Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icon Hannette Staack secured an impressive first-round victory at Shooto Brasil 128 on March 21, 2025, demonstrating that age is merely a number in combat sports.
Staack, a multiple-time BJJ world champion, needed just 3 minutes and 19 seconds to submit Jaqueline Ferreira via keylock, improving her MMA record to an impressive 4-0 while her opponent’s record now stands at 2-1.
Staack came in first at ADCC in 2007 and 2009 and second in 2011.
The match showcased Staack’s grappling dominance from the outset. After establishing positional control, Staack methodically worked toward the submission finish that her corner anticipated.
“Americana, that should be easy,” came the coaching instruction moments before Staack executed the technique to perfection.
Observers noted that Staack could have potentially applied an alternative submission technique but opted for the keylock. “She tried a katagatame, but she kind of let it go,” one commentator remarked, with another adding, “She was being nice.”
At 46 years old, Staack continues to build her legacy beyond the BJJ competition circuit where she made her name. Her transition to MMA fulfills a long-held ambition, according to those close to her: “She always like told me that she would like to try her skills in the cage, and that’s what she’s been doing.”
The victory at Shooto Brasil 128 further cements Staack’s reputation as not just a BJJ legend but as a well-rounded combat sports athlete who continues to evolve and challenge herself well into her 40s.
For the Brazilian grappling community, Staack’s continued success represents the timeless effectiveness of technical mastery over physical attributes alone—proving that in combat sports, experience and skill can indeed overcome the challenges that come with age.
