After suffering her last loss to Amanda Ribas back in 2021, UFC Strawweight dark horse Virna Jandiroba has quietly positioned herself towards title contention. Over the past two years, the Brazilian standout has won three straight, which includes wins over strong divisional opposition in Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Lupita Godinez, compiling a sterling 20-3 professional record. Should she make it past her countrywoman and former Strawweight title contender, Amanda Lemos, in her debut main event tilt this weekend, she may just earn the right for her own shot at the belt.
Forgoing competing as an amateur, Jandiroba jumped straight into the professional ranks on June 15th, 2013, competing solely in her native Brazil for the first three and a half years of her career. During this time period, “Carcará” flourished, winning her first 11 fights in a row while seizing the Circuito MNA de MMA Strawweight championship.
On December 8th, 2017, Jandiroba made her first U.S. appearance when she competed at Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedźwiedź, where she won her first bout in the promotion against Amy Montenegro by submission. She then would log two more fights with Invicta, capturing the company’s Strawweight title with a split decision performance over Mizuki Inoue before defending it once against Janaisa Morandin.
Standing as one of the best prospects at 115 lbs in the world at this time, the undefeated Jandiroba received a short-notice invitation from the UFC in early 2019 to fill in opposite fellow Invicta FC Strawweight champion Carla Esparza at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson. The debut didn’t play out well for “Carcará”, with the Brazilian coming up short against her Invicta alumni after a unanimous decision defeat, suffering the first loss of her career.
Throughout the next two years, Jandiroba embarked on a steady but unremarkable rise through the division, going 3-2 in her next five fights, including fumbling the bag in a couple of notable matches against 115 lbs stalwarts in Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. Starting in 2022, however, it seemed as though “Carcará” had finally begun to hit her stride as a top contender at Strawweight, with Jandiroba going on to blaze past the aforementioned Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez. This sudden resurgence has ultimately thrusted the 36-year old into a key matchup with Amanda Lemos this Saturday, with the winner possibly receiving priority to fight for the championship later in the year.
