‘Dedicating Myself To Her’ – MMA Superstar Adriano Moraes Opens Up About The Joys, Struggles Of Fatherhood

It hasn’t been easy, but former multiple-time ONE Flyweight MMA World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes is settling into life as a father.

The 36-year-old is currently juggling the responsibilities of being a dad with those of being a world-class mixed martial artist, as he’ll soon return to action against Yuya “Little Piranha” Wakamatsu for the vacant ONE Flyweight MMA World Title at the blockbuster ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang.

That matchup will go down on Sunday, March 23, at Japan’s legendary Saitama Super Arena, giving Moraes another opportunity to further cement his legacy as an all-time great.

Despite his rigorous training schedule at the renowned American Top Team in Florida, “Mikinho” continues to make time for his young daughter, Lila.

He spoke to onefc.com about the joys of fatherhood:

“Lila is nine months old and has been constantly evolving. It’s incredible! I’ve been learning a lot from her.

“She’s crawling, standing up, and she wants to talk. She’s already eating solid food, so everything is wonderful. She’s wonderful, and I’m really enjoying watching her grow.”

Like any other new parent, Moraes is endlessly fascinated by his daughter’s development, noticing new skills and interests on a daily basis.

Now that she’s beyond the newborn stage, Lila is even beginning to showcase her ever-evolving personality:

“She loves watching the birds fly. I really like taking her to the beach. She likes to put her feet in the sand and watch the birds. I like to play music on my CDJ, and she loves to see the lights flashing. She loves music. She gets really excited. She likes to read with her mother, watch TV shows, and next month, she should start swimming.”

Also like any other new parent, Moraes has experienced a radical change in his life since Lila came along.

Late-night feedings, early mornings, and long hours of play can take their toll, but “Mikinho” is more than happy to sacrifice some sleep for the single most important human in his life.

Through it all, he’s realized that he’s much more capable than he ever imagined:

“What I’ve learned most from her is that we never know how strong we are until we need to use our strength. Before, I thought I needed to sleep a lot, rest to train, etcetera.

“But with her, I’ve learned that it is not quite like that. She’s been teaching me that everything is no ego – just dedication. I’m just dedicating myself to her. I’m on her schedule now. I go to the gym after she sleeps or after I go for a walk with her. She comes first, and it will always be that way.”

Moraes: ‘Everything Has Changed Completely’

Although he continues to put in the work needed to reclaim the 26 pounds of gold he once held, #1-ranked flyweight MMA contender Adriano Moraes has made significant changes to his daily routine since becoming a father.

Lila, he said, turned his world upside down:

“Everything has changed completely. We have been given a little life that we have to take care of, and it depends a lot on us. As I said, all my planning revolves around her life. So, I often arrive late for training.

“Sometimes I have to change my training time, and these are the things I adapt to. Sometimes I can’t rest as much as I used to, and these are things that are sometimes a little complicated. But we adapt, and everything is fine.”

The challenges of fatherhood have redefined what discipline means for Moraes. Before Lila, if he skipped a training session or slept in late, it was only he who suffered the consequences.

With a child now depending on him 24 hours a day, he said that maintaining his personal standards is of the utmost importance:

“I think what I have incorporated most into my daily life is determination. That’s what I say: discipline is non-negotiable. What needs to be done needs to be done, regardless of tiredness and pain.

“We have to be determined to complete the tasks. So I believe that this is what I have incorporated most into my daily life. Of course, we do everything for our family, and I will continue to do so, but we have to be very determined to move forward.”