Bia Mesquita, a record-setting IBJJF World Champion and accomplished grappler, is transitioning to mixed martial arts with an undefeated 3-0 record, aiming to secure a UFC contract and make a significant impact in the bantamweight division.
Bia Mesquita has etched her name into the Guinness World Records for clinching the most gold medals at the IBJJF World Championship. Now, she’s setting her sights on making history in the octagon. With a 10-time IBJJF champion title and an ADCC gold medal under her belt, Mesquita is off to a roaring start in mixed martial arts. She’s already 3-0, all victories via rear-naked choke within just six months. Quite the whirlwind!
Next up, she’ll clash with Hope Chase in a bantamweight bout at LFA 203, hosted at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Mesquita’s aiming for another finish to catch the eye of UFC scouts. “I’ll be fighting in Vegas during a massive week for the UFC,” she shared with MMA Fighting. “There’s so much happening—UFC Invitational, Power Slap, UFC 313—it’s a golden chance for me.”
If a UFC contract doesn’t materialize this week, no biggie. Mesquita plans to keep busy, racking up wins and maybe even snagging the LFA bantamweight belt. “The boss will make the call and I’ll say, ‘Send me location,'” she quipped with a laugh. Her ultimate goal? To stir things up and secure that coveted UFC contract by year’s end.
Mesquita’s open to dropping to 125 pounds but worries it might impact her game. Cutting those extra pounds could sap her strength—a crucial element for a top-tier grappler like herself. Plus, women’s bantamweight isn’t exactly brimming with talent these days.
“The division’s not crowded,” she mused. “Sure, the top 10 is tough, but beyond that? Not so much.” She believes she’d fit right into the top 10 of the UFC in no time. Julianna Peña reigns as champion at 135 pounds, with Kayla Harrison possibly next in line. Training alongside Harrison at American Top Team is an experience Mesquita cherishes.
“Kayla’s a phenom,” Mesquita said. “Her judo? Unbelievable. It’s surreal training with someone like that.” The camaraderie and skill-sharing at ATT are invaluable to her growth as an MMA fighter.
Transitioning to MMA was like becoming a white belt again for Mesquita—new sport, new challenges. But getting punched during sparring lit a fire within her that had dimmed in jiu-jitsu. Thanks to ATT head coach Marcos Parrumpa, she’s evolving rapidly across all facets of MMA.
“My jiu-jitsu isn’t what it was when I won ADCC in 2017,” she admitted. “Now it’s about blending wrestling and ground-and-pound.” Despite embracing new techniques, she remains committed to keeping her jiu-jitsu sharp.
She dreams of following in Demian Maia’s footsteps: takedown, submission—simple as that! At 33, time’s ticking, but she’s determined to maximize her strengths—jiu-jitsu being chief among them.
Initially hesitant to leave jiu-jitsu after nearly three decades, Mesquita eventually took the plunge into MMA. Grappling matches against MMA veterans like Miesha Tate helped ease her transition.
“If you’re a fighter, you fight,” she stated plainly about facing opponents early on. No picking or choosing; that’s how she built her jiu-jitsu career and intends to do the same in MMA.
Her brief yet intense MMA journey has taught Mesquita plenty about herself as both woman and athlete. Winning feels different here compared to jiu-jitsu where losses are easily forgotten amidst frequent competitions.
“In jiu-jitsu, there’s always another match around corner,” she reflected. But not so much in MMA; losses stick around longer on your record—a constant reminder of what’s at stake each time you step into cage.
Yet despite challenges ahead—and perhaps because of them—Mesquita remains optimistic about shaking up an otherwise sparse division en route toward achieving championship glory someday soon!