Gabriella Fernandes achieved a historic upset at UFC Macau by submitting heavily favored Wang Cong, and despite being an underdog, she remained focused on her strategy, ultimately earning a $50,000 bonus for her performance.
Gabriella Fernandes etched her name into UFC lore with a jaw-dropping upset in 2024. She submitted Wang Cong, a -950 favorite, at UFC Macau. It’s the ninth biggest upset in UFC history!
After snagging a $50,000 bonus for her stellar performance in China, Fernandes headed back to Brazil to celebrate. Surprisingly, she wasn’t fazed by her underdog status against the undefeated flyweight prospect.
“I don’t care about all that, you know?” Fernandes remarked. Her focus was solely on winning. The hype? Fighting in Wang’s backyard? Meh. For her, it was an opportunity—Wang had all the pressure.
Wang entered the UFC spotlight with a guillotine victory over Paula Luna and then crushed Victoria Leonardo in just 62 seconds. Meanwhile, Fernandes faced setbacks initially but rebounded with a split decision win over Carli Judice.
“People start doubting you [after losses], that’s the truth,” Fernandes admitted. Once favored against Jasmine Jasudavicius, she stumbled twice. But her team stood by her; that’s what mattered most.
Interestingly, Wang’s swift win over Leonardo happened on Fernandes’ birthday. She mused that a matchup with Wang would be exciting given their styles. When the offer came, she jumped at it without hesitation.
“It’s like I won twice,” Fernandes reflected on her bonus as an underdog. Winning in Wang’s homeland against an unbeaten fighter was huge! She’s ready to fight again soon but needs to heal first.
Watch Fernandes’ finish below.