‘We End Up Completing Each Other’ – How Fabricio Andrade’s New Wife Helps Fuel His MMA Success
Every great champion is surrounded by an even greater support system, and that’s no different for reigning ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade.
For the hard-hitting Brazilian superstar, that foundation comes from his loving wife, Elizaveta. While Andrade is dominating ONE’s talent-packed bantamweight MMA division, the partnership fuels his success behind the scenes.
Widely regarded as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound fighters, Andrade knows it’s important to have a partner who understands the demands of competition. His relationship with Elizaveta represents a true collaboration between individuals building their future together.
The two met in Thailand when Andrade was training for an upcoming bout and Elizaveta was traveling on vacation. Although they come from entirely different parts of the world, they knew the spark between them was too strong to let distance get in the way.
“Wonder Boy” recently spoke to onefc.com about the early times together:
“From the very first days, I felt that I wanted to have a relationship with her. But since she lived in Russia, this was a problem at first. But I was interested in dating her right from the beginning.
“I already had plans to spend more time in Brazil with my family, and as soon as I met her, I had already told her about these plans. Then she decided that she would come with me and live here in Brazil. So, as soon as we arrived in Brazil, I decided that I would ask her to marry me.”
Andrade followed through on his plans to propose, and Elizaveta accepted. Shortly after, the couple wed at a beautiful ceremony in Brazil.
Fresh off his stunning first-round finish of Kwon Won Il in January at ONE 170, the bantamweight MMA king wasted no time establishing a life with his bride.
The fruits of his labor as a ONE superstar have given him global fame and acclaim – along with the financial freedom to purchase a new home:
“Since the last fight in Thailand, I was already planning to buy a house for myself in Fortaleza because I was already planning to spend more time in Brazil.
“So, right after the fight, I started to sort out everything to get to Fortaleza and buy my house. And my then-fiancee came with me. She was with me in Thailand, and right after the fight, she decided to come with me.”
Andrade feels that he’s truly found his soulmate.
Part of what makes “Wonder Boy” such a fan favorite is his fiery attitude and unmatched intensity. Elizaveta, he said, complements those traits with her more tranquil and caring nature:
“While we have things in common, our personalities are quite different. She is a calmer, more patient, and loving person. I am more short-tempered and more angry. But I think we end up completing each other precisely because we have different personalities.
“And we have the same interests of building a family, and she didn’t mind changing her life completely. I have no complaints about support because she gives me all the support possible.”
The Perfect Partnership
Fabricio Andrade’s new wife, Elizaveta, knows firsthand just how demanding the life of a martial artist can be.
She has trained in martial arts since she was 6 years old, enjoyed an accomplished amateur kickboxing career, and taught the hybrid martial art of kudo before moving to Brazil.
Andrade said that his wife’s experience in combat sports has been critical to both his success as an athlete and their shared success as a couple:
“Since she’s fought, she understands a little more, which makes things easier. Of course, it’s always hard to see someone you like fight because there’s all that nervousness and worry.
“But she deals with it well. And at home, because she understands, she helps me a lot with nutrition and other things that are important outside of training.”
For Andrade, the unending support of his dreams from Elizaveta is just as important as the coaches and training partners who help him prepare to compete under ONE’s bright lights.
He added:
“[Her support] has always been very strong since the beginning. So, we never had any problems, especially because she was also involved in fighting. So, from the beginning, she supported me. And she gave up everything. She quit her job and left her country to come live with me and help me.
“In my last fight, she was a very important part of the preparation because she gave me a lot of support. So, that’s one of the good things that this relationship has brought me.”
