Maria Eduarda Tozoni Ono

Maria Eduarda Tozoni Ono, widely known as Duda, was born on September 3, 2001, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Unlike many elite grapplers who gravitate toward martial arts from childhood, Tozoni did not seek out the sport on her own. It was her father — a former grappling enthusiast — who recognized jiu-jitsu's potential to benefit his daughter's physical health and mental development, and enrolled her in a kids' trial class in 2013 at the age of 11.

What began as a parental decision quickly became a personal passion. That first class ignited a dedication that would shape the entire trajectory of her life, and from that point forward, Tozoni trained under Marcos Cunha at The Match Champ academy in Santa Catarina — a coach-athlete relationship that would endure across every stage of her competitive career.

Building a Foundation Under Marcos Cunha

Duda Tozoni's competitive development unfolded entirely within The Match Champ (TMC), where Marcos Cunha served as her sole instructor from her first class through her black belt promotion. While TMC did not carry widespread international recognition, the academy built a strong reputation at the regional and national levels — particularly in the female division — with standout athletes such as Ana Carolina Schmitt and Anna Negri representing the team alongside Tozoni.

Juvenile and Colored Belt Success

Tozoni's competitive results began to signal her potential early. At the juvenile level, she claimed gold at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in both 2017 and 2018, establishing herself as a top prospect in her age group. Her trajectory accelerated sharply at purple belt, a stage at which she began defeating seasoned black belts on the professional circuit — an uncommon achievement that drew wider attention to the young Santa Catarina competitor. During this period, she collected major titles including a 1st place finish at the IBJJF European Open in 2020, a CBJJE World Championship gold medal in 2019, and a 1st place result at the IBJJF South Brazilian Championship in 2019.

As a brown belt, Tozoni entered the AJP Tour's mixed brown and black belt division, regularly facing top international competitors. The experience proved formative, sharpening her game and preparing her for the demands of elite black belt competition. In June 2021, Marcos Cunha formally promoted Maria Eduarda Tozoni to black belt — a recognition of a journey that had taken her from a trial class in Blumenau to the threshold of the sport's highest tier.

Establishing Herself in the Roosterweight Division

Duda Tozoni competes in the roosterweight division at 48.50 kg / 107.0 lbs, one of the most competitive weight classes in women's grappling. Her AJP Tour results reflect an athlete who arrived at black belt already battle-tested and capable of performing at the international level.

Her AJP Grand Slam campaign in Rio de Janeiro offered an early measure of that readiness — a 1st place finish in 2020, earned while competing as a colored belt in the mixed division, announced her as a genuine threat at the top level. The following year, as a newly promoted black belt, she returned to the same event and secured 2nd place in 2021, demonstrating consistency rather than a singular result. That same year, she claimed 1st place at the AJP Brazil Pro in 2021, further cementing her standing among the division's elite. In 2022, Tozoni added a 3rd place finish at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, reinforcing her ability to perform across multiple competitive formats at the national championship level.

The arc of Tozoni's career — from a reluctant beginner in Blumenau to a podium fixture on the international AJP circuit — reflects both the depth of her development under Marcos Cunha and the competitive instincts she has honed since stepping onto the mat for the first time in 2013.