Undefeated Brazilian prospect Marcos Brigagao will compete outside of Brazil for the first time in his career Tuesday.
Brigagao (11-0) takes on Jamal Pogues (6-2) at light heavyweight at Dana White’s Contender Series 25 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Brigagao has never gone the distance and has taken out the majority of his opponents in the first round.
Only 23, he has already fought four times in 2019 as he looks to secure a UFC contract against Pogues.
Ahead of DWCS 25, get to know more about Brazil’s Brigagao.
Full name: Marcos Carvalho Brigagao
Nickname: My friends have been calling me “Ironside,” which is a character from the “Vikings” TV show.
DOB: April 1, 1996
Birthplace: I was born in Tapejara, in the state of Parana, Brazil. Currently I live in Niteroi, state of Rio de Janeiro
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
Team: Parana Vale Tudo
Can you talk about your professional career thus far?
I have an 11-0 record, with eight wins by KO, and three by submission. I’ve never gone to decision. That results from the dedication and willpower I bring to my training sessions. Usually, my fights don’t go past the second round. I try to be as aggressive as possible when I fight – without sacrificing technique, of course. A memorable fight for me was against Julio Cezar Santana. It was a first-round KO win. It was very emotional for me since everyone there was rooting against me. I stepped into the cage and kept my focus. I was able to win by knockout and bring that victory back to my hometown.
How’d you get started in the sport?
Since I was little, I’ve always enjoyed martial arts. I loved watching martial arts movies. I started out in judo, at school in my old hometown. Later, I got into muay Thai as well. At first, I trained to lose weight. As a teenager, I was a bit heavy. As time went by, I liked it more and more, as I acquired more knowledge. At age 19 or 20, I had my first amateur bout. I won via a 10-second knockout. In 2017, I become a professional. Since then, I’ve looked at MMA as my job, as my life. I live to fight.
Did you have emotional or financial support when starting out?
I did have support from my family, especially from my mother. Of course, no mother wants to see her son get beat up. But she always believed in my potential. She’d say that whatever was going to happen, was in God’s hands. I have a lot of love for her. I fight for her. She’s my foundation. My father was unsure at first, but as time went by, he started to look at things with different eyes. Both sides of my family support my pursuit. I used to have financial support from my old hometown. And my friends have also been very supportive of my career.
What can you say about Jamal Pogues?
I know that my opponent is tough, with a 6-2 record. But we’re training hard and putting together the best strategy to face him. Hopefully, we’ll bring another victory back to Brazil.
How does it feel to be on Dana White’s Contender Series, with a chance to make it into the UFC?
This is the fight of my life. It’s a great opportunity, to fight outside my country.
Can you talk about your training camp?
I’m training at PRVT in Niteroi. We’re putting in hard work. I train under masters Gilliard Parana and Elder Lara. We’re training everywhere – both on the feet and on the ground. That way, I’ll be ready for whatever comes during the fight. I’ll be ready for any adversity. And I work with physical conditioning coach Marco Aurelio who also takes care of Jessica Andrade.
Plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to sign the contract with the UFC, and to one day wear the strap – to be the champion in my weight class. I’ll train hard to make that happen. I know it’s going to be a lot of work. But by having focus, faith, and willpower, anything is possible.
Anything else you’d like to share?
My coach Elder Lara is like a father to me. When I arrived in Niteroi, I knew no one. He took me in. I’m very thankful to coaches Lara and Parana for how far they’ve brought me. I’d like to also thank my family members for their full support and prayers. This isn’t an easy job, but we’re hoping for a great victory. Our team in Niteroi, PRVT, is also my family.
