About
| Full Name | Brenda Larissa |
| Date of Birth | February 9, 1999 |
| Rank & Title | Black Belt & 3x National Champion |
| Weight Division | Peso Galo (Roosterweight – 48.5 kg / 107 lbs) |
| Signature Specialty | Well-Rounded / Lightning-Fast Back Takes |
| Team Affiliation | Alliance / Fight Sports (Formerly) |
Main Achievements
Black Belt Accolades:
- 3x 1st Place — CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2022 / 2023 / 2025)
- 3x 1st Place — AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion (Two editions in 2021 / 2022)
- 3x 1st Place — AJP Grand Slam Champion (Rio de Janeiro 2020/2022 / London 2020 / Miami 2022)
- 2x 2nd Place — IBJJF World Championship Runner-Up (2022 Weight & 2022 Open Class/Absolute)
- 2x 2nd Place — IBJJF European Open Championship Runner-Up (2023)
Colored Belt Accolades:
- 2x 1st Place — IBJJF World Champion (2017 blue / 2018 purple)
- 3x 1st Place — CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2017 blue / 2018 purple / 2019 brown)
- 1st Place — CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Juvenile (2016 absolute blue Open Weight Champion)
Overview
Brenda Larissa is an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt known as one of the prime competitors of her generation. Competing in the Peso Galo (Roosterweight) division, she has captured multiple world and national titles. Larissa is especially celebrated for her fearless willingness to compete in absolute (open weight) divisions, making her one of the very few ultra-lightweight athletes to routinely challenge and defeat much larger opponents, earning her the reputation of a giant-slayer.
Small-Town Social Project Prodigy
Born and raised in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, Brazil, Brenda first discovered Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 10. Like many elite competitors from the region, she was introduced to the sport through a local social project designed to keep children from impoverished areas constructively occupied outside of school hours. The project was led by master coach Melqui Galvão, widely recognized as one of the greatest talent scouts and producers in Brazil. Recognizing Brenda’s relentless work ethic and sharp instincts, Galvão integrated her into his official athlete sponsorship program.
Overcoming Hurdles and the Alliance Scholarship
In 2016, Brenda faced a frustrating career roadblock when her initial US visa application was denied, preventing her from traveling to California for the IBJJF World Championship. Refusing to let the setback stall her momentum, she pivoted her focus entirely to the Brazilian Nationals. In a legendary performance, the tiny roosterweight won both her division and the Juvenile Blue Belt Absolute (Open Weight) crown—a staggering achievement for an athlete of her size.
Her historic run caught the attention of the senior leadership at the Alliance International team. Recognizing her elite potential, Alliance offered Brenda a full scholarship to live, train, and compete out of their global headquarters in São Paulo. She accepted the offer in 2017 as a purple belt, developing her skills under elite champions like Michael Langhi and Fábio Gurgel. Her dominant run across the international colored-belt circuit culminated in December 2019, when Gurgel officially awarded her a black belt.
Return to Manaus and Team Transitions
In 2021, Brenda returned to her roots in Manaus to train at Melqui Galvão’s central academy. During this time, the academy established an affiliation with Fight Sports, meaning Brenda represented the Miami-based team on the international circuit, capturing multiple consecutive Abu Dhabi World Pro titles and dominating the Brazilian Nationals.
In August 2023, Brenda, alongside her husband (fellow world champion Fabricio Andrey) and teammate Luiz Paulo, chose to split from Galvão’s academy in a highly publicized team transition. Despite the team shakeups, Brenda Larissa remains at the absolute pinnacle of the lightweight landscape, terrifying guard players worldwide with her lightning-fast back takes and flawless submission mechanics.
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