Virna
Jandiroba recently elaborated on the significance of her unique
headgear and her nickname, “Carcara.”
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Jandiroba will headline UFC
on ESPN 60 — her first main event in the promotion — against
fellow Brazilian Amanda
Lemos at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. While walking
out, the strawweight contender will be sporting her signature
traditional leather hat usually worn by Brazilian cowboys.
Born and raised in the countryside of the northeastern Brazilian
state of Bahia, Jandiroba takes pride in her ancestry. Jandiroba
explained that her signature hat is a common headgear among cowboys
in “backlands” of Bahia. According to the 36-year-old, the hat is a
representation of her home.
“I’m from Brazil. Born and raised in the countryside of Bahia,”
Jandiroba told ESPN. “My parents are from there. My mother
came from a farming family. From the fields. I think our ancestry
is very strong here in the northeastern region. From my family, all
the women, above all. Strong women. The hat I wear in the fight is
a symbol. It represents the northeastern countryside. The cowboys
here in the backlands use it a lot. I think it’s a representation
of the countryside, here in the ‘backlands.’”
I like Virna Jandiroba’s hat pic.twitter.com/vMgj5VNMcb
— Josie Aldo (@JosieAldoMMA)
March 31, 2024
Jandiroba’s nickname “Carcara” is also derived from a bird of the
same name found in the “backlands.” Jandiroba resonates with the
Carcara, known for its flexible diet and intelligence, making it
one of the most resilient species of bird in the world.
“My nickname in the UFC is ‘Carcara.’ The carcara is a bird here in
the ‘backlands.’ And it is a bird that is very resilient. It’s a
bird that survives, survives adversity,” she said.
Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, a win over Lemos
could propel Jandiroba toward strawweight title contention.
Meanwhile, “Amandinha” is coming off a unanimous decision win over
Mackenzie
Dern that saw her rebound from a failed title bid against
Weili
Zhang.