Melissa Cueto

Melissa Cueto was born on 21 June 1990, in Pelotas, Brazil. During her early adolescence, Cueto practiced taekwondo for three years, then at the age of 17, her parents enrolled her in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).[2] Her first instructor was Antônio Pedro Dias (Kapincho), who awarded her all her belts from white to brown belt.[3] After her relationship with Kapincho deteriorated she switched coach to Leonardo Morosetti of Thork Jiu-Jitsu.[3]

Throughout her time as a purple belt, she became two-time South American champion, two-time Brazilian Champion, and earning two silver medals at the Brasileiros competition. Upon reaching the brown belt level, she won gold at both the Brasileiros and the World Championships, which led to her promotion to black belt in December 2018 under the guidance of her then-coach, Leonardo Morosetti.[2] In 2019, she teamed up with Diego Unfer, a representative of the RMNU Association (Robson Moura Association) then in 2021, she joined Alliance Association, becoming a member of their team for international competitions.[2]

As a black belt, she won her first IBJJF World Championship title in 2021, winning silver competing at the World IBJJF No-Gi.[4] the following year she dominated the heavyweight division at the 2022 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship where she won gold and bronze in the Openweight.[3] In 2023 she became world champion for the second time winning the heavyweight and bronze in the openweight at the 2023 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.[2]

Cueto was invited to compete in a women's heavyweight grand prix at BJJ Stars 11 on September 9, 2023.[5] She submitted Tamiris Silva in the opening round but lost on points to the eventual winner, Gabi Pessanha, in the semifinal.[6]