Viviane Araujo

Viviane Araujo is a 38-year-old Brazilian veteran who has built her MMA career on a foundation of Brazilian jiu-jitsu excellence and hard-earned resilience. Beginning her professional journey in Pancrase and Jungle Fight, where she became the promotion's strawweight champion, Araujo joined the UFC in May 2019 and announced herself with a spectacular walk-off knockout of Talita Bernardo at UFC 237, a short-notice debut that captured the attention of the sport. That explosive entrance proved to be the high point of her promotional run: over six years in the UFC, Araujo compiled a 7-5 record at flyweight, struggling to build momentum and notching 11 consecutive decision wins and losses. Despite victories over respectable opponents like Jennifer Maia, Karine Silva, and Alexis Davis, she fell short against top contenders including Alexa Grasso, Amanda Ribas, and most recently Tracy Cortez at UFC 317 in June 2025. Released from the promotion shortly after, Araujo signed with the Professional Fighters League in September 2025 and has resumed her career with a win over Shanna Young at PFL Chicago, where she now ranks #8 in women's flyweight.

Araujo's fighting style reflects her jiu-jitsu roots: she is an aggressive, explosive competitor who studies opponents and adjusts her strategy, relying on speed and technical grappling rather than raw power. While her UFC knockout debut raised expectations of a finisher, her path has been a grind through high-level decision-making and tactical exchanges. She brings aggression to the octagon and is unafraid of high-profile matchups, openly callout contenders and top names to accelerate her climb toward championship contention.

Beyond combat, Araujo carries a powerful personal mission. Inspired by her childhood experience witnessing domestic violence in her home, she has channeled her success into advocacy for survivors of abuse and violence against women, leveraging her platform and media presence to raise awareness and inspire others. That authenticity, combined with her technical skills and willingness to engage in high-stakes bouts, has earned her respect within the sport. Now competing in the PFL with renewed energy following her UFC stint, Araujo is positioned to make a deeper run in her new promotion while continuing to use her voice as a force for positive change outside the cage.