5 Things To Know About Undefeated MMA Star Gabriela Fujimoto
Brazilian atomweight standout Gabriela “Gabi” Fujimoto is the latest undefeated star to arrive in ONE Championship. The 22-year-old aims to prove herself against the very best in the world’s largest martial arts organization.
Fujimoto brings a perfect 7-0 professional MMA record to the global stage. She is still early in her journey, but the Brazilian has already built a resume that will see her compete among the elite.
Fujimoto’s promotional debut comes at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video. She will face Malaysian veteran Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan on Friday, February 13, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
Before she makes that walk for the first time, here are five things to know about ONE’s hottest new addition to its stacked atomweight MMA roster.
#1 She’s A Truly Well-Rounded Finisher
Gabriela Fujimoto’s undefeated record wasn’t built in just one particular way. Four of her seven wins have come inside the distance, split evenly between two knockouts and two submissions.
After winning via armbar in her first and only amateur appearance in March 2022, she turned professional under the LFA banner eight months later and finished her opponent by third-round TKO.
In January 2023, she picked up a unanimous decision victory, followed by another armbar submission just six months later.
The pattern continued in 2024. Fujimoto earned two more unanimous decision wins in the first half of the year, then stopped her next opponent by ground-and-pound that August. Most recently, last March, she secured a first-round guillotine choke to move to a pristine 7-0.
She hasn’t relied on just one phase of the game, instead offering a diversified attack, and that balance could work well in her favor as her level of competition rises in ONE.
#2 Martial Arts Became Part Of Her Life Very Early
Gabriela Fujimoto’s introduction to martial arts happened when she was four years old in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo. She noticed a karate demonstration at school and was immediately drawn to it.
She asked her father if she could train. He agreed, and she joined a local karate academy soon after. From there, martial arts became a constant in her life.
Karate shaped her early development, teaching discipline and structure while she was still very young. Over time, she earned her black belt and developed a long-term connection to training that went beyond competition.
#3 She Got Used To Competing Against Males
As a child competing in karate tournaments, Gabriela Fujimoto often didn’t have females to compete against in her division. Instead, she was matched with males of similar size.
She accepted those matchups without hesitation. The experience helped her grow accustomed to martial arts’ physicality and intense pressure early on.
Those years also helped shape her mindset. Winning mattered, but learning how to stay calm and deal with difficult situations mattered too.
That balance has carried over into her MMA career.
#4 A Simple Mistake Helped Change Her Direction
One of the more unexpected moments in Gabriela Fujimoto’s journey came from ordering a jiu-jitsu Gi online. The wrong size arrived, and she reached out to the company to exchange it.
That sequence led to a conversation, and eventually to an invitation to travel to Rio de Janeiro to train and attend an early LFA event. What was meant to be a short visit became something more serious.
After one demanding training session, Fujimoto was encouraged to stay and hone her skills. Two months later, she made her professional MMA debut and to this day, she is fully committed to that path.
#5 Leaving Home Tested Her Mentally
Moving from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro on her own was undoubtedly difficult. Away from her family, Gabriela Fujimoto found herself questioning her life choices many times.
She described that period of her life as a fight with her “inner monsters.” There were moments when going home felt like a temptingly easier option.
But with big dreams and lofty ambition, she chose to stay. That decision shaped what followed next in her career.
As Fujimoto prepares to compete in the world’s largest martial arts organization, the resilience she built during that difficult period may matter just as much as her skill set when she steps into Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok for the very first time at ONE Fight Night 40 on Prime Video.
