“I made it and it paid off” - Fabricio Andrade wants to pave the way for Brazil’s younger generation of fighters

Fabricio Andrade is one of the many fighters who made the most of the opportunities afforded to him.

The reigning ONE bantamweight MMA world champion has another massive shot at history when he takes on Jonathan Haggerty, the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, in the main event of ONE Fight Night 16 on November 3.

The two world champions will contend for the vacant ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title at the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

Andrade, like many professional fighters out of Brazil, wasn’t born with a silver spoon, yet he used his maniacal work ethic to bring himself and his family out of poverty.

In an interview with FightWave on YouTube, Andrade said he wants to be a role model for the younger fighters in Brazil.

Andrade, who grew up in the streets of Fortaleza, said he wants to be the reflection of how hard work could be the foundation of a better life in the future.

He said:

“Yeah, I feel like now like an example to the people, you know. Especially like people who saw my history when I was starting to train, and now they see me as an example that they can also achieve their dreams. As well as for my family because they saw how hard I had been working all those years, going through all those struggles, but finally I made it, and it paid off.”

‘Wonder Boy’ knew early on that his martial arts training would be the key to lifting his family out of a dire situation in Brazil, and he made sure that his perseverance would lead to the world’s largest martial arts organization.

After putting up a stellar kickboxing and Muay Thai record of 40-3, Andrade signed with ONE Championship and made his promotional debut in 2020.

Andrade always dreamed of becoming a world champion, and that boyhood dream came true when he scored a fourth-round technical knockout against John Lineker at ONE Fight Night 7 for the vacant ONE bantamweight MMA world title.

The 26-year-old has a chance at a second world title when he faces Haggerty in Bangkok.

ONE Fight Night 16 is available live and for free to all Prime Video subscribers in North America.

Watch Andrade's entire interview below: