Michelle Nicolini

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]

Michelle Nicolini
Born	Michelle Zonato Nicolini (1982-01-05) January 5, 1982 (age 43) Itú, São Paulo, Brazil
Residence	Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight	125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
Division	Strawweight (125 lbs)
Style	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Team	Checkmat, Evolve MMA
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Mixed martial arts record
Total	9
Wins	6
By submission	5
By decision	1
Losses	3
By decision	3
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Representing  Brazil Grappling ADCC World Championship 2011 Nottingham, UK -60kg[1] 2013 Beijing, China -60kg[2] 2015 Sao Paulo, Brazil -60kg[3] 2017 Espoo, Finland -60kg[4] ADCC South American Championships 2011 Rio de Janeiro -60kg 2013 Rio de Janeiro -60kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship[5] 2006 California, USA -53 kg 2007 California, USA -53 kg 2007 California, USA Absolute 2010 California, USA -74 kg 2011 California, USA -59 kg 2012 California, USA -59 kg 2013 California, USA -74 kg 2014 California, USA -59 kg Pan American Championship[5] 2008 California, USA -53 kg 2010 California, USA -53 kg 2011 California, USA -58 kg European Championship[5] 2012 Lisbon, Portugal -74kg 2012 Lisbon, Portugal Absolute 2014 Lisbon, Portugal -58kg Brazilian National Championship[5] 2011 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -64kg 2012 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Absolute 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -58kg Worlds Nogi Championship[5] 2008 California, USA +61.5 kg 2010 California, USA Absolute 2011 California, USA +56.5 kg 2011 California, USA Absolute Pan American No-Gi Championship[5] 2017 California, USA +61.5 kg 2017 California, USA Absolute European No-Gi Championship[5] 2018 Rome, Italy +56.5 kg 2018 Rome, Italy Absolute European Master Championship 2022 Rome, Italy -64 kg

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 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