Former UFC champion Jessica Andrade and her GAEA Project teammates made their mark at the ADCC Brazil Open in São Paulo, highlighting the growing intersection between high-level MMA and submission grappling. Andrade, who has been making waves both in and out of the octagon, secured bronze medals in both the Women’s Absolute division and the -70kg category, with a notable 2-0 points victory in her absolute bronze medal match.
The tournament served as a powerful statement for the newly formed GAEA Project, a groundbreaking all-women’s non-profit MMA team that has emerged as a beacon of change in Brazilian combat sports. The project, co-founded by UFC stars Andrade, Denise Gomes, and Karol Rosa, represents a revolutionary approach to women’s combat sports training.
“GAEA Project came to give girls the opportunity to work freely, work the correct way, and give them option in training,” explained Denise Gomes, who also competed at the event and secured her own bronze medal in the Women’s Absolute Advanced division. The significance of their participation extends beyond the medals, representing the team’s commitment to comprehensive martial arts development.
For Andrade, who typically competes at 115 pounds in the UFC, testing herself in the absolute division demonstrated her fearless approach to competition. The former strawweight champion, fresh off a dominant performance against Mackenzie Dern before a setback against Natalia Silva, showed that her grappling skills translate across weight classes.
The GAEA Project’s presence at the ADCC Brazil Open represents more than just competitive achievement. As Gomes elaborated to Gui Cruz, “The truth is, our previous team ended and we kind of had no place else to go. Based on the things we went through there before, we were more selective of what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. The team ended, but Karol, Jessica and I remained together, so we decided, alongside other great people, to create our own team.”
This new initiative is uniquely structured to support women’s development in martial arts. “It’s a place where female athletes can go and train for upcoming fights without the need to necessarily part ways with their original teams,” Gomes explained, highlighting the project’s innovative approach to creating opportunities for women while fostering cooperation rather than competition between teams.
The success at the ADCC Brazil Open serves as an early validation of the GAEA Project’s mission. The team’s strong showing in one of Brazil’s premier grappling competitions demonstrates that their approach to training and athlete development is already bearing fruit. For Andrade, competing in multiple divisions and securing two bronze medals showcases the kind of versatility and skill level that the project aims to develop in all its athletes.
The timing of these achievements is particularly significant as Gomes prepares for her upcoming UFC bout against Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Vegas 100. “It’s a privilege to be here,” Gomes said regarding her upcoming fight, but her words could equally apply to the team’s collective achievements at the ADCC Brazil Open. “I obviously respect her history, but I want to build my own story.”
This sentiment of building something new while respecting tradition perfectly encapsulates what the GAEA Project and its athletes are achieving. By competing at high levels in both MMA and submission grappling, these athletes are creating new pathways for women in combat sports while demonstrating excellence across disciplines.
The success of Andrade and her teammates at the ADCC Brazil Open marks another significant step forward for women’s combat sports in Brazil.
For Andrade, who has consistently pushed boundaries throughout her career, these grappling achievements add another impressive chapter to her story.
