Sarah Galvao secured another impressive submission victory at Who’s Number One, marking her second consecutive submission finish at the prestigious event. Speaking immediately after her win, the rising jiu-jitsu star reflected on her performance, her evolving career and what lies ahead.
“I’m feeling great, you know, second time at Who’s Number One, second time getting the submission,”
Galvao told flograppling. While she wished she had finished the match sooner, she emphasized her dominant approach to competition.
“I feel like I have a very dominant game, and when I get to a good position, especially in no-gi, since it’s like so much movement, I try to control as much as I can.”
The finish came via armbar, a submission Galvao chose strategically.
“I love the Kimura so much, but I felt like she was going to be, like, really flexible, so I feel like the armbar is a place where everyone taps,”
she explained. She patiently waited for her opponent to open up while attempting to escape, then capitalized on the opportunity.
Galvao acknowledged the challenges of balancing gi and no-gi competition, particularly with the Crown event approaching.
“It’s so hard mixing gi and no-gi,”
she admitted.
“I feel like my game is so much more different in no-gi than it is in the gi.”
Despite the difficulty, she expressed confidence heading into the Crown, noting that since earning her black belt, she has faced the division’s toughest competitors.
“When you win so much, people want to see you lose,”
she said, comparing the phenomenon to a gladiator. However, she remains undeterred, stating,
“I know my purpose, and I know what it takes to be a champion, and that’s what I’m here to prove.”
Beyond competition, Galvao takes pride in her role as a mentor to the “mini dream team” at Atos, a group of teenage girls she coaches for free.
“Not only am I an athlete, a competitor, but now I’m a teacher, you know, I’m a professor, I’m an inspiration,”
she said.
“That makes it worth so much more than titles, for sure.”
Looking ahead, Galvao has her sights set on ADCC 2026 and potentially achieving a grand slam across multiple organizations. She closed by thanking her mother, who was absent supporting another MMA star in Abu Dhabi, and dedicated her performance to her students and young fans watching.
