Sabrinna de Sousa is one of the most interesting prospects competing under the Professional Fighters League banner at the moment.
Representing KHK MMA, 25-year-old De Sousa is set to lock horns with former Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title challenger Taila Santos on the upcoming PFL Tampa card. De Sousa began her martial arts journey in capoeira before transitioning to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She compiled a perfect 15-0 amateur mixed martial arts record along the way, capped by gold at the 2022 International MMA Federation World Championships. She also became the first woman to capture three titles under the IMMAF banner. Signing an IMMAF standout is nothing new for the PFL, which has fished the same talent pool for prospects like the red-hot Patrick Habirora, among others. De Sousa is now 6-0 as a professional.
Sabrinna De Sousa's 6-0 rise has earned her a showdown with Taila Santos at PFL Tampa
While the results have been solid, including a perfect 3-0 mark in the PFL cage, De Sousa looks like she has yet to show her full potential. She has a varied striking arsenal, but she shines most in grappling exchanges. Once the fight hits the mat, she can finish in a number of ways, with armbars and rear-naked chokes her specialties. She also has the cardio to lean on her grinding game plan, taking opponents down and wearing them out with submission attempts and ground-and-pound. In short, De Sousa is a well-rounded fighter, capable on the feet and genuinely dangerous on the ground. She does struggle against technical strikers, though, and she is willing to cede some initiative to secure her takedowns.
AND NEW! 🙌
Sabrinna de Sousa is the new #ShootoBrasil Flyweight Champ! pic.twitter.com/GqpJhQYuod— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) May 3, 2025
In her first fight on home soil, the Brazilian captured the Shooto Brasil 125-pound championship with a win over Sara dos Santos in the Shooto Brasil 129 headliner. De Sousa dictated the pace from the opening bell, looking at ease on the feet as she landed her overhand right and high kicks. When an opening arose, she shot for a takedown into half guard, poured on ground-and-pound and advanced to full mount, from where she attacked with punches and elbows before threatening an armbar. By the end of the round, dos Santos’ forehead was heavily swollen from the assault. The end came early in the second stanza. After eating a hard right hand, “Dinamite” signaled she was done, but with the referee not yet stepping in, De Sousa landed one more high kick before the official waved it off 32 seconds into the frame.
The victory captured the attention of the PFL, where she debuted with a unanimous decision win over Saray Orozco. She then took on fellow IMMAF alum and undefeated prospect Paulina Wisniewska. The pair put on a back-and-forth battle. The two were nearly even on the feet, but De Sousa was more successful in imposing her game on the canvas. The Brazilian powered Wisniewska to the mat with a standing arm-triangle and weathered a scare when her opponent was warned for upkicks. De Sousa showed no trouble passing guard, though she spent enough time on her back to let the Pole bank precious points in Round 2. In the end, De Sousa spoiled Wisniewska’s perfect record, taking a split decision as two of the three judges saw it her way. To date, this is De Sousa’s best win on paper.
Cris Cyborg’s final MMA bout headlines PFL Tampa: Tune in on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Her upcoming clash with Santos will tell us where De Sousa stands in terms of maturity, but the future looks bright. A dream matchup with fellow Sherdog Prospect Watch graduate Dakota Ditcheva may prove tricky to book, however. Before taking on Cheyanne Bowers in her latest assignment, De Sousa did not appear eager to cut down to flyweight, and the bout was transformed into a 134-pound catchweight. Ditcheva will likely remain at 125, and De Sousa will attempt to make the flyweight limit once again against Santos. Wherever De Sousa ultimately settles, the women’s bantamweight division needs fresh blood, and she brings plenty to the table. She has a proven amateur pedigree, has shown she can handle pressure and is efficient in what she does inside the cage. If De Sousa can rediscover some of her killer instinct, she will be the complete package. Her six opponents carry a combined 33-19 record, evidence that she has earned her rise against credible competition rather than tune-up opposition.