With Caio Borralho, Carlos Prates and others, Fighting Nerds is elected 'Academy of the Year' and shines in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/Fighting Nerds
Elected to MMA team in 2024, Fighting Nerds has established itself as one of the protagonists of the current fighting scene. With its top athletes advancing in the UFC rankings, many speculate whether there is a secret behind the team's success. However, the coaches themselves have decided to reveal the key to this rise.
Participating in the 'Up Close' section of the channel UFC Fight Pass On YouTube, Pablo Sucupira, leader of Fighting Nerds, explained that the team is more than just a fighting team – it is a concept that combines intelligence and courage. According to him, while many fighters seek to be more strategic, nerds want to develop more bravery. For the coach, the group's differential lies precisely in this fusion.
See too
“I think it’s bigger than a team. It’s a concept. Almost all fighters want to be smarter, and a lot of nerds want to be braver. So when you talk about the concept of ‘Fighting Nerds,’ it’s about being smart and brave. That’s the bottom line: if you’re brave and smart, you’re a Fighting Nerd,” said Pablo Sucupira.
Pablo Sucupira states that self-knowledge and control are the keys to winning a fight
Pablo Sucupira and Carlos Prates in Las Vegas. Photo: Reproduction Instagram/pablomsucupira
Pablo Sucupira attributes the success of the Fighting Nerds fighters to self-knowledge and control of the fight. He compares combat to hunting, emphasizing that each athlete needs to understand his or her own physical characteristics in order to define the best strategy. However, the decisive factor is control: the one who sets the pace of the fight is the hunter, while the one who does not control it becomes the prey.
“The first thing a fighter needs to understand is what kind of animal he is before he can hunt. Are you tall, short, strong or fast? If you’re short, the jab may not be the best weapon, but raising your guard and closing the distance may be more effective. If you’re tall, perhaps keeping your distance is the best strategy. But the one thing that unites all of this is the concept of control. If you’re controlling your opponent, you’re hunting. If you’re not, you’re the prey,” said the leader of Fighting Nerds.
Flavio Álvaro highlights that success requires sacrifice and learning
Pablo Sucupira (left) Flavio Alvaro (behind), Jean Silva, Carolina (wife) and Ivan Jatobá. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @jeansilvamma
Another Fighting Nerds coach, Flavio Álvaro, points out that many fighters join the team believing that their past experience is enough to achieve success. However, he emphasizes that the true path to the top requires continuous learning, sacrifice and a lot of suffering.
“Many athletes come to 'Fighting Nerds' thinking that what they know or have done is enough to take them to the big stages and win belts and money. But my main mission is to make them understand that, on the path they will follow, they will still suffer a lot,” said Flavio Alvaro.
Despite having several fighters on the UFC roster, Fighting Nerds stands out for its four main names, who remain undefeated in the organization.
Between them, Caio Borralho has eight victories in the event and currently occupies the 5th position in the middleweight ranking (up to 83,9 kg). Already Carlos Prates has accumulated four knockout victories and is ranked 13th in the welterweight division (up to 77 kg). In the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg), Jean Silva also maintains a four-game winning streak, while Mauricio Ruffy impresses in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) with three triumphs.
You need login To comment.