Michelle Zonato Nicolini or Michelle Nicolini (born January 5, 1982) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist (MMA).[6] Among the most accomplished female grapplers of all time,[7][8] Nicolini holds third place for most IBJJF World Championship titles, with eight wins.[9] She is a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame.[10]
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Grappling career
Nicolini was born in the city of Itú in Brazil.[citation needed] At the age of 14 she started Capoeira stopping 3 years later to focus on jiu-jitsu, training under Robert Drysdale, who she received her black belt from. In 2015 she competed twice at Polaris Pro Grappling beating Angelica Galvao via toehold[11] and losing to Gezary Matuda via armbar.[12]
Nicolini was scheduled to compete against Ffion Davies at Polaris 21 on September 24, 2022, for the promotion's inaugural bantamweight title[13] Davies withdrew from the match and was replaced by Ashley Bendle on short notice. Nicolini defeated Bendle by split decision and won the Polaris bantamweight title.[14]
Nicolini competed in the IBJJF Master International Championship - Europe on April 30, 2023 where she won gold medals in the lightweight and absolute divisions at Master 2.[15]
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitive summary
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (December 2022) |
In the major IBJJF gi championships at black belt level she is a:-
8x World Championship champion
3x Pan-American Championship champion
3x European Championship champion
3x Brazilian Nationals champion
2022 European Master 1 Lightweight Champion[16]
In the major IBJJF Nogi championships at black belt level she is a:-
4x World Nogi Championship champion
2x Pan Ams Nogi Championship champion
2x Euros Nogi Championship champion
She is also a 4x ADCC medal winner – 1x Gold, 2x Silver and 1x Bronze.
By winning the Brazilian Nationals Nogi Championship Michelle would become the first female athlete to complete a clean sweep of winning a gold medal at black belt level in both gi and no-gi at all four major championships.[citation needed]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Nicolini was scheduled to face Cristina Meija at Inka FC 11 on June 23, 2011, in her mixed martial arts debut.[17] She won the fight by a first-round submission.[18]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Lanchana Green at M4TC 13: Nemesis on February 22, 2014. She won the fight by a first-round submission.[19]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Norma Rueda Center at Legacy FC 36 October 17, 2014.[20] Nicolini suffered her first professional loss, as Norma won by unanimous decision.[21]
ONE Championship
On July 25, 2016, it was revealed that Nicolini had signed with the Singapore-based fight promotion ONE Championship.[22]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Mona Samir at ONE Championship: Defending Honor on November 16, 2016. She won the fight by a first-round submission.[23]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Irina Mazepa at ONE Championship: Kings of Destiny on April 21, 2017. She won the fight by a first-round submission.[24]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Iryna Kyselova at ONE Championship: Visions of Victory on March 8, 2018. She won the fight by a first-round submission.[25]
Nicolini was scheduled to face Tiffany Teo, in a ONE strawweight title eliminator, at ONE Championship: Heart of the Lion on November 9, 2018.[26] Teo won the fight by unanimous decision, handing Nicolini her second professional loss.[27]
Nicolini was scheduled to face the reigning ONE Women's Atomweight champion Angela Lee, in a strawweight bout, at ONE Championship: Masters of Destiny on July 12, 2019.[28] Despite coming into the bout as an underdog, and being on the receiving end of several uncalled fouls, Nicolini won the fight by unanimous decision.[29]
Nicolini challenged the reigning ONE Women's Strawweight World champion Xiong Jingnan at ONE Championship: Empower on September 3, 2021.[30] It was originally scheduled for May 28, 2021, before being postponed due to COVID-19.[31] She lost the bout via unanimous decision, unable to get her opponent to the ground and losing the striking exchanges.[32]
Mixed martial arts record
| 9 matches | 6 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 6–3 | Xiong Jingnan | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Empower | September 3, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | For the ONE Strawweight Championship (125 lb). |
| Win | 6–2 | Angela Lee | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Masters of Destiny | July 12, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Tiffany Teo | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: Heart of the Lion | November 9, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 5–1 | Iryna Kyselova | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Visions of Victory | March 9, 2018 | 1 | 2:26 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Win | 4–1 | Irina Mazepa | Submission (armbar) | ONE: Kings of Destiny | April 21, 2017 | 1 | 2:11 | Pasay, Philippines | |
| Win | 3–1 | Mona Samir | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Defending Honor | November 16, 2016 | 1 | 2:16 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Norma Rueda Center | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 36 | October 17, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Lanchana Green | Submission (armbar) | M4TC 13: Nemesis | February 22, 2014 | 1 | 2:27 | Tyne and Wear, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Cristina Meija | Submission (armbar) | Inka FC 11 | June 23, 2011 | 1 | 2:36 | Santiago de Surco, Peru |
References
External links
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