Melissa Gatto

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.

Melissa Gatto
Born (1996-05-02) May 2, 1996
Toledo, Paraná, Brazil
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
DivisionFlyweight (2017–present)
Bantamweight (2018)
Reach69 in (175 cm)[1]
TeamTeam Bronx Cascavel
Chute Boxe
RankPurple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2] under Marco Barbosa
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins8
By knockout2
By submission4
By decision2
Losses2
By decision2
Draws2
Other information
UniversityWestern 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]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
12 matches 8 wins 2 losses
By knockout 2 0
By submission 4 0
By decision 2 2
Draws 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
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 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.

[27]

See also

References
  1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com.
  2. Steve Latrell (December 17, 2021). "Melissa Gatto Restarts Her Dreams | UFC". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  3. "Toledo no UFC: Melissa Gatto estreia com vitória surpreendente". gazetatoledo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). August 9, 2021.
  4. "Melissa Gatto: Patient For Her UFC Debut - The Fight Library". fight-library.com. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  5. B, Zain; o99 (2021-08-06). "UFC 265: Who is Melissa Gatto?". FanSided. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  6. "Contratada em 2019, Melissa Gatto celebra chance e se diz preparada para estrear no UFC 265". SUPER LUTAS (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  7. Cruz, Guilherme (2019-04-03). "Undefeated newcomer Melissa Gatto replaces injured Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC 237". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  8. "Viviane Araujo replaces Melissa Gatto at UFC 237, will face Talita Bernardo". MMA Fighting. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  9. Nolan King and Mike Bohn (2019-06-24). "UFC 239: With Melissa Gatto out, Pannie Kianzad returns to take on Julia Avila". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  10. Damon Martin (October 17, 2019). "UFC newcomer Melissa Gatto receives one-year USADA suspension for failed drug test". mmafighting.com.
  11. Guilherme Cruz (May 19, 2020). "UFC newcomers Mariya Agapova, Melissa Gatto agree to fight on June 13". mmafighting.com.
  12. Tristen Critchfield (2020-06-07). "Melissa Gatto withdraws from Saturday's UFC Fight Night card due to Visa issues". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  13. Farah Hannoun (2020-06-08). "Hannah Cifers makes two-week turnaround to fight Mariya Agapova on Saturday". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  14. Cruz, Guilherme (2021-05-24). "Victoria Leonardo vs. Melissa Gatto to fight at UFC 265". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  15. Anderson, Jay (2021-08-07). "UFC 265 Results: Melissa Gatto Picks Up Debut Win, Victoria Leonardo Unable to Continue". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  16. Marcel Dorff (2021-10-31). "Sijara Eubanks vs. Melissa Gatto toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 18 december". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  17. "UFC Fight Night 199 weigh-in results: Three fighters miss weight for 2021 finale". MMA Junkie. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  18. Lee, Alexander K. (2021-12-17). "UFC Vegas 45 weigh-in results: Justin Tafa first heavyweight to miss weight in UFC history, two others miss". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  19. Evanoff, Josh (2021-12-18). "UFC Vegas 45: Melissa Gatto TKO's Sijara Eubanks". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
  20. "UFC Fight Night 199 bonuses: Amanda Lemos and Angela Hill's battle among four winners". MMAjunkie.com. December 18, 2021.
  21. Guilherme Cruz (March 15, 2022). "Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto booked for UFC 274". mmafighting.com.
  22. Anderson, Jay (2022-05-07). "UFC 274: Decision Over Melissa Gatto Extends Tracy Cortez's Win Streak to 10 After Year Away". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  23. "Gillian Robertson vs. Melissa Gatto set for UFC's Sept. 17 event". MMA Junkie. 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  24. Bitter, Shawn (2020-06-06). "UFC: Melissa Gatto Out of June 13 Fight with Mariya Agapova". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  25. Arshad (2023-04-22). "Ariane Lipski to Fight Melissa Gatto on July 1 UFC Event". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  26. Anderson, Jay (2023-07-01). "UFC Vegas 76: Ariane Lipski Edges Melissa Gatto, Wins Split Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  27. "Melissa Gatto MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
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