IBJJF World and Abu Dhabi World Pro champion Beatriz Mesquita doesn’t understand why female athletes don’t get paid the same as men. 

We train as much as the guys, we fight the same tournaments, we spend the same money, so why not get paid the same? 

“I think it’s nice they’ve been putting on a lot more pro fights for the girls,” she says. “They’ve started to invest. When [UAEJJF] started paying prize money I think it opened people’s minds that female jiu-jitsu can be as great as the guys.” 

The Gracie Humaita black belt’s long list of achievements and titles put her among the elite of the sport, and the 25-year-old has no plans to slow down just yet. 

Mesquita has a busy season ahead of her with scheduled appearances at IBJJF Pans, the Abu Dhabi World Pro and maybe even the Brazilian Nationals. 

Her next challenge will be a submission-only superfight at Five Grappling on March 11 against Talita Alencar. “We don’t have points so I think this will make the fight better — I’m just going to look for the submission.” 

Mesquita is one of the first athletes people turn to when asked to point to an example of just how good women’s jiu-jitsu can be. 

Her mentor and coach Leticia Ribeiro has a lot to do with that. An IBJJF Hall of Fame and nine-time World champion, she’s had a close hand in guiding Mesquita’s career since she was a teenager. 

Beatriz will train in San Diego at Ribeiro’s school ahead of Five and Pans, taking part in the pre-competition training camp. “Leticia is an idol for a lot of people, especially because she’s a competitor too. She know what you need to do to be a champion, like her.” 

“The training is always perfect with all the girls. Everybody has the same objective — to win the Pans.”