“He creates things that only he can create”

IBJJF World Champion Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes of Brazil is ready to shine in his ONE Championship debut this coming Friday.

‘Bisnaga’ prepares to dazzle the global audience for the first time at ONE Fight Night 40, where he’ll duke it out with fellow Brazilian Fabricio ‘Hokage’ Andrey in featherweight submission grappling action on Feb. 13.

Mendes had a banner year in 2025, where he emerged as the best in his division after conquering the IBJJF circuit in the gi.

That magical run earned the Atos representative an invite to the world’s largest martial arts organization.

Aside from showcasing his talents on the global stage, it’s also a chance for Mendes to avenge an earlier setback to Andrey outside the promotion.

Knowing what he’ll be up against, Mendes acknowledged his opponent’s supreme athleticism, which makes him dangerous as long as there’s time on the clock.

The 28-year-old grappling wizard told ONE Championship in his pre-event interview:

“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.”

Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes has never forgotten loss to Fabricio Andrey

Joao Pedro Bueno Mendes admits the sting of falling short against Fabricio Andrey still lingers to this day.

The Brazilian was taken aback by ‘Hokage’s’ unpredictable nature in their first encounter. Now much more equipped to handle Andrey’s explosiveness, Mendes vows revenge.

‘Bisnaga’ told ONE in the same interview:

“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,” he shared.

Stream ONE Fight Night 40 live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Prime Video subscribers in North America can watch for free in U.S. primetime.