Gigi Canuto

When and why did you start training? I was in Las Vegas for Jiu Jitsu and I started doing MMA because of covid, I was helping a lot of MMA fighters with grappling like Claudia Gadelha and Valentina Shevchenko and since all tournaments in Jiu Jitsu were cancelled, I decided to take on MMA but I couldn’t get any amateur fights and I remember Pavel, who’s Valentina’s coach saying “you should go straight into pro, you train with Valentina” and I did and here we are.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC?  It means the world to me, I told my dad I was gonna be a ufc champion when I was little and to think that I’m finally starting my ufc career this weekend is unreal!

Who is your favorite fighter and why? Petr Yan and Valentina Shevchenko are my favorites because they show what being a true martial artist is, Valentina lives every day and together with Petr Yan, they’re very adaptable in their fights, super skillful and that makes both of them my favorites 

Do you have any heroes outside of fighting? Not Really

What are your current ranks in martial arts? Black belt in Jiu Jitsu 

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? 7-1 as a pro under LFA and Semi Finalist on The ultimate fighter 

What fight do you consider to be the key fight in your career? My last fight on LFA against Janaína Silva, I had a really bad camp for that fight and had to adapt a lot during camp and in the fight, I finally had a longer fight which was 3 rounds and I was able to show striking, wrestling and grappling and I’ve always wanted to do that. 

Is there a cause that you want to use your platform for? I love being creative, I want to use my platform to create a lot more than just fighting content, I love the idea that a fighters life is fun, it doesn’t have to be miserable, I’m doing what I love every day and I want to show people the good sides of it. I want to show especially the people from where I come from in Manaus how good life can get if you put in the work, make good decisions, and follow the truth. 

Beyond money or a championship, what motivates you? Pushing myself to my limits and being a better version of myself every time motivates me a lot, in whatever I do. I also find a lot of spiritual growth through sport. 

Favorite grappling technique: Armbar

Favorite Striking technique: Any Body Shot

Tell us about your life outside of fighting: Liam Hill, my husband, we’ve known each other since we were 14 years old and he also fought but now he devotes himself to trying to make me a better fighter and he’s also my videographer. I have a dog called Obi and he’s a senior, 9 years old and he’s absolutely obsessed with ball. I love any music genre besides rock, but I especially love techno. I love going to raves, listening to techno, training to it, I feel like it makes me free and helps me express myself a lot in training/life. I’ve known Diego Lopes and Jacque Amorim since I was very little, Jacque is one of my closest friends and she will be flying in to watch me also. I have a very big belief in God, I seek Gods presence in my life by putting myself in positions where I need a lot of faith. The bigger I dream the more I need faith and the ability of letting go and letting God and I feel like that allows me to perform with no fear. I still get nervous for fights and I think you need that for fighting but I never have a spirit of fear. My last fight on LFA I got cut by a toe nail on my nose when my opponent attempted a teep and I’m not sure if that has happened to anyone else lol I wrote on my journal and told my manager that I would be in the UFC this year and I could just feel it. My first fight on TUF I made a bet with DC that I wouldn’t take my opponent down and I would use striking. I won $500 and I made it rain in the octagon and I’m not sure if that has ever happened either lol Natalia who was on TUF with me will be in my corner, we became very close friends in the house and now she’ll be helping me in my UFC Debut.