ONE bantamweight MMA world champion Fabricio Andrade has spent nearly three years holding the title he captured from John Lineker in 2023. The 28-year-old Brazilian defends his crown against No. 4-ranked contender Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu at ONE Fight Night 38 on Prime Video on Friday, December 5, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Andrade’s path to the championship included years competing in China without financial stability or English language skills, experiences that shaped his competitive mindset. The ONE world title victory brought validation for the sacrifices required to reach championship level.
“Sometimes it’s even hard to believe that everything came out right,” Andrade said.
“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.”
The belt brought personal growth beyond athletic achievement. Andrade credits the stability of holding the title with allowing him to examine aspects of his personality and approach to competition that he wanted to change.
“One of the things that had really changed in my mind was a bit of the ego,” Andrade said.
“When I finally became champion and started to be more stable, I started to understand that what was in my head wasn’t the things that I really should do. I don’t need to treat anybody bad to prove that I’m better than anyone. Now I’m more of a good guy.”
Financial security allowed Andrade to fulfill long-term goals, including purchasing a home for his mother. The ability to provide for his family represents one of the most meaningful outcomes of his championship success.
“It was a dream, but I was able to make it happen for my family,” Andrade said.
“You start to do good things, and you want to keep doing more and more. You get addicted to doing good things.”
Marriage has influenced Andrade’s development outside competition. His wife provides support through training camps and helps maintain stability during the demanding schedule of defending a world championship.
“Now I need to become more mature, you know. I need to think more about the person, to work for both of us. I learn more about living with another person,” Andrade said.
“My relationship with my wife is also improving a lot as time goes. And every fight camp is also getting better and better. And now she understands me more, she supports me a lot. And she is really helpful for me. She definitely makes my life easier.”
Andrade views his personal transformation as his most significant achievement beyond the title itself. The growth from his circumstances in Fortaleza, Brazil, to becoming a ONE world champion represents the change he values most.
“What I’m most proud of is that I became the man that I wanted to be,” Andrade said.
“I want to become a man that other people can look at me and want to be like me.”
He maintains contact with people from his hometown and understands the challenges they face. He uses his platform to demonstrate that achievement is possible through dedication and work ethic.
“I want my story to inspire them,” Andrade said.
“I know a lot of people, I still have contact with a lot of people from where I grew, and I know how difficult it is when nobody believes in you, when you don’t have support, even from people around you. It’s very difficult.
“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.”
