Not many MMA fighters go for a protracted newbie profession earlier than pursuing an expert profession in cages all over the world. However once 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 newbie 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 Might 24 might result in greater 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 informed MMA Preventing. “No matter the place I am going, I’m positive I’m greater than able to symbolize, give my all, and fly even greater in my profession.”
Bertolso was born in Alto Taquari, a small city positioned 300 miles away from state capital Cuiabá, and began taking jiu-jitsu lessons at younger age. She cherished watching movies of Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunes and Jessica Andrade on YouTube, and dreamed of in the future turning into identical to them.
At 17, on the lookout for a health club to assist her transition from grappling to blended martial arts, Bertolso moved to Rio de Janeiro and joined MSP health club. Her coaches noticed expertise after a trio of newbie wins in Brazil and determined to enlist her on the newbie circuit, touring all around the world to compete and acquire 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 yr seeking to cement her place as the way forward for the game.
“I do know that is going to be an ideal yr for my profession,” Bertolso mentioned. “I don’t know if I’ll struggle for the [LFA] title after this. If I do struggle another time in LFA, I do consider 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 an excellent win, with an excellent efficiency, I’ll fly greater not solely in LFA. I need to placed on an ideal 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 document 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 consider she is going to give me challenges I haven’t confronted in professional MMA but, and I’m prepared for this. I consider we’ll placed on an ideal 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.”
