MMA rising star is gearing up for the biggest moment of his professional martial arts career.
On May 2 in U.S. primetime, the 25-year-old Brazilian will face Chinese veteran in a three-round lightweight showdown at at the famed Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Zhang, a former KLF Champion, may have five times the amount of MMA competition experience, but Gabriel is a determined athlete with an impeccable work ethic who has overcome nearly every obstacle in his way.
Here, we look back at his incredible life story.
Humble Beginnings in Curitiba
Born and raised in the Brazilian city of Curitiba in February 2000, Gabriel grew up in modest circumstances with a close-knit and supportive family.
His parents separated when he was just 3 years old, but his mother would eventually meet his future stepfather at the personal protective equipment company where they worked and got married.
The two would also become some of the fighter라이브 바카라 biggest supporters, and their ambitious ways laid the foundation for Gabriel라이브 바카라 discipline and determination.
He told :
“After some time, [my parents] decided to buy toys to rent on the weekends, and the three of us worked together every weekend, assembling and disassembling toys at children라이브 바카라 parties, houses, and parks.
“They were always very hardworking and fought hard to have a decent life, and they always encouraged me to do the same. They support me in my career and in the decisions I make in my life.”
Challenges Of Youth, And Salvation In Martial Arts
Despite a close relationship with his four brothers, school proved to be a challenging environment for the young Brazilian.
He struggled academically and faced persistent bullying, making education a painful experience. The toxic environment eventually caused him to leave school altogether.
As Gabriel began to associate with what his mother considered “bad company,” she made a decision that altered the course of his life forever, enrolling him in martial arts. The youngster began training in both Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, taking consecutive classes on his very first day.
The dojo quickly provided something school never could – a sense of belonging and acceptance.:
“I arrived on the mat as a somewhat insecure teenager, quite shy and with socialization difficulties due to what I had experienced at school.
“However, from the very first training session, I felt welcomed by the coach and my training partners. I stood out a lot first in jiu-jitsu, and then I started competing in tournaments.”
Natural Talent Emerges
Gabriel라이브 바카라 rare athletic ability became immediately apparent.
He won a handful of titles in BJ competitions and excelled in competitive Muay Thai, but he still harbored an even deeper ambition – to compete in MMA like his idol and compatriot, the legendary Wanderlei Silva.
The Brazilian라이브 바카라 initial opportunity came sooner than expected. As a teenager, he accepted an amateur MMA bout on short notice. Though he fell short, the defeat only fueled his determination to succeed in the all-encompassing sport:
“I always wanted to fight MMA, but I didn’t know if that was what I wanted for my career. I accepted the fight three days before and lost. And that loss, the way it happened, it made me want to train even more. And it was then, around the age of 15, that I decided that this was what I wanted for my life.”
Sacrifice and Dedication
Balancing work and training became Gabriel라이브 바카라 daily reality.
Working alongside his parents during the day, he would train during lunch breaks and rush to evening sessions after work. His dedication was unwavering – training six days a week, often starting at 6:30 p.m. and not finishing until nearly midnight.
Soon, it started to pay off. By the end of 2022, he racked up a 6-1 record on the Brazilian MMA circuit, with five of those victories coming by way of TKO or submission.
A Life-Changing Connection
The turning point in Gabriel라이브 바카라 career came through a fortunate connection later that year.
BJJ coach Ocimar Costa remembered the young phenom from a previous training session and invited him to help prepare former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion for his World Title fight against .
Gabriel, being left-handed like Andrade, made an ideal sparring partner for Lineker.
Despite living more than an hour away from Costa라이브 바카라 gym, Gabriel committed to training there two times a week. His skills and dedication impressed Costa so much that the coach mentioned Gabriel to Lineker라이브 바카라 manager, Alex Davis.
A Leap Of Faith
This connection to Davis opened an unexpected door – though one that would require a major upheaval for Gabriel라이브 바카라 entire family.
He recalled:
“[Davis] said he could get [help] me a fight at ONE Friday Fights, but that I would have to go live in Asia, more specifically in Thailand. And also that I would have to cover all the travel and accommodation costs, that he would only help me get the fight and a gym for me to train at for free.”
With the support of his family, including his wife and their baby daughter, Gabriel took a leap of faith. He saved money, traveled to Thailand, and won his first match – a unanimous decision victory over in March 2023.
Gabriel then returned to Brazil, reunited with his wife and their daughter, and relocated their small family to Thailand, where he could focus entirely on this enormous opportunity.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however. The move came with plenty of challenges.
“We came to Thailand without speaking English, without knowing if everything would work out, or if we had just wasted our savings for nothing, with a 7-month-old baby who was completely dependent on me and my wife, and without having a support network to help us with her.
“I overcame this every day knowing that I am doing my best in pursuit of my big dream, and also knowing that I will provide a good future for my family.”
Rising Through The Ranks
The gamble would ultimately pay off.
Gabriel defeated in November 2023 and submitted then-undefeated with an arm-triangle choke in October 2024. That impressive run led to his upcoming opportunity to compete in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 31.
With many tough moments already in his rearview mirror, Gabriel now faces the biggest test of his career against Zhang. The Chinese veteran brings plenty of experience, KO power, and strong finishing instincts to the contest.
However, the Brazilian upstart believes his superior conditioning and versatile skill set will give him an edge. And, as a BJJ black belt with extensive striking experience, he can’t wait to showcase his talents in front of a new audience on the global stage.
Gabriel added:
“I’m very confident that I’ll win. If the match is on the ground, I’ll be ready. If I need to take him down, I’ll take him down, and if the fight goes to striking, he’ll be frustrated. I’m ready for anything, and I hope to have an excellent performance and win.”
