Pioneers who competed when women's brackets were half empty share the mat with the black belts rewriting the record books in gi and no-gi.
1Michelle NicoliniFeatherweight great with eight IBJJF world titles, famous for her spider-guard and leg-lock game.1000pts
2Gabi GarciaHeavyweight star with multiple IBJJF world titles and four ADCC championships.733pts
3Kyra GracieGracie family competitor who won IBJJF world titles and two ADCC golds, opening doors for women in the sport.599pts
4Ffion DaviesWelsh grappler who won the IBJJF black belt worlds and two ADCC titles.0pts
5Luanna AlzuguirTechnical lightweight with world titles in gi and no-gi, long seen as a model competitor.0pts
6Mackenzie DernAmerican-Brazilian black belt who won IBJJF worlds and ADCC gold before moving to the UFC.0pts
7Alessandra VieiraThe first woman to win an IBJJF black belt world title, in 1999.0pts
Photo credits
- Michelle Nicolini — Asia Fight Guide, CC BY 3.0
- Gabi Garcia — Bruno Massami, CC BY 3.0
- Kyra Gracie — self-made, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ffion Davies — OnlyFans, CC BY 3.0
- Luanna Alzuguir — vaosorio, CC BY 2.0
- Mackenzie Dern — Canal Faixa Preta, CC BY 3.0
- Alessandra Vieira — Art Jamgochian, CC BY-SA 4.0
