Virna Jandiroba Bio
Virna Carole Andrade Jandiroba, born on May 30, 1988, in Serrinha, Bahia, Brazil, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Widely recognized by her ring name “Carcará,” she is a former Invicta Fighting Championships Strawweight champion and has built a reputation as one of the most skilled grapplers in her division. As of October 28, 2025, she holds the number three ranking in the UFC women’s strawweight division.
Trained out of Team Velame Academia Fight House in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Jandiroba has been a professional competitor since 2013 and continues to be a top contender in mixed martial arts. Her career is highlighted by an exceptional submission game, rooted in years of dedicated training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts disciplines.
Early Life and Background
Virna Carole Andrade Jandiroba grew up in Serrinha, a city located in the state of Bahia, Brazil. From a young age, she showed interest in martial arts, beginning her training in kung fu as a child. This early exposure to combat sports helped shape her discipline and laid the foundation for her future in fighting.
As she grew older, Jandiroba transitioned from kung fu to judo, and later focused her efforts on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her dedication to grappling arts allowed her to eventually earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a milestone that marked her readiness to compete at a high level in mixed martial arts. She currently resides in Feira de Santana, Bahia, where she trains with her team.
Path to MMA
After earning her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Jandiroba made the decision to transition into mixed martial arts. She began her professional MMA career in 2013, fighting primarily in regional events across Brazil. During this developmental phase, she built a strong foundation by testing her grappling skills against a variety of opponents.
Jandiroba compiled an undefeated record of 11-0 in her early career, which attracted the attention of major international promotions. Her success on the Brazilian circuit demonstrated her well-rounded skill set and set the stage for her arrival on the global stage of women’s mixed martial arts.
Virna Jandiroba Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Jandiroba spent the early years of her professional career competing in her home country of Brazil. Her time in the regional scene was marked by consistent performances and a growing reputation as a submission specialist. With each fight, she refined her techniques and gained valuable experience inside the cage.
By the time she finished her pre-Invicta run, Jandiroba had amassed an 11-0 record, a run that caught the attention of international promoters. This undefeated streak opened the door for her to sign with Invicta Fighting Championships, one of the leading platforms for women’s MMA at the time.
Invicta Fighting Championships Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Jandiroba made her Invicta Fighting Championships debut on December 8, 2017, at Invicta FC 26, where she faced Amy Montenegro. She won the fight by first-round armbar submission, announcing her arrival with a dominant performance. This victory established her as a serious contender in the promotion’s strawweight division.
On March 24, 2018, at Invicta FC 28, Jandiroba faced Mizuki Inoue for the Invicta Strawweight Championship after the original opponent withdrew. She won the bout by split decision and was crowned the Invicta FC Strawweight Champion. Later that year, on September 1, 2018, she made her first title defense against Janaisa Morandin at Invicta FC 31, submitting Morandin in the second round to retain her championship.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Era (2019–Present)
Jandiroba entered the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2019, replacing an injured fighter to face former champion Carla Esparza at UFC Fight Night. Although she lost the bout by unanimous decision, it marked her first professional defeat and provided valuable experience at the highest level of the sport.
Following her debut, Jandiroba built a steady presence in the UFC strawweight division. She earned notable wins over fighters such as Mallory Martin, Felice Herrig, and Kanako Murata, often showcasing her signature submission skills. Her victory over Herrig at UFC 252 earned her a Performance of the Night award. She also faced tough losses against Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas, but continued to demonstrate growth in her overall game.
More recently, Jandiroba has maintained her position among the top strawweights in the world. She defeated Amanda Lemos by second-round armbar at UFC on ESPN 60 in July 2024, earning another Performance of the Night bonus. In April 2025, she earned a unanimous decision victory over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314. On October 25, 2025, at UFC 321, she faced Mackenzie Dern in a rematch for the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship, losing by unanimous decision.
Style and Strengths
Jandiroba is widely regarded as one of the premier grapplers in the women’s strawweight division, with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a green and white prajied rank in Muay Thai. Her fighting style is built around high-level submissions, including armbars, applied with timing and precision. Trained by Luiz Dórea at Team Velame Academia Fight House, she combines strong ground control with improving striking.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Jandiroba’s career include winning the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship, earning multiple Performance of the Night awards in the UFC, and competing for the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship at UFC 321. Her armbar finishes and high-level grappling bouts have become signature moments of her professional journey.
Virna Jandiroba Career Wins
Across her professional career, Virna Jandiroba has accumulated a record of 23 wins and 4 losses in mixed martial arts. Her victories are distributed across her Brazilian regional career, her Invicta FC reign, and her ongoing tenure in the UFC, where she has faced many of the division’s top athletes.
Invicta FC Highlights
Jandiroba’s time in Invicta Fighting Championships produced significant results, including her championship victory over Mizuki Inoue and her title defense against Janaisa Morandin. These wins established her as a top strawweight talent before her transition to the UFC roster.
Other Wins & Performances
In addition to her championship accomplishments, Jandiroba has earned victories over notable fighters such as Felice Herrig, Mallory Martin, Kanako Murata, Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, Loopy Godinez, Amanda Lemos, and Yan Xiaonan. Her performance in regional Brazilian competition also contributed to her undefeated record before signing with Invicta.
Virna Jandiroba Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is limited publicly available information regarding Virna Jandiroba’s family background.
Personal Life
Jandiroba currently resides in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, where she trains at Team Velame Academia Fight House. She maintains a close connection to her hometown of Serrinha and the surrounding Bahian community, which has supported her professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant chapter in Virna Jandiroba’s career, beginning with a strong unanimous decision victory over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314 in April. The win reinforced her status as one of the top-ranked strawweights and kept her in title contention throughout the year.
Later in the season, Jandiroba was awarded the opportunity to compete for the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship against Mackenzie Dern at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025. Although she ultimately lost the bout by unanimous decision, her placement in the title fight highlighted her standing among the elite of the division.
Heading into the next phase of her career, Jandiroba remains a top-three ranked competitor in the UFC women’s strawweight division. Her continued partnership with trainer Luiz Dórea and her team at Team Velame Academia Fight House positions her as a strong contender for future high-profile matchups and championship opportunities.
