Juliana Velasquez Bio
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse, born on October 19, 1986, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has built a respected career in the flyweight division. Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall with a 67.5-inch reach and competing in the 125-pound weight class, she fights out of a southpaw stance and represents Team Nogueira. She is widely recognized as the former Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion, a title she captured by defeating Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in 2020. Velasquez continues to compete at a high level, having transitioned to the Professional Fighters League in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she developed an early connection to combat sports. Her father introduced her to the judo mats when she was only four years old, planting the seeds for a lifetime in martial arts. The young carioca progressed quickly, and by the age of fifteen, she was already competing at the high level of the South American judo circuit, where she collected several medals.
Her competitive judo career eventually reached a crossroads when she failed to secure a spot on the Brazilian Olympic Judo team. At the age of 28, rather than step away from competition, she made the bold decision to transition into the world of professional mixed martial arts. Velasquez has since earned a black belt in judo, an achievement that reflects the depth of her grappling foundation and continues to shape her approach inside the cage.
In 2013, she gained attention in Brazil for her involvement in a controversial Shooto Brazil promotional event alongside male fighter Emerson Falcão. The event was revealed to be a campaign against violence toward women, and the bout was never actually scheduled to take place.
Path to MMA
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse’s transition to mixed martial arts began with a successful amateur run, including a second-round submission victory in her amateur debut. She turned professional in 2014, opening her career with a decision win on a Rio de Janeiro regional card. From there, she strung together victories, eventually claiming the vacant 1RC Bantamweight Championship and defending it once to build an unblemished 5-0 record.
That early success caught the attention of major promotions, and she was offered a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA. Her blend of judo-based grappling, technical striking, and southpaw stance made her a natural fit for the international stage, and she prepared for the next chapter of her career at Team Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro.
Juliana Velasquez Career
Early Career (2014-2017)
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse made her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2014 and quickly established herself as a rising talent in the Brazilian regional scene. Competing primarily in Rio de Janeiro, she built a perfect 5-0 record that included winning the 1RC Vacant Bantamweight Championship and defending it once. Her finishing ability, supported by a strong judo base, allowed her to control opponents both on the feet and on the ground.
By 2017, her regional résumé had earned her a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA, one of the top mixed martial arts promotions in the world. That opportunity marked the end of her developmental phase and set the stage for her emergence on the global scene.
Bellator MMA Breakthrough (2017-2020)
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse made her Bellator debut against Na Liang at Bellator 189 on December 1, 2017, and submitted Liang with a second-round armbar. She followed that with a third-round front-kick finish of Rebecca Ruth at Bellator 197 in April 2018, and a split-decision win over Alejandra Lara at Bellator 212 in December 2018, building early momentum inside the promotion.
Her ascent continued in 2019 with a second-round TKO of Kristina Williams at Bellator 224 and a unanimous-decision victory over Bruna Ellen at Bellator 236. These wins set up the biggest opportunity of her career: a flyweight title shot against undefeated champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane at Bellator 254 on December 10, 2020. Velasquez outpointed Macfarlane via unanimous decision to capture the Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship.
Bellator Reign and PFL Era (2021-Present)
Following her title-winning performance, Juliana Velasquez Tonasse made her first Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship defense against Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 262 on July 16, 2021, earning a split-decision victory. Her reign ended in her next outing, however, when she lost the title to Liz Carmouche via fourth-round elbows from crucifix at Bellator 278 on April 22, 2022. A subsequent rematch with Carmouche at Bellator 289 in December 2022 also ended in defeat, this time by second-round armbar submission.
In 2024, Velasquez debuted with the Professional Fighters League, losing a unanimous decision to Liz Carmouche at PFL 1 in April. She bounced back at PFL 4 in June 2024 with a second-round TKO of Lisa Mauldin. On February 18, 2025, the promotion officially confirmed her entry into the 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament, where she lost a quarterfinal to Ekaterina Shakalova by first-round rear-naked choke at PFL 2 before winning a rematch by unanimous decision at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025.
Style and Strengths
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse is a southpaw fighter whose style is rooted in a black belt in judo, giving her strong clinch work, throws, and top control. She combines that grappling base with crisp striking, including a notable front kick to the body, and she is comfortable finishing fights both by submission and on the scorecards. Her training at Team Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro has helped her develop a well-rounded game suited for the flyweight division.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Juliana Velasquez Tonasse’s career came on December 10, 2020, when she dethroned undefeated champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane to win the Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship. She has competed in multiple five-round championship bouts, faced top-ranked opposition such as Liz Carmouche, Denise Kielholtz, and Alejandra Lara, and continues to test herself against elite flyweights in the Professional Fighters League.
Juliana Velasquez Career Wins
Across her professional mixed martial arts career, Juliana Velasquez Tonasse has compiled 14 wins in 18 total bouts. Her victories have come by a variety of methods, including knockouts, submissions, and decisions, reflecting her well-rounded skill set developed through years of judo and MMA training.
Bellator and PFL Highlights
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse opened her Bellator career with a second-round armbar of Na Liang at Bellator 189 in 2017 and followed it with a third-round front-kick finish of Rebecca Ruth at Bellator 197. Her most recent finish inside the Bellator cage came by way of a second-round TKO of Kristina Williams at Bellator 224 in 2019, while her most recent victory as a whole came via unanimous decision over Ekaterina Shakalova at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in her career, Juliana Velasquez Tonasse won the 1RC Vacant Bantamweight Championship in Brazil and defended it once while building an unblemished 5-0 record on the regional circuit. Those results helped establish her as a top prospect and ultimately led to her signing with Bellator MMA.
Juliana Velasquez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse was raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a family that supported her athletic development from a young age. Her father played a key role in her martial arts journey by introducing her to judo when she was four years old, an early influence that shaped her future in combat sports.
Personal Life
Juliana Velasquez Tonasse currently resides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she trains out of Team Nogueira. She continues to focus on her professional fighting career and represents her hometown on the international stage.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has been a year of transition for Juliana Velasquez Tonasse inside the Professional Fighters League. After being officially announced as a participant in the 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament on February 18, 2025, she was originally scheduled to face Taila Santos in the quarterfinals at PFL 2 before Santos withdrew and was replaced by Ekaterina Shakalova.
Velasquez suffered a first-round rear-naked choke loss to Shakalova in that quarterfinal, ending her tournament run. She was given an opportunity to rebound in a rematch with Shakalova at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025, where she turned the tables with a unanimous-decision victory, evening the series and showing her resilience against a familiar opponent.
With her PFL career gaining momentum after the Shakalova rematch, Juliana Velasquez Tonasse remains an active and relevant figure in the flyweight division. Her mix of championship experience, judo credentials, and southpaw style keeps her in the mix for future high-profile matchups heading into the next phase of her career.