2017 black belt IBJJF World champion Nathiely de Jesus has joined the Soul Fighters team. 

The medium-heavyweight competitor, 22, took top honors at the IBJJF World Championship in her first year as a back belt and finished as the top-ranked female black belt in the 2016-2017 UAEJJF ranking. The move was announced on Tuesday, March 20. 

Originally hailing from Sao Paulo in Brazil, Nathiely has been living in Dallas, Texas and training with the Soul Fighters team during this period, something that affected her decision. 

"I trained under Cicero Costha for almost five years but as I decided to live in the USA and they don't have any affiliates here, I began training with the guys from Soul Fighters and after a lot of thinking I took the decision to switch teams. They are great people who help me a lot," she said. 

Soul Fighters co-founder Bruno "Tank" Mendes said was very happy with the new addition to the team. "She has an amazing team spirit and good energy. It’s been a while since she started training in Texas with the team we have here. So, it was very natural for her to make this transition to Soul Fighters. She already brings a lot with her knowledge and training."

Nathiely de Jesus pictured far right with the Soul Fighters team. Photo: instagram.com/igorpaivabjj

Mendes also revealed that Soul Fighters plans on recruiting more athletes to the team to bolster their competition squad. "We are not stoping with her," said Mendes. "Soul Fighters created a program to scout and bring new athletes of all belt levels to work with us. Together with a program where we support our homemade athletes." 

"We want to build this synergy of world-class athletes with our prospects to bring Soul Fighters to the top of the food chain in jiu-jitsu." 

De Jesus is married to fellow black belt competitor Manuel Ribamar, another former Cicero Costha representative who competes under the banners of NS Brotherhood and Unity Jiu-Jitsu. He has chosen to compete under Unity during 2018 due to the close links and athlete-sharing that goes on between the two team. Unity head coach Murilo Santana has a strong bond with NS Brotherhood founder Leandro Lo, and often coaches him during big matches. 

WATCH: 10 of Nathiely's nastiest leglocks