Ana Silva

Ana Silva was born on December 2, 2001, in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, into a household where sport was a constant presence. Her childhood years unfolded across the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo before her family relocated to Argentina when she was 12 — a move that would prove pivotal to her development as a martial artist.

Ana's competitive instincts surfaced long before she ever stepped on a jiu-jitsu mat. She began playing futsal at the age of four, establishing an early foundation in athletic coordination and competitive drive. At 11, she incorporated Muay Thai into her weekly training, sharpening the combative instincts that would later define her grappling style.

Despite growing up with a father who practiced jiu-jitsu, Ana was initially denied access to the sport. Her father held the belief that BJJ was not an appropriate pursuit for girls — a position he maintained until a visit to a gym in Argentina shifted his perspective. Witnessing female athletes train and compete with conviction, he reconsidered his stance and gave Ana permission to begin. That decision set her on the path to becoming one of the most promising roosterweights of her generation.

Building the Foundation in Buenos Aires

Ana Silva began her jiu-jitsu journey in 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, under the guidance of Ícaro Ventura of Team United. Ventura oversaw her development through the orange belt rank, instilling the technical foundations that would underpin her later competitive success.

A New Chapter in Boston

In 2020, Ana relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, where she resumed training under coach Ronaldo Campos. She also joined the wrestling team at Stoughton High School for one season — a calculated addition that introduced a formidable new dimension to her grappling game. The results were immediate: Ana earned the State Championship title and was recognized with the Best Pinner award, a testament to the natural wrestling ability cultivated through years of diverse athletic training.

Turning Professional and the Move to Miami

Upon earning her purple belt, Ana made the deliberate choice to pursue jiu-jitsu as a professional career. To compete at the highest level, she moved to Miami, Florida, to train at Fight Sports under Roberto Abreu, widely known as "Cyborg." The move proved transformative. Under Abreu's coaching — alongside contributions from Guilherme Mendes and Neury Gomes at different stages of her development — Ana earned her brown belt and captured her first world title in the no-gi format.

On December 7, 2023, Ana Lima Silva submitted her opponents at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship to claim gold in the brown belt division. In the moments following her victory, Roberto Abreu promoted her to black belt on the competition floor — a milestone that marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career.

The Move to AOJ

Entering 2024 as a freshly promoted black belt, Ana Silva made a significant transition by joining Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) Academy — a move carried out with the full support and blessing of Roberto Abreu. The decision reflected a clear-eyed assessment of her competitive priorities: Fight Sports had evolved into a program with a strong emphasis on no-gi and submission wrestling, while Ana's ambitions were firmly rooted in the gi/kimono ruleset. Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) offered the environment best aligned with those goals.

2024 Season Highlights

The results of her first year competing under the AOJ banner reflected the caliber of athlete she had become. At the 2024 No-Gi Pan Championship, Ana won the light featherweight title, with AOJ teammate Shelby Murphey placing second — a strong collective showing for the academy. At the 2024 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship in the gi, Murphey claimed the roosterweight division title, while Ana competed in the bracket but did not advance to the final.

The defining moment of Ana's 2024 gi season arrived at the 2024 IBJJF World Championship, where she reached the podium in the roosterweight division. Her road to third place included a quarter-final victory over Giulia Gregorut, secured via Kimura — a finish that showcased the submission-hunting instincts she had developed across nearly a decade of training. The result confirmed her standing among the elite competitors in the world's lightest black belt division in her first full year at that rank.

Ana Silva competes under three nicknames — "Pitbullzinha," "Braba," and "Marrenta" — all drawn from Portuguese and all carrying the same essential meaning: a fighter who is fierce, combative, and not to be underestimated. The names were not assigned arbitrarily; they reflect the aggressive, high-pressure style that has defined her performances across both gi and no-gi formats.

She competes in the roosterweight division — known in IBJJF terminology as Peso Galo — with a weight limit of 48.5 kg (107.0 lbs). The division rewards technical precision and relentless pace, qualities Ana has demonstrated throughout her competitive career. Born in Brazil and shaped in part by her formative years in Argentina, she represents the United States in international competition — a reflection of the journey that carried her from Vassouras to Boston to Miami and ultimately to the world stage.