Undefeated Brazilian MMA fighter Gabriel Braga is confident he can stop veteran Chris Wade, who has never been defeated in more than a decade, in their upcoming fight at the PFL 7 event.
Chris Wade, with a career spanning over a decade, is a formidable figure in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Known for his fighting prowess, Wade has never been defeated, having competed against notable fighters such as UFC king Islam Makhachev and Natan Schulte, a two-time PFL champion. This impressive track record, however, has not deterred Gabriel Braga. The undefeated Brazilian prospect, boasting of a record of 11-0 and five knockouts, feels he has what it takes to be the first to triumph over Wade.
The next face-off between Braga and Wade is scheduled to happen on Friday at the PFL 7 event in San Antonio. This match was originally to be fought against Movlid Khaybulaev, who bowed out due to an injury. Braga, eager to claim victory over the reputed insurmountable Wade, discussed his views on Wade’s fight record on a recent episode of the Trocação Franca podcast. “He’s fought against all of those [guys] but he hasn’t fought me, you know?” Braga stated confidently; emphasizing his well-prepared mental and physical state, he added, “If he opens up too much, I’ll hit him. And if I hit him, he’s going down.”
To put this into perspective, out of the 32 professional bouts Wade has competed in, for some of the most significant promotions worldwide including UFC, PFL, Ring of Combat, and WSOF, he has only suffered nine losses. All these losses have been through decisions, including a rare non-stoppage victory for Makhachev during his pre-title run. In his most recent appearance in June, Wade choked out Ryoji Kudo inside one round. He is now getting ready for a quick turnaround for the PFL featherweight playoffs.
Sharing his respect for his opponent, Braga stated, “He really is a very tough athlete. I’ll go in there knowing I have 15 minutes to have fun and do what I’ve been working on for months. I hope I can knock him out. Imagine being the first, and go to the final like that? But I know I’ll win, no matter how. He’s just another one I’m fighting. I’ll show I’m the best, that I’m in my best moment. I’m ready to go after this belt and the [$1 million] prize that will really change my life.” He also discussed how the strategy didn’t change much after the switch in opponents, given that both Khaybulaev and Wade are wrestlers, interestingly making things less complicated.