Ana Maria India

Ana Maria Gomes Soares, widely known in the combat sports world by her nickname “India,” is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the Checkmat team. She is also a prolific Mixed Martial Artist (MMA) celebrated for her aggressive grappling transitions and relentless warrior spirit.

Behind the Nickname
Born in Barreiras in the State of Bahia, Brazil, Ana Maria was a late bloomer to the martial arts world, picking up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 21 without any prior combat sports background.

As she progressed, she began styling her hair in tight plaits (braids) during training and competition to keep it from getting in the way of her guard work. Due to her hair color and the distinctive style, teammates and fans began calling her “India” (Portuguese for Indian Woman), a moniker that stuck with her throughout her professional career.

Grappling Accolades
Competing primarily in the Lightweight division (64 kg / 141 lbs), Ana Maria became highly feared for her crisp, lightning-fast transitions from the half guard directly into back mount. Her major achievements on the mats include:

2x Brazilian National Champion (Brown Belt, 2008 and 2009)  

6x Bahia State Champion and Sergipe State Champion  

Silver Medalist at the CBJJE World Championships (2009)  

Bronze Medalist at the CBJJO World Championships (2009)  

“Internacional de Grappling” Champion

The Jump to MMA and “No Limite”
Seeking to constantly evolve as a complete fighter, Ana Maria expanded her skill set into Boxing, Muay Thai, and Greco-Roman Wrestling, paving the way for a successful career in Mixed Martial Arts. She frequently took fights against top-tier opposition—including elite fighters like Carina Damm, Vanessa Porto, and Ediane Gomes—often giving up more than 10 kg (22 lbs) to her opponents just to secure a fight in the early days of women’s MMA.

Her dedication caught the attention of mainstream media, and she was featured heavily in the television documentary No Limite, a program dedicated to the rise of women’s MMA in Brazil. It was during the production of this show that her coach, the legendary Ricardo “Ricardinho” Vieira, awarded her a well-deserved black belt in October 2009.

A True Warrior Spirit
Beyond her technical precision, Ana Maria is revered in the BJJ community for her extraordinary work ethic and resilience. When she became pregnant with her daughter, she continued to step onto the mats and train up until her fifth month of pregnancy. Showing superhuman recovery, she returned to regular training just one month after giving birth and stepped back into the professional cage to fight a mere four months later—cementing her legacy as one of the toughest female competitors of her era.