luana Munize Barbosa Pinheiro, born on November 18, 1993, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist competing in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Training out of Rio de Janeiro, she represents the BH Rhinos and Nova União camps and is recognized for her judo-rooted grappling base. Since turning professional in 2016, she has built an 11-5-0 record across regional Brazilian promotions, Brave Combat Federation, and the UFC.
Early Life and Background
Luana Munize Barbosa Pinheiro was born in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, and raised in a family with a strong connection to martial arts. Her relatives practiced judo, and that environment shaped her earliest athletic experiences. She began training judo at the age of two, an unusually early start that gave her years of mat time before reaching competition age.
She developed into a decorated junior judoka in her home state, sharpening the takedowns and grip fighting that would later define her mixed martial arts style. Her commitment to the sport carried her through her teenage years, and she remained focused on judo as her primary discipline as she transitioned into adulthood.
Path to MMA
After an accomplished junior judo career, Pinheiro relocated to Belo Horizonte in 2011 to chase a place on the Brazilian Olympic judo team. She trained at a high level for several years, but the Olympic spot never came. In late 2015, she shifted her focus and began training mixed martial arts, building on the grappling foundation that had been central to her judo career.
The transition quickly produced results. Pinheiro made her professional MMA debut in 2016 at Strawweight and began compiling victories on the Brazilian regional circuit. She earned a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to complement her judo black belt, and her grappling-heavy skill set made her a difficult matchup for opponents unwilling to engage on the mat.
Luana Pinheiro Career
Early Career (2016-2019)
Pinheiro fought primarily on the Brazilian regional circuit during her first years as a professional, building experience against a steady stream of Strawweight opponents. Her grappling pedigree translated well, and she posted consistent results that pushed her professional record above .500 within just a few seasons.
As her résumé grew, she began to attract interest from international promotions. She earned a spot on the Brave Combat Federation roster, where she faced higher-caliber opposition and continued to refine her striking under the BH Rhinos and Nova União coaching staffs.
Dana White’s Contender Series (2020)
In 2020, Pinheiro received an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series 35, a well-known proving ground for prospective UFC talent. On November 10, 2020, she faced Stephanie Frausto and delivered a first-round technical knockout to claim the victory. The performance was strong enough for UFC matchmakers to award her a promotional contract.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2021-Present)
Pinheiro’s UFC debut was originally booked against Randa Markos at UFC 260 in March 2021, but Markos was removed from the card after testing positive for COVID-19. The bout was rescheduled for May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka, and Pinheiro won by first-round disqualification after an accidental upkick left her unable to continue.
She followed that with a unanimous decision win over Sam Hughes at UFC Fight Night 198 in November 2021, stepping in on short notice after Jessica Penne withdrew. A scheduled April 2022 bout with Penne was canceled when Pinheiro withdrew due to an undisclosed injury. She returned at UFC 287 in April 2023 and earned a close split decision over Michelle Waterson, a longtime veteran of the division.
Her momentum stalled in her next three appearances. At UFC Fight Night 232 in November 2023, she was stopped by Amanda Ribas via third-round technical knockout. She then dropped a second-round guillotine choke submission to Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night 241 in May 2024, followed by a unanimous decision loss to Gillian Robertson at UFC Fight Night 247 in November 2024. Her most recent outing came on May 17, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 256, where she lost a unanimous decision to Tecia Pennington.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pinheiro’s first-round technical knockout of Stephanie Frausto on Dana White’s Contender Series 35 stands as the signature result of her career, securing her UFC contract in under five minutes. She has also competed in professional grappling, facing Ffion Davies in the co-main event of ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024, where she was submitted in the first round.
Luana Pinheiro Career Wins
Pinheiro has accumulated 11 verified professional MMA victories, spread across regional shows in Brazil, Brave Combat Federation, Dana White’s Contender Series, and the UFC. Five of those wins came inside the distance, with one by knockout, one by submission, and one by disqualification, while three additional victories came by decision.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Pinheiro holds a 3-3 record. Her debut disqualification win over Randa Markos in May 2021 came in unusual circumstances, while her unanimous decision over Sam Hughes in November 2021 and split decision over Michelle Waterson in April 2023 are the clearest examples of her grappling-first game plan producing wins at the top level of the sport.
Luana Pinheiro Family
Family Background and Martial Arts Lineage
Pinheiro was raised in a family of judokas in João Pessoa, which gave her access to judo instruction from an exceptionally early age. That family tradition produced her judo black belt and laid the groundwork for her later black-belt-level grappling credentials, including a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Personal Life
Pinheiro currently resides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she trains with the BH Rhinos and Nova Unión teams. She has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse or children, and keeps her personal life largely separate from her professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Pinheiro’s 2025 campaign has so far produced one outing, a unanimous decision loss to Tecia Pennington at UFC Fight Night 256 on May 17, 2025. The fight extended a three-bout skid that began in late 2023, putting her in a competitive position within the Strawweight ranks that will require a swift turnaround to reverse.
Coming off the loss to Pennington, Pinheiro will look to regroup with the BH Rhinos and Nova União coaching staffs in Rio de Janeiro and target a return to the win column later in the year. Her judo black belt and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt remain the foundation of her game, and refining her striking defense will be a likely focus as she works to climb back into the divisional mix.