Carol Foro Edges Gigi Canuto in UFC Debut Unanimous Decision
Carol Foro earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Gigi Canuto in their women’s strawweight bout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday.
The all-Brazilian matchup opened the preliminary card of UFC Vegas 120, also known as UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld, inside the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. All three judges scored the contest 29-28 in favor of Foro after three full rounds.
Foro entered the Octagon with a 9-1 professional record and improved to 10-1 overall while going 1-0 in the UFC. The 29-year-old, nicknamed “Anabelle,” made her promotional debut after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last September with a decision win over Shanelle Dyer.
Canuto, a 23-year-old BJJ black belt known as “Diamond,” fell to 7-2 as a professional and 0-1 inside the UFC. The Manaus native arrived after a strong run in the LFA and a stint on The Ultimate Fighter 34, where she reached the semifinals before a loss.
Both fighters stood at 5-foot-2 and competed at the 115-pound limit. Foro had been the betting favorite at -235, while Canuto entered as a +180 underdog. The Brazilian pair delivered a competitive three-round scrap that went the distance on the judges’ scorecards.
Foro built her pre-UFC resume with six knockout victories and a reputation for finishing fights early. Six of her previous nine wins came by KO or TKO, with most ending inside the first round. Canuto’s game centered on grappling, featuring five submission wins among her seven victories prior to Saturday.
The result marks a solid first step for Foro in the stacked women’s strawweight division. She now sits at 1-0 in the Octagon and can look ahead to her next assignment as the UFC continues to evaluate its newest Brazilian prospects.
Canuto, still early in her career at 23, will look to rebound from the debut setback. Her grappling pedigree and previous finishes position her as a fighter capable of climbing the ranks once she adjusts to the UFC level.
The women’s strawweight division remains one of the deepest in the organization, with established contenders and rising talent creating constant pressure for every newcomer. Foro’s decision win provides an early foundation as both athletes begin their journeys under the UFC banner.