Orlando, FL — Featherweight Gabriel Braga returned to action at PFL 1 in Orlando on Thursday and returned to his winning ways, earning a submission victory over a submission expert in Frederik Dupras.
Canada’s Dupras locked up a deep guillotine choke in the opening round, but appeared to have burned out his arms and emptied the gas tank before he could put Braga away. That allowed the Brazilian to turn the tide, taking over in the second half of the frame, taking the back, and forcing a tap to a rear-naked choke from a drained Dupras.
The win had fans at home in Brazil celebrating, something for which Braga (16-2) expressed gratitude following the bout. “I’m grateful for everybody cheering for me,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press, adding that he hoped to represent them well.
Now that the tournament format for the PFL is win and move on, Braga has stepped into the PFL World Tournament semifinals. Key to his success is his evolution, and not just in fighting, he noted. “I have a lot of evolution in my life, not just inside the cage but outside, and I came here to be the champ,” he stated.
Braga also gave his opinion on the other fight in his bracket, Jesus Pinedo vs. Adam Borics. Pinedo and Braga have become one of the biggest rivalries in the PFL at the moment, their career series tied 1-1.
“I think it’s going to be a tough fight, but I already said that I think I’m going to fight with Pinedo again,” predicted Braga. Turns out, Gabriel Braga might have a psychic streak. Or he’s just very good at scouting fights. Either way, Pinedo put away Borics early. That means it will be Braga vs. Pinedo 3 in the semifinals, adding even more weight to the fight.
Watch the full 2025 PFL 1 post-fight press conference with Gabriel Braga above.
