Michelle Zonato Nicolini or Michelle Nicolini (born January 5, 1982) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist (MMA). [6] Among the most accomplished female grapplers of all time, [7] [8] Nicolini holds third place for most IBJJF World Championship titles, with eight wins. [9] She is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame. [10]
Nicolini was born in the city of Itú in Brazil.[ citation needed ] At the age of 14 she started Capoeira stopping 3 years later to focus on jiu-jitsu, training under Robert Drysdale, who she received her black belt from. In 2015 she competed twice at Polaris Pro Grappling beating Angelica Galvao via toehold [11] and losing to Gezary Matuda via armbar. [12]
Nicolini was scheduled to compete against Ffion Davies at Polaris 21 on September 24, 2022, for the promotion's inaugural bantamweight title [13] Davies withdrew from the match and was replaced by Ashley Bendle on short notice. Nicolini defeated Bendle by split decision and won the Polaris bantamweight title. [14]
Nicolini competed in the IBJJF Master International Championship - Europe on April 30, 2023 where she won gold medals in the lightweight and absolute divisions at Master 2. [15]
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources .(December 2022) |
In the major IBJJF gi championships at black belt level she is a:-
8x World Championship champion
3x Pan-American Championship champion
3x European Championship champion
3x Brazilian Nationals champion
2022 European Master 1 Lightweight Champion [16]
In the major IBJJF Nogi championships at black belt level she is a:-
4x World Nogi Championship champion
2x Pan Ams Nogi Championship champion
2x Euros Nogi Championship champion
She is also a 4x ADCC medal winner – 1x Gold, 2x Silver and 1x Bronze.
By winning the Brazilian Nationals Nogi Championship Michelle would become the first female athlete to complete a clean sweep of winning a gold medal at black belt level in both gi and no-gi at all four major championships.[ citation needed ]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Cristina Meija at Inka FC 11 on June 23, 2011, in her mixed martial arts debut. [17] She won the fight by a first-round submission. [18]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Lanchana Green at M4TC 13: Nemesis on February 22, 2014. She won the fight by a first-round submission. [19]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Norma Rueda Center at Legacy FC 36 October 17, 2014. [20] Nicolini suffered her first professional loss, as Norma won by unanimous decision. [21]
On July 25, 2016, it was revealed that Nicolini had signed with the Singapore-based fight promotion ONE Championship. [22]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Mona Samir at ONE Championship: Defending Honor on November 16, 2016. She won the fight by a first-round submission. [23]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Irina Mazepa at ONE Championship: Kings of Destiny on April 21, 2017. She won the fight by a first-round submission. [24]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Iryna Kyselova at ONE Championship: Visions of Victory on March 8, 2018. She won the fight by a first-round submission. [25]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Tiffany Teo, in a ONE strawweight title eliminator, at ONE Championship: Heart of the Lion on November 9, 2018. [26] Teo won the fight by unanimous decision, handing Nicolini her second professional loss. [27]
Nicolini was scheduled to face the reigning ONE Women's Atomweight champion Angela Lee, in a strawweight bout, at ONE Championship: Masters of Destiny on July 12, 2019. [28] Despite coming into the bout as an underdog, and being on the receiving end of several uncalled fouls, Nicolini won the fight by unanimous decision. [29]
Nicolini challenged the reigning ONE Women's Strawweight World champion Xiong Jingnan at ONE Championship: Empower on September 3, 2021. [30] It was originally scheduled for May 28, 2021, before being postponed due to COVID-19. [31] She lost the bout via unanimous decision, unable to get her opponent to the ground and losing the striking exchanges. [32]
| 9 matches | 6 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 6–3 | Xiong Jingnan | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Empower | September 3, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | For the ONE Strawweight Championship (125 lb). |
| Win | 6–2 | Angela Lee | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Masters of Destiny | July 12, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Tiffany Teo | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Heart of the Lion | November 9, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 5–1 | Iryna Kyselova | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Visions of Victory | March 9, 2018 | 1 | 2:26 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Win | 4–1 | Irina Mazepa | Submission (armbar) | ONE: Kings of Destiny | April 21, 2017 | 1 | 2:11 | Pasay, Philippines | |
| Win | 3–1 | Mona Samir | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Defending Honor | November 16, 2016 | 1 | 2:16 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Norma Rueda Center | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 36 | October 17, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Lanchana Green | Submission (armbar) | M4TC 13: Nemesis | February 22, 2014 | 1 | 2:27 | Tyne and Wear, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Cristina Meija | Submission (armbar) | Inka FC 11 | June 23, 2011 | 1 | 2:36 | Santiago de Surco, Peru |
Roger Gracie is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist (MMA) and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner and coach.
Kron Gracie is a Brazilian and American mixed martial artist, submission grappler, and instructor.
Ryan Hall is an American professional mixed martial artist and instructor of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who competed in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is known for a number of competitive achievements, ranging from Mundial and ADCC victories to dozens of Grapplers Quest championships. He is the winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 22.
Rodolfo Vieira is a Brazilian submission grappler, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner.
Gordon Ryan is an American submission grappler and first-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, considered by many to be among the greatest no–gi grapplers of all time due to his many accomplishments. Ryan is a five–time ADCC Submission wrestling world champion, two-time IBJJF No-Gi World champion and a four-time Eddie Bravo Invitational champion.
Beatriz Mesquita also known as Bia Mesquita is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor with arguably the best competitive record in both Gi and Nogi of all time having won 24 titles at black belt level in the 4 major Gi Championships. With 10 gold medals, as of Worlds 2021, she holds the record for the most IBJJF World Championship titles at black belt level and is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame.
Garry Lee Tonon is an American submission grappler and mixed martial artist. He is a five-time Eddie Bravo Invitational champion, and has won titles at ADCC submission wrestling championship, IBJJF World and Pan American championships.
AJ Agazarm is an American submission grappler and mixed martial artist.
Julija Stoliarenko is a Lithuanian mixed martial artist, Lethwei fighter, submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete.
Ffion Davies is a Welsh submission grappler, mixed martial artist and a world-champion Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor. She is a multiple winner of the IBJJF World Championship, including the no-gi championship in 2023 in both the 61 kg and absolute divisions.
Bianca Barbosa Basílio also known as Bia Basílio is a submission grappler, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete.
Laurence Cousin Fouillat is a French submission grappler and third degree black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor and instructor. Considered a pioneer in the sport, Cousin is regarded as the first European female to receive a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In 2005 she won the CBJJO World Jiu-Jitsu Cup and medalled at the IBJJF World Championship taking place in Rio de Janeiro. In 2007 Cousin became the first woman from outside Brazil to become IBJJF World jiu-jitsu champion.
Rikako Yuasa; born 12 April 1991) is a submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. Regarded by some as one of the greatest Japanese BJJ fighters, Yuasa is a World, European and Asian champion in coloured belt and a four times black belt World champion.
Penny Thomas is a South African submission grappler and 3rd degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt practitioner and coach. After opening South Africa's first jiu-jitsu academy in her garage, Thomas won two BJJ world champion titles. Subsequently, she relocated to the United States, where she trained under the guidance of Luis Heredia and later Leticia Ribeiro.
Craig Benjamin Jones is an Australian grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt competitor and coach. An IBJJF World No-Gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion as a white belt, Jones is a two-time ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist and a three-time Polaris Pro Grappling champion. Jones trains out of Austin, Texas, and is the head of B Team Jiu-Jitsu.
Amy Campo is an American submission grappler, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete.
Brianna Ste-Marie is a Canadian submission grappler, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete. An IBJJF World No-Gi, Pan American, European and American national jiu-jitsu champion in coloured belts, as well as a Combat Jiu-Jitsu and Medusa champion; Ste-Marie is a 2022 World No-GI champion, a 2023 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship medallist and the 2022 ADCC Submission Grappling under 60 kilograms (130 lb) silver medallist.
Ashley Bendle is a Welsh submission grappler, Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and competitor. A British and European No-Gi champion in coloured belts, Bendle is a black belt No-Gi World, European Open and ADCC trials medalist.
Elisabeth Clay Moreira is an American submission grappler, Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and competitor. Clay won multiple World and Pan championships titles throughout her colored belts as well as the ADCC West Coat Trials when just a 16-year-old blue belt. She is a black belt 3X World No-Gi champion, a 4X Pan No-Gi champion as well as a World, European Open and Brazilian Nationals medallist. As of March 2024, Clay was listed as FloGrappling's #2 female in the world for no-gi pound-for-pound rankings.
Gezary Matuda is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt practitioner from Brazil. A two-time World and Pan Champion in colored belts, she is a three-time IBJJF World Champion, a three-time Pan American Champion, and a European Open black belt Champion.
