Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Strawweight Iasmin Lucindo picked up a clear cut unanimous decision win over former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 301 on Saturday.
She also had the chance to fight at home in the Brazil for the first time since 2021, and first time as a UFC fighter, on a big stage in Rio, as part of a numbered UFC event.
“I was ready. I was ready psychologically, I was ready to fight Karolina but also to be with the crowd,” Lucindo (16-5) told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight. “So I didn’t feel any pressure to be honest. I was ready to deal with it. I was ready to fight the whole three rounds, or look for an opportunity to finish her or knock her out.”
Lucindo was unranked in the women’s 115lb division ahead of the fight. That’s likely to change later this week. “I’ll be in the rankings,” Lucindo predicted. “She’s 13th in the ranks right now, so I’m looking at her spot, then just work my way up, onwards and upwards. Let’s see who Mick [Maynard, UFC matchmaker] and Dana [White, UFC President and CEO] set [for] my next opponent. Whoever the opponent is, I’ll be ready.”
Iasmin Lucindo has come a long way, from humble beginnings in a small favela, to make it to the world’s premiere fighting promotion. “Once I set my sights on something, I will get it,” she stated Saturday. “When I was 14 years old, I said ‘I’ll make it, I’ll make it to a big stage.’ And look where I am today. And I can promise you this, I will be champion of this division. But no hurry. I’ll take it step-by-step.”
As for fighting at home in Brazil, Lucindo called it a dream come true.
“Just amazing. A dream come true. I remember when the UFC went to Fortaleza, I couldn’t even afford to go there and watch it. So I just practiced, I trained really hard, and I said to myself ‘one day I’ll be fighting there.’ And I am here today. It’s a dream come true.”
Watch the full UFC 301 post-fight press conference with Iasmin Lucindo above.
