Mayssa Bastos

Main Achievements

• IBJJF World Champion (Gi): 1st Place (2019 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024 / 2025)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion: 1st Place (2018 / 2021 / 2023 / 2024)
• IBJJF Pans Champion: 1st Place (2019 / 2020 / 2023 / 2024)
• IBJJF Pans No-Gi Champion: 1st Place (2018 / 2021 / 2022)
• IBJJF European Champion: 1st Place (2019 / 2020 / 2022 / 2023 / 2025)
• CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Champion: 1st Place (2023 / 2024 / 2025)
• AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion: 1st Place (2019 / 2023)
• Who’s Number One (WNO) Champion: 1st Place (2021)
• EBI 18 Strawweight Champion: 1st Place (2018)

Overview

Mayssa Caldas Pereira Bastos (born October 23, 1997, in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is an undisputed titan of modern submission grappling and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Júlio César Pereira and Jair Court. Affectionately dubbed “Pequena Notável” (The Remarkable Little One) by the Brazilian media, Bastos is universally regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound female grapplers in history, establishing an era of near-total dominance in the rooster and light-featherweight divisions.

Early Life and Introduction to Grappling

Bastos spent her childhood and formative years moving between Niterói and Maricá in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Following the footsteps of her older brother and father, her introduction to martial arts came through Judo at the age of 12.

Just a few years later, she shifted her focus to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, beginning her journey under coach Jair Court in Maricá. Bastos quickly developed an obsessive work ethic, spending all her available time and resources on perfecting her skills and traveling to tournaments. She rapidly became one of the most feared juvenile blue belts in Brazil, establishing a competitive momentum that she carried through every subsequent belt rank.

The “Remarkable Little One” & Podiums

To diversify her training partners and sharpen her technique for major international events, Bastos adopted a highly proactive approach to her training camps. She became a regular fixture at the Méier headquarters of the powerhouse GF Team in Rio, while also logging extensive time at Unity Jiu-Jitsu in New York City under Murilo Santana to prepare for major East Coast tournaments.

Throughout her historic run in the lower ranks, she regularly registered for absolute (open weight) divisions. Despite routinely being the smallest athlete on the mats, her technical superiority allowed her to dismantle much heavier opponents. This feat inspired sports photographer Marcos Furtado to coin her famous nickname, celebrating her giant-killing exploits.

After a stellar brown belt campaign—where she captured successive European, Pan, and Abu Dhabi World Pro titles—Master Júlio César Pereira formally promoted Bastos to black belt while she stood on the World Championship podium on June 4, 2018. She later integrated heavily with the world-renowned Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) academy roster in California.

Unrivaled Championship Supremacy

Stepping into the adult professional ranks, Bastos put together one of the most architecturally flawless records in BJJ history. Known for her peerless flexibility and defensive micro-adjustments, she famously boasts zero submission losses across nearly 150 elite professional matches.

Legacy and Style

Operating between Peso Galo (Roosterweight at 48.5 kg / 107 lbs) and Peso Pluma (Light-Featherweight at 53.5 kg / 118 lbs), Bastos is a masterful architect of the modern guard. Her primary technical calling card is the Berimbolo, a complex inversion style she uses to effortlessly sweep opponents or transition directly to the back.

With an exceptional career submission victory rate hovering above 50%, her finishing mechanics are highly specialized; over half of her total career submission wins come by way of a choke from the back, seamlessly paired with upper-body attacks like the Tarikoplata and lower-body systems including the inside heel hook. Mayssa Bastos stands alone as the undisputed queen of the lightweight divisions, redefining technical efficiency for an entire generation of martial artists.