Melissa Gatto
Brazilian mixed martial artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melissa Gatto (born May 2, 1996) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who currently fights in the women's flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Toledo, Paraná, Brazil
Bantamweight (2018)
| Melissa Gatto | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 2, 1996 Toledo, Paraná, Brazil |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
| Division | Flyweight (2017–present) Bantamweight (2018) |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm)[1] |
| Team | Team Bronx Cascavel Chute Boxe |
| Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2] under Marco Barbosa |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 14 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Other information | |
| University | Western Paraná State University |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Gatto was born and grew up in Toledo, Paraná, Brazil, with an older and a younger brother.[3] Following her big brother, she started training Kung Fu at the age of eight.[3] Gradually she picked up also other disciplines eventually drifting to mixed martial arts in order to challenge herself.[3][4] She attended Western Paraná State University from where she graduated with bachelor's degree in languages.[3]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Gatto racked up a record of 6–0–2 in Brazilian regional circuit before signing a contract with the UFC. In her last bout before the UFC, she submitted fellow future UFC fighter Karol Rosa with a first round kimura at Nação Cyborg 3.[5][6]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Gatto was scheduled to make her UFC debut replacing injured Jessica Rose-Clark on short notice against Talita Bernardo at UFC 237 on May 11, 2019.[7] However, Gatto was pulled from the fight in the days leading up to the event and replaced by Viviane Araújo.[8]
She was then scheduled to face Julia Avila at UFC 239 on July 6, 2019. However, she ended up pulling out citing an injury and was replaced by Pannie Kianzad.[9] Later, news surfaced that Gatto was in fact pulled from the card due to testing positive for furosemide, a diuretic. She was given a USADA suspension and was eligibly to return to competition on June 5, 2020.[10]
She was scheduled to face Mariya Agapova at UFC on ESPN: Eye vs. Calvillo on June 13, 2020.[11] However, Gatto pulled out due to visa issues and was replaced by Hannah Cifers.[12][13]
She ultimately made her debut against Victoria Leonardo at UFC 265 on August 7, 2021.[14] She won the fight via technical knockout after the doctor stopped the fight between rounds two and three due to an arm injury sustained by Leonardo.[15]
In her sophomore appearance Gatto faced Sijara Eubanks on December 18, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus.[16] At the weigh-ins, Eubanks weighed in at 127.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight.[17][18] She won the fight via body kick TKO in the third round.[19] The win earned her a Performance of the Night bonus award.[20]
Gatto then faced Tracy Cortez at UFC 274 on May 7, 2022.[21] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Gatto was scheduled to face Gillian Robertson on September 17, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 210.[23] However, Gatto was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons.[24]
Gatto faced Ariane Lipski on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48.[25] She lost the fight via split decision.[26]
Gatto was scheduled to face Viktoriia Dudakova on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54.[27] However, the bout was cancelled during the broadcast due to a Dudakova illness.[28]
Gatto faced Tamires Vidal, replacing injured Hailey Cowan, on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.[29] Gatto won the fight by technical knockout from a punch to the chest.[30]
Gatto faced Dione Barbosa on April 4, 2026 in a bantamweight bout at UFC Fight Night 272.[31] She lost the fight by majority decision after Barbosa was deducted a point in round two for an illegal kick.[32]
Gatto is scheduled to face Ernesta Kareckaitė on October 10, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 290.[33]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| 14 matches | 9 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 3 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 9–3–2 | Dione Barbosa | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Duncan | April 4, 2026 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Barbosa was deducted one point in round 2 due to an illegal soccer kick. |
| Win | 9–2–2 | Tamires Vidal | TKO (punch to the body) | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy | May 18, 2024 | 3 | 0:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight bout. |
| Loss | 8–2–2 | Ariane Lipski | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov | July 1, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 8–1–2 | Tracy Cortez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 274 | May 7, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 8–0–2 | Sijara Eubanks | TKO (body kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus | December 18, 2021 | 3 | 0:45 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (127.5 lb) bout; Eubanks missed weight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 7–0–2 | Victoria Leonardo | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 265 | August 7, 2021 | 2 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 6–0–2 | Karol Rosa | Submission (kimura) | Nação Cyborg 3 | September 29, 2018 | 1 | 4:19 | Curitiba, Brazil | Bantamweight bout. |
| Draw | 5–0–2 | Sidy Rocha | Draw (split) | Pantanal Fight Champions 2 | July 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Corumbá, Brazil | For the PFC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0–1 | Joice de Andrade | Submission (armbar) | Clev Fight 1 | May 5, 2018 | 1 | 2:34 | Clevelândia, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0–1 | Kethylen Rothenburg | Submission (armbar) | Nação Cyborg 1 | April 7, 2018 | 1 | 1:36 | Colombo, Brazil | Bantamweight bout. |
| Draw | 3–0–1 | Edna Oliveira Ajala | Draw (majority) | Bonito Eco Fight Combat 2 | September 23, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Bonito, Brazil | |
| Win | 3–0 | Rafaela Thomazini | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Spartacus Circuit 9 | September 9, 2017 | 1 | 1:09 | Cascavel, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Taynara Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Pantanal Fight Champions 1 | August 12, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Corumbá, Brazil | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Alexandra Alves | Decision (unanimous) | Spartacus Circuit 8 | December 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Cascavel, Brazil | Featherweight debut. |