Denise Gomes partners with Jessica Andrade, Karol Rosa for new all-women’s non-profit MMA team

UFC fighters Denise Gomes, Jessica Andrade, and Karol Rosa have joined forces to create a brand new all-women’s MMA crew to ignite change in Brazil.

Gomes, who enters the octagon Saturday to face one-time UFC title contender Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 100 in Las Vegas, mentioned that GAEA Undertaking was born in Sao Paulo from a want to present girls higher coaching atmosphere and help, particularly after experiencing previous conditions “no athlete must expertise.”

“GAEA Undertaking got here to present women the chance to work freely, work the proper manner, and provides them possibility in coaching,” Gomes mentioned in an interview with MMA Combating. The trio of UFC fighters had been a part of PRVT, which closed doorways after the retirement of coach and supervisor Gilliard Parana. Andrade mentioned she will file a lawsuit towards Parana.

“The reality is, our earlier crew ended and we sort of had no place else to go,” she continued. “Primarily based on the issues we went by means of there earlier than, we had been extra selective of what we needed to do and the place we needed to go. The crew ended, however Karol, Jessica and I remained collectively, so we determined, alongside different nice folks, to create our personal crew.”

Gomes mentioned GAEA Undertaking, a non-profit firm primarily based on empathy and cooperation to empower girls, is a spot the place feminine athletes can go and prepare for upcoming fights with out the necessity to essentially half methods with their authentic groups, creating alternative for girls to do their camp and on the identical time serving to full-time GAEA members.

GAEA Undertaking’s first task within the UFC is Gomes’ strawweight conflict with Kowalkiewicz this Saturday, with the Brazilian seeking to go 4-2 within the firm after a June victory over Eduarda Moura. The Polish expertise was driving a four-fight profitable stream earlier than dropping a choice to Iasmin Lucindo in Might.

“It’s a privilege to be right here [fighting Kowalkiewicz],” Gomes mentioned. “She has fought so many women which might be function fashions, and now I’m combating her. I clearly respect her historical past, however I wish to construct my very own story. … She’s a striker than can grapple, however I believe she’s going to attempt to take me down as an alternative of buying and selling on the toes. I’m assured in my fingers and within the grappling space, and I will use all of the weapons I’ve.”