Brazil’s New Wave Of UFC Stars

They had already been making waves inside the Octagon before this year, but after a spectacular start to 2025, the excitement surrounding Brazil’s Combat Club team (also known as “The Fighting Nerds”) has reached new heights.

Electrifying knockout wins from both Jean Silva and Mauricio Ruffy over the past few weeks have escalated the buzz around the tight-knit group of up-and-coming stars who are taking the UFC by storm.

The small team, under the guidance of head coach Pablo Sucupira, has emerged from the São Paulo neighborhood of Barra Funda and propelled themselves into the upper echelons of four separate UFC weight classes, delivering some of the most jaw-dropping performances inside the Octagon over the past 18 months.

Let’s take a look at the new wave of Brazilian stars who are chasing UFC glory.

Caio Borralho

Caio “The Natural” Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has been a breath of fresh air in the middleweight division since breaking into the UFC in 2021. In a division that was badly in need of a shake-up, the 32-year-old (along with Nassourdine Imavov and Khamzat Chimaev) has brought a new energy. His recent victory over former title challenger Jared Cannonier has pushed him to sixth in the rankings at 185 pounds.

Unbeaten in his six UFC outings, Borralho has looked better and better each time he steps into the Octagon. His dominant victory over Paul Craig at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro last May showcased his skillset perfectly.

Fast, accurate striking, great footwork from the southpaw position, and solid takedown defense make Borralho a difficult challenge for anyone in the middleweight division. The São Paulo native will be hoping to test himself against one of the three former champions sitting above him in the rankings: Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, or Israel Adesanya.

Carlos Prates

One of the standout performers in the UFC’s most competitive weight class in 2024, Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) rattled off four knockout victories in one calendar year. This impressive feat helped him break into the welterweight top 15 and earn a fight against one of the division’s gatekeepers, Geoff Neal, at UFC 314 next month.

If Prates does to Neal what he has already done to Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny, he should find himself inside the top ten, primed for some fascinating match-ups moving forward.

“The Nightmare” possesses some of the deadliest striking in the UFC today, and seeing him test his Muay Thai skills against some of the division’s elite strikers, such as Ian Machado Garry, Michael “Venom” Page, or Jack Della Maddalena, would be a treat for UFC fans.

Jean Silva

Like Prates, Jean Silva (15-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has finished all four of his UFC opponents to date. His electrifying knockout win over Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC Seattle last month has catapulted him into a massive bout against Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314.

Mitchell has become “public enemy number one” in the wake of his controversial recent comments on his podcast, and it seems the UFC is happy to cast Silva in the role of public executioner. The 28-year-old certainly played up to that role during the press conference held last week to promote the event, rousing the fans and ensuring all eyes will be on their fight in Miami, Florida, on April 12.

Mauricio Ruffy

Ruffy’s spectacular finish over King Green at UFC 313 last Saturday is undoubtedly one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history. Echoing Edson Barboza’s memorable KO of Terry Etim at UFC 142, Ruffy (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) unleashed one of the most picture-perfect spinning wheel kicks ever seen inside the Octagon, leaving his veteran opponent face down on the canvas.

“One Shot” has not yet completed his first full year in the UFC but already has his sights set on breaking into the lightweight rankings. He called out Beneil Dariush during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, and should he get his wish, there may not be many UFC fans willing to bet against him this time around.

“I love it anytime a gym or a specific group, a team, whatever you want to call it, or a fighter starts to blow up,” Dana White told reporters after UFC 313. “People start to take interest in them and get excited about them. It’s exciting for all of us!”

With a combined UFC record of 18-0 across four weight classes, The Fighting Nerds are rewriting the boundaries of what’s possible for UFC prospects in 2025. Winning is impressive, but doing it in spectacular fashion draws eyes and gets attention. And the world is now watching these four fighters, eagerly awaiting their next move.

Paul Browne

Paul Browne is a professional mixed martial arts commentator, feature writer and podcaster based in Dublin, Ireland.