Michelle Nicolini

Last updated
Michelle Nicolini
AFG Interview + Highlights - Michelle Nicolini 2016 - YouTube - 1 56 (cropped).jpg
BornMichelle Zonato Nicolini
(1982-01-05) January 5, 1982 (age 42)
Itú, São Paulo, Brazil
Residence Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division Strawweight (125 lbs)
Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Team Checkmat, Evolve MMA
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Mixed martial arts record
Total9
Wins6
By submission5
By decision1
Losses3
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Grappling
ADCC World Championship
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2011 Nottingham, UK -60kg [1]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 Beijing, China -60kg [2]
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Sao Paulo, Brazil -60kg [3]
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2017 Espoo, Finland -60kg [4]
ADCC South American Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Rio de Janeiro -60kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 Rio de Janeiro -60kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 California, USA -53 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2007 California, USA -53 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2007 California, USA Absolute
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 California, USA -74 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 California, USA -59 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 California, USA -59 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 California, USA -74 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2014 California, USA -59 kg
Pan American Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 California, USA -53 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 California, USA -53 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 California, USA -58 kg
European Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Lisbon, Portugal -74kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Lisbon, Portugal Absolute
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2014 Lisbon, Portugal -58kg
Brazilian National Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -64kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -58kg
Worlds Nogi Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2008 California, USA +61.5 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 California, USA Absolute
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 California, USA +56.5 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 California, USA Absolute
Pan American No-Gi Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 California, USA +61.5 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 California, USA Absolute
European No-Gi Championship [5]
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2018 Rome, Italy +56.5 kg
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2018 Rome, Italy Absolute
European Master Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Rome, Italy -64 kg

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]

Contents

Grappling career

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]

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitive summary

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 ]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

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]

ONE Championship

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]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
9 matches6 wins3 losses
By knockout00
By submission50
By decision13
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss6–3 Xiong Jingnan Decision (unanimous) ONE: Empower September 3, 202155:00 Kallang, SingaporeFor the ONE Strawweight Championship (125 lb).
Win6–2 Angela Lee Decision (unanimous) ONE: Masters of Destiny July 12, 201935:00 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Loss5–2Tiffany TeoDecision (unanimous) ONE: Heart of the Lion November 9, 201835:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win5–1Iryna KyselovaSubmission (rear-naked choke) ONE: Visions of Victory March 9, 201812:26 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Win4–1Irina MazepaSubmission (armbar) ONE: Kings of Destiny April 21, 201712:11 Pasay, Philippines
Win3–1Mona SamirSubmission (rear-naked choke) ONE: Defending Honor November 16, 201612:16 Kallang, Singapore
Loss2–1Norma Rueda CenterDecision (unanimous)Legacy FC 36October 17, 201435:00 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Win2–0Lanchana GreenSubmission (armbar)M4TC 13: NemesisFebruary 22, 201412:27 Tyne and Wear, England
Win1–0Cristina MeijaSubmission (armbar)Inka FC 11June 23, 201112:36 Santiago de Surco, Peru

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