Melissa Gatto Explained

Melissa Gatto
Birth Date:2 May 1996
Birth Place:Toledo, Paraná, Brazil
Weight:125lb
Weight Class:Flyweight (2017–present)
Bantamweight (2018)
Reach:69 in[1]
Team:Team Bronx Cascavel
Chute Boxe
Rank:Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu[2]
Years Active:2016–present
Mma Kowin:3
Mma Subwin:4
Mma Decwin:2
Mma Decloss:2
Mma Draw:2
University:Western Paraná State University
Sherdog:193547

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.

Background

Gatto 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. Gradually she picked up also other disciplines eventually drifting to mixed martial arts in order to challenge herself.[4] She attended Western Paraná State University from where she graduated with bachelor's degree in languages.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Gatto 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

Gatto 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 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 .[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

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|9–2–2|Tamires Vidal|TKO (punch to the body)|||align=center|3|align=center|0:37|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|8–2–2|Ariane Lipski|Decision (split)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|8–1–2|Tracy Cortez|Decision (unanimous)|UFC 274||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Phoenix, Arizona, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–0–2|Sijara Eubanks|TKO (body kick and punches)|||align=center|3|align=center|0:45|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–0–2|Victoria Leonardo|TKO (doctor stoppage)|UFC 265 ||align=center|2|align=center|5:00|Houston, Texas, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–0–2|Karol Rosa|Submission (kimura)|Nação Cyborg 3||align=center|1|align=center|4:19|Curitiba, Brazil||-|Draw|align=center|5–0–2|Sidy Rocha|Draw (split)|Pantanal Fight Champions 2||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Corumbá, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|5–0–1|Joice de Andrade|Submission (armbar)|Clev Fight 1||align=center|1|align=center|2:34|Clevelândia, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|4–0–1|Kethylen Rothenburg|Submission (armbar)|Nação Cyborg 1||align=center|1|align=center|1:36|Colombo, Brazil||-|Draw|align=center|3–0–1|Edna Oliveira Ajala|Draw (majority)|Bonito Eco Fight Combat 2||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Bonito, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|3–0|Rafaela Thomazini|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Spartacus Circuit 9||align=center|1|align=center|1:09|Cascavel, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|2–0|Taynara Silva|Decision (unanimous)|Pantanal Fight Champions||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Corumbá, Brazil||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Alexandra Alves|Decision (unanimous)|Spartacus Circuit 8||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Cascavel, Brazil||-[31]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stats UFC. ufcstats.com.
  2. Web site: Melissa Gatto Restarts Her Dreams UFC. December 17, 2021. Steve Latrell. Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  3. Web site: Toledo no UFC: Melissa Gatto estreia com vitória surpreendente. August 9, 2021. gazetatoledo.com. pt-br.
  4. Web site: 2020-06-10 . Melissa Gatto: Patient For Her UFC Debut - The Fight Library . 2022-05-04 . fight-library.com . en-US.
  5. Web site: B . Zain . o99 . 2021-08-06 . UFC 265: Who is Melissa Gatto? . 2022-05-04 . FanSided . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2021-08-05 . Contratada em 2019, Melissa Gatto celebra chance e se diz preparada para estrear no UFC 265 . 2022-05-04 . SUPER LUTAS . pt-BR.
  7. Web site: Undefeated newcomer Melissa Gatto replaces injured Jessica-Rose Clark at UFC 237. Cruz. Guilherme. 2019-04-03. MMA Fighting. 2022-04-08.
  8. Web site: Viviane Araujo replaces Melissa Gatto at UFC 237, will face Talita Bernardo. 2019-05-08. MMA Fighting. 2022-04-08.
  9. Web site: UFC 239: With Melissa Gatto out, Pannie Kianzad returns to take on Julia Avila. mmajunkie.com. Nolan King and Mike Bohn. 2019-06-24. 2022-04-08.
  10. Web site: Damon Martin . October 17, 2019 . UFC newcomer Melissa Gatto receives one-year USADA suspension for failed drug test . mmafighting.com.
  11. Web site: UFC newcomers Mariya Agapova, Melissa Gatto agree to fight on June 13. May 19, 2020. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz.
  12. Web site: Melissa Gatto withdraws from Saturday's UFC Fight Night card due to Visa issues. sherdog.com. Tristen Critchfield. 2020-06-07. 2020-06-08.
  13. Web site: Hannah Cifers makes two-week turnaround to fight Mariya Agapova on Saturday. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2020-06-08. 2020-06-08.
  14. Web site: Cruz. Guilherme. 2021-05-24. Victoria Leonardo vs. Melissa Gatto to fight at UFC 265. 2021-05-25. MMA Fighting. en.
  15. News: Anderson. Jay. 2021-08-07. UFC 265 Results: Melissa Gatto Picks Up Debut Win, Victoria Leonardo Unable to Continue. en-US. Cageside Press. 2021-08-07.
  16. Web site: Marcel Dorff. 2021-10-31. Sijara Eubanks vs. Melissa Gatto toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 18 december. 2022-01-09. MMA DNA. nl.
  17. Web site: 2021-12-17. UFC Fight Night 199 weigh-in results: Three fighters miss weight for 2021 finale. 2021-12-17. MMA Junkie. en-US.
  18. Web site: 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. 2021-12-17. MMA Fighting. en.
  19. Web site: Evanoff. Josh. 2021-12-18. UFC Vegas 45: Melissa Gatto TKO's Sijara Eubanks. 2021-12-19. Cageside Press. en-US.
  20. Web site: UFC Fight Night 199 bonuses: Amanda Lemos and Angela Hill's battle among four winners. December 18, 2021. MMAjunkie.com.
  21. Web site: Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto booked for UFC 274. March 15, 2022. mmafighting.com. Guilherme Cruz.
  22. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2022-05-07 . UFC 274: Decision Over Melissa Gatto Extends Tracy Cortez's Win Streak to 10 After Year Away . 2022-05-08 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2022-06-24 . Gillian Robertson vs. Melissa Gatto set for UFC's Sept. 17 event . 2022-08-04 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  24. Web site: Bitter . Shawn . 2020-06-06 . UFC: Melissa Gatto Out of June 13 Fight with Mariya Agapova . 2022-08-04 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  25. Web site: Arshad . 2023-04-22 . Ariane Lipski to Fight Melissa Gatto on July 1 UFC Event . 2023-05-06 . www.itnwwe.com . en-US.
  26. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2023-07-01 . UFC Vegas 76: Ariane Lipski Edges Melissa Gatto, Wins Split Decision . 2023-07-02 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  27. Web site: Raghuwanshi . Vipin . 2024-02-06 . UFC Atlantic City: Melissa Gatto vs Viktoriia Dudakova Booked. 2024-02-06 . www.itnwwe.com . en-US.
  28. Web site: Jay Anderson. 2024-03-30. Victoria Dudakova vs. Melissa Gatto Scrapped with UFC Atlantic City Underway. 2024-03-30. cagesidepress.com.
  29. Web site: 2024-04-26 . Melissa Gatto fights Tamires Vidal at UFC Fight Night 241 after Hailey Cowan suffers broken leg . 2024-04-26 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  30. Web site: Anderson . Jay . 2024-05-18 . UFC Vegas 92: Dominant Melissa Gatto Earns TKO Win in Bizarre Finish of Tamires Vidal . 2024-05-18 . Cageside Press . en-US.
  31. Web site: Melissa Gatto MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography. Sherdog. 2022-03-16.