Mariana Morais (born May 3, 1995) is a Brazilian female

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who competes in the

Bantamweight Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In mixed martial arts, MMA, bantamweight is . The name for the class ...

division. From April 2020 to October 2020,

Fight Matrix Fight Matrix is a mixed martial arts ranking system portal. It is one of the sport's most recognized ranking websites. Software According to website, "The rankings on this site are software generated, produced by a proprietary engine (CIRRS � ...

had Morais ranked within the top 10 of the rankings for Women's Featherweight+, rising to as high as #9.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Starting her career in 2012, Morais compiled a 9–2 record on the regional Brazilian scene before she was signed to Invicta Fighting Championships as a 19 year old. In her one fight at the time in the promotion, Morais faced Roxanne Modafferi at Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad on September 12, 2015, and lost via TKO stoppage in the third round. Returning to the regional Brazilian scene, Morais won 3 out the next 4 bouts, losing only to future UFC fighter Karol Rosa via unanimous decision. Morais faced Ariane Lipski on October 22, 2017, at KSW 40 for the KSW Women's Flyweight Championship. She lost via rear-naked choke less than a minute into the first round. Morais faced Vanessa Porto on January 13, 2018, at Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad. She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke on round one. Morais would then lose the next 4 out of 6 bouts on the regional Brazilian scene, including for the Shooto Brazil Women's Bantamweight Championship at Shooto Brasil 81 against Lara Fritzen via unanimous decision. One of the bouts she did win was for the NCE Flyweight Championship. Morais competed in the one night Shooto Brasil Women's Lightweight Grand Prix on March 1, 2020, with the winner gaining a contract for the 2021 Professional Fighters League season. Morais started the event by facing

Dayana Silva Dayana Silva (born August 17, 1990) is a Brazilian female mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division. A professional MMA fighter since 2009, she has formerly competed in Bellator MMA. ...

, from Nova União. In a tough fight, she won by split decision. She qualified for the final, where she faced Bianca Daimoni, from Chute Boxe, who had beaten Yana Gadelha in the semifinal. The São Paulo fighter needed less than two minutes to knock out Daimoni, in a straightforward exchange of blows.

Professional Fighters League

Morais was announced to be participating in the PFL for the 2021 season, and faced Kayla Harrison on May 6, 2021, at PFL 3. She lost the bout via TKO in the first round. Morais faced Kaitlin Young on June 25, 2021, at PFL 6. She won the close bout via split decision. Although she was eliminated from championship contention, she was scheduled to face Zamzagul Fayzallanova on August 19, 2021, at PFL 8. However, Zamzagul has to pull out of the bout and she was replaced by Claudia Zamora. After Larissa Pacheco was removed the tournament due to weight cut issues, Morais, who finished fifth in final standings, was reinstated as a replacement to face Taylor Guardado in the Semifinals off the Women's Lightweight tournament on August 19, 2021, at PFL 8. She lost the back-and-forth bout via split decision.

Post PFL

In her first bout after leaving PFL, Morais faced Abril Anguiano on January 7, 2023, at Peak Fighting 25, winning the bout via rear-naked choke in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

* New Corpore Extreme ** NCE Flyweight Championship

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

Mariana Morais
at PFL * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morais, Mariana 1995 births Living people Brazilian female mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists LGBTQ mixed martial artists People from São João da Boa Vista People from Niterói Martial artists from Rio de Janeiro (state) Afro-Brazilian women 21st-century Brazilian sportswomen