Not many MMA fighters go for an extended beginner profession earlier than pursuing an expert profession in cages around the globe. However after they do, particularly at a younger age, they usually discover themselves a step forward of competitors.
That’s the case for 23-year-old strawweight Aieza Bertolso, a prime prospect who enters Saturday evening’s LFA 209 in Cuiabá, Brazil, driving a 19-fight profitable streak. Bertolso gained a number of beginner IMMAF championships earlier than turning professional in 2023, going 5-0 since below the LFA banner. She hopes {that a} win over Samara Santos on Could 24 may result in larger alternatives sooner or later.
“I really feel able to struggle for the LFA title, or struggle on the Contender Collection, and even straight within the UFC, as a result of I have already got large expertise,” Bertolso advised MMA Preventing. “No matter the place I am going, I’m positive I’m greater than able to signify, give my all, and fly even larger in my profession.”
Bertolso was born in Alto Taquari, a small city situated 300 miles away from state capital Cuiabá, and began taking jiu-jitsu lessons at younger age. She liked watching movies of Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes and Jessica Andrade on YouTube, and dreamed of someday changing into identical to them.
At 17, searching for a gymnasium to assist her transition from grappling to combined martial arts, Bertolso moved to Rio de Janeiro and joined MSP gymnasium. Her coaches noticed expertise after a trio of beginner wins in Brazil and determined to enlist her on the beginner circuit, touring everywhere in the world to compete and achieve expertise.
Bertolso gained her first IMMAF world championship in 2021, and vowed to show professional after claiming a second title. The trophy got here in 2023, and three months later she was already a professional fighter competing for LFA. Named by MMA Preventing one of many top Brazilian prospects to watch in 2025 after profitable a trio of fights in 2024, Bertolso enters the cage for the primary time this 12 months seeking to cement her place as the way forward for the game.
“I do know that is going to be an incredible 12 months for my profession,” Bertolso mentioned. “I don’t know if I’ll struggle for the [LFA] title after this. If I do struggle yet another time in LFA, I do imagine it’s going to be for the belt, however I don’t know but. All I’m pondering proper now’s about this subsequent struggle, as a result of I do know that with win, with efficiency, I’ll fly larger not solely in LFA. I need to placed on an incredible efficiency so I can present, if not in LFA however on the Contender or UFC, that I’m prepared and deserve this chance.”
Santos, her opponent at LFA 209, is a former ONE Championship contender with a report of 12-9-1. She as soon as challenged Xiong Jing Nan for the ONE title in 2018, and has gone 1-1 on the Brazilian circuit since parting methods with the Asian promotion.
Bertolso scored seven of her 9 submission victories within the opening spherical, and foresees her tapping out Soares in Cuiabá.
“She’s an skilled lady, and I’m very excited for this struggle,” Bertolso mentioned. “I’ve large respect for her. I imagine she’s going to give me challenges I haven’t confronted in professional MMA but, and I’m prepared for this. I imagine we’ll placed on an incredible struggle. Once they supplied me the struggle, and I noticed she was that skilled, it gave me a lift to need to present that I’m able to struggle extra skilled ladies and actually placed on a present and get the victory.”
