Viviane Araújo Gomes (born November 21, 1986) is a Brazilian professional

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 ...

. She is a former

Pancrase is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...

strawweight champion and currently competes in the women's

Flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight. Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of boxin ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC). As of February 4, 2025, she is #8 in the UFC women's flyweight rankings.

Background

Araújo started playing soccer and spent much of her time away from home to forget about problems at home after witnessing her alcoholic father beating her mother on a daily basis. She later started Brazilian jiu-jitsu and fell in love with the sport after an invitation from her jiu-jitsu coach. She later became a jiu-jitsu teacher and transitioned to mixed martial arts as she was tired of watching her father abuse her mother. Araújo uses the octagon as the platform to voice her support to reach victims of domestic violence.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Araújo fought most of her early mixed martial arts career primarily in Brazil and Japan, notably under

Jungle Fight Jungle Fight is a Brazilian mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion. It was created in 2003. The name is derived from its origin, the Amazonas state in Brazil. History Jungle Fight was founded by pioneering MMA fighter and long-time Brazi ...

and

where she was the Strawweight Queen of Pancrase prior being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Araújo made her UFC debut and faced

Talita Bernardo Talita de Oliveira Neves Bernardo (born March 4, 1987) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist (MMA), currently competing in the bantamweight division of Invicta FC, where she is the former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion. She also had a stint in t ...

, replacing Melissa Gatto, on May 11, 2019 at UFC 237. She won the fight via knockout in the third round. Her second fight came on July 27, 2019 at UFC 240, against Alexis Davis. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo faced

Jessica Eye Jessica Jo-Anne Eye (born July 27, 1986) is a former American professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist currently signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). She competed as a flyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Champio ...

on December 14, 2019 at

UFC 245 ''UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 14, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. B ...

At the weigh-ins, Eye weighed 131 lbs., five lbs. over the Flyweight limit of 126 lbs. She forfeited 30% of her fight purse to Araújo. She lost the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo was scheduled to meet Jennifer Maia on June 27, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 11. However, the bout was rescheduled in mid-June to take place on August 1, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana after both participants faced

travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries and territories imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other travel restrictions for citizens of or recent travelers to the most affected areas. Some countries and territories imposed global restric ...

. Subsequently, Araújo was removed from the card in mid-July after testing positive for COVID-19 and replaced by Joanne Calderwood. Araújo faced

Montana De La Rosa Montana De La Rosa (née Stewart) (born February 14, 1995) is an American mixed martial artist (MMA). She competed in the Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background De La Rosa was born in Helena, Montana, United S ...

on September 5, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo was briefly scheduled to face Roxanne Modafferi on January 30, 2021 at

UFC on ESPN 20 ''UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 20'' and ''UFC Fight Island 8'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 20, 2021, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, ...

. However, the fight was rescheduled and took place 10 days earlier at

UFC Fight Night 185 ''UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 185'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 43'' and ''UFC Vegas 19'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 20, 2021 at the UFC ...

instead. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo faced

Katlyn Chookagian Katlyn Cerminara (; born December 28, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist. She formerly competed in the Bantamweight division and currently competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...

on May 15, 2021 at

UFC 262 ''UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 15, 2021 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, United States. Background A UFC Lightweight Championship ...

. She lost the bout via unanimous decision. Araújo was expected to face

Alexa Grasso Karen Alexa Grasso Montes (born August 9, 1993) is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women's Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a former UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. Gr ...

on January 22, 2022 at

UFC 270 ''UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 22, 2022, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Background A UFC Heavyweight Championship title unificat ...

. However, Araújo was forced to pull out form the event due to injury, and the bout was cancelled. Araújo faced Andrea Lee on May 14, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 36. Despite surviving an early knockdown, Araújo won the bout via unanimous decision. Araújo was rescheduled to face

on August 13, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 41. However, the bout was cancelled due to Grasso's visa issues. The pair was yet again rescheduled on October 15, 2022 at

UFC Fight Night 212 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The large ...

. Araújo lost the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo faced

Amanda Ribas Amanda Limborco Alcântara Ribas (born August 26, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Strawweight and Flyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of March 11, 2025, ...

on March 4, 2023 at UFC 285. She lost the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo was scheduled to face Casey O'Neill on September 9, 2023 at UFC 293. However, O'Neill pulled out due to injury, and Araújo was rebooked against Jennifer Maia for October 14, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 230. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Araújo faced Natália Silva on February 3, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235 She lost the fight by unanimous decision. Araújo was scheduled to face Jasmine Jasdavicious on July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59. However, she withdrew from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Fatima Kline. Araújo faced Karine Silva on November 16, 2024 at UFC 309. She won the fight by unanimous decision. Araújo is scheduled to face Tracy Cortez on June 28, 2025, at UFC 317.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

**UFC.com Awards ***2019: Ranked #10 Newcomer of the Year *

** Strawweight Queen of Pancrase (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Araujo, Viviane 1986 births Living people Brazilian female mixed martial artists LGBTQ mixed martial artists Sportspeople from the Federal District (Brazil) Pancrase champions Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists utilizing Luta Livre Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Female Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners 21st-century Brazilian sportswomen