UFC Kansas City newcomer Bruna Brazile wanted to become a star athlete, but her dream only came to fruition with her third attempt. Saturday night, f Rivals series Signee makes her official octagonal debut in her strawweight bout against Dennis Gomez in Missouri.
Born in Paranavai, a small town 300 miles from Curitiba, Brazil dreamed of being a professional soccer player and following in the footsteps of Brazilian legend Marta. As a teenager, she achieved success and signed a deal with the football club Foz Cataratas who have won major titles in Brazil for the past decade.
But then it all collapsed – and Brazil had to find another way.
“Football has been a huge frustration for me,” she said on MMA Fighting. Free exchange. “I tried to start my career when I was 17, but when I was released [from my contract,] I was very upset. I’ve had some offers, but I won’t be able to pay my bills.”
“[My salary] It was silly, and [$400] It was pathetic for the girls who also played in [Brazilian] National team.” “That was very frustrating. Getting to Marta’s level was difficult in itself, and on top of that you have combos, you have to be great and have charisma. Everything had to work perfectly, and things just didn’t turn out the way I wanted.”
Brazil eventually gave up on soccer and decided to go to college. She said she graduated in accounting in order to “be good at something,” but Brazil still needs competition in her life, even as a way to stay in shape. That’s why she joined a kickboxing class.
“I felt free when I was fighting,” said Brazil. “It was good because I didn’t depend on others to pass me the ball, it was all on me. It was easier because I was in control of the whole situation.
“Sometimes I wonder if I get off easy [from soccer]If I’m too hard on myself. I was frustrated with the way everything turned out and the way I accepted it, but when martial arts came, [it was] A way for me to make peace with myself — that little girl who had a dream, to pay her back for her failure in some way.”
Brazil soon realized that kickboxing hardly paid good money either, but watching Anderson Silva and Ronda Rousey shine in the UFC introduced them to a whole new realm: MMA.
Wasn’t ready though.
“My first MMA fight, I didn’t understand much about mixed martial arts and career records,” Bruna said. “I did it for the thrill of fighting MMA. I only started to understand MMA after that, trained jiu-jitsu and changed the way I think and the people around me. Winning or losing in kickboxing, having a positive or negative record in [kickboxing]It was not as important as it was in MMA.”
Brazil lost to future UFC fighter Ariane Carnelossi via first-round TKO in her professional debut in November 2014. She didn’t return to action until she made a draw in early 2017. Brazil then won her first win in MMA two months later by decision, but lost to the Invicta champion Future FC Jessica Delboni was suspended later that year, injuring her knee in an operation.
“I felt so blessed by what happened after that fight,” Brazile said. “I was able to have surgery, physiotherapy and all the support I needed. I spent a whole year [recovering] And thinking, “Damn, God really wants me back, he wants something from me. I never imagined having this support and so many people coming together for me.”
Brazil moved to Rio de Janeiro in 2019 to finally dive into the #1 MMA as their profession.
“That’s when it all began,” said Brazil. “It was all or nothing. I sold everything I had, quit my job, and went to Rio de Janeiro. There was no way back, it had to happen.”