‘My Work Is Being Recognized’ – Fabricio Andrade Happy With Praise From Demetrious Johnson
Fabricio Andrade is busy making his own name on the global stage of martial arts, but he can still take inspiration from the elite athletes around him.
“Wonder Boy” – who will challenge John Lineker for the ONE Bantamweight World Title at ONE on Prime Video 3 – cites Demetrious Johnson’s most recent performance as one of the greatest victories he’s witnessed all year.
Seeing the American icon knock out Adriano Moraes to claim the ONE Flyweight World Title was a massive motivator for Andrade in his own mixed martial career.
The stunning result energized the young phenom before he goes for gold at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, October 21 – live in U.S. primetime.
Andrade said:
“DJ impressed me a lot in his last fight. He’s a guy who already has a long history in MMA. He was coming from a loss to Adriano Moraes, who is a very big guy for the division, and I even believed that Adriano would beat the DJ again. But the way the DJ won impressed me a lot. And that just proves he’s still on top.”
It turns out that feeling is mutual.
In a recent interview, Johnson revealed that Andrade is one of his favorite fighters to watch inside the Circle, lauding the rising star’s aggressive style and risk-taking.
As a surging athlete on his own journey to create a legacy, “Wonder Boy” was thrilled to receive such high praise from an MMA GOAT like “Mighty Mouse,” and he’s determined to continue climbing higher.
The 24-year-old Brazilian said:
“It sure makes me very happy. Hearing this from a guy with the experience and the name he has motivates me a lot. It shows that my work is being recognized and motivates me to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Fabricio Andrade Thinks He’s The Best Athlete In ONE Championship Right Now
Fabricio Andrade respects pioneers such as Demetrious Johnson who helped to push the sport of MMA to great heights.
However, the confident Brazilian won’t sell himself short when it comes to the organization’s current crop of talent.
“Wonder Boy” believes he’s the premier competitor on the ONE Championship roster, with his dominant 5-0 run – including three straight KO wins over fellow contenders – setting him apart.
Andrade added:
“I believe the best MMA fighter in the ONE Championship right now is me. And the best striker too. Nobody did what I’ve been doing. Three first-round knockouts, making tough fights look easy.
“No one has done this so far in the ONE Championship, so it proves that I am on a different level than every other athlete. And not just in my division, but I’m on a different level if we look at all the divisions in the ONE Championship.”
