Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Viviane Araujo is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Viviane Araújo is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC women’s flyweight division and is known for her high‑pace striking and strong grappling game. She is a former Pancrase strawweight champion and remains a ranked, active contender in the UFC of 2025.
Viviane Araujo’s Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Viviane Araújo Gomes |
| Nickname | “Vivi” |
| Date of Birth | November 21, 1986 |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Height | 5’4″ (163 cm) |
| Weight | 125 lbs (57 kg) |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Religion | N/A |
| College | N/A |
| Turned Professional | 2012 |
| UFC Debut | May 11, 2019 |
| Relationship Status | In a long-term relationship with Catarina Lo Turco |
| Children | Expecting first child |
| Net Worth | $1-2 million |
| Estimated Salary | $110,000-$150,000+ per UFC fight |
| Instagram Profile | @viviaraujomma |
Early Career
Viviane Araujo’s entry into mixed martial arts came after years of struggling with the traumatic environment of her childhood. Born in Ceilândia, a satellite city near Brasília, Brazil, she spent much of her youth trying to escape the painful reality of witnessing her alcoholic father’s abuse of her mother.
She started playing soccer as a way to stay away from home, but eventually discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu through an invitation from her jiu-jitsu coach. The sport immediately captured her heart, and she fell in love with the discipline, technical aspects, and competitive nature of martial arts. What began as a passion quickly turned into a way to channel her pain into purpose.
She earned a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a brown belt in judo, building a strong foundation in grappling and submission techniques. Araujo became a jiu-jitsu and self-defense instructor, sharing her knowledge with children and adults in her community while training competitively.
Professional Career
Viviane Araujo turned professional in 2012 and spent her early years competing primarily in Brazil and Japan, building an impressive 5-0 record before catching the attention of larger promotions. She fought extensively under the Jungle Fight and Pancrase banners, where she established herself as a formidable competitor.
At Pancrase, she captured the Strawweight Championship, becoming known as the “Strawweight Queen of Pancrase.” Her technical striking combined with her submission expertise made her a dangerous opponent. In 2015, she began her path toward the UFC, signing with the organization in 2019 at age 32. Her UFC debut on May 11, 2019, came against Talita Bernardo at UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro. In an impressive display of striking power, Araujo knocked out Bernardo just 48 seconds into the third round, announcing her arrival with authority.
This victory set the tone for her UFC career, though her path hasn’t been without challenges. Over her time in the UFC from 2019 to 2025, Araujo compiled a record of 7-6, facing some of the division’s toughest competitors. She scored notable victories over Alexis Davis, Roxanne Modafferi, Montana De La Rosa, Jennifer Maia, and Andrea Lee, demonstrating her versatility and ability to compete at the highest level. However, she also faced defeats to top-ranked opponents including Jessica Eye, Katlyn Chookagian, Alexa Grasso, Amanda Ribas, and Natalia Silva, showing that success at this level requires consistency against elite competition.
Viviane Araujo’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Viviane Araujo’s estimated net worth stands between $1 million and $2 million. This figure represents the accumulation of her earnings from over a decade of professional fighting, combined with sponsorship deals and potential endorsement opportunities. Her net worth has grown significantly over her UFC career, particularly as she secured main card positions and higher-paying fights. In 2024, her estimated career earnings exceeded $1.8 million, with annual income from UFC fights ranging from $110,000 to $150,000+ in guaranteed purses alone, before factoring in win bonuses and sponsorship payouts. The fighter’s financial trajectory continues to improve, especially with her recent move to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2025, which could potentially increase her earning potential. Most of her wealth comes from fight purses, win bonuses, and sponsorship deals with major MMA partners.
Fight Purses
| Event | Date | Opponent | Result | Purse Details | Total Payout |
| UFC 237 | May 11, 2019 | Talita Bernardo | Win (KO) | $10k show + $10k win bonus + $3.5k incentive | $23,500 |
| UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | Alexis Davis | Win (Decision) | $12k show + $12k win bonus + $3.5k incentive | $27,500 |
| UFC 245 | Dec 14, 2019 | Jessica Eye | Loss (Decision) | Estimated show + split incentive pay | ~$20,000 |
| UFC 309 | Nov 16, 2024 | Karine Silva | Win (Decision) | $110k show + $100k win bonus + $11k sponsorship | $221,000 |
| UFC 317 | June 28, 2025 | Tracy Cortez | Loss (Decision) | Estimated purse + sponsorship | $211,000 |
Endorsements
- Venum: As an official UFC fighter, Araujo receives sponsorship compensation through Venum, the UFC’s official outfitting and fight gear partner. Sponsorship payouts range from $11,000 to $21,000 per fight depending on her ranking and fight prominence.
- Reebok: Previously sponsored by Reebok during her earlier UFC tenure, receiving fight week incentive pay.
- Cerrado MMA: Her training camp in Brasília, which she represents and promotes through her social media platforms.
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Community: She maintains endorsement relationships with various BJJ academies and martial arts organizations, promoting Brazilian jiu-jitsu instruction and training.
- Fitness and Wellness Brands: Araujo occasionally partners with health and fitness companies to promote training methodologies and wellness content.
Career Records
| Opponent | Event | Date | Result | Method | Round/Time |
| Talita Bernardo | UFC 237 | May 11, 2019 | Win | KO/TKO (Punch) | Round 3, 0:48 |
| Alexis Davis | UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Jessica Eye | UFC 245 | Dec 14, 2019 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Montana De La Rosa | UFC Fight Night 176 | Sep 5, 2020 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Roxanne Modafferi | UFC on ESPN 20 | Jan 20, 2021 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Katlyn Chookagian | UFC 262 | May 15, 2021 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Andrea Lee | UFC on ESPN 36 | May 14, 2022 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Alexa Grasso | UFC Fight Night 212 | Oct 15, 2022 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 rounds |
| Amanda Ribas | UFC 285 | Mar 4, 2023 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Jennifer Maia | UFC Fight Night 230 | Oct 14, 2023 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Natalia Silva | UFC Fight Night 235 | Feb 3, 2024 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Karine Silva | UFC 309 | Nov 16, 2024 | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
| Tracy Cortez | UFC 317 | June 28, 2025 | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 rounds |
FAQs
1. What is Viviane Araujo’s fighting style and strongest skills?
Viviane Araujo is known for her aggressive fighting approach combined with solid grappling fundamentals. Her strongest skills include her striking (particularly boxing), Brazilian jiu-jitsu proficiency (black belt level), and submission techniques with a specialty in armbars. She trains in multiple disciplines including MMA, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and luta livre (Brazilian catch wrestling) at Cerrado MMA under coaches Daniel Evangelista, Saulo Verissimo, Anderson Carvalho, and Luis.
2. How much does Viviane Araujo earn per fight?
Viviane Araujo’s guaranteed purses have ranged from $23,500 in her UFC debut to $110,000+ for main card fights. Total payouts including win bonuses and sponsorship can reach $200,000 to $220,000+ per fight on major cards. Her career earnings are estimated at $1.8-2 million accumulated over her professional fighting career.
3. Is Viviane Araujo still actively fighting in the UFC?
As of 2025, Viviane Araujo is no longer competing in the UFC. In September 2025, she signed a multi-fight deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), transitioning from the UFC where she competed from 2019 to 2025. She competes in the women’s flyweight division for PFL.
4. What is Viviane Araujo’s relationship status?
Viviane Araujo is in a long-term relationship with Catarina Lo Turco, a stylist. The couple was expecting their first child together as of late 2024, conceived through in vitro fertilization. They share a private but loving relationship and keep most personal details away from the public spotlight.
5. How did Viviane Araujo get into mixed martial arts?
Araujo started her martial arts journey with soccer as a teenager to escape her home situation, where she witnessed her father’s alcoholic abuse of her mother. She eventually discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu through an invitation from a jiu-jitsu coach and fell in love with the sport. She earned her black belt in BJJ and brown belt in judo before transitioning to MMA at age 25 in 2012. She used combat sports as a tool to transform her life and now uses her platform to advocate for victims of domestic violence.
6. What are Viviane Araujo’s championship achievements?
Viviane Araujo was the former Pancrase Strawweight Champion in Japan, holding the title before moving to the UFC. She was ranked as high as #7 in the UFC women’s flyweight rankings. She was also a multiple-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion at the regional and national levels, holding titles in the CBJJ, NAGA, and other prestigious grappling competitions.
7. Has Viviane Araujo ever competed for a UFC title?
No, Viviane Araujo has never competed for a UFC championship. Despite being a top contender and high-ranking competitor in the women’s flyweight division, she faced a series of losses in critical fights that prevented her from reaching a title shot. Her highest ranking was #7, and losses to top-ranked opponents prevented her from breaking into title contention.
8. What is Viviane Araujo’s coaching and training environment?
Viviane Araujo trains at Cerrado MMA in Brasília, Brazil, under several specialized coaches including Daniel Evangelista, Saulo Verissimo, Anderson Carvalho, and Luis. She trains BJJ at CheckMat school in Brasília under Master Henrique Lima. Her training split includes dedicated sessions in MMA, wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, and luta livre, with sparring sessions typically held on Saturdays.
9. Why does Viviane Araujo advocate for domestic violence awareness?
Having witnessed her father’s alcoholic abuse of her mother throughout her childhood, Viviane Araujo uses her platform in professional MMA to raise awareness about domestic violence and support victims. She’s spoken about using the UFC’s global platform to share her message and support women facing similar situations. In her words: “The UFC is such a gigantic and powerful platform. A word from a woman can change your life and self-esteem. We have so many people going through things like that that I felt the need to talk about it.”
10. What’s next for Viviane Araujo after her UFC career?
Following the conclusion of her UFC tenure in 2025, Viviane Araujo signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) on a multi-fight deal. The PFL move represents a new chapter in her career as she continues competing in women’s flyweight. Additionally, with her first child on the way, she’s balancing motherhood with her continued professional fighting career, showing that elite female athletes can maintain both family and sporting aspirations simultaneously.