Chiasson, 35, arrives at 11-6 and ranked in the top 10 at bantamweight, but the last 18 months have been difficult. She has lost three consecutive decisions: to Ketlen Vieira in May 2025, to Yana Santos at UFC 320 that October, and most recently to Ailin Perez in February, a fight all three judges scored 29-28 against her. None of the three losses was lopsided in the way a finish would be, but the run has left her needing a win to protect both her ranking and her place near the top of the division.
Mesquita’s path has gone the other way. The Brazilian, a multiple-time IBJJF world champion and one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu competitors to move into MMA, is 8-0 as a professional and 3-0 in the UFC, with every one of her UFC wins coming by submission. Her early UFC numbers underline how dangerous she has been, including a takedown success rate of 75 percent and more than three submission attempts per 15 minutes. Beating a ranked opponent would move her from promising crossover prospect into the bantamweight rankings conversation.
The matchup comes down to where the fight takes place. Chiasson, at 5 feet 11 inches, is one of the longest fighters in the division and has had her best nights using her reach, pressure and clinch work to dictate the pace. Against most opponents, getting the fight to the ground has been part of her toolkit. Against Mesquita, the mat is the most dangerous place in the cage. The question for Chiasson is whether she can keep the fight on her terms at range and in the clinch, and stay out of the scrambles where Mesquita has done her best work. The question for Mesquita is whether her striking and her entries are good enough to get there against a bigger, more experienced opponent.
Neither fighter can afford to treat it as just another bout. A fourth consecutive loss would be a heavy blow for Chiasson at this stage of her career. A win for Mesquita would be the clearest evidence yet that her jiu-jitsu credentials translate against the division’s established names. UFC 334 takes place Saturday, November 14, at Madison Square Garden in New York, headlined by Ciryl Gane’s heavyweight title defence against Josh Hokit and Kayla Harrison’s
