Ffion Davies

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Ffion Davies
BornFfion Eira Davies
(1995-01-18) 18 January 1995 (age 29)[1]
Swansea, Wales
ResidenceNew York City[2]
DivisionFeather / Light
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Submission Grappling
TeamAtos JJ International[3]
ECJJA Dublin
TrainerJT Torres
Darragh O Conaill
Rank
Mixed martial arts record
Total1
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses0
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Representing  Wales
Submission Grappling
ADCC World Championship
Silver medal – second place 2019 California, USA -60kg
Gold medal – first place 2022 Nevada, USA -60kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[6]
World Championship[6]
Gold medal – first place 2023 California, USA -64 kg
Gold medal – first place 2022 California, USA -64 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2019 California, USA -58.5 kg
Pan American Championship
Silver medal – second place 2023 Florida, USA -64 kg
Silver medal – second place 2022 Florida, USA -64 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 California, USA -58.5 kg
European Championship[6]
Gold medal – first place 2020 Lisbon, Portugal -64 kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 Lisbon, Portugal Open
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lisbon, Portugal -58.5 kg
Brazilian National Championship[6]
Gold medal – first place 2019 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -58.5 kg
World No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2021 California, USA -61.5 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 California, USA -56.5 kg
Representing  United Kingdom
Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship
Silver medal – second place 2018 Abu Dhabi, UAE -62kg
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
Bronze medal – third place 2022 London, UK -62kg
Gold medal – first place 2020 London, UK -62kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 London, UK -62kg

Ffion Davies (born 18 January 1995) is a Welsh submission grappler, mixed martial artist and a world-champion Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor. She is a multiple winner of the IBJJF World Championship, including the no-gi championship in 2023 in both the 61 kg and absolute divisions.[7]

A member of Wales Judo National team when she was a junior, Davies holds a black belt in both BJJ and judo.

Davies is the first lightweight athlete to win double gold at the No-Gi World Championship. Davies is the first British/Welsh black belt world champion (in both Gi and No-Gi), the first European to win the Brazilian Nationals, the lightest-ever competitor to win the IBJJF European absolute division, and the first British/Welsh ADCC World Champion.

Early life[edit]

Ffion Eira Davies was born on 18 January 1995 in Swansea, Wales.[8] She started playing rugby then switched to judo at the age of 8 starting competing extensively,[8] Davies became a Welsh and British Open judo champion in the junior division and was selected into the Welsh National Judo team.[5]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

After leaving judo during her teenage years Davies started MMA in 2013 alongside Brett Johns,[9] Davies won her first four MMA fights by first round submission, then decided to focus on learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu; she trained under Chris Rees, the first Welsh black belt in jiu-jitsu, receiving her blue belt from him at his Academy in Swansea.[10] In 2015, competing under Gracie Barra as a blue belt, she won her first European Championship in the Lightweight division.[11] After attending seminars of black belt Darragh O’Conail, Davies moved to Dublin, to start training at East Coast Jiu-Jitsu.[12] On 27 November 2018 O’Conaill promoted her to black belt.[8]

Black belt career[edit]

2018–2019: IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, European Champion, Pan Am Champion[edit]

A month after receiving her belt, Davies won double gold at the Dublin International Open (Feather and Open Class) followed by gold at the World No-Gi Championship[13] becoming the first black belt from the UK to win that tournament.[14] At the start of 2019 she won the European Championship, the Polaris Grappling Invitational,[15] the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London, and then became Pan American Champion after winning Gold in California. A month later, Davies won the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship (known as Brasileiros) becoming the first European to win,[16] and then winning Bronze at the 2019 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (known as Mundials).

At the 2019 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship, she won Silver after submitting the tournament's favourite Bia Mesquita in the semi-final,[17] in what has been called "one of the most shocking upsets in jiu-jitsu history"[18] she was invited to compete at the 2022 ADCC World Championship as a result. She returned to the UK to win the British National followed by the Berlin International Open Championship in November.

2020–2021: Third European and second World No-Gi championship titles[edit]

In 2020, Davies won double gold at the European Championship in the Lightweight division and in Open Class, beating the Super-Heavyweight Champion Jessica Flowers,[19] becoming the lightest grappler to win the European absolute division. After returning to the UK she won another Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London. In 2021, she won the World No-Gi championship for the second time in her weight division.[20] At the 2022 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship Davies won silver after being defeated by Nathalie Ribeiro in the final,[21] both competitors were praised for their sportsmanship following the match, after congratulating her opponent Davies posted: "We all have the same goal and will likely all have our moment. Don’t dull anyone else’s shine."[22]

2022: IBJJF World Champion, ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion[edit]

In early 2022, Davies started training at Essential Jiu Jitsu (an Atos affiliated academy), under the coaching of JT Torres.[23] In June 2022 Davies won the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the Lightweight division, becoming the first Welsh and British black belt jiu-jitsu world champion.[24] At the 2022 ADCC World Championship Davies became the first Welsh and British Submission Fighting world champion after submitting Adele Fornarino in the first round, defeating Bia Mesquita 6-0 in the semi-final, and Brianna Ste-Marie by a score of 10-0 in the final.[25]

2023: Second IBJJF World title[edit]

Davies competed in the women's under 66 kg Grand Prix at Polaris 23 on March 11, 2023.[26] Davies defeated Giovanna Jara in the opening round before being submitted by the eventual champion Elisabeth Clay in the semi-final.[27]

On March 26, 2023, Davies won a silver medal in the lightweight division of the 2023 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship.[28] On 4 June 2023, Davies won the IBJJF World Championship for the second time, in the lightweight division.[29][30]

Davies was booked to defend her WNO flyweight title against Jasmine Rocha at Who's Number One on August 10, 2023.[31] She won the match by unanimous decision and successfully defended the title.[32]

Davies won both the lightweight and the absolute division at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship 2023,[33] becoming the first European to win the absolute division and the first to win two gold medals at the same edition of the tournament.[34]

2024[edit]

Davies competed against Luana Pinheiro in the co-main event of ADXC 2 on January 19, 2024.[35] She won the match by submission in the first round.[36]

Davies was scheduled to defend her flyweight title against Amanda Alequin at Who's Number One 22 on February 9, 2024,[37] but she withdrew from the match due to undisclosed reasons.[38]

Davies will defend her under 55 kg title against Brianna Ste-Marie at Polaris 27 on March 23, 2024.[39]

Davies will compete in the main event of Subversion 5: Reign against Nikki Lloyd-Griffiths for the promotion's inaugural featherweight title on April 6, 2024.[40]

Davies is scheduled to face Morgan Black in a bantamweight submission grappling match in the co-main event of ADXC 4 on May 18, 2024.[41]

Competitive summary[edit]

Main achievements at black belt level:[8]

Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):[8]

  • 1X IBJJF World champion (2018 brown)
  • 1X IBJJF World No-Gi champion (2016 purple)
  • 1X IBJJF European Open champion (2015 blue, 2016 purple)
  • 2X IBJJF European Open No-Gi champion (2018[b] brown)[53]
  • 1X ADCC European Trials champion (2018)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016/2017 purple)
  • 2nd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2018 brown)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2018 brown)

Instructor lineage[edit]

Royler Gracie → Saulo Ribeiro → (Alexandre Ribeiro) → Darragh O’Conaill → Ffion Davies[8]

Fight history[edit]

Result Opponent Method Event Weight Date
Loss Elisabeth Clay Toe hold Polaris 23 66 kg 2023
Win Giovanna Jara Points Polaris 23 66 kg 2023
Win Bia Mesquita Points 2022 ADCC World Championship -60kgs 2022
Win Brianna Ste-Marie Points 2022 ADCC World Championship -60kgs 2022
Win Adele Fornarino Choke 2022 ADCC World Championship -60kgs 2022
Win V. Vieira Armbar 2022 Raw Grappling No. 2 2022
Win P. Ivette Decision SUBVERSIV 7 2022
Win R. Guedes Decision SUBVERSIV 7 2022
Win J. Flowers Decision SUBVERSIV 7 2022
Win V. Vieira Bow and Arrow 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win J. Maia Points 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win Margot Ciccarelli Points 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win K. Mikkelson RNC 2022 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win Margot Ciccarelli Armbar 2022 Pan Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win T. Monteiro Decision 2022 Pan Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Loss Nathalie Ribeiro Points 2022 Pan Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win Margot Ciccarelli Armbar 2022 Pan Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championship Lightweight 2022
Win P. Batista Armbar Grappling Industries Dublin 150 lbs 2021
Win K. Sheehan Other Grappling Industries Dublin 150 lbs 2021
Win Nathalie Ribeiro Decision FloGrappling WNO: The Return of Gordon Ryan 2021
Win H. Sharp Points 2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Lightweight 2021
Loss Gabrielle McComb Triangle Arm Bar 2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Absolute Division 2021
Win N. Sullivan Armbar 2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Lightweight 2021
Win T. Biagi RNC 2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Lightweight 2021
Win Fernanda Mazzelli RNC 2021 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Lightweight 2021
Loss T. Porfirio Decision Grapplefest 9 Absolute Division 2020
Win L. Campos Advantage 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute Division 2020
Win C. Baumgarten Choke From the Back 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute Division 2020
Win C. Baumgarten RNC 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Lightweight 2020
Loss J. Flowers Points 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute Division 2020
Win P. Caiado RNC 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute Division 2020
Win K. Hill Armbar 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Lightweight 2020
Win N. Sullivan Points 2020 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Lightweight 2020
Win J. Maee Armbar 2019 IBJJF Dublin Open Middleweight 2019
Win J. Maele Other 2019 IBJJF Berlin Open Absolute Division 2019
Win C. Carriello Armbar 2019 IBJJF Dublin Open Middleweight 2019
Win Bia Mesquita Armbar 2019 ADCC World Championships -60kgs 2019
Loss Bianca Basilio Toehold 2019 ADCC World Championships -60kgs 2019
Win R. Yuasa Points 2019 ADCC World Championships -60kgs 2019
Loss N. Carriello Points 2019 Pantheon Invitational 70kgs 2019
Win J. Rivera Armbar 2019 Pantheon Invitational 2019
Win A. Yanes Other 2019 Pantheon Invitational 62kgs 2019
Win J. Maele Points 2019 Pantheon Invitational 62kgs 2019
Win M. Loska RNC 2019 Pantheon Invitational 2019
Win K. Kilarciyan Choke From the Back 2019 Pantheon Invitational 62kgs 2019
Win E. Karppinen Decision 2019 Pantheon Invitational 2019
Win T. Alencar Decision Polaris 11 Featherweight 2019
Loss C. Perret Guillotine Fight 2 Win 114 Bantamweight 2019
Loss Bianca Basilio Other 2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Featherweight 2019
Win Nathalie Ribeiro Other 2019 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Featherweight 2019
Win A. Schmitt Choke From the Back 2019 Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship Featherweight 2019
Win N. Sullivan Other 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 62kgs 2019
Win K. Sung Other 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 62kgs 2019
Loss Bia Mesquita Points 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 62kgs 2019
Win Nathalie Ribeiro Other 2019 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Featherweight 2019
Win K. Antunes Other 2019 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship Featherweight 2019
Win Gezary Matuda Katagatame Polaris 9 2019
Win Bianca Basilio Points 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London 62kgs 2019
Win S. Koikkalainen Other 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London 62kgs 2019
Win L. Paes Points 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London 62kgs 2019
Win C. Martin RNC GrappleFest 4 2019
Win G. Fechter Other 2019 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Featherweight 2019
Win G. Fechter Other 2019 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Featherweight 2019
Loss L. Montiero Other 2019 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute Division 2019
Loss J. Flowers Knee Bar 2018 European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship Absolute Division 2018
Win H. Raftery Armbar 2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Featherweight 2018
Win J. Santos RNC 2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Absolute Division 2018
Win N. Soares Triangle Arm Bar 2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Featherweight 2018
Win A. Nogueira Points 2018 World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship Featherweight 2018
Win Claire-France Thévenon RNC 2018 IBJJF Dublin Open Absolute Division 2018
Win E. Tuukkanen Reverse Triangle 2018 IBJJF Dublin Open Featherweight 2018
Win A. Pérez Choke From the Back 2018 IBJJF Dublin Open Absolute Division 2018
Win D. Mindrinou Bow and Arrow 2018 AJP Tour Spain National Pro 62kgs 2018
Win L. Peretti Other 2018 AJP Tour Spain National Pro 62kgs 2018
Win P. Boveda Other 2018 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 62kgs 2018
Win C. Baumgarten Points 2018 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 62kgs 2018
Loss Bianca Basilio Decision 2018 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 62kgs 2018
Win C. Leah Armbar Polaris 6 55kgs 2018
Loss Bia Mesquita Armbar 2017 ADCC World Championships -60kgs 2017
Loss Talita Alencar Choke EBI 12 125 lbs 2017
Source[8]

Personal life[edit]

Ffion Davies is a native Welsh speaker. In a 2020 interview she stated that she had previously been a vegetarian.[13]

Awards and honours[edit]

  • Jitsmagazine BJJ Awards 'Female Grappler of the Year (No Gi)' (2022)[54]
  • Jitsmagazine BJJ Awards 'Female Grappler of the Year (Gi & No Gi)' (2020)[55]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Davies won both Lightweight[43] and Openweight divisions, becoming the lightest competitor ever to do so by beating the Super-Heavyweight Champion.[44]
  2. ^ Weight and absolute[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ffion Davies ("The Honeybadger")". Tapology.
  2. ^ "Ffion Eira Davies (@itsffionnotfiona) • Instagram photos and videos". Instagram.
  3. ^ "Athlete Results Ffion Davies". Athlete Results. 22 February 1999.
  4. ^ Burne, Kathrine (26 May 2023). "Ffion Davies Promoted To First Degree BJJ Black Belt". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Ffion Davies – Power Passing". The Grapple Club.
  6. ^ a b c d "IBJJF Results".
  7. ^ IBJJF 2023 World No-Gi Championship Results BJJ HEROES, December 9, 2023
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ffion Davies". BJJ Heroes. 13 December 2018.
  9. ^ Smith, Lewis (19 July 2019). "The pint-sized Welsh girl who can take down men twice her size". WalesOnline.
  10. ^ MMA UK (April 2019). "Ffionomenal". mmauk.
  11. ^ "2015 IBJJF Euros results". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  12. ^ Thévenon07, Claire-France. "Le phénomène Ffion Davies". jits.fr (in French).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b Presley, Richard (17 March 2020). "Ffion Davies".
  14. ^ "A New "Eira": Ffion Davies' Transformation From Talented Brown Belt To THE Black Belt To Beat at the World Pro". Jiu-Jitsu Times. 25 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Welsh superstar Ffion Davies leads UK medal charge at IBJJF Euros 2020". Mynewsdesk. 2 February 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Results European Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu Championship 2019". ibjjfdb.
  17. ^ "ADCC 2019 Results: Ffion Davies Breaks Bia's Arm". Grappling Insider. 29 September 2019.
  18. ^ Raftery, Heather (9 December 2019). "IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Draws Record Number Of Women". FloGrappling.
  19. ^ Lindsey, Alex (26 January 2020). "Euros 2020: Ffion Davies Becomes the Lightest Openweight Champion Ever". Grappling Insider.
  20. ^ a b "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation -". www.ibjjfdb.com.
  21. ^ "Nathalie Ribeiro wins battle against nemesis Ffion Davies". 12 April 2022.
  22. ^ Wynne, Lucy (12 April 2022). "Nathalie Ribeiro Gets Gold at Pan Ams Against Ffion Davies". Grappling Insider.
  23. ^ "Worlds Results, Mica Beats Ruotolo, Ffion Crowned First Brit Champ, And Doederlein Wins For USA". BJJ Heroes. 6 June 2022.
  24. ^ a b "World IBJJF Jiu-jitsu Championship 2022 results". IBJJF.
  25. ^ "ADCC 2022 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". JitsMagazine. 18 September 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  26. ^ Lindsey, Alex (18 December 2022). "Polaris Announces Under 66 kg Women's Grand Prix". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Polaris 23 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  28. ^ "IBJJF Pan Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  29. ^ a b "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation -". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  30. ^ "IBJJF World Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  31. ^ Burne, Kathrine. "Ffion Davies To Defend Who's Number One Title Against Jasmine Rocha". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  32. ^ "Who's Number One 19: Nicholas Meregali v Kaynan Duarte Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  33. ^ "IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  34. ^ Phillips, Sabrina. "Ffion Davies Becomes First European To Win Double Gold At IBJJF No Gi Worlds". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  35. ^ "ADXC 2 Full Lineup And Preview". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  36. ^ "ADXC 2 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  37. ^ Blackett, Todd. "Ffion Davies To Defend Title Against Amanda 'Tubby' Alequin At Who's Number One 22". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  38. ^ Phillips, Sabrina. "Adele Fornarino Replaces Ffion Davies Against Amanda 'Tubby' Alequin At WNO 22". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  39. ^ Williams, Jackson. "Ffion Davies Set To Defend Title Against Brianna Ste-Marie At Polaris 27". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  40. ^ Blackett, Todd. "Elite Grapplers Announced For Subversion 5: Reign Lineup". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Ffion Davies vs. Morgan Black booked for ADXC 4 - Grappling Insider". grapplinginsider.com. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  42. ^ Stein, Liam (17 September 2022). "Live Updates & Results – 2022 ADCC World Championships". FloGrappling.
  43. ^ Newsroom, Graciemag. "Euros: Fellipe Andrew, Ffion Davies come out on top". graciemag.
  44. ^ Lindsey, Alex (26 January 2020). "Euros 2020: Ffion Davies Becomes the Lightest Openweight Champion Ever". Grappling Insider.
  45. ^ "Results European Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu Championship 2020". ibjjfdb.
  46. ^ "Results Campeonato Brasileiro De Jiu-jitsu 2019". ibjjfdb.
  47. ^ "Results Pan Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu Championship 2019". ibjjfdb.
  48. ^ "Results London Grand Slam 2019". bjjheroes.
  49. ^ "Results UAEJJF Grand Slam, LDN 2020". ajptour.
  50. ^ "Results UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro 2019". uaejjf.
  51. ^ "Results British National Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu Championship 2019". ibjjfdb.
  52. ^ "Ffion Davies – Fighter profile". Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro. 6 June 2022.
  53. ^ "Results European Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu No-gi Championship 2018". Ibjjf.
  54. ^ "The JitsMagazine 2022 BJJ Awards". January 2023.
  55. ^ "The JitsMagazine 2020 BJJ Awards". 2 January 2021.
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