Diego Brandao is prioritizing competitors over cash in 2025 within the hopes that this leads him again to the UFC cage.
An Final Fighter actuality present winner with six victories in 10 octagon appearances from 2011 to 2016—together with high-profile fights with Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Brian Ortega—the Brazilian veteran had a tumultuous time exterior the UFC. From allegedly pistol-whipping a man outside a strip club—Brandao pleaded self-defense—to wild fights and melees in Russia, Brandao determined he’s had sufficient.
Now dealing with 12-2 featherweight prospect Jamie Siraj for the Tuff-N-Uff belt, Brandao sees Friday evening’s present at Virgin Resorts Las Vegas as step one of a brand new life. Brandao went 9/11 competing everywhere in the world since his UFC launch, getting into cages and rings from Russia and Kazakhstan to Poland and Japan.
“It was a reset in my head,” Brandao instructed MMA Combating of why he went to Russia within the first place, the place he hit the bottom level of his profession by dropping six in a row. “I used to be mainly beginning over. Fixing the errors inside and out of doors of combating, so the one place for me to combat was Russia as a result of Individuals didn’t need to combat Brandao.”
Brandao mentioned he was getting paid as much as $40,000 per bout in Russia, however opted to depart that on the desk to construct his profession from the bottom up as a substitute of serving as a stepping stone for Russian up-and-comers. The title bout with Siraj if the primary of a three-fight deal.
“I’m making an attempt to repair my life,” Brandao mentioned. “Neglect cash and let’s begin from scratch. Again to america. F*ck that cash. I’ll combat for $1 within the UFC. Many individuals suppose my life is the other way up. It was the other way up. Now you’ll hear the noise. All of it begins Friday, brother.”
“Greg Jackson and [Mike] Winkeljohn imagine that is the combat to get me within the UFC,” he continued. “I’ve already talked to Dana White and Sean Shelby, I’ve been speaking to them for over a yr, they usually’ve all the time instructed me, ‘Diego, get out of Russia.’ How would I go away Russia? They paid me $40,000 to combat there. My monetary state of affairs wasn’t good. However I left that $40,000 [check] there to receives a commission $5,000 right here. I’m not embarrassed to say it. I”m combating for $5,000 as a result of it’s a giant alternative. It’s not concerning the cash. I don’t want cash anymore. I’m combating for my title, I’m combating to search out out who’s the unhealthy man Friday in Las Vegas. And I’ll get that belt.”
Brandao doesn’t count on to be signed by the UFC with a win Friday, agreeing “it’s too early.” That mentioned, he thinks ending Siraj’s nine-fight successful streak will likely be a great indication that he’s again.
“Profitable this one and two extra title defenses, I believe it’s UFC time,” Brandao mentioned. “UFC is about enjoyable fights and placing on a present. There’s no such factor as age, man. That’s what Sean Shelby instructed me: ‘Diego, win three fights and placed on a present so we see the place you’re at.’ I’m following his plans. They requested me to combat in america, and I’m doing what they need. I’ll finish this man stay at UFC Struggle Cross and go away it in Dana White’s and Sean Shelby’s arms. Give me a Russian, a Dagestani. Individuals are afraid to combat them, Brazilians don’t need these combat, and Brandao is right here to kill.
“[Siraj] is on the verge of signing with the UFC. Individuals say he’s a future UFC star and hasn’t misplaced in 9 years. I’ll combat this man! I believe he’s feeling the strain. I’ve been on this on line casino earlier than, I’ve been by way of all of this, and my expertise will likely be an excessive amount of for him. I do know that is my final shot at getting again to the UFC. It’s a dream for me, and I’ll chase that dream so long as I’m alive.”
