Sad news took fans of Priscila Cachoeira, known as Pedrita, UFC flyweight (up to 56,7kg) by surprise. On the afternoon of last Wednesday (14), information about an alleged case of aggression between the athlete and her ex-partner, Marcelle Freitas Nunes, began to make waves on websites specializing in MMA. O SUPER FIGHTS contacted the victim and managed to speak exclusively, on the YouTube channel, with the fighter's old girlfriend, who narrated the drama.
See too
According to Marcelle, her first contact with Priscila happened in December 2018, at a party at the end of the year in Bagé (RS). On the day, the two met, but, according to Freitas, Pedrita was in a relationship in Rio de Janeiro, which initially interrupted contact.
The beginning of the relationship
After the first contact and subsequent separation, Marcelle confirmed that the two met again some time later. She tells how her relationship with the UFC athlete began.
“We stopped talking to each other, and then we started seeing each other at parties and starting to 'make out' again. She stayed in my city (Bagé) for a month, then returned to Rio and, after about five, ten days, I went there. I was on vacation from college. Afterwards, we got it together and, in March, I came back, picked up my things – because she was going to fight Molly (MacCann) – and returned to Rio with her. (…) We have lived since January (2019) until now (2021). First in Niterói (RJ), and now in Belém (PA)”, said Marcelle, who accompanied the athlete in her migration to 'Team Figueiredo', led by Deiveson, former Ultimate champion.
First problems
After a happy start to the relationship, Freitas began to narrate the first problems in his relationship with Pedrita. According to his ex-girlfriend, the strawweight had a history and a characteristic nickname in PRVT. The victim's report would be the starting point for what, according to Marcelle, would have evolved into more serious situations.
“The suspicions began when I arrived in Rio and discovered that her nickname at the gym was 'little lie'. People came to tell me that she had already 'made out' with almost the entire academy. Of course, everyone has a past, it had nothing to do with it. But it was difficult to see her train and 'get along' with everyone. I even avoided going to training. As a result, we had fights out of jealousy,” she said.
Relationship of Pedrite with alcohol
As the disagreements increased, Nunes said that Priscila had started drinking large amounts of alcohol. For Marcelle, the fighter drank due to disappointment after her defeat in the fight against Molly MacCann, in March 2019.
“She started drinking. We were at her mother's house and she was coming from losing to Molly and she was making excuses to drink, because she was sad. (…) At first, we got along well and then they humiliated me and chased me away. There was a day – I have gastritis – when I was sick to my stomach, it was a Sunday. She went to the pharmacy to get some medicine for me and never came back. She only came back the next afternoon, went to a friend of hers and left me there. I called my mother, told her what was happening and my mother told me to lock my college (she had transferred the course to Realengo, in Rio de Janeiro). She went with me to college and begged me not to go (leave). Then, they scheduled her fight with Luana (Dread)”, she said.
Pedrita's past
As the interview unfolded, Freitas revealed that, at first, he did not know Priscila's background. The former partner spoke about the case involving the fighter's 'overcoming of drugs'.
“I met the Priscila that everyone knows: the story of overcoming drugs. I didn't even know who she was. I didn't follow the fight, I didn't even know who Jéssica (Andrade, PRVT standout) was, who is famous. She (Pedrita) told me to look at her videos that showed these stories of overcoming. I believed, because I myself attend the Universal Church. In the Church, we see people who were drug dealers, users, like pastors. I actually believed that she didn’t do anything,” she admitted.
Complications in Rio
Observing a change in behavior in Pedrita, Marcelle spoke about a case involving the fighter that happened after her defeat to Luan Carolina, 'Dread', in May 2019. The situation reportedly bothered Freitas, who narrated the incident.
“She came from the fight against Luana, we rented a house in Niterói, close to the gym and, one weekend, her son came to spend the weekend with her. She stayed drinking in the favela with the gym kids. Priscila, when she starts drinking, it's never enough, she never stops. She invited two 'kids' to drink with her on our patio and I lay down in bed with Marcelo (Pedrita's son). Then I slept, woke up and she wasn't in bed. I went to the courtyard and she was at the gate, smoking marijuana. (…) For me, it was a shock. I wanted to leave, but she didn't let me. (…) During the week, I told my mother what was happening. I wanted to leave. There was an event on the weekend, she had a new event to go to. I said I felt bad, that I wouldn't go. When she got home, I was already on the road. (…) It was her calling, her family, her team, people calling my parents, asking me to help, because no one wants to commit to babysitting her, so there had to be someone to keep watch. Then, I came back and said: 'Priscila, I'll be back, but you're going to church with me'. (…) In front of me, until then, she didn’t do anything else,” she admitted.
Aggression
The situation worsened when, according to Marcelle, the attacks became part of the couple's coexistence. Nunes describes a scenario experienced at a lunch, which ended with a fight and consequent injury to Pedrita's then-girlfriend.
“In the meantime, there was the issue of aggression. It was on a Saturday. She had been drinking a lot. We agreed: 'Priscila, you'll only drink two liters'. But she took more. I started arguing with her, took the bottle and threw the liquid (beer) on the floor. She grabbed me by the hair, threw me to the ground and started kicking me. She thought I was faking it, but when she looked, she saw that my head was bleeding. She apologized to me, she didn’t let me take my cell phone, so I wouldn’t call anyone,” she said.
Tooth injury
M. Freitas displays an injury to his tooth that occurred during an argument with P. Pedrita. Photo: Personal Archive
An alleged new case of aggression by Priscila was narrated by Freitas. In this case, there was an injury that damaged one of the fighter's ex-girlfriend's teeth.
“It had to do with my tooth. I went to class at night and she had training. We were at home and she has an ex (girlfriend) who is a prostitute. This girl has a cousin who trains at the gym and she (Priscila) went to have a coffee at this 'girl's' house. The 'guy' sent a message: 'wow, we didn't even take a photo of our coffee'. I asked: 'what coffee?'. Priscila tells '10 versions' until she tells the truth. (…) In a little while, I said I was going to ask Vanessa, who is the cousin, and ask about the coffee. Then, she despaired, (…) she took the cell phone out of my hand and threw me on the bed. We started attacking each other. She punched me in the mouth and I passed out. When I woke up, I was on the bed, she was helping me, and my tooth was loose. I grabbed my cell phone and ran out into the street. She drove off after me. I didn't know what I was doing, whether I was going to the hospital or the police station. She made me get in the car, because she was going to resolve my tooth situation, because she had an agreement with a dentist,” she stated.
Serious hand injury
Serious injury to the hand was decisive for the end of the relationship. Photo: Personal Archive
After the incident described by Marcelle, another episode involving an attack by Pedrita was told by the victim. This time, the incident would have happened in Pará, in 2021, where Priscila started training, after leaving PRVT. Showing the marks of the consequences, the fighter's ex-girlfriend vented about the new situation.
“In the first two weeks – in Belém –, we were meeting everyone and, as a result, she was drinking 'crazy'. There was even a situation where we went on a boat with Deiveson (Figueiredo) and even the guys had already stopped drinking and she followed. We fought, I didn't even participate in anything. I stayed quiet in my corner and they (people close to us) started to notice our fights related to drinking. (…) Priscila’s problem isn’t doing it, it’s someone finding out. (…) So, I took her cell phone and saw two 'prints' (saved screen) of her talking to this ex – the call girl. In the prints, they are on a video call and the woman is naked. I said I was going to leave, but Maizena (Carlos Guimarães) called me and told me to go to Deiveson's house, who was having a 'Cell' of the Church. When it was over, he called her (Priscila), telling her that I was with them and that they were going to leave me there and, in the morning, I would go to the bus station. When we got there, she started fighting with me in front of everyone, and we started fighting. So, I took a pillow and a blanket to put in the living room, because I wasn't going to the room with her and she continued to offend me. We started attacking each other. She kicked me in the stomach – a frontal one – I 'flew' and hit the shelf with a glass on it with my hand. At the same time, my hand became very stretched and was bleeding a lot. I remember that I screamed, she covered my mouth so the neighbors wouldn't hear, because we lived in an apartment. (…) I would faint and come back and go to the hospital. (…) I remember hearing them (professionals) saying: 'she's going to be crippled”, she said.
Emergency surgery
M. Freitas and P. Pedrita began their relationship in 2018. Photo: Personal Archive
The injury suffered after the argument had to be done hastily to avoid further consequences. The ex-girlfriend then spoke about the procedure, paid for by businessman Wallid Ismail.
“I went to have surgery in a hurry because I had torn the tendon ligament. The first surgery was R$5 and Wallid sent it to her to pay after the fight. I had surgery and received 51 stitches. I was useless. I couldn't dress, put on clothes, shower alone, comb my hair, feed myself. (…) I say that, from February to March (2021), I don't remember anything, because I felt a lot of pain and took a lot of medicine. From March to April, when I started to come to reality and see that I couldn't do things, not knowing if my hand would return (to normal) and depending on one person, without anyone. Without friends, family. (…) After about two or three months I went to tell my mother. I wouldn't be able to return here (Bagé). I wouldn't be able to go on a trip with my hands open. (…) When she went to fight, last time (in May), I still had stitches, I had another surgery. Then, it was R$4 and that much, because it had given it grip,” she said.
New attempt to leave Pedrita
Once the new case of aggression was revealed, Marcelle decided to leave the fighter. According to the ex-partner, the deadline given was the end of the semester to resolve issues with the college. Again, according to Freitas, Priscila intervened and tried to prevent the end of the relationship.
“My semester ended, I got my grades and they weren’t helping me pass. I went to the bus station to take the bus. She asked me not to leave, that she would have this fight, that she didn’t know how to be alone (in Belém) and couldn’t bear it,” she stated.
Drug use and end of relationship
With the new case and still carrying marks from the injury on her hands, Marcelle states that the relationship with Pedrita has definitely come to an end. The athlete's frequent arguments, alcoholism and drug use led the fighter's former partner to make the decision to return to Rio Grande do Sul and, according to Freitas, contact with Pedrita was terminated.
“Before, I went back (to the relationship) believing that I could change. It was very difficult. She also didn't believe that I was going to stay (in Bagé) now, because, several times, I came and came back. But I almost had to lose my hand. In recent times, she was drinking straight, taking drugs. She met a motorcycle courier who delivered drugs to her right in front of the building. I tried to help in any way I could, but at some point, if the person doesn't want to help themselves, what will I do? I was going to end up dying,” she said.
Protective measure
Deciding not to resume her troubled relationship with the UFC fighter, Marcelle opted to take a safety measure. According to Priscila's ex-partner, a 'Protective Measure' was signed with the Police Station Specialized in Women's Assistance (DEAM), located in Bagé (RS).
“I talked to my family and we decided to take the Protective Measure. (…) I arrived at the police station at 13 pm and left at 18:30 pm and, the next day, the FORUM girl brought the Measure and, the next day, I took the 'Corporate of Crime Examination'. (…) If something happens to me, they will relate it to her. Let her go on with her life and I can stay here, with my family. I want to be at peace,” she concluded.
Priscila Pedrita
The report by SUPER FIGHTS contacted Priscila so that the athlete could give her version of the events. The fighter showed interest in speaking out and, after the interview, our team will publish the athlete's defense.
Latest news
-
José Aldo reveals behind the scenes of his almost fight against Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz at UFC 301
-
Alex Poatan puts R$250 on the line and challenges veteran to grappling fight; rival responds
-
Could age be the end of the line for José Aldo? Statistics weigh against legend in search for new UFC title
Comments