Jiu-jitsu legend, LFA champion Bia Mesquita set for UFC debut in Rio de Janeiro

[Edge Guerrero]

Bia Mesquita has joined the UFC bantamweight roster, and her octagon debut is set for Oct. 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, versus Irina Alekseeva.

Multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news to MMA Fighting following a report from Leo Guimaraes.

The UFC officially announced the Fight Night card on Wednesday night, but has yet to reveal any match-ups.

Mesquita is a 10-time jiu-jitsu world champion, ADCC gold medalist and 5-0 as a mixed martial artist, capturing the LFA bantamweight belt in her most recent appearance in June.

A training partner of UFC contender Kayla Harrison at American Top Team, Mesquita was named one of the top Brazilian prospects to watch in 2025.

Alekseeva is 5-3 as a professional with a 1-2 record since joining the UFC in April 2023.

The one-time Bellator fighter missed weight prior to her first-round kneebar victory over Stephanie Egger in the UFC before dropping decisions to Melissa Mullins and Klaudia Syguła.

https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/31/24478172/jiu-jitsu-legend-lfa-champion-bia-mesquita-ufc-debut-rio-de-janeiro