Nathiely De Jesus

Born on February 10, 1996, in Itapira, São Paulo, Brazil, Nathiely Karoline de Jesus grew up in Embu das Artes. At age 13, facing weight challenges and frequent bronchitis, she sought medical guidance and was advised to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to improve her health. Following this recommendation, Nathiely enrolled at a local affiliate of Lótus Clube, training under coach Claudio Felix, marking the beginning of her martial arts journey.

In December 2013, Nathiely visited the renowned Projeto Social Lutando Pelo Bem (PSLPB) academy, led by Cícero Costha, encouraged by her boyfriend and fellow competitor, Manuel Ribamar. Experiencing PSLPB's intense, competition-focused environment proved transformative, prompting her to officially join the team. Under Costha's mentorship, Nathiely's competitive skills rapidly advanced, culminating in her promotion to black belt by Costha himself on the podium at the 2016 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship on June 3, 2016.

Nathiely de Jesus is widely recognized for her sophisticated and highly effective lasso guard techniques. She strategically employs this guard to neutralize larger opponents, maintain positional dominance, and dictate the tempo of matches. Nathiely credits her refined lasso guard as a cornerstone of her consistent success at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.

Nathiely made history by becoming the first woman to defeat the legendary Gabi Garcia in both gi and no-gi formats—first at Fight 2 Win in 2019 (gi), and again at Who's Number One 6 in 2021 (no-gi). In Fall 2023, she returned from a competitive hiatus to claim the inaugural WNO Women's Heavyweight Championship, defeating Rafaela Guedes in the final. Nathiely faced Guedes again in the final of the 2024 ADCC World Championships, earning a silver medal in the +65kg division.

In late 2019, Nathiely opened her own academy in Austin, Texas, alongside her husband, Manuel Ribamar. Balancing active competition with dedicated coaching, she emphasizes inspiring and developing the next generation of grapplers. Her academy quickly established itself as a respected training ground, reflecting her commitment to excellence both on and off the mats.

In December 2021, Nathiely gave birth to her daughter. Demonstrating remarkable resilience and dedication, she returned to elite competition within a year, swiftly resuming her winning ways. Her comeback was highlighted by significant victories, including capturing the inaugural WNO Women's Heavyweight Championship in Fall 2023, reinforcing her status as one of the sport's elite competitors.