Diego Brandao just lately made an announcement along with his in-cage performances and his vogue.
Brandao, the primary Brazilian to win a season of The Final Fighter again in 2011, captured and defended the Tuff-N-Uff featherweight title with finishes of 145-pound prospects Jamie Siraj and Canaan Kawaihae earlier this 12 months. His followers shortly seen he did it carrying Alex Pereira custom shorts, those designed for Pereira’s UFC 300 conflict with Jamahal Hill.
That wasn’t Brandao’s authentic plan, although.
“I went to purchase Jose Aldo shorts, Brazil, the yellow one,” Brandao advised MMA Combating. “After I obtained to the [UFC Performance Institute] for the Jamie battle there have been no shorts. I used to be pissed. ‘F*ck, there aren’t any shorts. I need to seem like Jose Aldo. I need to gown good for Dana White, for them to see.’ After I obtained there and noticed [the name] Pereira, ‘These shorts are good.’ Individuals advised me, ‘Take this one, it’s Alex Poatan.’ And my title, in case you don’t know, is Diego Pereira Brandao. ‘F*ck. You recognize what? I’ll battle with these shorts.’”
Pereira completed Hill on the 3:14 mark of the primary spherical in April 2024, and Brandao took simply 14 seconds longer to cease Siraj. Brandao went to championship rounds towards Kawaihae in his current title protection earlier than including one other knockout win to his document.
“It’s God, brother, as a result of I gained the battle and persons are speaking concerning the ‘Poatan’ shorts loads, calling me ‘Mini Poatan,’” Brandao mentioned. “I like this. I shaved my head and it does seem like Mini Poatan a bit of bit, however he’s higher. But it surely was one thing natural that occurred. I wished the yellow one like Jose Aldo, that’s the one I wished for [my return] to the USA, however obtained Poatan’s as a substitute. It was even higher.”
The 38-year-old veteran subsequent expects to defend his title towards Kai Kamaka III in November, however hopes to land a deal with the UFC sooner.
