Meet Rizin FF’s Maria de Oliveira Neta

Maria de Oliveira Neta is leading the renewal of women’s mixed martial arts in Brazil.

Hailing from Sao Joao de Meriti, a city in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, the Parana Vale Tudo product has been featured as in Rizin Fighting Federation’s atomweight tournament, where she defeated Alyssa Garcia in the opening round. Nicknamed “Spider Girl” by the Japanese press, the Gilliard Parana-trained fighter will return to Land of the Rising Sun on Dec. 29 to continue her journey in the grand prix, where she faces Kanna Asakura at the famous Saitama Super Arena.

The 20-year-old prospect has rattled off nine consecutive victories on her way to a 10-2 professional record.