Julia Polastri says she is heading into her fight with Xiong Jingnan in Shanghai with a clearer head, less pressure and a plan to enjoy the moment rather than try to impress everyone watching. After an uneven start to her UFC run, the 28-year-old believes the lesson is simple: be herself, fight freely and leave the Octagon proud of her performance.
That is a notable shift for a fighter whose career had already shown plenty of promise before she reached the UFC. Polastri built a strong regional record before winning championships for Shooto Brasil and LFA, then suffered a Contender Series loss to Jasmine Jasudavicius at 125 pounds. She returned to her natural weight class after that setback, won three straight fights, captured the LFA title over Brenda Gottig and earned another shot on the Contender Series.
From there, she secured her UFC contract with a second-round submission victory over Patricia Alujas. But her first three UFC appearances brought a 1-2 record, a reminder that the jump to the sport’s biggest stage can test even the most confident prospects.
Why Polastri wants to go back to her origins
Polastri has been open about the mental difference between her pre-UFC run and life inside the promotion. Before the UFC, she said, she was always fighting for herself and did not feel the need to impress anyone. It was, in her words, about having fun and being proud of herself.
That changed once the UFC pressure arrived. Polastri said she began thinking about how to impress people watching, and admitted that in her last fight she tried too hard to force the issue. Her conclusion now is straightforward: she does not want to do that anymore. She wants to go back to her origins, be herself and get out of the fight proud of herself.
That mindset matters because it gives her a cleaner path into one of the biggest tests of her career. Xiong Jingnan is a former longtime ONE Championship champion, and Polastri clearly respects the challenge ahead. She called Xiong an amazing fighter who defended her title many times, and said the respect she earned is fully deserved.
A striker against a striker in Shanghai
The matchup itself should suit Polastri’s confidence. She described Xiong as a striker and said the same about herself, adding that the style pairing should make the fight entertaining. In her view, it can sometimes be easier when both fighters bring the same base, because it creates a more direct contest and opens the door to surprises.
That is the tone Polastri seems to want for this weekend: honest, active and free. She said the knockout win over Karolina Kowalkiewicz gave her confidence, even though she was initially prepared to win that fight by decision. When the finish came, it was, in her words, amazing. More importantly, she believes that confidence is coming with her into Shanghai.
For Polastri, this is not just another UFC bout. It is a chance to show that the lessons from her regional rise still matter at the highest level. If she can fight with less strain and more freedom, the version of Julia Polastri that built momentum before the UFC may be the one that shows up against Xiong Jingnan.
