Juliana Velasquez Tonasse (born October 19, 1986) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the

flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of b ...

division of Bellator MMA, where she is the former Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. As of April 26, 2022, she is #3 in the Bellator Women's pound-for-pound Rankings and #1 in the Bellator Women's Flyweight Rankings.

Background

Juliana Velasquez's father introduced her to the judo mats when she was only four years old. The young carioca entered high-level competition 11 years later, capturing a few medals in the South American judo circuit. After failing to win a spot on the Brazilian Olympic Judo team, at the age of 28, she decided to try her luck in the mixed martial arts world. In 2013, she gained attention in Brazil for her part played in a polemic story about a fight between herself and male fighter Emerson Falcão, promoted by Shooto Brazil. After receiving a ton of criticism from the combat sports community for the promotion of a fight between a man and a woman, the promotion revealed the real reason for the event was to raise awareness and bring attention to a campaign about violence against women and that the bout wasn't actually going to take place.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Making her debut in 2014, Velasquez won her amateur debut via second-round submission, later that year, kicking off her professional career with a decision victory in a

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regional promotion. She won her next 4 fights, collecting a 5–0 record, in the process also winning the 1RC Vacant Bantamweight Championship and defending it once. She was eventually offered a multi fight contract with Bellator MMA.

Bellator MMA

Juliana made her Bellator debut against Na Liang at Bellator 189 on December 1, 2017. She won the fight via second round armbar. Juliana faced Rebecca Ruth at Bellator 197 on April 13, 2018. She won the fight via front kick to the body in the third round. In her third fight for the promotion, Velasquez faced

Alejandra Lara Alejandra Lara (born ) is a Colombian female mixed martial artist currently signed to the Bellator MMA promotion. As of October 4, 2022, she is #10 in the Bellator Women's Flyweight Rankings. Mixed martial arts career Early career Lara made ...

at Bellator 212 on December 14, 2018. She won the fight via split decision. Juliana faced Kristina Williams at Bellator 224 on July 12, 2019. She won the fight via TKO in the second round. Juliana faced Bruna Ellen at Bellator 236 on December 21, 2019. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion

Juliana faced undefeated flyweight champ,

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (born April 2, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of Bellator MMA. She is the inaugural and former Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. As of December ...

, on December 10, 2020 at Bellator 254. She won the fight and the

Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

via unanimous decision. Juliana made her first title defense against

Denise Kielholtz Denise Kielholtz (born 30 March 1989) is a Dutch female Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She has competed professionally since 2004 and is the current Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Champio ...

on July 16, 2021 at Bellator 262. She won the bout by split decision. Velasquez attempted to defend her title against

Liz Carmouche Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently signed to Bellator MMA, where she is the current Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...

on April 22, 2022 at

Bellator 278 ''Bellator 278: Velasquez vs. Carmouche'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on April 22, 2022, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Background Bellator 278 was dedicated for ...

. She lost the bout and the title via elbows from crucifix at the end of the fourth round. Following the bout, Velasquez's team appealed the result on the grounds of refereeing error made by Mike Beltran, but the appeal was denied by the Hawaii State Boxing Commission. In a title rematch, Velasquez faced

again on December 9, 2022 at Bellator 289. She lost the fight via an armbar submission in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

* Bellator MMA **

(One time) ***One successful title defense *1º Round Combat **1RC Bantamweight Championship (One time) ***One successful title defense

Mixed martial arts record

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Talita Bernardo Talita de Oliveira Neves Bernardo (born March 4, 1987) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist (MMA) who competed in the Bantamweight division in the UFC. Background Talita started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) at the age of 22, after she took ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Velasquez, Juliana 1986 births Living people Brazilian female judoka Brazilian female mixed martial artists Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Bellator female fighters Bellator MMA champions Sportspeople from Rio de Janeiro (city) 20th-century Brazilian women 21st-century Brazilian women