Peru’s Ale Pajuelo (1-0) took a career in fighting because she wanted a life change.

Pajuelo, 23, will compete later this season inside la jaula. Combate Global will air live March 24 on Paramount Plus and Univision.

Her effort to go on a different route is the reason why she steps inside la jaula to compete.

“I wanted to change my life. I love the sport but there were things that made it limited,” she said.

She had a successful amateur career winning the majority of her bouts. Her professional debut was in September 2019 defeating Dana Grau.

Her home gym Contacto Livre is led by pro fighter Takeshi Nakamura, who is considered a pioneer in Peruvian MMA.

“What motivated me to fight is the urge to see myself winning all of my fights and celebrate with my team,” she said.

Prior to mma, she also practiced capoeira.

“Fans can expect me to give a war,” said the Peruvian, who has trained mma for about four years. “I won’t leave it to the judges. I will knockout or submit someone.”

She has a blue belt in luta livre and accolades in Capoeira. She also studied speech therapy for children in Lima, Peru.

When she is not hitting the punching bag or working on her submission game, she likes to sing and write poetry.

But her road to success in mma has brought her challenges.

A short time ago, she was in Brazil where she trained in Salvador Bahia. She injured herself and was unable to compete. She was left stranded soon after. However, faith kept her going strong.

“Without a home and food, those were moments of frustration, loneliness, anxiety panic attacks and I found myself alone,” she said.

She was able to find her way and believe in herself. After 34 hours on a bus, she arrived to Sao Paulo where she looked for a gym and met Jean Felipe of World Fight Sports, who helped her obtain an opportunity with Combate Global.

Now, aside from winning gold, she is focused on several goals and counts on delivering a show when she enters la jauala for the first time in 2022.