Joao Elias Record: 17-4-1

Tested by top regional talent

As his level of opposition rose, Elias proved he could hang with the best of the domestic scene. In October 2019 he fought to a hard-fought draw with the experienced Bruno Korea at Future FC 9 – a result that, against an 11-3 veteran, said plenty about how far his all-around game had come. He kept building from there, returning to his bread and butter with a 2020 second-round armbar of Soslenis Carvalho and stacking more submission wins through 2021 and 2022, including quick armbar finishes that underlined just how fast he can end a fight once he gets a grip.

The Contender Series test

Elias's standout run earned him the call to Dana White's Contender Series in September 2022, the kind of opportunity that can open the door to the UFC. There he met unbeaten Brazilian prospect Rafael Estevam, who handed Elias his most notable loss, stopping him by ground-and-pound in the second round. It was a setback on the biggest stage of his career, but also a measure of how far his grappling-first style had carried him – from the local Curitiba scene all the way to the sport's premier proving ground for prospects.

Fighting style

Elias is a submission specialist in the purest sense: of his 17 wins, 11 have come by tap and the overwhelming majority of those by armbar or rear-naked choke, against just a single knockout and five decisions. The nickname "Alicate" fits perfectly – once he latches onto a limb or a neck, the finish tends to follow fast, often inside the first round. His southpaw stance and short, compact build help him close distance and drag opponents into the scrambles where he thrives. The honest counterpoint is that his finishes have come overwhelmingly on the ground, and his losses – including the Contender Series defeat by ground-and-pound – show that opponents who can keep the fight standing or impose their own top game present the toughest puzzle for him to solve.

Career highlights

• Dana White's Contender Series appearance — reached the sport's top prospect showcase in 2022, facing unbeaten Rafael Estevam on the biggest stage of his career.
• Draw with veteran Bruno Korea — held his own against an experienced 11-3 opponent at Future FC 9, a marker of his rise.
• Elite submission rate — finished 11 of his wins by submission, living up to the "Alicate" nickname as one of his division's most dangerous grapplers.