Brazil has long been a powerhouse in MMA, producing legends across every era of the sport. Now, a new generation of female fighters is emerging—hungry, skilled, and ready to make their mark. These are the prospects turning heads on the regional scene and building the foundation for Brazil’s next wave of champions/stars.
Strawweight – Natalia Alves (7-0)
A standout from the Fighting Nerds team, 24-year-old Natalia Alves remains undefeated, with her last two victories coming under the LFA banner. Her most recent win over the talented Nawira Ferreira further cemented her status as a top prospect. While her success has largely come from dominant wrestling and grappling, Alves actually began her martial arts journey in karate—and it shows in her movement, sharp one-two combos, and effective kicking game.
What truly sets her apart, though, is her wrestling. Alves has excellent timing on her level changes, a strong single-leg entry, and fluid chain wrestling. A national runner-up in wrestling, she competes like a champion, consistently advancing position and mixing in heavy ground-and-pound. Her jiu-jitsu is equally strong, with smooth transitions and top control. Despite going to the judges in her last two outings, she’s always chasing the finish.
Atomweight – Isabella Araujo (3-1)
Primarily an atomweight, Araujo has stepped up to strawweight but gives up size at 5’1″. What she lacks in physicality, she more than makes up for in aggression. Wild but dangerous, Araujo thrives in chaotic fights—always pressing forward, standing in the pocket, and throwing with bad intentions. She’s been tagged clean, but her durability and willingness to trade make her a tough out.
Araujo favors looping overhands, digs to the body, and mixes in opportunistic takedowns. She’s coming off a submission win, though grappling isn’t her main weapon. Her style prioritizes damage over position, whether it’s headhunting on the feet or unloading ground-and-pound. Still raw and in need of refinement, Araujo has youth on her side at 24 and trains out of Nova União, giving her the tools to grow.
Bantamweight – Nicoly Pedroza (6-0)
With a background in kickboxing, Nicoly Pedroza is at her best when she can fight at range, pumping out straight punches, sharp one-twos, and a steady stream of kicks. When she lets her hands go, the potential is obvious, and she looks like someone who could one day make the UFC jump.
While some past performances have been uneven despite the wins, Pedroza is coming off the best showing of her career against her toughest opponent to date. At just 22 years old, she’s already under close watch, especially in a division as thin as women’s bantamweight, where fresh talent is badly needed.
Bantamweight – Thalyta Silva (1-0)
Though not yet a full-time MMA fighter, Thalyta Silva is a high-level grappler poised to make the transition. Her jiu-jitsu credentials are elite—an IBJJF World champion, three-time European champion, two-time Pan-American champion, and a Brazilian national champ.
Silva trains out of Team Lucas Mineiro, one of Brazil’s most respected camps for rising talent. While it remains to be seen how her skills translate fully to MMA, she has a strong foundation and plenty of time to grow at just 25 years old. Given the success of other female BJJ standouts in MMA, Silva is one to watch.
Bantamweight – Jaqueline Lopes (1-0)
A prospect out of Team Lucas Mineiro, Jaqueline Lopes, is still raw but full of potential. Just 20 years old, she has time on her side and a solid base to build from. A national kickboxing champion with no-gi grappling experience, she’s already rounding out her skill set early in her career.
Lopes is also the partner of UFC flyweight Andre Lima, whose darn good himself. Her recent health issues have briefly slowed her activity. Still, with her athletic base, training environment, and striking pedigree, Lopes is a name to keep an eye on as she continues to develop.
Bantamweight – Rafaela Guedes (2-0)
Rafaela Guedes is a highly accomplished jiu-jitsu black belt under André and Angelica Galvão. Her accolades include IBJJF World No-Gi champion, IBJJF Pan American champion, and a silver medal at the 2022 ADCC, among other titles.
Though relatively new to MMA—just a year as a pro—Guedes has shown promising striking, with good volume and notable power. While still raw in some areas, her elite grappling foundation and developing stand-up make her a prospect to watch closely.
Flyweight – Beatriz Consuli (6-0)
Beatriz Consuli is one of Brazil’s most highly touted prospects, a reputation built from her dominant amateur career, where she captured both IMMAF World and European titles. She’s collected several impressive wins as a pro, including a standout victory over UFC fighter Eduarda Moura.
Consuli is a methodical striker who relies heavily on her jab and precise one-twos. Her clinch work is particularly effective—controlling opponents, delivering punishing knees, and setting up takedowns. On the ground, she actively advances position and applies heavy ground-and-pound, making her a difficult opponent to handle. Comfortable in all areas of the fight and tested against strong competition, Consuli is a complete, well-rounded prospect with a bright future.
Flyweight – Thay Xavier (3-0)
Based in a small southern region of Brazil, Thay Xavier remains largely under the radar due to her lack of affiliation with major gyms or well-known promotions. However, available footage shows she’s a solid striker who fights at a measured pace, utilizing an effective jab and short, sharp combinations.
Xavier is also dangerous in the clinch, where she controls opponents well. While her full potential remains largely unknown, she’s a reminder that some of Brazil’s best prospects often emerge from unexpected places.
Strawweight – Valesca Machado (15-4)
Valesca Machado is the most seasoned fighter on this list, and it’s surprising she hasn’t already been signed by the UFC. Despite a few setbacks—losing her Invicta FC title and a bout on Dana White’s Contender Series—her résumé speaks for itself.
Machado is a former Invicta FC strawweight champion, a one-night tournament winner, and an A1 Combat titleholder. Now living and training in the U.S., her recent form has made her nearly impossible to ignore. With her experience, skillset, and marketability, Machado has all the tools a major promotion should be looking for.
Strawweight – Yasmin Guimarães (9-2)
A Muay Thai black belt and national champion with a 16-1 striking record, Yasmin Guimarães is already a proven force on the feet. But what’s really set her apart is her development in other areas—showing solid cardio, growing grappling skills, and a lot of grit.
She suffered a tough setback in an LFA title fight last November, breaking her arm in the process. Recently, she made a short-notice return—up a weight class—in an eight-woman Jungle Fight tournament, where she’s now in the semifinals. If her trajectory continues, she has a strong shot at winning the whole thing.
Bantamweight – Ramana Toscanelli (5-0)
Ramana Toscanelli is a highly decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with a strong résumé that includes multiple titles on the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro circuit, as well as being a two-time Brazilian No-Gi champion.
Her striking is still a work in progress, but she trains under the Bonfim brothers—one of Brazil’s top rising MMA camps—so improvement is expected. With women’s bantamweight in need of fresh talent, Toscanelli has the grappling pedigree and team support to become a real contender with time.
Strawweight – Giovanna Canuto (6-1)
Giovanna Canuto is quickly emerging as one of Brazil’s top women’s MMA prospects—arguably the best of the bunch. A five-time IBJJF world champion and six-time IBJJF champion overall, her grappling credentials speak for themselves.
Her lone loss came to seasoned judoka Natasha Kuziutina, and even in defeat, Canuto looked impressive. Her transitions, control, and submission attacks are all high-level. She moves with purpose, always a step ahead. On top of her elite jiu-jitsu, she’s developed strong wrestling. The future looks incredibly bright for Canuto.
Strawweight – Aieza Bertolso (7-0)
Aieza Bertolso is one of the most credentialed young fighters in Brazil, boasting IMMAF World and European championships and a gold medal at the IMMAF Senior Tournament. She went 16-1 as an amateur and is now 6-0 as a pro—riding an impressive 20-fight win streak overall.
Bertolso has the ideal size for the strawweight division and shows well-rounded skills, though her grappling remains her strongest asset. That said, she’s more than capable wherever the fight goes. Just 23 years old, Bertolso looks like a future staple in women’s MMA.
Strawweight – Naizi Cantanhede (9-1)
Naizi Cantanhede has been competing for nearly a decade, yet she’s still only 26 years old. Whether she’s still with KSW is unclear—she was scheduled to fight last year but withdrew—but her resume speaks for itself.
She owns solid wins over Delphine Benouaich, Lany Silva, and UFC fighter Rayanne dos Santos. Cantanhede brings a physical, punishing style—whether it’s dominating in the wrestling exchanges, controlling from top position, or ripping body-head combos in the pocket. She’s a strong, imposing presence at strawweight and still very much worth keeping an eye on.
Strawweight – Fabiola Nascimento (3-0)
Just three fights into her pro career, Fabiola Nascimento is already the Shooto Brazil strawweight champion—a major milestone for any Brazilian prospect. She was also a standout amateur, going 10-1 and winning gold at the Asian IMMAF Championships.
Nascimento is still developing her striking, but she uses it well to close the distance. Her cage wrestling is solid, and she excels in chaining takedown attempts together. On the mat, she’s comfortable and dangerous—mixing ground-and-pound with active submission hunting. There’s plenty of work to be done, especially as competition stiffens, but the early signs are very promising.
Strawweight – Michele Oliveira (5-1)
A BJJ black belt and former IMMAF world champion (2017), Michele Oliveira was once seen as one of Brazil’s top rising prospects. She suffered a narrow split decision loss to current UFC fighter Stephanie Luciano in 2021, then stepped away to recover from knee surgery and other health setbacks.
Oliveira’s wrestling is strong, and her grappling remains a clear strength, but with limited recent footage and only one fight since her return in 2023, questions remain about where she currently stands. Still, her pedigree and past performances suggest she’s still a name worth keeping an eye on.
Bantamweight – Myllena Messias (6-2)
A national boxing champion and undefeated Muay Thai fighter, Myllena Messias is riding a four-fight win streak—all first-round finishes. She’s the current Open Fight Latam champion and one of the most dangerous strikers in Brazil’s bantamweight pipeline.
A tall, rangy fighter, Messias uses her length well, snapping straight punches down the pipe and firing knees like jabs. Her hands sit low in that classic Muay Thai stance, but she’s comfortable in the chaos. The ground game remains a question mark, but on the feet, her size and skillset make her a serious threat.
Flyweight – Lana Karine (1-0)
Boasting a perfect 6-0 combined record as a pro and amateur, Lana Karine is off to a promising start in MMA. Her background in multiple martial arts shows clearly in her well-rounded skill set.
On the feet, Karine is a powerful striker with a sharp lead left hand and strong kicks from the outside. While her striking can be a bit wild at times—throwing punches a bit too wide—her physicality helps her impose pressure. Her wrestling relies on good level changes and strength, though her technique and grappling are still developing.
Karine is dangerous both standing and on the ground, capable of finishing fights with ground-and-pound or submissions. Though still raw at just 22 years old, she already has a solid foundation for flyweight and plenty of upside.
Strawweight – Lany Silva (7-2)
Lany Silva is arguably Brazil’s top female prospect outside the UFC. She recently captured the LFA strawweight title with a win over Contender Series alum Rose Conceição.
A national kickboxing champion, Silva is an elite striker known for her high volume, punishing body shots, and relentless pressure. She excels in the clinch and maintains a relentless pace throughout her fights. Silva has also been steadily improving her ground game, recently securing a heel hook submission.
She’s had setbacks but to strong competition and she’s still young to continue her devlopment.
Strawweight – Gabriela Fujimoto (7-0)
At just 22, Gabriela Fujimoto has been competing in LFA since her pro debut. While early fight footage is limited, she’s shown steady improvement and promising potential.
Fujimoto boasts solid Muay Thai striking but truly shines on the mat. Her wrestling is effective and seems to improve as fights progress. Her jiu-jitsu is her standout weapon—she’s aggressive with fluid hips, constantly attacking arms and legs. Training with KO Squad, a top gym, should continue to accelerate her development and help her reach new levels in her career.
Bantamweight – Emily Martins (4-1)
Emily Martins is a jiu-jitsu specialist with an impressive pedigree, including four IBJJF World Championships and an IBJJF Pan title. Her only MMA loss came in a tough 10-second knockout by Autumn Norton, but Martins avenged that defeat by winning the rematch for the CFFC bantamweight title.
While her grappling remains elite, Martins is still developing her wrestling and striking, where she can feel uncomfortable. At just 21 years old, she has plenty of time to round out her game and become a more complete fighter as she gains experience.
Strawweight – Aline David (3-1)
Though still developing, Aline David has delivered nothing but exciting fights in her young pro career. She earned a WMMA Fight of the Year nod in her debut, followed by a loss, then bounced back with a first-round rear-naked choke finish and a recent 12-second front kick KO.
David is a skilled striker and kickboxer, dangerous at range with sharp kicks and straight punches thrown from various angles. While her grappling defense remains a concern, her recent submission win shows clear progress. At 27, David benefits from training with the reputable California Mixed Martial Arts team and has plenty of room to grow.
Flyweight – Gabrielle McComb (2-0)
Gabrielle McComb is a highly accomplished second-degree BJJ black belt who transitioned to MMA earlier this year. In jiu-jitsu, she’s a two-time IBJJF World Champion in both Gi and No-Gi, as well as a two-time Pan-American champion.
In her MMA debut, McComb quickly submitted a talented opponent with IMMAF experience in under four minutes. While it’s still early in her career, she’s definitely a prospect to keep an eye on.
Strawweight – Laura Vasconcelos (5-0)
In just five professional fights, Laura Vasconcelos has already captured and successfully defended the Jungle Fight strawweight title. She consistently demonstrates the ability to compete at every level, managing distance expertly with sharp striking and showing no hesitation in taking the fight to the mat.
Her most recent victory came via a devastating head kick, while the fight before that saw her dig deep to secure a fifth-round finish. With her well-rounded skill set and composed mindset, Vasconcelos has the tools and potential to be UFC-ready right now.
Strawweight – Nawira Ferreira (5-2)
Nawira Ferreira is a rising talent destined for a major promotion. Unafraid to face tough competition, she’s shown steady improvement with every fight. Her only losses came against top prospects Lany Silva and Natalia Alves.
Ferreira made a statement by handing Marina Monteiro her first defeat after a 5-0 start. Grappling is her strength, but her striking is developing—especially in the clinch where she excels at controlling opponents and securing takedowns. Her slick jiu-jitsu is evident, as most of her wins come from dominant ground control, active ground-and-pound, and submission hunting. At just 23 years old, Ferreira has plenty of time to refine her skills and make a big impact.
Atomweight – Giulliany Perêa (3-0)
Giulliany Perêa fights out of the renowned Nova União gym and currently competes for Invicta FC. As an amateur, she compiled a 14-2 record while capturing both IMMAF World and Pan-American championships.
Originally fighting at strawweight, Perêa moved down to atomweight (105 lbs) as a pro and claimed the Shooto Brasil title in her debut. A relentless force, she consistently presses forward, mixing powerful combinations with aggressive physicality. Her strength on the inside and on the ground—controlling opponents and delivering heavy ground-and-pound—sets her apart.
Perêa is a solid wrestler with equally strong jiu-jitsu skills. Whether competing at 105 or 115 pounds, she has a bright future ahead.
Strawweight – Maria Silva (11-1)
Maria Silva emerged as one of the top women’s MMA prospects in 2022, earning an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series. Although she suffered an upset loss there, she quickly bounced back by signing with KSW. Fighting under the nickname “Viúva Negra,” Silva went undefeated in her first three KSW bouts. While her current contract status is unclear and she may now be a free agent, her resume speaks volumes.
A multi-time champion in Sanda and a Muay Thai titleholder at Strike Down and Rainhas da Luta, Silva also claimed championships in NFC MMA and Prime Kickboxing. With her striking pedigree and well-rounded skill set, she’s a legitimate top-level prospect who could compete today within the UFC’s strawweight top 15.