Fernanda Mazzelli

Fernanda Mazzelli won the 2016 Worlds at heavyweight, repeating in a different division the gold she had won the year before at super-heavyweight. Both finals were against Alison Tremblay: in 2015 the Espírito Santo native won with a rear-naked choke, and in 2016 on a referee decision. In the open class she went out in the quarterfinals against Mackenzie Dern.

Born on September 27, 1988, in Guarapari, Espírito Santo, she tried ballet, swimming and volleyball before starting Jiu-Jitsu at 11, after watching her sister and a cousin train. She spent her whole career with Thiago de Oliveira of Striker JJ, who took over the school opened by Flávio “Dente” Ferreira, the man who brought Jiu-Jitsu to Guarapari. He gave her a black belt on the podium of the Brazilian Nationals on May 10, 2008, after she won her division and the open class at brown belt.

Later in 2008 she reached her first black belt world final. Her first title came in 2012 at medium-heavyweight, the same year she won No-Gi Worlds. She took Worlds silver in 2013, in the final against Michelle Nicolini, and in 2014, behind Andresa Correa, and added silver in 2019, behind Nathiely de Jesus, plus bronze in 2017, 2018 and 2022. She has a degree in physical education and a master’s in education.

In 2026 she said she had stepped away from Jiu-Jitsu to study medicine. Writing during the week of the 30th edition of Worlds, she said she was extremely happy and fulfilled by everything she had achieved in the sport.