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 | Toledo, Paraná, Brazil | May 2, 1996
Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
Division | Flyweight (2017–present) Bantamweight (2018) |
Reach | 69 in (175 cm)[1] |
Team | Team Bronx Cascavel Chute Boxe |
Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2] under Marco Barbosa |
Years active | 2016–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 13 |
Wins | 9 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 4 |
By decision | 2 |
Losses | 2 |
By decision | 2 |
Draws | 2 |
Other information | |
University | Western Paraná State University |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Background
editGatto 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
editEarly career
editGatto 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
editGatto 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]
Gatto was scheduled to face Viktoriia Dudakova on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54.[27] However, the bout was cancelled during the broadcast due to a Dudakova illness.[28]
Gatto faced Tamires Vidal, replacing injured Hailey Cowan, on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.[29] Gatto won the fight by technical knockout from a punch to the chest.[30]
Championships and accomplishments
editMixed martial arts record
edit13 matches | 9 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 3 | 0 |
By submission | 4 | 0 |
By decision | 2 | 2 |
Draws | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 9–2–2 | Tamires Vidal | TKO (punch to the body) | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy | May 18, 2024 | 3 | 0:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight bout. |
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 1 | 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. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com.
- ^ Steve Latrell (December 17, 2021). "Melissa Gatto Restarts Her Dreams | UFC". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
- ^ a b c d "Toledo no UFC: Melissa Gatto estreia com vitória surpreendente". gazetatoledo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Melissa Gatto: Patient For Her UFC Debut - The Fight Library". fight-library.com. 2020-06-10. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ^ B, Zain; o99 (2021-08-06). "UFC 265: Who is Melissa Gatto?". FanSided. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2019-04-03). "Undefeated newcomer Melissa Gatto replaces injured Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC 237". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
- ^ "Viviane Araujo replaces Melissa Gatto at UFC 237, will face Talita Bernardo". MMA Fighting. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Damon Martin (October 17, 2019). "UFC newcomer Melissa Gatto receives one-year USADA suspension for failed drug test". mmafighting.com.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (May 19, 2020). "UFC newcomers Mariya Agapova, Melissa Gatto agree to fight on June 13". mmafighting.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2020-06-08). "Hannah Cifers makes two-week turnaround to fight Mariya Agapova on Saturday". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-05-24). "Victoria Leonardo vs. Melissa Gatto to fight at UFC 265". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "UFC Fight Night 199 weigh-in results: Three fighters miss weight for 2021 finale". MMA Junkie. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Evanoff, Josh (2021-12-18). "UFC Vegas 45: Melissa Gatto TKO's Sijara Eubanks". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ a b "UFC Fight Night 199 bonuses: Amanda Lemos and Angela Hill's battle among four winners". MMAjunkie.com. December 18, 2021.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (March 15, 2022). "Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto booked for UFC 274". mmafighting.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Gillian Robertson vs. Melissa Gatto set for UFC's Sept. 17 event". MMA Junkie. 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (2020-06-06). "UFC: Melissa Gatto Out of June 13 Fight with Mariya Agapova". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
- ^ Arshad (2023-04-22). "Ariane Lipski to Fight Melissa Gatto on July 1 UFC Event". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-07-01). "UFC Vegas 76: Ariane Lipski Edges Melissa Gatto, Wins Split Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ Raghuwanshi, Vipin (2024-02-06). "UFC Atlantic City: Melissa Gatto vs Viktoriia Dudakova Booked". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ Jay Anderson (2024-03-30). "Victoria Dudakova vs. Melissa Gatto Scrapped with UFC Atlantic City Underway". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
- ^ "Melissa Gatto fights Tamires Vidal at UFC Fight Night 241 after Hailey Cowan suffers broken leg". MMA Junkie. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2024-05-18). "UFC Vegas 92: Dominant Melissa Gatto Earns TKO Win in Bizarre Finish of Tamires Vidal". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ "Melissa Gatto MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-03-16.