Virna Jandiroba discusses her personal growth and newfound balance in life after overcoming knee surgery and supporting her father through cancer, as she prepares to fight Marina Rodriguez at UFC 288.
Over the past 12 months, former Invicta FC strawweight champion Virna Jandiroba has undergone a significant transformation as both a woman and an athlete. Jandiroba, who defeated Angela Hill in May 2022 and is set to face Marina Rodriguez on the preliminary card of UFC 288 in Newark, N.J., discussed her personal challenges on a recent episode of the Trocação Franca podcast. “I had [knee] injury and went through a lot, so I was forced to look at things from a different perspective in my life,” Jandiroba said. “This moment made me way more mature, making me look at other things in life, look at what I was leaning towards to and what I was not. It has given me more balance.”
Having been a professional MMA fighter since 2013 after competing in the jiu-jitsu circuit for several years, Jandiroba has faced physical and emotional challenges. “I spent a great portion of my life being only an athlete — and that’s great, or maybe it’s not. It’s questionable — but that has stopped me from advancing in other aspects of my life,” she explained. “Sometimes our complexes take us far but also stop us from taking steps in other areas. I want more balance. I don’t want to be only an athlete now.”
While focusing on becoming a top 15 ranked strawweight, Jandiroba neglected her personal life, particularly her love life and family relationships. When forced to take a break for knee surgery, she also had to care for her father who was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Fortunately, both of them are now healthy. “Family [time] and love life were things that didn’t really exist to me,” Jandiroba said. “I’ve been closer to my family now and it was great, man. I feel like a person that is capable to love and be loved, and I think it will also reflect inside the octagon and everywhere in your life.”
Jandiroba has a 4-3 UFC record with quality wins over Angela Hill, Felice Herrig, Kanako Murata, and Mallory Martin. A victory over top contender Marina Rodriguez could bring her closer to a shot at the belt in 2024. While she would love the opportunity, Jandiroba notes that she already feels like a champion. “A submission, a knockout, whatever, depending on how the fight ends, it changes a lot. But that’s consequence. It would be great, but my focus is on going there and putting on a great fight and securing the victory,” she concluded.