With over two decades of experience as CEO and President of the UFC, Dana White has developed a keen eye for identifying diamonds among the coal. In line with this vision, White discovered a gem last year at DWCS 7.9 in the form of Brazilian sensation Victor Hugo, who has generated significant buzz in regional mixed martial promotions. Since transitioning to the world’s largest MMA promotion, ‘Striker’ has lived up to his reputation, extending his winning streak to 14 fights.

At just 31 years old, Hugo has already achieved notable accomplishments that qualify him as a veteran in the sport, yet he has yet to secure a title. While there is much to explore regarding Hugo’s fighting career, fans are intrigued by the origins of this warrior. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the life of this bantamweight prospect.

Where does Victor Hugo come from? Ethnicity and nationality

Victor Hugo hails from the ‘home of champions,’ Brazil, which has produced fighters like the Gracie brothers and Anderson Silva, who have already made their mark in the MMA realm. Just like the foundation laid by these earlier champions, ‘Striker’s success has grown throughout his life in Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, as he fought in various promotions across Brazil.

In his 14 years of professional fighting, Victor Hugo has tasted defeat only four times, with his last loss occurring nine years ago. Despite remaining undefeated for so long, the Brazilian sensation still carries a humble demeanor, which was highlighted earlier this year when he took down Pedro Falcao at UFC Fight Night 240.

He did not hesitate to appreciate his opponent in the post-fight press conference, stating, “Because this guy is very tough. Everybody was saying, ‘Oh, it will be an easy fight.’ I knew we would not have (an easy) fight. Everybody is very prepared in the UFC. I don’t know why people have this mentality yet. Everybody’s a fighter. Everybody’s training hard. So to me, it’s a little bit disrespectful when the guys say that.”

Now that you have learned about Victor Hugo’s ethnicity and nationality, let’s dive into the early life of the Brazilian prospect and how he found his way into the fighting sport.

How did Victor Hugo start fighting? More about his personal life

Victor Hugo’s success in his MMA career can be attributed to his will, but his father also played a pivotal role in introducing him to the sport. A remarkable example of a child prodigy, ‘Striker’ decided to follow in his father’s footsteps at just five years old. In a recent candid interview, when asked about his motivation for pursuing a career in MMA, Hugo revealed, “I have been a fighter since I was five years old. My father was a fighter and started my career by teaching me kickboxing and putting me in a BJJ (Brazilian jiu-jitsu) school. My father is my motivation because I believe all kids want to impress their fathers, so that is a reason.”

Many assumed that receiving guidance from his father would make Hugo’s journey easier, but that’s not entirely true. Alongside fighting, he also had to work to fulfill his needs, which sometimes became a headache for him. However, after getting signed by the UFC, things changed significantly for Hugo. He shared, “I worked from 10 PM until 5 AM six times a week, slept very little, and trained twice a day. This routine continued for ten long years until I was signed to the most significant promotion in the world. It was challenging, but I managed.”

Now, all eyes are on UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, where Victor Hugo is set to compete against Afghan-English prospect Farid Basharat, who, like ‘Striker’, is also an impressive contender looking to climb up the ranks. Who will you be rooting for, Hugo or Basharat? Drop your opinion below.