Chloe McNally

Main Achievements

Black Belt Accolades:

• 2nd Place — CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2022 Silver Medalist)
• 2nd Place — IBJJF Pan American Championship (2022)
• 3rd Place — IBJJF World Championship (2021 Adult Black Belt Bronze Medalist)

Colored Belt Accolades:

• 2x 1st Place — IBJJF Pan American Champion (2019 purple / 2020 brown)
• 1st Place — IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2017 blue)
• 1st Place — IBJJF European Open No-Gi Champion (2019 brown)
• 1st Place — CBJJ Brazilian National Champion (2018 purple)
• 2x 2nd Place — IBJJF World Championship Runner-Up (2017* blue / 2019 purple)
• 2nd Place — IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2018 purple)
• 2nd Place — IBJJF Pan American Championship (2020* brown)
• 2nd Place — IBJJF Pan American Championship No-Gi (2017 blue)
• Note: (* Denotes podium placement in the Absolute / Open Weight division)

Overview

Chloé McNally is an elite American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt representing the powerhouse Unity Jiu-Jitsu stable. Emerging as one of the premier heavyweight competitors of her generation, McNally leveraged a high-level background in equestrian sports into a disciplined, analytical approach to grappling, capturing major international titles across both Gi and No-Gi circuits.

Early Athleticism and Martial Arts Roots

Chloé McNally was born in San Francisco, California, and grew up in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area. Sports played a foundational role in her upbringing, with her primary athletic focus dedicated to equestrian sports. For 12 years, she competed extensively in Eventing—a rigorous three-discipline horse-riding competition—ultimately climbing the regional ranks to reach the AAU’s Junior Olympic Games. Despite the demanding travel and bi-weekly competition schedule required for her horses, she still found the time to play on her high school’s competitive basketball team.

While she possessed a natural curiosity for martial arts from a young age (briefly trying Kempo karate at age seven), her packed schedule kept her away from the mats until she relocated to New York City for her university studies. Looking to fill her newfound free time, she joined a local gym to dip her toes into Muay Thai and Jeet Kune Do, expanding her dynamic spatial coordination.

The Unity Transition & Black Belt Success

In 2014, a close friend convinced her to try a Jiu-Jitsu class. Though she initially found the close-contact grappling experience uncomfortable, she recognized the immense physical and mental benefits and chose to keep showing up. Her resilience paid off, and she quickly transitioned into a full-time competitor at Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu under Josh Griffiths, where she successfully earned her blue belt.

As a blue belt, Chloé attended a specialized class led by world-class competitor and master coach Murilo Santana at Unity Jiu-Jitsu. Captivated by Santana’s intricate technical craftsmanship and the elite competitive environment he built, she officially moved her training to Unity in 2016. Under Santana’s direct guidance, Chloé blossomed into a premier grappling talent. She tore through the international colored belt divisions, capturing World No-Gi, European Open, and Pan American titles before being formally awarded her black belt on May 22, 2021.

Grappling Style & Specialization

On the mats, McNally is renowned for a highly modern and clinical guard game, showing heavy technical preference for a sharp De La Riva (DLR) Hook entry system. Competing primarily in the Peso Meio-Pesado (Medium-Heavyweight) division, she balances tactical pacing with an aggressive submission-hunting mindset, sporting a high finish rate utilizing complex choke chains and structural leg locks—specifically favoring powerful kneebars from bottom extensions.