Peaking at the Right Time

Fabricio Andrade is a precocious one. Ahead of his One Championship bantamweight (145-pound) title fight against John Lineker on Friday at One on Prime Video 3, the Brazilian by way of Thailand is reaping the rewards of having begun his fight career early—perhaps a little too early—and is rounding out into championship form in his mid-20s.

The man born Francisco Fabricio de Andrade Dias got into combat sports at a young age, as he explained to Sherdog. “I started training at age 13,” he said. “I started out in muay thai. The more I fought, the more I enjoyed it. I competed in amateur muay thai for about three years. Around age 16, I developed an interest in MMA, since the UFC was blowing up in Brazil. They made a deal with [major TV network] Globo. That’s when I started migrating to MMA.”

In the early days, the teenaged striker did not have an easy time pursuing a career in fighting. “Things were very difficult from the start,” he said. “I never had any kind of support. I come from a humble background, from a place without any notable fighters. It was hard to make people believe in me. I had to rely on my own focus and determination. Little by little, I got this far.” Circumstances forced him, like so many young up-and-coming fighters, to hold down a series of jobs while training, traveling and competing. “I worked so many kinds of jobs! I worked weighing animal feed, doing bicycle deliveries for pharmacies, and as a waiter at a pizzeria. I did several odd jobs to make extra money, to be able to afford classes and training equipment.”

Andrade’s 8-2 record includes his current seven-fight win streak, the last five of them in One Championship, but he went 1-2 to open his career before turning things around. He credits the early struggles to turning professional so young, and traveling the world for fights almost immediately, dealing with unheralded regional shows and some less than reputable promoters. It was a lot for a 17 or 18-year old: “Things were tough early on. For example, I was booked to fight in Kazakhstan as a flyweight. After I arrived, they changed my opponent, one week before the fight. They also changed the weight – to featherweight. That’s not uncommon around the Russian sphere. They fool you so they can guarantee a win for their local fighters. I was very young and had no money, but it was a chance for international experience. They paid in dollars. I accepted anyway. I lost that fight. The next fight was in China. At that time, I was more focused on kickboxing. I accepted that MMA bout to make extra money. I had been living in China and needed money to pay for my visas. It was very close fight. I lost by decision. In my opinion, I felt I won. But it went down as another loss.”

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That seven-fight current win streak has seen Andrade all the way to a shot at the belt, and a matchup with Lineker, whom he has looked forward to facing for years. Andrade is lavish in his praise of the veteran Brazilian knockout artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship contender, even as he expresses his plans to dethrone him. “Ever since I debuted at One, [Lineker] was always someone I envisioned facing,” Andrade said. “Regardless of Bibiano Fernandes being the champion at the time, Lineker was the toughest guy in the weight class, in my opinion. My style will be very difficult for him to deal with. It will be hard for him to surprise me in any way. Without a doubt, he’s the biggest name in our weight class at One Championship. He’s also the fighter with the strongest career history, inside and outside the promotion. It will be the most challenging fight of my career, but I have all the skills to score yet another win. I’ve always believed that I’m the best. When you believe you are the best, you have to beat the best. I wanted this fight. Now it’s finally happening. I believe I’ll knock him out.”

Now that the moment of truth is at hand, Andrade feels prepared, and sounds comfortable with the stability of his longtime training setting in Phuket, Thailand, where he also resides. “My training camp was, as always, done at Tiger Muay Thai. I’m very close to where the event will take place. My training didn’t change much. I’m doing the same things, but I’m still getting better. Lineker, besides being very tough, is very predictable. There aren’t any riddles in his game. We know what he’ll do. I’m very complete in striking. I have my punches, elbows, knees, and kicks. I’ve also been training wrestling. I don’t plan on taking things to the mat, but I am ready for any situation.”

In talking about what comes after One on Prime Video 3, Andrade continues to heap respect onto his opponent’s name, and tacitly accepts the possibility of an immediate rematch should Andrade win the title. “After I win the belt, Lineker will continue to be the toughest guy in our weight class. Of course, there are some solid newcomers like Stephen Loman from the Philippines, who’s currently ranked. I’ll leave it up to ONE. I just want to keep fighting. I’m young, at the start of my career. Regardless of who they book against me, I’ll be ready to defend my belt.”