"Brett OkamotoSep 5, 2025, 08:00 AM ET CloseBrett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time."
"Other than a few grainy videos either posted online or kept in the safety of his own possession, there is very little documentation of Pablo Sucupira's career in kickboxing. Sucupira, 45, is the founder and head coach of The Fighting Nerds, the MMA gym out of São Paulo, Brazil, that has had talent all over the UFC since 2021. His four most-established pupils -- Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, Carlos Prates and Mauricio Ruffy -- are a combined 21-1 in the UFC and 60% of their combined performances have earned postfight bonuses. The team is about to headline back-to-back cards, as Borralho (17-2) faces Nassourdine Imavov (16-4) on Saturday in Paris (3 p.m. ET, prelims at noon on ESPN+) and Silva (16-2) meets Diego Lopes (26-7) one week later at Noche UFC in San Antonio (6 p.m. ET, prelims at 3 p.m. on ESPN+). A victory could earn each fighter a title shot in his respective division."
"At the core of The Fighting Nerds' breakout is Sucupira, who enjoyed his own success in the ring nearly 20 years ago, when the sport's record-keeping was not at its finest. His official record doesn't exist online (he said he believes it's 13-3), but the thing to know about Sucupira is that his one and only goal as a fighter was to become the best in the world. So much so that when he realized it might not happen, he redirected his focus entirely."
Few records document Pablo Sucupira's kickboxing career, but he founded and coaches The Fighting Nerds in São Paulo, Brazil. Four established pupils — Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, Carlos Prates and Mauricio Ruffy — combine for a 21-1 UFC record and have earned postfight bonuses in 60% of their performances. The team is set to headline consecutive cards: Borralho versus Nassourdine Imavov in Paris and Silva versus Diego Lopes at Noche UFC in San Antonio. Victories could secure title shots for the winners. Sucupira pursued world-class success as a fighter; when that goal dimmed, he refocused fully on coaching.
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