Poliana Botelho

Poliana Botelho is a Brazilian flyweight striker who turned pro in 2013 and joined the UFC in 2017 with an eye-catching striking skill set. Her record of 8-5 is anchored by six knockout victories, four of which came in the first round, making her a fan favorite when she is on offense. She made a solid UFC debut with a unanimous decision over Pearl Gonzalez at UFC 216, and showed her explosive finishing ability with a lightning-fast 33-second TKO over Syuri Kondo. At her best, Botelho is a heavy-handed striker who lands significant strikes at distance and in the clinch, accumulating over 200 significant strikes landed in her recorded UFC fights.

However, Botelho has struggled to maintain that momentum against higher-level competition. Since late 2018, she has lost four of her last five bouts, including two first-round submission losses to elite grapplers Cynthia Calvillo and Karine Silva. These defeats have exposed a significant vulnerability: while her striking defense is solid at 54%, her takedown defense (77%) and grappling acumen do not match the level required at the UFC's flyweight elite. Her last fight came in June 2022 against Karine Silva, a submission loss that dropped her to her current 8-5 record.

At age 34 and inactive since mid-2022, Botelho remains on the UFC roster but faces an uphill climb. She is a pure striker in a sport that increasingly demands well-rounded skills, and her power and finishing instinct alone are not enough to overcome the grappling-heavy game plans of top contenders. For casual fans, she is worth watching when her name appears on a card for her explosive striking; for serious fight fans, she represents a fighter who may have found her ceiling in the promotion.