Bia Mesquita | Biography

Bia “The Lady GOAT” Mesquita is one of the most decorated grapplers in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and an undefeated UFC Bantamweight fighter. Her transition from the mats to the Octagon represents one of the most seamless and dominant crossovers the sport has seen in recent years.

Early Life: A Prodigy in Saquarema

Beatriz Mesquita was born on April 7, 1991 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1996 at the age of five, inspired by her older brother who introduced her to the sport before quitting a year later. Bia’s commitment never wavered, even as her family relocated to the beach town of Saquarema in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where she trained under Coach Luis Fernando at the Vento Sul academy.

Her talent was undeniable from the very beginning. By age 10, she had already claimed the Brazilian National Junior Champion title and her third State Championship, signalling a talent that went far beyond her years. She also trained in judo, wrestling and swimming during this period, at 15 she trained in freestyle wrestling, winning a junior state title before fully dedicating herself to jiu-jitsu.

The Queen of BJJ

Recognising her extraordinary potential, Coach Luis Fernando arranged for Beatriz to travel to Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, to train under Leticia Ribeiro, one of the most respected figures in the history of women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The partnership would define the rest of her career. In June 2009, Ribeiro promoted Mesquita to brown belt while she stood on the podium at the IBJJF World Championship, and in March 2011 awarded her a black belt on the podium of the Pan American Championship.

What followed was one of the most dominant careers in the history of women’s grappling. Mesquita holds the record for the most IBJJF World Championship titles at black belt level with 10 gold medals, and is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame. In 2017, she defeated future UFC fighter and two-time World Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Champion Mackenzie Dern in just 64 seconds at the Rio Falls Jiu-Jitsu Open. In June 2018, she became the Eddie Bravo Invitational Women’s Bantamweight Champion, and in December 2021 she won her landmark 10th world title at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

By the time she turned her attention to MMA, Bia Mesquita was already regarded as one of the greatest grapplers, male or female, that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had ever produced.

The Move to MMA

Mesquita made her professional MMA debut on June 15, 2024, submitting Jorgina Ramos via rear-naked choke in the first round. She continued to build her record with Legacy Fighting Alliance, winning the vacant LFA Women’s Bantamweight Championship on June 20, 2025, via technical knockout in the second round.

On July 30, 2025, Mesquita signed with the UFC. She made her promotional debut on October 11, 2025, in her home city of Rio de Janeiro, defeating Irina Alekseeva via rear-naked choke submission in the second round, a performance that earned her a Performance of the Night award.

She followed that with a win over Montserrat Rendon in March 2026, before defeating Melissa Mullins via armbar submission in the first round on June 20, 2026 at UFC Vegas 119. The win moved her to a perfect 8-0 professional record, with finishes in every single one of her fights.

Training at American Top Team

As of 2025, Mesquita resides in Florida to train with American Top Team, one of the most respected MMA camps in the world. There, under head coach Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta, she has worked to round out her elite grappling base with striking, wrestling and ground-and-pound, the complete skill set required to compete at the highest level of women’s MMA.

Looking Ahead

Currently ranked No. 13 in the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings, Mesquita has set her sights on climbing into the division’s top five, publicly calling out contender Ailin Perez following her win at UFC Vegas 119. With a flawless finishing record and one of the most accomplished grappling pedigrees the sport has ever seen, Bia “The Lady GOAT” Mesquita is positioned to become one of the most dangerous threats in the entire bantamweight division.

First Round Management

Bia Mesquita is represented by First Round Management, a leading MMA management company specialising in UFC athlete representation, contract negotiation, brand partnerships and career development for elite combat sports professionals. For booking and commercial enquiries, contact our team at info@firstroundmanagement.com.