ALICE ARDELEAN built a huge following on social media while cutting her teeth outside the UFC.
But it wasn’t the only reason she got the call to finally join the premier mixed martial arts promotion at UFC 304 last July.
Alice Ardelean made her Octagon debut at UFC 304 in July[/caption]
The Romanian suffered a split-decision defeat to Shauna Bannon[/caption]
Trolls called Ardelean nothing more than a model and OnlyFans star after the backlash[/caption]
But the Fearless MMA standout – who won two titles before the UFC – could care less what her opponents think[/caption]
The Romanian went on a six-fight winning streak – during which she claimed two world titles – before reaching the promised land of the UFC.
But detractors and trolls deemed her unworthy of a spot in the promotion after her split-decision loss to Shauna Bannon in a fight that many experts believe she won.
The fearless MMA The standout was labeled by some as nothing more than a “social media and OnlyFans star,” despite having won titles outside of the UFC.
Ardelean is happy about being an all-rounder and how she has built her following, although she wants fans to know that she is much more than what appears on social media.
“I am known for what I am,” she told SunSport. “I do social media, I do fighting, I shake my ass. I am I am what I am.
“Call me whatever you want or whatever you think I am. I don’t care. I know what I am.
“I’m everything, you know. I don’t care.
“I’m not going to say, ‘Oh yeah, I want people to know me for the fight.’ But I’m not just a fighter.
Alice Ardelean started martial arts 14 years ago[/caption]
Ardelean has worked hard to reach the promised land of mixed martial arts[/caption]
“I started fighting fourteen years ago. And I worked hard to get where I am now.
“But at the same time I was doing social media and I was doing that Only fans and I did all that. I don’t care.
“People can call me whatever. Yes, I am a model. Call me a model too. Yes, I’m a fighter too.
“Yes, I am also a TikToker. All, all that, like I don’t mind, I don’t mind”
Having a huge following on social media opens people up to comments from the rest of society, which Ardelean has become an expert at filtering.
She said: “I choose to waste my money energy about better things than thinking [about what people say].
“I don’t even know a random guy or girl on the internet who says I’m a model.
“Because if I’m a model in their eyes, then I am too. Okay, nice. Move on with your life.
‘I’m just going to fight.
“And after the fight I’m going to post on TikTok and beyond TikTokI’m going to post a video for my OnlyFans fans and this is me.
Early Sunday morning after her UFC Vegas 99 showdown with Melissa Martinez, Ardelean hopes to share a series of celebratory and hilarious post-fight social media posts.
Melissa Martinez will be Alice Ardelean’s assignment for his second UFC appearance[/caption]
But unlike her Manchester fight with Bannon, she has the benefit of a full training camp under her belt for her Sin City showdown with the former LFA star.
She said: “I would say this is my real UFC debut in that sense. Because I’m super fit [and] my weight is low.
“For the last part of my camp I also came to the American state to get used to the food, the heat and things like that.
“I had a great team here in Orlando at Fusion X-Cel. Julian Williams, as head coach, and everyone there helped me a lot.
“I am very confident at this time [around].”
Speaking about her match with the returning Martinez – who hasn’t fought in more than two years – Ardelean said: “She’s a great strikerI’m not gonna lie.
“She’s a great one striker. I also think it’s a great match. Hopefully we get a super one Nice fight.”
Alice Ardelean takes on Melissa Martinez at UFC® FIGHT NIGHT: HERNANDEZ VS PEREIRA on Saturday, October 19.
To watch the fight, tune in to TNT Sports. TNT Sports is available on streaming Destination Discovery+ and on all major TV platforms. See here for more information.
