LAS VEGAS — Former ONE Championship Muay Thai titleholder Smilla Sundell officially punched her ticket to the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Tuesday evening, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Aline Pereira at the Meta Apex. The bout served as the main attraction of Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, bringing a dramatic close to another high-stakes chapter of the promotional scouting series.
Competing in the women’s bantamweight division, the 21-year-old Sundell improved her professional mixed martial arts record to 3-0 with the victory. Meanwhile, Pereira, a seasoned striker with an extensive combat sports background, fell to 3-3 in her professional MMA career.
The judges sitting cageside scored the competitive three-round affair identically across the board, handing in three matching 29-28 cards in favor of Sundell. While the numbers on the scorecards indicated a clear victory for the Swedish standout, the bout itself was a relentless, high-paced battle that tested Sundell’s well-roundedness against a dangerous and resilient opponent.
From the opening bell of the first round, Sundell did what she does best: she marched forward. Pumping a steady stream of punches and kicks, the young prospect immediately established the center of the Octagon and forced Pereira onto the defensive. Sundell’s volume and relentless pressure disrupted Pereira’s rhythm, preventing the Brazilian striker from comfortably setting up her own powerful counters in the early stages of the fight.
However, Pereira adjusted as the bout progressed. Utilizing her veteran savvy and crisp technical striking, Pereira found success catching Sundell with sharp counter-strikes whenever the forward momentum opened up small defensive windows. The tension inside the Meta Apex reached a new height in the third and final round when Pereira managed to secure a crucial takedown, grounding the decorated striker and momentarily shifting the momentum of the fight.
Despite being taken to the canvas in the final frame, Sundell showed composure and determination. She successfully worked her way back to her feet, breaking free from Pereira’s control, and immediately resumed her forward march. Sundell continued to apply pressure right up until the final horn sounded, ensuring the judges saw an active fighter dictating the pace of the contest until the very end.
Smilla Sundell beats Aline Pereira at DWCS as Mick Maynard backs 21-year-old’s UFC signing
When the official decision was read, it cemented Sundell’s victory and triggered the traditional post-fight contract deliberations. However, the path to securing a coveted UFC deal was not entirely straightforward for the young prospect, largely due to behind-the-scenes debates regarding her overall experience level in mixed martial arts.
UFC CEO Dana White initially expressed reservations about bringing Sundell into the premier organization so early in her developmental curve. Recognizing her immense potential and elite striking credentials, White initially favored having the 21-year-old gain additional experience fighting outside the promotion before stepping onto the major global stage.
It took some internal lobbying to shift the decision. UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard stepped in to advocate strongly for the young fighter, ultimately persuading White to offer Sundell the contract. Maynard’s faith in the prospect’s readiness, coupled with her performance inside the Meta Apex against a tough opponent in Pereira, tipped the scales in her favor.
Speaking to reporters at the post-fight news conference, Sundell addressed the concerns surrounding her limited number of professional MMA bouts. While acknowledging that her transition to the sport is still in its relative infancy, she pointed to her extensive, lifelong tenure in combat sports as the ultimate indicator of her readiness for the challenges ahead.
“I have been fighting since I was 12,” Sundell said, addressing the media after her victory. “I know how it is to fight and I know how it is to get hit. I have been taken down. I know I belong here.”
Sundell’s combat sports pedigree is well-documented. Before shifting her full focus to mixed martial arts, she made waves internationally by capturing a prestigious Muay Thai title under the ONE Championship banner, showcasing devastating striking power and technical acumen that earned her global recognition as a teenage prodigy. That deep reservoir of combat experience provided the foundation she needed to survive Pereira’s late surges and secure the judges’ nod on Tuesday night.
The victory adds another notable chapter to Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, a season that has continually tested prospects from diverse backgrounds and fighting disciplines. With the 29-28 scores verified across the board, the official social media channels for the promotion captured the moment, highlighting the hard-earned nature of the unanimous decision win that ultimately persuaded the UFC brass to welcome the young striker to the roster.
As Sundell looks toward the next phase of her career, she leaves Las Vegas not only with an unblemished 3-0 professional MMA record, but also with the backing of matchmaker Mick Maynard and a fresh UFC contract. With her striking foundation already proven on an international scale, the 21-year-old bantamweight now prepares to test her skills against the established talent pool of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization.
