‘The Biggest Joy In My Life’ – Why Lucas Gabriel’s Daughter Is The Heartbeat Behind His Relentless Rise In ONE
Lucas Gabriel chases greatness on the global stage of ONE Championship, but everything he does outside of the promotion begins and ends with his daughter.
First, though, there is a main event to win. The Brazilian – unbeaten in six promotional appearances – locks horns with undefeated promotional newcomer Magomed “Muhammad” Magomedov in a lightweight MMA clash at ONE Fight Night 49 on Prime Video, live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, November 6.
A win could move him into the ONE Lightweight MMA World Title picture, and hoisting gold remains his ultimate dream.
But the pressure and power that carried him from ONE Friday Fights to a main-roster headliner are only half the story. The other half plays out far from the cameras, in a life shaped by training camps, travel, and long days in the gym.
There is little room in that life for ordinary routines, which makes the regular moments he does have even more important. His own description of himself is brief, and it fits that lifestyle.
Gabriel told onefc.com:
“If I could describe myself in three words, it’s definitely calm, obsessed, and a family man.”
The second word on that list explains his rapid rise. The Phuket Fight Club representative has grown from strength to strength in the world’s largest martial arts organization, and obsession has been the engine.
The other two show up when he’s not on the mats, where the pace slows, and the people closest to him set the agenda.
Chief among them is his daughter, 4-year-old Maite, and the shape of his time away from the gym starts with her alongside his loving wife, Fernanda.
Gabriel said:
“My daughter is the biggest joy in my life. And I do love spending my free time with my family. We enjoy having picnics, which my daughter absolutely loves, and going to the beach.
“After that, I’d just relax and watch a few movies. For me, a perfect day off is all about enjoying those simple moments with the people I love.”
Soft mornings and lazy afternoons make for a good day off, but they do not change who Gabriel is when the gloves are on or off.
He has fast-tracked his way from his first promotional win in May 2023 to a potential World Title contender without a loss, and he brings that same fire to everything else. Fernanda sees it up close every day.
The 26-year-old said:
“My wife always says I’m competitive in everything I do, and she’s probably right. I try my best to separate things, though. Fighting is my profession, and I know I can’t approach every situation in life as if I were competing inside the ring.”
Gabriel Never Forgets The Family That Shaped Him
Simple days with his wife and daughter fill Lucas Gabriel’s free time, yet the Brazilian carries another family in his heart: the one that raised him in Curitiba. Now a fighter and a dad, he wants Maite to have a place in that story too.
The family he has built in Thailand began with a leap of faith. He went first, alone, to win his maiden fight under the ONE spotlight, then returned to bring his wife and then-7-month-old daughter back with him.
Phuket gave him the setting to build his ONE career, but the cost was distance from his hometown in the southern region of Brazil. Closing that gap has a clear purpose, and it has everything to do – once again – with Maite.
He said:
“If I could just travel tomorrow without a worry in the world, I’d go to Brazil to visit my family and let them spend time with my daughter.
“She’s grown so much, and I’d love for them to see how much she’s changed. Being able to share those moments with my family would mean a lot to me.”
For now, that trip stays a wish. The first order of business for the in-form 26-year-old is ONE Fight Night 49 in Bangkok. Across from him at the mecca of Muay Thai stands Magomed Magomedov. The 15-0 Dagestani arrives on a run of five straight finishes and is ready to leave his mark on the global stage.
A win would be a major step toward the biggest goal in Gabriel’s career. The path that keeps him away from home is also the one that makes everything possible, from a good future for his family to the name he hopes to build. He knows what he wants that name to stand for.
Gabriel concluded:
“My biggest goal is to become a World Champion and leave my mark on the sport. I want to be remembered as the best and most well-rounded fighter. I want my career to mean something and to be recognized for everything I’ve accomplished inside the cage.”
