Virna Jandiroba believes her unique grappling style and recent victories, including a submission win over Amanda Lemos, make her deserving of a title shot against UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili.
Virna Jandiroba is confident she deserves a title shot — and that she can give the champion a run for her money.
The Brazilian veteran’s grappling skills were on full display Saturday in the UFC Vegas 94 main event. She tied Amanda Lemos into knots for the better part of 10 minutes before finding a submission with an armbar just 12 seconds before the end of Round 2.
Afterward, Jandiroba made it clear that she intends to challenge strawweight queen Zhang Weili for her belt. If she gets the chance, she’ll present Zhang with a challenge unlike any the champ has seen before.
“The thing is, I’m not a very orthodox fighter,” Jandiroba said at the evening’s post-fight presser via a Portuguese translator. “With time, I’m learning that I fight weird. My style’s a little different.”
“The way that I grapple is a little strange. I know my wrestling is very effective, my jiu-jitsu is very good,” she continued, “but it’s not like you can say, ‘Oh, she’s like a proper wrestler,’ but I make it work.”
“And within the weirdness of everything that I do,” Jandiroba added with conviction, “I think that I create problems for most people, and that’s how I can beat her. With the weirdness, that’s how I get my arm raised.”
In 28 pro bouts, Zhang has only lost three times and never been submitted.
If there’s anyone who has the skills to be the first to make Zhang tap, it’s Jandiroba. She now boasts 14 career submission wins.
The former Invicta FC strawweight champion has long been recognized as one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu experts in all of MMA. But it wasn’t until recently that Jandiroba managed to string together results becoming of a UFC contender.
Asked how her unique grappling style might affect her opponents’ approach, Jandiroba acknowledged its potential benefits.
“I think there’s a little bit of that,” she said thoughtfully. “Just not being as orthodox as most people makes it harder to understand what I do and how I get to positions.”
“And how I can get submissions,” Jandiroba explained further. “So I’m probably underestimated by people.”
“That gives me better chances against them,” she mused, “and opportunities they might not let me have if they overestimated me.”
Jandiroba has now rattled off four consecutive victories against top-20 competition: Lemos, Loopy Godinez, Marina Rodriguez, and Angela Hill. Come Tuesday when UFC updates its official rankings? Few names will be left ahead of her on the strawweight list.
Though it’s unclear when Zhang plans to defend her title next? Jandiroba sees no reason why she shouldn’t be first in line.
“I believe that a title fight should be next,” Jandiroba stated firmly. “We don’t know how the division’s going to work out now.”
“But four wins against some of the greatest fighters in the division?” She paused for effect. “Especially with a submission over a title contender? That should be enough to get me a title shot next.”
Watch Jandiroba’s post-fight media scrum below—courtesy of FanSided MMA.