BJJ

Melissa Stricker Cueto - Aggressive Female BJJ Black Belt

Melissa Stricker Cueto - Aggressive Female BJJ Black Belt

1. Melissa Stricker Cueto Details

Melissa Stricker Cueto Details
Name  Melissa Stricker Cueto
Nickname  Mel
Born Rio Grande do Sul
Current Residence  Brazil
Date of Birth June 21, 1990,
Nationality  Brazilian
College/University Florida State University
Last Fight 21 July 2022
Last Weigh In  174 lbs (79.0 kg)
Weight Class Meio-Pesado (74 kg / 163.5 lbs)
Weight 174 lbs (79.0 kg)
Height N/A
Career Disclosed Earnings N/A
Fighting out of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Foundational style  BJJ & Taekwondo
FavoriteTechnique Spider Guard
Rank  Black belt
Awarded By    Leo Morosetti
Head Coach   Leo Morosetti
Lineage Carlos Gracie -> Helio Gracie -> Carlson Gracie -> Amauri Bitetti -> Marcio Pinheiro -> Leo Morosetti -> Melissa Cueto
Team/Association Alliance San Diego

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2. Melissa Stricker Cueto Biography

Melissa Cueto is a leading Jiu-Jitsu black belt supervised by Leo Moretti. Cueto not only practiced BJJ with Leo but also trained and won many bouts. After basic training, Cueto joined Gracie Humaita for a few months and later joined Alliance Academy. Melissa is regarded as a top BJJ grappler by the Jiu-Jitsu community. Melissa was a born star, she earned two times as South American Champion at the Purple Belt level. Two times South Brasileiros Silver Medalist and two times South Brazilian Champion.

2.1. Melissa Stricker Cueto Early Days

Melissa Cueto, a 32 years old Black Belt BJJ fighter was born in Pelotas in Rio Grande do Sul on 21 June 1990.


From the early years of her life, she actively participated in different sports. She liked to watch martial arts and the Olympic games and used to practice them with her friends in the town.


Melissa's parents were not fond of sports but they never stopped her from these healthy activities. When she was a teenager, she stepped into the striking combat sport known as Taekwondo.

2.2. Melissa Stricker Cueto’s BJJ Journey

In her early teens, Mel found some kids practicing martial arts on the mats. She had ample knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu before but was not fully aware of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques and philosophies. After watching the kids rolling and sparring, her interest in Jiu-Jitsu increased and it was a time when she decided to start brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.


When Melissa's parents heard about her plan, they were shocked. In the 1990s BJJ was considered a violent sport. Most of the parents associated Jiu-Jitsu with the promotion of violent behavior.

Melissa Got Permission to Enroll in Martial Arts

That's the reason Cueto’s parents were averse to her decision and wanted to pursue her career in Taekwondo. They tried to stop their daughter from adopting a violent culture. For Melissa, it was a very tough time.


When Mel was 17 years old, she managed to convince her parents and assured them she would not be part of any violence at all. Then finally in her teens, her parents allowed Mel to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Then, Cueto never looked back and dedicated her whole life to BJJ.

“I have been training for 15 years. I always liked fights and the first fight I did was in taekwondo; before I started jiu-jitsu, it was the style that I practiced. I was passing in front of a jiu-jitsu academy and I decided to go in and see what it was like. And after that, I stopped taekwondo and never gave up jiu-jitsu.”

2.3. Melissa Cueto’s Coach

Melissa’s BJJ training was initiated under the supervision of Antonio Pedro Dias (Kapincho). Pedro trained Mel from her journey of White to Brown belt rank. Mel fought in several competitions and secured medals against the high-profile competitors of Jiu-Jitsu.


She was disturbed in those days when she found Leonardo Morosetti, a pro-BJJ fighter, and elite coach. She knew Leonardo when she was a Blue Belt. Mel thought to discuss her problem with him and it was a surprise for Cueto that Leonardo agreed to guide her in combat sports.

2.4 Melissa Stricker Cuetos Black Belt

Leonardo Morosetti started coaching Mel and motivated her to prepare for the Black Belt competitions. In December 2018, coach Leonardo Morosetti awarded Mel with Black Belt.


In her early black belt time, Melissa began to surprise everyone. She secured potential victories against experienced opponents like Luanna Alzuguir and Maria Malyjasiak during the 2019 IBJJF Worlds.


Afterward, in 2019, Melissa became part of the Alliance Association and represented her team at the international level. It was when she joined the Alliance team that she started to tread on international wins. She won her first IBJJF World Championship as a Black Belt in a very tough competitive heavyweight category. She continued her winning streak in 2022 and won the Heavyweight division of IBJJF Pans.

The Fighting Style of Melissa Stricker

Mal is famous for her aggressive & fighting style, offensive spider guards, and intensely technical sweeps with advanced submission executing style, a typical Alliance Fighter.

On her achievements, Melissa shared:

"We never give up on what we want, that's why God exists so that we always have faith. And never give up on your goal and be calm at this hour and let it happen naturally or it's going to get ugly.”

Future Plans of Melissa Striker

Melissa shared her future plans in an interview:

“Unfortunately, I had a lot of plans for the year but I was injured before Worlds. Now my main objective is to heal and be 100% ready for Worlds next year. If possible, I intend to compete in the World Masters in the coming months, but the main objective is to be 100% ready for next year’s Worlds. I want to be Open Class champion in 2023.”

Melissa’s Advice for Youth

“I would tell them to never give up on their goals, whether in or out of jiu-jitsu. I have always lived in the countryside of Brazil, and many times I had doubts if I would make it. But even so, I did not stop believing and did what I could with what I had at that moment. If you are able to work hard for it, you can be sure that the goal will be achieved.”

2.5. Melissa Stricker Cueto Historic Fights

Melissa Stricker vs Izadora Silva

Melissa and Cristina faced each other at the final of the 2021 World Championship. An extraordinary lapel X-guard action was shown by Melissa in the second minute of the fight.


Then both fighters got involved in the bear trap action.


It was an elite show of advanced grappling techniques. Then they got tangled in a Dela Pela X of Dela Hiva Lapel guard. At 5:18 into the fight, Melissa passed the guard, Silva gave up her back and Melissa applied a back choke and became the Gold Medalist of the 2021 World Championship by submission.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Stage Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF World Championship Izadora Silva Win Submission F Heavyweight California

Melissa Stricker vs Elisabeth Clay

The final of IBJJF American National, was held between Elisabeth Clay and Melissa Stricker.It was a historic one in the Medium Heavyweight class. Elisabeth's attempt for guard and ankle lock left Mel immovable in that position.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF American National  Elisabeth Clay Loss Straight Ankle Lock Medium Heavyweight Las Vegas

Melissa Stricker vs Maria Malyjasiak

In the Pan Championship both athletes, Maria and Melissa, fought very aggressively. Maria was famous for her leg locks, devastating Knee bars and toe holds. Melissa is an all-rounder but her famous technique is a straight armbar.


Mel was leading on the scoreboard by 3 points. But she gave her back and tapped to the RNC of Maria.


Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight Class Location
2021 IBJJF Pan Championship  Maria Malyjasiak Loss Submission (RNC) Heavyweight Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2.6. Melissa Stricker Cueto Achievements and Accomplishments

Year Event Belt Medal
2021 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt Gold
2022 IBJJF Pan Championship Black Belt Gold
2019 UAEJJF Gramado Pro Black Belt Gold
2019 IBJJF American Nationals Black Belt Silver
2019 IBJJF World Championship Black Belt Bronze
2019 Brazilian Nationals Black Belt Bronze

2.7. Melissa Stricker Cueto BJJ Rankings

Rank Title
4 Adults
5 World Master
11 Adult Grand Slam
3 Master Grand Slam

3. Melissa Stricker Cueto Achievements ( Belts )

3.1. Black Belt

Position Belt Event Year
1st Black Miami Open 2010

3.2. Colored Belt

Year Event Belt Position
2018 IBJJF World Championship Brown 1st Place
2016 IBJJF South American Championship Purple 1st Place
2017 IBJJF World Championship Purple 1st Place
2015 IBJJF South Brazilian Championship Purple 1st Place
2016 IBJJF South Brazilian Championship Purple 1st Place
2018 IBJJF Brazilian Nationals Brown 1st Place
2014 Brazilian Nationals Blue 2nd Place
2016 Brazilian Nationals Blue 2nd Place
2017 Brazilian Nationals Purple 2nd Place
2016 IBJJF South American Championship Purple 2nd Place
2017 IBJJF South American Championship Purple 2nd Place
2016 IBJJF South Brazilian Championship Purple 3rd Place
2016 Brazilian Nationals Purple 3rd Place

4. Melissa Stricker Cueto BJJ Professional Record Breakdown

Professional Jiu-Jitsu Record Breakdown
Matches 35 Wins 20 Losses 15
By Submission 6 4
By Points 7 5
By Decision 0 2
By Advantage 2 0
Other 5 4

4.1. Submission Methods W/L

Submission Method Wins Losse
Choke 2 2
Straight Ankle Lock 1 1
Americana 0 1
Armbar 1 0
Choke from Back  2 0

5. Melissa Stricker Cueto BJJ Fight History

Year Event Opponent W/L/D Method Weight
2022  2022 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship R. Guedes L Points Heavyweight
2022  Pan IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2022 G. Pessanha L Decision Absolute Division
2022  Pan IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2022 M. Grindatti W Other Heavyweight
2022  2022 Pan Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championship G. Pessanha L Decision Absolute Division
2022  2022 Pan Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championship L. Almeida W Advantage Heavyweight
2022  2022 IBJJF Dallas Open L. Dias L Points Light Heavyweight
2021  2021 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship I. Silva W Other Heavyweight
2021  2021 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship G. Carvalho W Other Heavyweight
2021  2021 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship M. Grindatti W Advantage Heavyweight
2021  2021 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship C. Paixao W Points Heavyweight
2021  Fight to Win 183 J. Pendell W Armbar N/A
2021  2021 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship M. Grindatti W Points Heavyweight
2021  2021 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship S. Rice W Choke From the Back Heavyweight
2021  2021 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship M. Malyjasiak L Choke Heavyweight
2021  2021 American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship E. Clay L Straight Ankle Lock Medium Heavyweight
2021  2021 IBJJF Houston Open E. Silva W Other Medium Heavyweight
2021  2021 IBJJF Houston Open J. Swanson W Other Absolute Division
2021  2021 IBJJF Orlando Open J. Case L Other Absolute Division
2021  2021 IBJJF Orlando Open E. Silva L Other Medium Heavyweight
2020  2020 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship C. North L Americana Middleweight
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational B. Palheta W Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational E. Clay L Points Medium Heavyweight
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational T. Silva L Other 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational B. Pereira W Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational L. Almeida L Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational L. Nascimento W Other 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational R. Guedes L Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational C. Huggins W Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational B. Pereira W Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational I. Sousa W Points 70kgs
2019  2019 Pantheon Invitational R. Marinho W Other 70kgs
2019  2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship L. Alzuguir W Other Absolute Division
2019  2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship B. Mesquita L Other Absolute Division
2019  2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship L. Montiero L Other Medium Heavyweight
2019  2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship M. Malyjasiak W Other Medium Heavyweight

6. Melissa Stricker Cueto Top Fights

Elisabeth Clay VS Melissa Cueto / Dallas Open 2021

Melissa Cueto v Margaret Grindatti / World Championship 2021

Emilly Alves v Melissa Cueto / Orlando Open 2021

Gabrieli Pessanha v Melissa Stricker / Pan Championship 2022

Melissa Stricker v Vanessa Arango / World Master 2021


Photo credit: @strickermel

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