Smilla Sundell Wins and Now Heads to the UFC
October 21, 2026Smilla Sundell has taken another step forward in her successful combat sports career. The Swedish Muay Thai star defeated Brazil's Aline Pereira on Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas and was subsequently awarded a UFC contract.
The fight took place on October 13 and went the full three rounds. All three judges scored the bout 29–28 in Sundell's favor, giving her a unanimous decision victory.
Photo: Smilla Sundell during a photo shoot in a studio. Photo credit: Smilla Sundell (personal collection)
Sundell Maintained the Pressure
Sundell took the initiative from the opening bell, applying pressure with combinations of punches and kicks, while Pereira relied primarily on counterpunching. Sundell made good use of her reach but was also effective in the clinch, where her Muay Thai knees are among her greatest weapons.
Pereira, the sister of former UFC champion Alex Pereira, landed several counterattacks, including punches to the head. This allowed her to capitalize on openings in Sundell's offense.
In the third round, Pereira managed to take Sundell down, but the Swede showed impressive determination and strength to get back to her feet and resume applying pressure. When Pereira attempted another takedown, Sundell countered with a knee to the body.
Neither fighter managed to finish the fight before the final bell, but the judges' scorecards showed that Sundell had done enough to secure a convincing victory. However, had she been unable to get back to her feet in the final round, the outcome could well have been different.
From Muay Thai Champion to the UFC
The victory marked Sundell's third consecutive win in professional MMA. Her two previous fights had both ended by technical knockout, and her win over Pereira has now earned her a place in the world's leading MMA organization.
Sundell has an impressive background in full-contact combat sports despite being just 21 years old. Her family moved from Sweden to Thailand when she was 12, and she began training in Muay Thai there because there were few other activities available to her. In April 2022, she became ONE Championship's strawweight Muay Thai world champion. At just 17, Sundell became the youngest world champion in ONE Championship history.
She Earned a Contract Despite Dana's Reservations
UFC president Dana White expressed reservations about Sundell's limited MMA experience. He felt she might need more time to develop before making the move to the organization. However, matchmaker Mick Maynard argued that she deserved the opportunity.
Following her victory, Sundell received the long-awaited UFC contract. Now, the question is when she will make her UFC debut and who her first opponent in the organization will be.
Video: Smilla Sundell is interviewed after her fight. Now she has a UFC contract.
✪ Related reading: Smilla won her second MMA fight
✪ Read more: All my articles and posts
✪ Enjoy my articles? Feel free to buy me a coffee – much appreciated!
