Video: Claudia Gadelha has 'I'm here' moment after hearing Bruce Buffer

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Claudio Gadelha thought she had made it to the UFC as a member of Season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

But when that chance was yanked in April when she couldn’t make the strawweight limit, she may have worried for a time that her UFC dreams were dashed.

The promotion signed her anyway, though, and on Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 45, she dominated Tina Lahdemaki in the first 115-pound fight in UFC women’s history.

“I worked so many years for that opportunity, and I was sad because I was not in ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ house,” Gadelha said. “But the UFC gave me this present, and I’m glad I won the fight.

“When I was walking to the cage, I thought I was in a small show in Brazil or something like that because I didn’t want to feel the pressure. But after hearing Bruce Buffer say my name, I knew that was it: I was here.”

UFC Fight Night 45 took place at Revel Atlantic City in New Jersey. The event had a main card on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Check out the rest of the backstage interview with Gadelha in the video above.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 45, check out the UFC Events section of the site.