Michal Baly Reaches European No-Gi Black Belt Final

Israeli athlete Michal Baly reached the European No-Gi black belt final in Rome on Saturday, 31 October, after winning her quarterfinal and semifinal. The 22-year-old, who competes in the 51.5 kg division, secured her first appearance in a European final at black belt level in No-Gi competition. Baly beat Italy's Giulia Angiolini 2–0 on points in the quarterfinal. In the semifinal she faced Brazil's Thaís Loureiro and won by submission five minutes into a contest scheduled for ten minutes. Those two victories took Baly through to the championship's final, which is scheduled for Sunday, 1 November. Loureiro, 29, came into the meeting with a World No-Gi title from 2025 and European titles from 2025 and 2022. Baly's own previous European success came at a different belt level: she won the 2025 European No-Gi championship at brown belt before competing in this year's black belt event. Baly trains under Vicky Davush and is also known by the nickname Baby GOAT. The Rome championship is organized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, IBJJF. Saturday's results secured her place in the final; the bout to decide the European title is still to come.