ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade has travelled an extraordinary path from the streets of Fortaleza, Brazil, to the pinnacle of mixed martial arts, and now he aims to inspire others with his story.
He will defend his title for the second time against #4-ranked contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu in the main event of ONE Fight Night 38 on 6 December.
Andrade's journey to championship glory began in one of Brazil's most dangerous cities, where he grew up surrounded by gangs and crime. Those challenging circumstances forged the determination that eventually carried him to ONE World Title glory.
Reflecting on his remarkable transformation, the champion still finds it difficult to process how far he has come.
"Sometimes it's even hard to believe that everything came out right. It gets me a little bit emotional because it was very hard. Never give up on your dreams and keep working hard because it's going to pay off," Andrade said.
More than the wins and the championship gold, Andrade is happiest about the person he has grown into.
"What I'm most proud of is that I became the man that I wanted to be. I want to become a man that other people can look at me and want to be like me," he said.
Standing across from him will be 36-year-old Mongolian challenger Baatarkhuu, who brings a 6-1 promotional record and recently gained additional exposure through an appearance on Netflix's “Physical: Asia” show.
Andrade now sees his story as a beacon of hope for others facing difficult circumstances similar to those he overcame.
"So with my history, with what I have done, with what I went through, with all the difficult things that I have overcome, I think now I can use that to inspire other people to chase their dreams," he stated.
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