Healthy Joanne Wood wants to stay active after pressure of three-fight skid ended at UFC 286
LONDON – Joanne Wood beat Luana Carolina with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 286 at The O2 in London.
Take a look inside the fight with Wood, who snapped a three-fight skid for her first win in more than two years.
Luana Carolina vs. Joanne Wood
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Joanne Wood (red gloves) fights Luana Carolina (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
Result: Joanne Wood def. Luana Carolina via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
Updated records: Wood (16-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) def. Luana Carolina (8-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC)
Key stat: Wood outstruck Carolina 148-96 and landed a pair of takedowns.
Wood on the fight's key moment
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Joanne Wood (red gloves) fights Luana Carolina (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
“For us, it was just to get back in there after a long, hard year off, and not having any injuries. It was good going in there knowing that I was healthy.”
Wood on her hope for a new UFC deal
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Joanne Wood (red gloves) fights Luana Carolina (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
“I love it here in the UFC. I love the staff, love you guys. I feel like this is my home and would love to get another contract. If not, I’ll fight my fight and then maybe put the gloves down. But I feel like now that I’m healthy, that I don’t really want to put them down right now. (I’m) looking forward to get back in there.”
(UFC president Dana White said after the event he intends to sign Wood to a new contract.)
Wood on what she wants next
Jan 21, 2023; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Lauren Murphy (red gloves) before the fight against fight Jessica Andrade (blue gloves) during UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason da Silva-USA TODAY Sports
“I know Lauren Murphy is looking for a fight. I’ve kind of fought a lot of girls in the division. I feel like I want to go back and run some back. (Our first fight), it was a split – close decision win for her. I want to get that back.
“I feel great. I don’t have any injuries, so I would get back in there as soon as UFC says, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ I feel good. Another U.K. show would be awesome, but awesome to fight anywhere.”
To hear more from Wood, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 286.
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