The world’s top female athletes converged in São Paulo, Brazil for Grand Slam title contention. The 2026 Brasileiro featured incredible storylines, elite athletes, and intense action throughout all nine female black belt divisions. Standout athletes accomplished their major title aspirations, while garnering immense confidence ahead of the renowned World Championship event.

 

Roosterweight

Mayssa Bastos returned to the roosterweight division after capturing the Pan light-featherweight title just weeks before. Mayssa entered the Brasileiro division as the top-seed amongst six high-level athletes. In two matches of Brasileiro action, Mayssa secured a pair of submissions over Gabrielle Etzel and Jessica Caroline. Her opening round came in the semifinals against Gabrielle, where Mayssa secured a seven point lead before transitioning into a beautiful baratoplata finish. Her finals outing against Jessica Caroline showcased the dominant skillset of the AOJ representative. Mayssa captured seventeen unanswered points before securing a mounted lapel choke finish to claim her fifth Brasileiro title. Astoundingly, each of her five Brasileiro titles have come in consecutive years, underscoring the incredible run the AOJ phenom has enjoyed since 2022. Mayssa aims to expand upon her record-setting sixth roosterweight World title from last year’s edition. The AOJ star will certainly be favored to clinch her seventh World Championship at the end of the month.

 

Light-Featherweight

Ashlee Funegra continued her impressive 2026 campaign with another Grand Slam title at Brasileiro. The rookie black belt entered the event as the top-seed after securing European gold and Pan silver medals. Ashlee sparked her Brasileiro run with an opening round lapel choke in under ninety seconds. Her semifinal match against Vitória Assis showcased the AOJ sensation’s incredible top control and guard passing. Ashlee secured eleven unanswered points before capturing a triangle choke finish to advance into the finals. Maria Luiza awaited Ashlee in the finals for a highly-anticipated fight between two elite competitors. The two athletes traded an onslaught of attacks resulting in a 6-6 score with even advantages as time expired. In the end, Ashlee received the referee decision victory, marking her second major title of 2026. Throughout her Brasileiro title run, Ashlee showcased a balanced game highlighted by her dominant guard passing and top-pressure. The young AOJ phenom remains undefeated at the black belt level and now looks ahead to her first World Championship appearance at the highest echelon.

 

Featherweight

Mia Funegra completed her Grand Slam debut in 2026, following an impeccable 2025 World Championship performance. Mia opted to move up a division in Brazil, entering the featherweight division as the top-seed amongst eight competitors. The reigning World Champion began her Brasileiro run with a resounding statement, securing five points before finishing a brabo choke to advance into the semifinals. Mia went on to defeat a rising talent from JFC Almeida, Giovanah Oliveira, by securing the back and finishing with a lapel choke in just over three minutes. The finals witnessed the division’s top two seeds square off for the prestigious Brasileiro title. Ultimately, it was Mia’s relentless guard passing that led to back exposure on Gabriela Pereira, an opening that Mia did not miss. The AOJ phenom proceeded to secure the rear triangle position and finish the match by armbar with over three minutes remaining. Mia secured her second major title at the black belt level, furthering expectations of repeat success at the World Championships later this month.

 

Lightweight

Sarah Galvão commanded much of the attention heading into the event, not only as a dominant lightweight competitor but as a potential open class champion as well. Sarah began her lightweight path against Julia Berte with a ten-point collar choke victory in under five minutes. The Atos phenom then met resistance against Randryely Souza who adamantly played lasso-guard for the majority of the match, resulting in a two-point victory for Sarah. Vitoria Vieira clashed with Sarah in the finals in a dynamic match that witnessed Sarah earn a four-advantage victory. Her lightweight run featured incredible guard passing prowess, as she consistently maintained offensive positioning and kept her opponents defensive. Sarah’s lightweight Brasileiro title marked her fourth Grand Slam title of the 2026 season. The rookie sensation has made undeniable waves on the international jiu-jitsu scene, as she looks ahead to the World Championships for an opportunity to secure a lightweight Grand Slam sweep in 2026. 

 

Middleweight

Elisabeth Clay returned to São Paulo with hopes of defending the middleweight title she earned in last year’s edition. The Six Blades competitor was coming off an impressive Pan run that witnessed her secure a silver medal despite an apparent injury. Elisabeth certainly looked healthy at Brasileiro, completing a three match run that culminated in her third Grand Slam event title in the gi. Her gold medal path began beautifully with an omoplata setup to cross-collar finish in under three minutes. Elisabeth proceeded to defeat Gisele Menezes in the semifinals via devastating toe hold. With her finals ticket punched, Elisabeth prepared for a rematch from the Pan finals against Lillian Marchand. The two elite athletes traded offense until nearly the five-minute mark when Elisabeth opted to attack a toe hold submission that ended the star-studded clash. The two phenom competitors are 1-1 in their Grand Slam finals competition this season, potentially setting the stage for a grudge match amidst the intense pressure of the World Championship event. Both athletes have a submission victory over their opponent, creating an undeniable tension between the top two middleweights in the world. 

 

Medium-Heavyweight

Maria ‘Maca’ Vicentini returned to Brasileiros after securing the medium-heavyweight title in the 2025 edition. The AOJ athlete entered the event as the top-seed following podium placements at both Pan and European Championship events. Maca commenced her run with a dominant nine point lapel choke finish from the back in the quarterfinals. She then collided with Giovanna Carneiro, the rising GF Team product, in a semifinal showdown between two young athletes with immense talent. Finding herself down two-points with under a minute left, Maca aggressively wrestled up from the fifty-fifty position to tie the score at two. In the process, Maca accumulated a number of advantages to secure the victory and a finals placement against Ingridd Alves. Maca defeated the BJJ College athlete in the finals, with the only score coming around the halfway point via two-point sweep from the AOJ competitor. Maca’s Brasileiro triumph surely provides elevated confidence after falling just short in the prior two major events this season. With recent Grand Slam success, Maca seems to be an early favorite to contend for the World Championship title in just a few weeks. 

 

Heavyweight

Another 2025 Brasileiro champion returned to defend her title. Yara Soares of Fratres BJJ entered the heavyweight division as the top-seed following her European Championship title earlier this season. Isabely Ribeiro challenged Yara in the semifinals, resulting in a six point lapel choke finish. Yara showcased her dominant top-pressure and elite guard passing technique in her opening round, utilizing the skillset to generate a number of submission opportunities en route to opting for the lapel choke finish. Yara squared off against Tamiris Silva in the finals with the Brasileiro heavyweight title hanging in the balance. Yara showcased a broader spectrum of techniques including her sweeping ability from the guard. Nevertheless, it was Yara’s relentless top pressure that continued to open opportunities and force her opponent into defensive systems. Yara ultimately secured an eleven point shutout victory, marking her second consecutive Brasileiro title and third overall at the black belt level. Yara prepares to return to the World Championship event where she has earned six silver medals but has yet to break through. Yara is likely to contend with Larissa Dias for the heavyweight World Championship title at the end of May.

 

Super-Heavyweight

Gabi Pessanha, the top-ranked female globally, returned to Brasileiro with the goal of capturing her ninth and tenth Brasileiro titles at the black belt level. Gabi secured European double-gold status and earned the Pan super-heavyweight title earlier this season. The Infight Jiu-Jitsu star commenced her weight-class run with a straight ankle lock submission victory in under ninety seconds. Gabi proceeded to face Mikaela Barros in a finals match that lasted under one minute. Gabi pulled to guard, swept, and attacked the back leading to a rear-naked-choke finish in just forty-five seconds. Through two fights in the super-heavyweight division, Gabi recorded a pair of submissions in about three minutes of mat time. The Infight phenom remains untouchable in the super-heavyweight category, as she is the overwhelming favorite to secure the World title at that weight class.

 

Open Class

The female open class drew immense recognition ahead of the 2026 Brasileiro event, as many projected a finals rematch between Gabi Pessanha and Sarah Galvão. The two elite athletes had faced one another at both the Pan and European open class finals, resulting in an absolute title for both competitors. If anticipation was not already peaking, both athletes maintained a stellar path to the finals. Sarah secured three armbar victories, one from a triangle position, in three matches to secure a finals placement. Gabi captured a straight footlock, triangle, and nine point victory to reach the finals against her Atos Jiu-Jitsu rival. The finals match showcased Gabi’s immense top-pressure and elite guard passing ability. After an early sweep, Gabi maintained command of the match by attacking angles and weighing down on her lightweight opponent. The Infight sensation secured twelve unanswered points en route to securing the open class title and double-gold prestige. This was certainly the most dominant performance of the three meetings between the two stars, undoubtedly providing Gabi with a wealth of confidence ahead of a potential fourth open class final against Sarah this season. The healthy rivalry between the two athletes has garnered well-deserved recognition as one of the top storylines in the 2026 jiu-jitsu landscape. Gabi ultimately celebrates her tenth Brasileiro title amidst an electric environment in São Paulo, Brazil. 

 

Watch full-match replays of all the female black belt action, exclusively on FloGrappling.