CHICAGO – Gabriel Braga entered the cage for the first time since his father’s death with a heavy heart.
At PFL 3 in 2024, Bulaga (13-1) started his featherweight season with a bout against Justin Gonzalez. With one second left in the first round, Braga landed a series of hard punches that knocked Gonzalez (14-4) to the ground, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
Braga took over all the emotions of the moment as he knelt in the center of the cage and raised his hands to the sky.
“He left us, but in leaving us he prepared me well,” Bulaga said of his father through an interpreter in the post-match press conference. . “I’m ready for these moments, ready to make him proud, ready to conquer the world. So I’m here to do it.”
Braga’s father, Diego, was killed in Brazil in January. He was reportedly killed by a drug gang while searching for a stolen motorcycle.
Thanks to Braga’s club, she was able to keep a smile on her face even as she overcame the pain of losing her parents. He continued training in preparation for this PFL season where he aims to win a championship.
“I came here to be a champion,” Braga said. “Last year, I feel like I was able to conquer a lot of spaces within the organization. I proved my worth, and this year I’m here to be a champion.”
Watch Braga’s full post-game interview in the video above.
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s PFL 2024 Week 3 event hub.
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