The UFC women’s strawweight division boasts a long list of talented fighters, but few match the fearlessness of its number three star, Virna Jandiroba. Proof? She showed her courage in 2021 by openly criticizing her country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, for his ruthless actions. On top of that, she also challenged his treatment of indigenous communities, which earned her immense respect and made her one of the most admired Brazilian fighters.
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Since then, Brazil has changed a lot, including getting a new president. Still, Jandiroba kept climbing the strawweight rankings. However, she stumbled in her last fight when she challenged Mackenzie Dern for the title and lost. Putting the past behind her, Jandiroba returns this weekend at UFC Vegas 115 to face fellow Brazilian Tabatha Ricci. With the event countdown already underway, fans naturally want to know more about Jandiroba’s life, including her tattoos.
Exploring Virna Jandiroba’s tattoos and their significance
Jandiroba proudly represents her country and reflects her heritage through her tattoos. She covers both arms with meaningful ink that honors her roots. Jandiroba comes from Bahia, located in the northeast of Brazil. It houses the country’s largest Afro-Brazilian population, which the Portuguese brought forcibly during the colonial era as slaves between the 16th and 19th centuries. Today, however, Bahia showcases a rich mix of African, indigenous, and Portuguese cultures across generations.
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To celebrate her roots during fight weeks, Jandiroba wears the iconic hat from her region, which fans have spotted at UFC events. On top of that, she shows her pride by etching it into her body art, with a tattoo of a figure wearing the hat on her right hand.
Speaking to ESPN about its significance, she said, “The hat I wear in the fight is a symbol. It represents the northeastern countryside. The cowboys here in the backlands use it a lot. I think it’s a representation of the countryside here in the ‘backlands.”
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Born and raised in the countryside, Jandiroba comes from a farming family. Her family likely kept guard dogs for the farm, which may explain why she honors them with a dog tattoo on her arm. Beyond the hat tattoo, Jandiroba inks her left hand with designs representing her region. This includes cactus tattoos, which survive in barren land without water.
In a way, they reflect the fighter’s resilience and perseverance, showing how far she has come from her home region to the world’s biggest MMA promotion, the UFC. In addition, Jandiroba inks plants from Bahia, including hibiscus and bougainvillea flowers, which flourish abundantly in her home region.
On her arms, she inks a large tree beneath the biceps of her right arm. In tattoo symbolism, trees serve as life-givers and remind people to stay grounded and humble through every phase of life, which also connects back to her roots. At the same time, she inks the Greek mythological figure Medusa on her left wrist. While some may see Medusa as a monster, others view her as a symbol of female empowerment.
Moreover, Jandiroba inks tattoos on her legs, including religious designs. On her left leg, she inks a figure of a woman surrounded by a sun-like structure.
The design closely resembles the “Woman Clothed with the Sun,” a biblical figure from Revelation 12:1. In Christian iconography, artists often associate this figure with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Through this tattoo, Jandiroba reflects her faith and highlights her connection to Christianity.
What’s the meaning behind Virna Jandiroba’s nickname ‘Carcara’?
Virna Jandiroba has never hidden her admiration for her heritage and culture. And rightly so — she was born and raised in the same region as her parents, with her mother coming from a farming family. Reflecting on her roots, ‘Carcara’ proudly told ESPN, “I’m from Brazil. Born and raised in the countryside of Bahia. My parents are from there. My mother came from a farming family. From the fields.”
Her deep connection to her people is evident not only in her values but also in her tattoos and the story behind her nickname, ‘Carcará’. “My nickname in the UFC is ‘Carcara.’ The carcara is a bird here in the ‘backlands.’ And it is a bird that is very resilient. It’s a bird that survives, survives adversity,” Virna Jandiroba said. The ‘Carcara belongs to the falcon family, common across Central and South America, including Brazil and the Bahia region.
Known for hunting smaller prey, the ‘Carcara stands as a symbol of resilience and survival. Mirroring the bird’s perseverance, ‘Carcara’ has steadily climbed the ranks of the strawweight division and now sits just one step away from a title shot. In less than 24 hours, the Brazilian will take on fellow Brazilian Tabatha Ricci at UFC Vegas 115 in a highly anticipated rematch. Do you think Jandiroba can exact revenge this time? Drop your prediction below.
Written by
Edited by
Syed Rahil Ahmed