WATCH: Brazilian knockout machine Fabricio Andrade’s inspiring rise from poverty to the ONE bantamweight MMA throne

Fabricio Andrade’s confidence today makes it easy to assume he has always been self-assured.

However, as he prepares to defend his ONE bantamweight MMA world championship in a rematch against Kwon Won Il at ONE 170 on January 24, the journey that shaped the man known as ‘Wonder Boy’ tells a different story.

ONE Championship celebrated his rise from humble beginnings to superstardom with a clip shared on their Instagram:

Growing up in Fortaleza, Brazil, Andrade faced a harsh reality where crime and instability shaped his outlook. The challenges of his environment made it nearly impossible for him to envision a brighter future.

Adding to the difficulties, his parents worked tirelessly to support him and his two siblings, yet they still lived below the poverty line. For Andrade, opportunities seemed scarce, and his self-esteem was equally low — until he discovered martial arts.

A chance visit to a Muay Thai gym with a friend opened a new world for him. Watching fighters earn respect for their courage in the ring inspired Andrade to follow in their footsteps.

His journey in martial arts transformed him, replacing self-doubt with confidence and offering a way out of Fortaleza’s unforgiving streets.

Since joining the world’s largest martial arts organization, Andrade has become an unstoppable force. The Brazilian boasts an undefeated 6-0 (1 no-contest) MMA record, with electrifying performances that include four knockouts and a submission.

His crowning achievement came in a February 2023 rematch with John Lineker, where Andrade claimed the vacant ONE bantamweight MMA world title with a fourth-round TKO.

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Fabricio Andrade promises to finish Kwon Won Il again

As he gears up for his second encounter with Kwon Won Il, Fabricio Andrade acknowledges his opponent’s improvements but remains confident in his ability to deliver another dominant performance.

In a recent interview with Sportskeeda MMA, he predicted a quick finish in the rematch, signaling his readiness to continue his reign atop the weight class:

“I’m very confident that I will eventually find holes in his game and stop the fight. But I’m not focused on this just to try and finish it as early as possible in the earlier rounds."