Jeisla Chaves Record: 8-0-0

Contender Series breakthrough and UFC debut

Chaves earned a spot on the Contender Series in September 2025, where she met Sofia Montenegro in what became a brutal, back-and-forth war. Chaves edged it on a split decision, and the fight was so competitive and entertaining that UFC CEO Dana White awarded contracts to both women – sealing Chaves's place on the roster at 8-0. She carried that momentum into her Octagon debut at a UFC Fight Night in June 2026, where she again went the distance and again came out ahead, taking a split-decision win over Yuneisy Duben to remain perfect as a professional.

Fighting style

Chaves is a Muay Thai-based striker whose elbows are a genuine calling card – multiple of her finishes have come by elbow, an uncommon and damaging weapon at flyweight. Her record splits evenly, with four knockouts and four decisions for a 50% finish rate, the profile of a fighter who can hurt opponents but also has the conditioning and toughness to win competitive three-round fights, as her back-to-back split decisions over Montenegro and Duben showed. The honest question marks at the UFC level are the same that follow most striker-first prospects: her past two wins were razor-thin split decisions, and her grappling and wrestling have been less tested, areas higher-ranked flyweights will look to exploit.

Career highlights

• Undefeated UFC flyweight — a perfect 8-0 as a professional, having won her Octagon debut on the sport's biggest stage.
• Contender Series contract winner — earned a UFC deal with a split-decision war over Sofia Montenegro that impressed Dana White enough to sign both fighters.
• Ring-girl-to-fighter story — rose from working as a ring card girl in Bahia to an unbeaten UFC roster member, a remarkable arc through the Brazilian regional ranks.