‘Biggest Stage In Our Sport’ – Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes Ready For Dream ONE Debut Against Fabricio Andrey
Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes can’t wait to make his mark on the global stage. This weekend, the 28-year-old IBJJF World Champion will make his debut in the world’s largest martial arts organization in front of thousands of screaming fans.
Mendes will face fellow Brazilian Fabricio “Hokage” Andrey in a featherweight submission grappling contest at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video, live in U.S. primetime on Friday, February 13 from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium.
Mendes brings a stellar 92-34 record into his promotional debut. His journey to ONE Championship represents the culmination of years spent dreaming about competing on the biggest stage in submission grappling.
For the Brazilian star, making his debut against Andrey presents the perfect opportunity to test himself against one of the division’s most dangerous competitors.
Speaking to onefc.com about joining the promotion and facing “Hokage” in his debut, Mendes expressed his excitement for the opportunity.
The IBJJF World Champion shared:
“To be honest, I’ve always wanted to fight at the big stage like ONE. I think it’s the biggest stage in our sport.
“He [Andrey] is very unpredictable. He creates things that only he can create. He jumps for flying armbars, he does crazy throws, so [his style is] hard to predict. He always creates something new. I think that’s why he’s so dangerous.”
This upcoming bout represents the perfect test of Mendes’ skills as he transitions from gi to no-gi competition at the highest level.
For the 28-year-old, winning the 2025 IBJJF World Championship was the realization of a lifelong dream that began when he first stepped onto the mats at just 11 years old. The emotional significance of that achievement still resonates deeply with the Brazilian star.
He explained:
“Man, it’s like, the moment I dreamed of, since I started training jiu-jitsu at 11 years old. It was pretty much 16 years old, thinking every day about that moment. And then when it finally happened [it] was like, man, you know? I did it.
“It was like two weeks that I was still realizing what I did. Because it’s such a big thing that sometimes I also forget about what that means, you know? Being a black belt World Champion. Sometimes I have to remind myself, ‘Man, it’s true. That really happened.'”
The decision to transition to no gi competition came almost immediately after securing his World Championship. Mendes recognized that opportunities in no gi grappling, including potential super-fights and massive financial rewards, would allow him to maximize his career potential.
Mendes revealed his strategic thinking behind the transition:
“I think right after I won the title, I started thinking about moving to no gi, because I know there are more opportunities to do super-fights and the money and everything is better in no gi. It was my plan: win Worlds and then transition to no gi.”
Mendes Seeks Redemption Against Creative Grappler
History adds an extra layer of intrigue to the February 13 submission grappling showdown.
Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes and Fabricio Andrey have met before, with their previous encounter ending in Andrey’s favor at the Pan American tournament in 2021. That defeat remains fresh in Mendes’ memory, demonstrating the lasting impact losses can have on competitive athletes.
The Brazilian explained:
“Yeah, we fought one time in 2021, a long time ago. You know the expression people always say: ‘If you beat someone, you’re going to forget, but if you get beaten, you’re never going to forget.’ That’s why I remember it.
“To be honest, I don’t think about revenge too much. I don’t think about trying to make it one to one. I just see a great opportunity for me to test myself in no gi, because I know he’s one of the toughest guys in the division and I always like a big challenge.”
Preparing for Andrey’s creative, unpredictable style has required comprehensive training with high-level partners who can simulate different looks and challenges. Mendes has surrounded himself with elite grapplers who push him daily and help refine his techniques.
When asked about his training partners and preparation, he revealed the elite group that has pushed him daily.
The 28-year-old concluded:
“The guy I trained the most with is Andy Murasaki. We trained together, we’re drilling together, we do pretty much everything together.
“And Marlon Tajik is a very tough guy. He won double gold at the IBJJF Awards at no gi brown belt. He received his black belt, and he’s going to compete in the IBJJF Grand Prix with Nico Maglicic, and PJ Barch. But to be honest, it was a small group. Ronaldo Jr. — all those guys.”
