One of the most talented women in the super heavyweight division has returned to IBJJF competition after serving a four year suspension for doping changers.

Tayane Porfirio returned to IBJJF competition in London, England yesterday, where she won double gold, winning default gold in the super heavyweight division, then submitting each of her opponents in the open class.

Porfrio had been suspended from competing at IBJJF competition in June 2018, serving a four year sanction from USADA after testing positive for a prohibited substance after Worlds that year. Her suspension was lifted following the 2022 IBJJF World Championships.

“For me, this comeback means overcoming,” Porfírio said in an exclusive interview with Flograppling. “I went through frustrations. It was three years not trusting myself.”

She admitted that during her ban, watching jiu-jitsu made her sad. But a recent pregnancy consoled her. “I confess that my life only started to make sense after I found out I was pregnant,” she said.

Porfírio gave birth to her daughter Maria on September 22, 2022, in London, where she currently lives. The two-time IBJJF World champ currently represents Double Five at tournaments but is not training specifically under any team banner.

A New Wave At Women’s Super Heavyweight Is Coming

When Porfírio arrived in the Super Heavyweight black belt division, in 2017, previous super heavyweight queen Gabi Garcia had largely stepped away from IBJJF competition. In her first year as a black belt, Porfirio secured the IBJJF Grand Slam, capturing all four major IBJJF titles in the same year.

She won double gold at Worlds again in 2018, but was stripped of those titles as part of her USADA sanctions. 

While Porfirio was away from competition, Gabi Pessanha emerged as the top super heavyweight contender on the IBJJF scene. Pessanha was unable to compete in her first year as a black belt (2019) due to her age, but in 2021 she secured double gold at the IBJJF Worlds, European, and Brazilian Nationals as well as gold at the IBJJF Pan. In 2022 she completed the IBJJF Double Grand Slam.

For the past three seasons, the Super Heavyweight division has been dominated by Pessanha and Yara Soares, two rising stars of the new generation who, together, have accounted for every major super heavyweight and absolute title since 2021. 

Porfírio’s return could make waves in those categories, bringing a new challenge to the two dominant athletes.

While Porfirio has been unable to compete in IBJJF events, she and Pessanha have crossed paths three times in other circuits. Their first encounter was at BJJ Bet (2021) when Porfírio defeated Pessanha 2-0. The next two matches took place at the 2021 Abu Dhabi World Pro during the Brazilian qualifiers, when they battled twice on the same day. Pessanha beat Porfírio twice, once by referee decision, then via points (4-3).

Porfírio said she is now in better physical and mental shape to compete against Pessanha again. 

“The first time we competed was in Brazil. I did win, but not in the way I had hoped. Last time we fought, I had an amazing camp in Doha [Qatar], lost almost 40lbs in one month, and had an accident 2 days before the fight," Porfírio said.

“I think we will face each other many times and we will showcase a beautiful jiu-jitsu. I really want to win, it will be ‘porrada.’”

Porfirio is not planning to compete at IBJJF Pans in March this year, but she is getting ready for Worlds, scheduled for the first week of June in Long Beach, CA.

Pessanha said there has been a huge expansion in the heavyweight divisions, and added: “The women are very technical and playing guard. You see? The heavyweight can play guard as well. Towards the future, I believe female jiu-jitsu will gain more value.”