Ali Akbar Rosady
The glittering lights of Las Vegas recently served as an unexpected backdrop for a profound professional encounter for Bruna Brasil, a fighter known as "The Special One" in the strawweight division. Concluding her training camp in the combat sports capital, Brasil found herself at the state-of-the-art UFC Performance Institute (PI) for an extended period. This immersion in the elite training environment, initially spurred by her coaching staff’s presence for teammate Jean Silva’s January bout, serendipitously led to multiple meetings with arguably the greatest female mixed martial artist of all time, Amanda Nunes. Brasil, a 32-year-old talent whose very surname echoes her national pride, openly admitted to being "starstruck" by the presence of "The Lioness," a figure revered throughout Brazil and the global MMA community.
Nunes, a formidable presence with a legacy cemented by her dual-championship reigns, had recently faced an unexpected disruption to her own schedule. While Amanda Nunes officially retired as a double-champion in June 2023, vacating both the bantamweight and featherweight titles, the highly anticipated bout against Kayla Harrison, reportedly slated as a championship contest for a proposed UFC 324 event, underscored Nunes’ enduring status and the monumental significance of such a superfight. However, the event faced a setback when Nunes required neck surgery, leading to the postponement of this potential return to active competition. Despite this personal health challenge and the cancellation of the high-profile bout, Nunes made the deliberate choice to travel to Nevada and continue her rigorous training regimen at the UFC PI, maintaining the intensity as if the fight was still imminent. This unwavering dedication deeply impressed those around her, including Brasil.
Brasil recounted the initial, almost accidental, nature of their first meeting, a moment that left an indelible mark on the aspiring contender. "I was getting dressed in the bathroom and started hearing her voice outside. I said, ‘Damn, Amanda is right there!’" Brasil told MMA Fighting, detailing the sudden realization. "I hadn’t seen her yet. I got ready super fast and ran out all excited. It was really cool. She’s very, very, very friendly, really nice. We talked for a bit. You get kind of starstruck when you meet someone you admire so much in person. I was really happy." This initial encounter blossomed into several opportunities for Brasil to observe Nunes up close over the subsequent weeks at the UFC P.I. Brasil witnessed Nunes training alongside her wife, Nina Nunes, a former UFC fighter herself with a professional record of 11 wins and 7 losses, and actively coaching teammate Priscila Cachoeira, known as "Pedrita," who was also preparing for her own contest at UFC Vegas 113. Cachoeira, a bantamweight with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses, has been a training partner of Nunes for several years, benefiting from "The Lioness’" extensive experience.
These extended observations allowed Brasil to gain a deeper insight into the personality and professional ethos of "The Lioness." Beyond the fierce competitor seen inside the octagon, Brasil discovered a grounded and inspiring individual. "She surprised me positively as a person, with her friendliness," Brasil remarked, emphasizing the unexpected warmth from a fighter of Nunes’ stature. "The way she speaks, her posture. She really carries herself like a champion. You can see she has that strength – even as a coach, talking about ‘Pedrita’s’ camp and her goals, and how she wants to grow as a coach as well. You can tell she’s different, she has a different kind of star. She’s obsessed with winning. I think she’s going to be very successful in this coaching career too." This insight into Nunes’ coaching aspirations adds another dimension to the veteran fighter’s post-retirement activities, showcasing a desire to impart her vast knowledge and championship mindset to the next generation of fighters. The UFC Performance Institute, a 30,000-square-foot facility dedicated to athlete development, serves as a hub for such interactions, providing state-of-the-art training, nutrition, and recovery resources that foster a unique camaraderie among elite fighters.
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The potential re-booking of the highly anticipated superfight between Nunes and Harrison remains a significant point of discussion within the MMA community. The UFC has indicated its intention to reschedule the bout once Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, receives medical clearance to return to full training. Brasil, having witnessed Nunes’ unparalleled commitment firsthand, expressed unwavering confidence in "The Lioness" to re-establish her dominance and potentially reclaim the 135-pound championship should she return to active competition.
"I’m 100 percent Amanda," Brasil declared, leaving no room for doubt about her allegiance. While acknowledging the formidable skills of Harrison, Brasil highlighted key differentiators that she believes will tip the scales in Nunes’ favor. "Kayla is very good, I admire her a lot as an athlete too, but Amanda’s experience is much greater. She’s more complete, more skilled, with a much more champion-like mindset. She’s going to fight for the victory, not for money. I think that’s a huge difference."
This assessment by Brasil underscores a prevalent sentiment among many fight analysts and fans: the distinction between fighting for financial gain versus fighting with an inherent, unyielding drive for victory and legacy. Amanda Nunes’ career, marked by dominant performances against a pantheon of MMA legends including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and Valentina Shevchenko, indeed speaks to a fighter motivated by an insatiable desire to win and solidify her place in history. Her professional record stands at an impressive 23 wins and 5 losses, with 13 victories coming by knockout and 4 by submission. She retired as the only two-division champion in UFC history to successfully defend both titles while simultaneously holding them, a feat that firmly establishes her as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
Kayla Harrison, on the other hand, entered the mixed martial arts scene with an unparalleled pedigree in judo, earning Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. Her transition to MMA, primarily under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner, saw her amass an undefeated record of 16 wins and 1 loss, with 6 knockouts and 6 submissions. She captured the PFL lightweight championship twice, showcasing a dominant grappling-heavy style that often overwhelmed opponents. Harrison’s recent move to the UFC, after a long and successful run with the PFL, has set the stage for this dream matchup with Nunes, a clash that pits elite striking and comprehensive MMA skills against world-class judo and ground control. The stylistic clash promises a compelling narrative, with Brasil’s prediction leaning heavily on Nunes’ holistic skill set and battle-tested experience against a wider array of high-level strikers and grapplers in the UFC. The narrative of "fighting for victory, not money" further adds a layer of psychological analysis to Brasil’s perspective, suggesting Nunes’ internal drive is on a different level.
While observing the GOAT, Bruna Brasil herself is gearing up for a significant challenge in her own career. She is scheduled to face Ketlen Souza at the Meta APEX on February 7th, a bout critical for her ascent in the strawweight division. Brasil, with a professional record of 7 wins and 3 losses, including 5 knockouts, is known for her aggressive striking and powerful finishes. Her journey to this point has seen her compete globally, showcasing her willingness to embrace international challenges. Her most recent triumph came in Shanghai, where she headlined a Road to UFC card against Chinese prospect Ming Shi. This experience, far from being a routine fight, proved to be a pivotal moment in her career.
Reflecting on the Road to UFC experience, Brasil conveyed a sense of profound satisfaction. "It was better than I imagined," Brasil stated, detailing the unexpected magnitude of the event. "I headlined [a Road to UFC] card but it felt like I was doing kind of a regular UFC event. The arena was packed, sold out. I went to watch the UFC the next day and it was the same. The fight got a lot of attention over there because it was against a Chinese fighter, so there were posters of my fight all over China. It had much more impact than if I had fought on a regular UFC card, which would probably have been a prelim fight and wouldn’t have gotten as much spotlight." This unique opportunity allowed Brasil to gain significant exposure and experience performing under main event pressure, a crucial element for any fighter aiming for the upper echelons of the sport.
Brasil’s willingness to travel and compete in various international settings is not new. Her past UFC bouts have taken her to distant locales such as Sydney, Australia; Manchester and London, England; and Kansas City in the United States. This extensive travel history underscores her dedication and adaptability, qualities that are essential for a professional fighter navigating the global landscape of mixed martial arts. Her upcoming opponent, Ketlen Souza, enters the bout with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, known for her well-rounded skills and tenacity. Souza has competed across various promotions and is looking to make her mark in the UFC’s competitive strawweight division. The clash at Meta APEX represents a crucial step for Brasil as she seeks to build momentum and climb the competitive strawweight ranks, aiming to emulate the championship mentality she so admires in Amanda Nunes. Her time at the UFC Performance Institute, observing "The Lioness," appears to have provided not only inspiration but also a profound reinforcement of the mindset required to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
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