Leidiane Fernandes cashed a six-figure check by winning the biggest tournament in Brazilian MMA history in 2025, and now aims to conquer the world through Oktagon MMA.
Fernandes clinched the Jungle Fight strawweight belt with a vicious knockout over Brena Cardozo and then inked a deal with Czech promotion Oktagon MMA. Fernandes’ promotional debut will go down Saturday in Liberec, Czech Republic, facing off with bantamweight champion Lucia Szabova for the vacant flyweight title.
Fernandes told MMA Fighting ahead of Oktagon 87 she feels at her best in her first foray outside of Brazil, and doing so as the Jungle Fight champion will be an opportunity to show her talent and skills to “the whole world.” Fernandes is 9-2 in the sport and has avenged the sole loss of her past 10 bouts during the Jungle Fight grand prix.
“I won’t give up,” Fernandes said. “I’ve been on this grind for many years, since I was 17 or 18. There were obstacles along the way, moments where you feel like giving up, but thank God I didn’t quit and I achieved my goal of becoming a Jungle Fight champion. And it doesn’t stop there. I want the world to know Leidiane Fernandes for her grit, for her determination, for who she is. Never underestimating anyone, but always giving my best. I want to be a champion not only in Brazil, but in the whole world. The whole world will know who me.”
Fernandes won the $100,000 tournament and bought a used car to make life easier around Rio de Janeiro. The bigger goal is to one day buy a house, but for now she continues to work as a security guard because “bills won’t stop coming.” Fernandes’ ultimate dream is to one day be valued enough to have a sponsor that allows her to quit that job and become an athlete full-time.
“It’s very scarce here in Brazil,” Fernandes said of sponsorships. “I thought more sponsors would come in to support and help [after Jungle Fight], but I haven’t had that opportunity yet. No one stepping in, sponsoring, believing in the work that I take very seriously.”
Fernandes is “grateful” to Jungle Fight for the opportunity and the platform, fighting live on TV Globo, but sponsorships didn’t follow the way she was expecting. The 34-year-old is hopeful that adding an international belt to her record could be life-changing in that aspect.
“I feel honored to be part of such a big promotion,” Fernandes said. “It’s been a very tough camp to make sure I’m fully prepared. I come from war. Every opponent I’ve faced so far has been tough. all of them, and I don’t take anything away from any of them. I’ve never had an easy fight. Lucia is the champion at 135, and she’s moving down to my division. She’s an excellent athlete both on the feet and on the ground, but I believe her strongest area is on the ground.”
A protege of Pedro Rizzo in Rio de Janeiro, Fernandes vows to make the Marco Ruas “lineage” proud by spoiling Szabova’s double-championship goal with a knockout in enemy territory.
“We’re ready to strike,” Fernandes said. “If she wants to stand and trade, we’ll trade. If it goes to the ground, we’ll go there too. We’re ready for everything. We come from war. We’re going in with the intention of putting on a great fight and getting the knockout, but if it goes to five rounds, I’m ready for that too. But the goal is the knockout.”
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