Jungle Fight is a Brazilian mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2003 by former fighter Wallid Ismail. Ismail partnered with Japanese martial artist and promoter Antonio Inoki to stage the inaugural event at the Ariaú Amazon Towers near Manaus, Amazonas. The promotion has operated as a developmental circuit for Brazilian fighters and many of its champions and top fighters went to sign to the UFC. Some fighters who passed through Jungle Fight include Erick Silva, Fabrício Werdum, José Aldo, Lyoto Machida, Antônio Rogério Nogueira, Johnny Walker, Alex Pereira, Ronaldo Souza, Bethe Correia, John Lineker, Renato Moicano and Natália Silva.
History Jungle Fight was created in 2003 by former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA fighter Wallid Ismail, with the assistance of Antonio Inoki, Japanese pro wrestling legend, MMA pioneer, and Ismail's manager. The event emerged during the transition from Vale Tudo to regulated MMA in Brazil. Following the decline of major promotions like the International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC)—and despite Brazil's tradition in the sport and the existence of other events—there was a lack of platforms for new fighters to gain national and international prominence. Against this backdrop, Jungle Fight was conceived as a new showcase for Brazilian MMA, while simultaneously aiming to draw international attention to the Amazon rainforest and the need to preserve the region.
The first Jungle Fight took place on September 13, 2003, at Ariaú Amazon Towers, a luxury hotel in the middle of the Amazon jungle only reacheable by boat from Manaus, in the state of Amazonas. Ismail, who had recently retired from competition, invited Inoki to help launch the event. The card card included future UFC champions Lyoto Machida and Fabrício Werdum, as well as future veterans Ronaldo Souza, Gabriel Gonzaga, Evangelista Santos, Jorge Patino, and NJPW and WWE pro wrestler Shinsuke Nakamura. Machida defeated future UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar, Werdum defeating Gonzaga, and Souza making his MMA debut against Jorge Patino.
The promotion initially held cards in Manaus before expanding across Brazil. It staged Jungle Fight 7 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in December 2006, followed by a hiatus in 2007 and four events in Rio de Janeiro in 2008.
For Jungle Fight 37 in March 2012, the promotion introduced a circular cage in place of its ring. Beginning with Jungle Fight 48 in January 2013, it penalized fighters who missed weight with a 20-percent purse deduction and point deductions that increased with the size of the miss. In 2015, Sherdog ranked Jungle Fight fifth among regional MMA promotions and described its post-2011 model as emphasizing prospects and developing fighters from early in their careers.
In February 2015, Jungle Fight signed a broadcast agreement with Rede Bandeirantes, moving to free-to-air television beginning with Jungle Fight 76 the following month. Later that year, it was announced as a promotional partner for the Rizin Fighting Federation World Grand Prix, and Jungle Fight 82 cruiserweight champion Bruno Cappelozza qualified for the tournament.
The promotion returned to Manaus for its 100th card on December 28, 2019. After Jungle Fight 102 in February 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted its schedule; competition resumed with Jungle Fight 103 in November 2021. By 2022, Jungle Fight cards were being distributed through Grupo Globo outlets. Jungle Fight 112 aired on TV Globo, while the full card was carried live through Combate, Globoplay, and SporTV 2.
By September 2023, Jungle Fight had held events in 14 Brazilian states and the Federal District, and was preparing its 120th numbered card.
In a partnership with Grupo Globo, in 2025 Jungle Fight announced the Fight do Milhão, a single-elimination tournament (a "Grand Prix") contested in two categories: men's lightweight (up to 70 kg) and women's flyweight (up to 57 kg).The prize awarded R$500,000 each, a combined R$1 million, that is the largest prize in Brazilian MMA history. The winners would also receive the titles of "King" and "Queen of the Jungle". The finals were held on October 25 at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium in São Paulo; Marcelo Medeiros won the men's tournament, while Leidiane Fernandes won the women's competition, becoming the King and Queen of the Jungle, respectively.
Current champions
Division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses Next Fight Heavyweight Vacant / - Light Heavyweight Vacant / - Middleweight Vitor Costa September 30, 2023 (Jungle Fight 120) 1 Welterweight Anderson Nascimento March 16, 2024 (Jungle Fight 124) 0 Lightweight Arcangelo Oliveira August 26, 2023 (Jungle Fight 119) 1 Featherweight Willian Souza July 29, 2023 (Jungle Fight 118) 1 Bantamweight Tiago Pereira June 24, 2023 (Jungle Fight 117) 1 Flyweight Wagner Reis November 25, 2023 (Jungle Fight 122) 1 Women's Bantamweight Kelly Ottoni July 31, 2022 (Jungle Fight 109) 1 Women's Flyweight Elora Dana March 26, 2023 (Jungle Fight 114) 2 Women's Strawweight Laura Vasconcelos July 20, 2024 (Jungle Fight 128) 0
Men's Championship history Heavyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 60 November 2, 2013Baldutti vacated when he left the promotion.2 Jungle Fight 90 September 3, 2016Almeida vacated to compete for Rizin.3 Jungle Fight 91 July 15, 2017Souza vacated when he left the promotion.4 Jungle Fight 98 November 23, 2019Miranda vacated when he left the promotion.
Cruiserweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 82 October 24, 2015Cappelozza vacated to compete at light heavyweight.
Light Heavyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 37 March 31, 2012Silva vacated to compete at middleweight.2 Jungle Fight 74 November 29, 2014Broenstrup vacated when he left the promotion.3 Jungle Fight 87 May 21, 2016Cappelozza vacated when he left the promotion.
Middleweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 47 December 21, 2012Alcantara vacated to compete for the UFC.2 Jungle Fight 74 November 29, 2014dos Santos vacated to compete for the UFC.3 Jungle Fight 80 August 22, 2015Lobato vacated to compete for the PFL.4 Jungle Fight 87 May 21, 2016Costa vacated to compete for the UFC.5 Jungle Fight 94 December 22, 20186 Jungle Fight 102 February 15, 2020Cesario vacated to compete for Absolute Championship Akhmat.7 Jungle Fight 120 September 30, 2023
Welterweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 52 May 4, 2013Silverio vacated to compete for the UFC.2 Jungle Fight 63 December 21, 2013de Lima vacated to compete for the UFC.3 Jungle Fight 71 July 19, 2014Zaleski dos Santos vacated to compete for the UFC.4 Jungle Fight 76 April 11, 2015Lopes vacated when he left the promotion.5 Jungle Fight 84 December 5, 2015Ferreira vacated when he left the promotion.6 Jungle Fight 91 July 15, 2017Souto vacated when he left the promotion.7 Jungle Fight 95 September 28, 2019Lemos vacated to compete for Absolute Championship Akhmat.8 Jungle Fight 107 May 1, 2022Ottoni vacated to compete for the PFL.9 Jungle Fight 114 March 26, 202310 Jungle Fight 116 May 27, 2023Oliveira vacated.11 Jungle Fight 124 March 16, 2024— Jungle Fight 127 June 8, 2024
Lightweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 37 March 31, 2012Martins vacated to compete for Strikeforce.2 Jungle Fight 49 February 22, 20133 Jungle Fight 54 June 29, 2013Jorge vacated to compete for the UFC.4 Jungle Fight 59 October 12, 2013Trator vacated to compete for the UFC.5 Jungle Fight 78 June 20, 20156 Jungle Fight 82 October 24, 2015— Jungle Fight 85 January 23, 2016Barbosa vacated when he left the promotion.7 Jungle Fight 96 October 19, 2019Denner vacated when he left the promotion.8 Jungle Fight 99 November 30, 2019Almeida vacated to compete for the UFC.9 Jungle Fight 104 December 28, 202110 Jungle Fight 109 July 31, 202211 Jungle Fight 113 December 11, 2022Kruschewsky vacated to compete for the UFC.12 Jungle Fight 119 August 26, 2023— Jungle Fight 123 December 16, 202313 Jungle Fight 134 January 18, 202514 Jungle Fight 141 October 25, 2025
Featherweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 51 April 26, 2013— Jungle Fight 57 September 7, 2013Souza vacated to compete for the UFC.2 – ?3 Jungle Fight 62 December 7, 2013— Jungle Fight 71 July 19, 2014Moicano vacated to compete for the UFC.de Almeida vacated to compete for the WSOF.4 Jungle Fight 76 April 11, 2015Bilharinho vacated when he left the promotion.5 Jungle Fight 79 July 4, 2015Rodrigues vacated when he left the promotion.6 Jungle Fight 86 April 30, 2016Silva vacated to compete for Absolute Championship Berkut.7 Jungle Fight 92 September 30, 2017Colares vacated to compete for the UFC.8 Jungle Fight 101 January 31, 2020Souza vacated.9 Jungle Fight 105 February 13, 2022Souza vacated.10 Jungle Fight 111 September 18, 2022Fontes vacated.11 Jungle Fight 118 July 29, 2023
Bantamweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 56 August 24, 20132 Jungle Fight 67 March 29, 2014Bilharinho vacated to compete at featherweight.3 Jungle Fight 81 September 12, 20154 Jungle Fight 86 April 30, 2016Silva vacated when he left the promotion.5 Jungle Fight 91 July 15, 2017— Jungle Fight 93 April 28, 2018— Jungle Fight 94 December 22, 2018Soares vacated when he left the promotion.Souza vacated when he left the promotion.6 Jungle Fight 100 December 28, 2019Pinheiro vacated when he left the promotion.7 Jungle Fight 106 March 27, 2022Souza vacated to return to featherweight.8 Jungle Fight 113 December 11, 2022Souza vacated to compete for Bellator MMA.9 Jungle Fight 117 June 24, 2023— Jungle Fight 126 May 25, 2024
Flyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 47 December 21, 2012— Jungle Fight 50 April 6, 2013Souza vacated when he left the promotion.2 Jungle Fight 53 June 1, 2013— Jungle Fight 55 July 20, 20133 Jungle Fight 69 May 3, 20144 Jungle Fight 77 May 9, 2015— Jungle Fight 89 July 30, 2016Oliveira vacated.Menezes vacated.5 Jungle Fight 92 September 30, 2017— Jungle Fight 93 April 28, 2018Delfino vacated when he left the promotion.Araujo vacated when he left the promotion.7 Jungle Fight 97 October 26, 2019Rodrigues vacated to compete for the UFC.8 Jungle Fight 103 November 28, 2021Rodrigues vacated when he left the promotion.9 Jungle Fight 110 August 27, 2022da Silva vacated to compete on Dana White's Contender Series.10 Jungle Fight 117 June 24, 202311 Jungle Fight 122 November 25, 2023
Strawweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 90 September 3, 2016Dias vacated when he left the promotion.
Women's Championship history Women's Bantamweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 63 December 21, 2013Pacheco vacated to compete for the UFC.2 Jungle Fight 82 October 24, 2015Lemos vacated to compete for the UFC.3 Jungle Fight 107 May 1, 2022
Women's Flyweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 89 July 30, 2016da Silva vacated when he left the promotion.2 Jungle Fight 96 October 19, 2019Silva vacated to compete for the UFC.3 Jungle Fight 114 March 26, 2023 — Jungle Fight 121 October 28, 2023
Women's Strawweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 73 September 6, 2014Almeida vacated to compete for the UFC.2 Jungle Fight 79 July 4, 20153 Jungle Fight 83 November 28, 2015Viana vacated when he left the promotion.4 Jungle Fight 112 November 13, 2022Viana vacated to compete for the UFC.5 Jungle Fight 119 August 26, 20236 Jungle Fight 128 July 20, 2024
Kickboxing Championship history Middleweight Championship Weight limit:
No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Jungle Fight 37 March 31, 2012Pereira vacated to compete for WGP Kickboxing.
Events