Who is Gigi Canuto? Meet The Ultimate Fighter 34’s dynamic grappling phenom

Strawweight prospect Gigi Canuto could be a massive star after recent success on The Ultimate Fighter 34 under Michael Bisping’s tutelage.

The Ultimate Fighter 34, led by UFC Hall of Fame coaches Daniel Cormier and Michael Bisping, has featured plenty of entertaining moments. Some of the top prospects in MMA are looking to make a statement in Las Vegas as they fight for a potential UFC contract.

One such prospect is strawweight Gigi Canuto, a 23-year-old phenom who entered TUF 34 with lots of momentum. Six of Canuto’s seven professional wins have ended in stoppages, including a pair of first-round finishes in LFA.

UFC fans might recognize Canuto after her impressive heel hook submission against MMA vet Denise Gomes at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6. After her victory, and with a couple more LFA wins under her belt, Canuto attracted the attention of Dana White and the matchmakers.

Gigi Canuto is a name to watch in women’s MMA after TUF 34 success

In a recent episode of BetOnline’s The Fight Guys podcast, Canuto explained how a change of heart led her to sign on to appear on TUF 34.

“I actually got the call the month before the [season] happened. And I was like ‘Hell no, I don’t want to do this’,” Canuto said.

“Something in my heart just changed – and I knew that I needed to do it. It’s uncomfortable; you’re in a house with a bunch of people you don’t know, and then you have to fight them. It’s…it’s rough!”

Canuto, known for her nastiness and elite grappling prowess, has showcased impressive striking throughout her TUF 34 tenure. As she prepares to potentially take the next step towards fighting in the UFC Octagon, Canuto knows she has to diversify her skill set.

“I just had a big agreement with myself that if I’m going to do MMA, I can’t just be a grappler,” Canuto opined.

“I see a lot of people who are very good at grappling, and it carries them to a high level, and then eventually, when they get to that level where everyone is good. Everybody is going to have good grappling defense, and then they kind of find themselves a little bit lost. I don’t even want to get to that point.

“I’m in love with boxing – in another life, I would’ve done boxing from a young age,” Canuto continued. “I love boxing so much, but I almost always kick in my fights. I never kick in training!”

Canuto and Anita Karim fought in a highly anticipated bout on TUF 34. Ahead of the fight, Cormier agreed to give Canuto $500 if she knocked out opponent, Anita Karim.

Canuto went on to knock out Karim with a pair of nasty body kicks. Coach Bisping attempted to sway Canuto against throwing kicks mid-fight, but the result turned into an opportunity to prove her coach wrong.

“I was like ‘Bisping, I love you, but you’ve known me for a week now! I’m going to keep doing this because it’s working’. We talked about it right after, and he told me I was stubborn enough and it helped me [LAUGHS],” Canuto said.

“It was kind of my personality showing off in the fight, because I can be pretty stubborn sometimes.”

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