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Karine Silva de Almeida (born December 2, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of December 17, 2024, she is #13 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.
Background
With minimal financial resources, Silva took the daring step of leaving her job to move into a martial arts academy. Despite lacking support from her family, both morally and financially, she persevered. Working odd jobs, from security guard to masseuse and receptionist, she hustled to sustain herself while immersing herself in martial arts training.
Silva's venture into the world of combat sports began with "Chinese boxing", eventually transitioning to mixed martial arts. At 19, she made her professional debut, although she hadn't initially planned on pursuing a career in the sport. Driven by her newfound passion, she abandoned school, family, and job to fully commit to her training. Her journey took a significant turn when she joined a team that offered comprehensive training in various disciplines like luta livre, wrestling, MMA, and muay Thai.