CHICAGO – With a heavy coronary heart, Gabriel Braga entered the cage for the primary time since his father’s dying.
At 2024 PFL 3, Braga (13-1) started his featherweight season with a bout towards Justin Gonzales. With one second left on the clock in Spherical 1, Braga prompted the referee to cease the struggle after touchdown a collection of arduous punches that despatched Gonzales (14-4) to the bottom.
Braga dropped to his knees within the heart of the cage, letting the feelings of your complete second take over as he lifted each fingers towards the sky.
“He left us, however in leaving us, he left me very prepared,” Braga stated about his father by an interpreter throughout a post-fight information convention. “Prepared for these moments, able to make him proud, and able to conquer the world, in order that’s what I’m right here to do.”
Braga’s father, Diego, was killed in January in Brazil. A drug gang reportedly murdered him as they looked for a stolen motorbike.
Whereas working by the ache of dropping a father or mother, Braga’s circle helped hold a smile on his face. He continued coaching to organize for this PFL season, which he intends to win.
“I’m right here to be a champion,” Braga stated. “Final yr, I really feel like I conquered a variety of area inside the group. I proved my value, however this yr I’m right here to be champion.”
Try Braga’s full post-fight interview within the video above.
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