Claudia Gadelha and Tina Lahdemaki Meet in UFC's First Strawweight Bout

Claudia Gadelha and Tina Lahdemaki Meet in UFC's First Strawweight Bout

by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

UFC officials today announced via FOXSports.com that Claudia Gadelha (11-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Tina Lahdemaki (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) have verbally agreed to square off in the promotions first womens's 115lb Strawweight bout at UFC Fight Night 45.

UFC Fight Night 45 takes place July 16 at Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and is headlined by Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller; it is not yet know if Gadelha vs. Lahdemaki will be on the preliminary card of the main card.

Originally set to compete on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter, a landmark season which will see the winner of the show not only crowned as The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 champion, they will also be crowned the women's strawweight champion, Gadelha opted against appearing on the show in fear she would struggle to make make weight often in a short period of time.

A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gadelha finished 7 of her first 10 opponents in her native Brazil before signing for Invicta FC where she knocked out Ayaka Hamasaki in her promotional debut in July. Following the victory over Hamasaki, the 25 year-old Nova Uniao fighter was set to face strawweight champion Carla Esparza, but the bout was scrapped when Gadelha came down with gastroenteritis.

Unbeaten in her MMA career, Tina Lahdemaki will be the first female from Finland to fight in the UFC when she takes on Gadelha. Originally a flyweight, Lahdemaki made the sucsessful drop to 115lbs at Cage 24 in November, where she defeated Cage Warriors and Super Fight League Karla Benitez by first round submission. A pro since 2010, the 26-year-old has 2 victories by submission and 1 victory by KO / TKO in her 5 fight career.

We the addition of Gadelha vs Lahdemaki, UFC Fight Night 45 now includes:

Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller
John Lineker vs. Alptekin Ozkilic
John Howard vs. Rick Story
Pat Healy vs. Gleison Tibau
Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham
Jim Alers vs. Lucas Martins
Aljamain Sterling vs. Hugo Viana
Joe Proctor vs. Justin Salas
Jessamyn Duke vs. Leslie Smith
Claudia Gadelha vs. Tina Lahdemaki