Keep your eyes on this Bantamweight \u2026<\/p>\n
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is heading to the \u201cMarvelous City\u201d this weekend (Sat., Oct. 11, 2025) for UFC Rio<\/a>. In the main event, former Lightweight champion Charles Oliveira collides with No. 8-ranked<\/a> Mateusz Gamrot in what could be a grappler\u2019s delight<\/p>\n Check out UFC Rio\u2019s entire card here<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are several up-and-coming fighters featured throughout the card this weekend (see them here<\/a>), but let\u2019s give you one to really keep your eyes on.<\/p>\n Two weeks ago, I spotlighted UFC newcomer<\/a> Michelle Montague as a fighter to watch in the struggling Bantamweight division \u2014 and she went on to dominate her debut. Now, it\u2019s time to highlight another Bantamweight prospect, and she just so happens to be Montague\u2019s teammate: Bia Mesquita.<\/p>\n Mesquita (5-0) is widely regarded as the greatest women\u2019s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) grappler of all time, even calling herself the \u201cBJJ GWOAT<\/a>.\u201d Her resume backs it up \u2014 10 IBJJF Gi world titles (a Guinness World Record), five No-Gi world championships, and an ADCC gold medal.<\/p>\n Simply put: she\u2019s a savage on the ground.<\/p>\n Of course, pure grapplers can struggle when they can\u2019t dictate where the fight takes place, but so far, Mesquita has imposed her will more often than not. While Mesquita is improving her standup game, she is incredibly raw, and if she doesn\u2019t get her opponents to the ground, it goes sideways; however, that doesn\u2019t happen very often.<\/p>\n At 34, Mesquita may be older than most prospects, but her skills could fast-track her up the rankings if she delivers another dominant performance. She\u2019s the biggest betting favorite on the card (-650)<\/a>, and it\u2019s deserved \u2014 her opponent<\/a>, Irina Alekseeva, has looked rough in recent outings.<\/p>\n If Mesquita smashes her way through again in Rio, expect the hype train to pick up speed fast.<\/p>\n Remember that MMAmania.com<\/a> will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Rio fight card<\/a>, starting with the ESPN+<\/a> \u201cPrelims\u201d matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 7 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+<\/a>).<\/p>\n