Mayra Bueno Silva Bio
Mayra Bueno Silva, born on August 22, 1991, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who has built her reputation inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known by the nickname Sheetara, she has competed across the women’s Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions, with the majority of her UFC tenure spent at 135 pounds. A brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Bueno Silva has become recognized for her submission skills and her willingness to engage in high-paced, action-oriented bouts.
Based in São Paulo, Brazil, and training out of American Top Team, Bueno Silva has faced several of the biggest names in women’s mixed martial arts. Her career has included a shot at the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship and multiple post-fight bonus awards, marking her as one of the notable Brazilian competitors of her generation.
Early Life and Background
Mayra Bueno Silva was born in Uberlândia, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Growing up in Brazil, she was exposed to martial arts at a young age and developed an interest in combat sports that would eventually shape her professional path. The cultural presence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in her home country provided a natural entry point into the world of fighting.
By January 2015, Bueno Silva had relocated to the Campinas and São Paulo regions, where she began training in established gyms and refining her skill set. Her dedication to the sport intensified during this period, and she committed herself to a full-time training routine in preparation for a professional career. These formative years laid the technical and mental foundation for her transition into the professional ranks.
Path to MMA
Bueno Silva made her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2016, stepping onto the regional Brazilian circuit. She needed only three professional bouts to make an impression, winning all three and capturing the Batalha MMA Bantamweight title. Her rapid rise drew the attention of UFC executives, and she earned an invitation to Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 1.
On the Contender Series, Bueno Silva faced Mayana Souza dos Santos and finished the fight in the first round with a ninja choke. The performance was enough to earn her a contract with the UFC, signaling her official arrival on the international stage. Her early career demonstrated a clear pattern: decisive finishes, strong grappling, and a growing confidence under the bright lights of major promotions.
Mayra Bueno Silva Career
Early Career (2016-2018)
During her early professional years, Mayra Bueno Silva competed primarily on the Brazilian regional scene, where she built an undefeated record and established herself as a finisher. Her three-fight run culminated in the Batalha MMA Bantamweight title, and her subsequent appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 1 resulted in a first-round submission win that earned her a UFC deal. This period was characterized by fast finishes and steady development of her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-based game.
UFC Debut and Early UFC Years (2018-2021)
Bueno Silva made her UFC debut on September 22, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 137 against Gillian Robertson, winning by first-round submission. She followed that performance with a series of appearances across both the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions, building experience against a diverse range of opponents. A March 2020 bout against Maryna Moroz, though a unanimous decision loss, earned her the Fight of the Night award for the action-packed contest.
She continued to add notable results, including a first-round submission of Mara Romero Borella in September 2020 and a Performance of the Night-winning unanimous decision over Wu Yanan in April 2022. A 2021 bout with Montana De La Rosa ended in a majority draw after a point deduction for illegally grabbing the fence, and a scheduled fight with Manon Fiorot resulted in a unanimous decision loss. These years cemented her reputation as a tough, entertaining competitor willing to face anyone.
Bantamweight Run and Title Shot (2022-2024)
Returning to Bantamweight in 2022, Bueno Silva put together a strong run of form, defeating Wu Yanan, Stephanie Egger, and Lina Länsberg in succession. Her second-round kneebar of Länsberg in February 2023 earned a Performance of the Night bonus, and her second-round submission of former champion Holly Holm in June 2023, originally declared a win, brought her a second consecutive Performance of the Night award. The Holm victory positioned her for the biggest opportunity of her career.
On January 20, 2024, at UFC 297, Bueno Silva challenged Raquel Pennington for the vacant UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. She lost the bout by unanimous decision, falling short of the title. Later in 2024, she suffered a technical knockout loss to Macy Chiasson at UFC 303 after a doctor stoppage caused by a cut, an outcome that also led to a fine for jumping over the cage after the fight was halted.
Recent Career (2025-Present)
In 2025, Bueno Silva returned to the Flyweight division for a bout against Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Fight Night 250 in February, losing by unanimous decision. A scheduled August 2025 fight against Joselyne Edwards was cancelled after Bueno Silva withdrew for undisclosed reasons. She faced Jacqueline Cavalcanti at UFC Fight Night 264 in November 2025 and lost by unanimous decision, and in April 2026 she lost a unanimous decision to Michelle Montague at UFC Fight Night 274.
On May 18, 2026, it was reported that Mayra Bueno Silva had been removed from the UFC roster, marking the end of her tenure with the promotion that had defined her career since 2018.
Style and Strengths
Mayra Bueno Silva is best known for her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pedigree, holding a brown belt in the discipline. Her ground game features a variety of submissions, including the ninja choke, armbar, and kneebar, several of which have earned her Performance of the Night bonuses. She pairs her grappling with an aggressive, forward-pressure style that has produced memorable exchanges and post-fight awards throughout her UFC career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Bueno Silva’s career include her UFC debut submission win over Gillian Robertson, her Performance of the Night bonuses against Wu Yanan, Lina Länsberg, and Holly Holm, and her UFC 297 title challenge against Raquel Pennington. Her three post-fight bonus awards highlight her status as one of the most action-packed fighters in the women’s divisions during her UFC run.
Mayra Bueno Silva Career Wins
Mayra Bueno Silva has compiled a professional mixed martial arts record that includes finishes by knockout, submission, and decision. Her grappling-heavy style is reflected in the high number of submission victories she has accumulated across both the regional and UFC levels.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Bueno Silva has recorded notable wins over Gillian Robertson, Mara Romero Borella, Wu Yanan, Stephanie Egger, Lina Länsberg, and Holly Holm. Her victories have come via a mix of submissions and decisions, and several of her performances have been recognized with Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to joining the UFC, Bueno Silva captured the Batalha MMA Bantamweight title on the Brazilian regional scene and finished Mayana Souza dos Santos in the first round on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil 1. These early performances established her finishing ability and helped launch her international career.
Mayra Bueno Silva Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Mayra Bueno Silva’s parents and broader family background is limited.
Personal Life
Mayra Bueno Silva is in a relationship with fellow UFC alum Gloria de Paula. The couple met in 2016 and have been together since, sharing a connection rooted in their parallel careers in mixed martial arts. Bueno Silva has lived and trained in the São Paulo area, where she has built her professional and personal life.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional period for Mayra Bueno Silva, beginning with her return to the Flyweight division. Her February bout against Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Fight Night 250 ended in a unanimous decision loss, and a planned August matchup with Joselyne Edwards was scrapped after she withdrew for undisclosed reasons. The disruption prevented her from building momentum in the lighter division during the first half of the year.
Bueno Silva returned to action in November 2025 at UFC Fight Night 264, facing Jacqueline Cavalcanti in another competitive bout that resulted in a unanimous decision loss. The back-to-back setbacks reflected the challenges she faced in securing victories against a deep and evolving women’s talent pool.
Following her reported removal from the UFC roster in May 2026, the outlook for her 2025 campaign and beyond points toward a potential reset of her career, whether through a return to the UFC, a move to another major promotion, or a shift in fighting focus.
