Michelle Nicolini announced this Wednesday that the 2016 World championship will be her last one, as she transitions to MMA.
She made her first appearance in the black belt division (brown/black back then) in 2006 and already left her mark with a gold medal in the light-feather division.
After that, she won another seven times, including an impressive five straight titles from 2010 to 2014.
Michelle is also the lightest fighter, men or women, to win the open class division, which she did in 2007, the first year the women had that division.
Michelle is also known for mixing it up in the weight divisions, always with success.
She won as a light-feather two times (2006, 2007), as a featherweight three times (2011, 2012, 2014) and as a medium-heavy two times (2010, 2013).
As a tribute to Michelle, here are three of her best moments at the Worlds.
In 2010, she ventured herself for the first time in the medium-heavy division and won the title against Penny Thomas.
In 2011, she faced Kyra Gracie in the featherweight final.
In 2014, she won her most recent world title in a thrilling final match against Tammi Musumeci.
Don’t forget to register for the 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu championship.
The final deadline is May 24.
Click here to sign up now.
