Pedro Dantas is ready to make an impact on the global stage.
The 22-year-old Brazilian standout will make his hotly anticipated ONE Championship debut at ONE Fight Night 33: Rodrigues vs. Persson on Prime Video, which broadcasts live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, July 11.
That evening, Dantas will be thrown into the deep end when he locks horns with #4-ranked featherweight MMA contender and former ONE World Title challenger Ilya Freymanov.
For the undefeated promotional newcomer known as “Guerreiro,” this is a golden opportunity for him to announce his arrival in ONE’s loaded featherweight MMA division and catapult himself into World Title contention.
Before he makes his first walk to the squared circle, learn more about Dantas and his inspirational life story.
Growing Up In The Community
Dantas’ path to ONE Championship began in the tough streets of Fortaleza, Brazil, where he learned early lessons about resilience and determination.
The eldest of four siblings, he faced challenges early in his life that would shape his character for years to come. After his parents separated, he lived with his mother and grandmother. And with his mom working at the bank and often traveling throughout Brazil’s Northeast region for her career, the youngster got into some mischief.
Dantas told onefc.com:
“I had a difficult childhood. My parents separated a few years after I was born, and I stayed with my mother and grandmother. My mother traveled a lot and my grandmother was quite liberal, so I spent all day on the streets with my friends and cousins. I lived in a community in Fortaleza, which was not the best place for a child to grow up.”
Growing up in the rough-and-tumble streets of Fortaleza meant being exposed to negative influences that could easily derail a young person’s future.
Looking back, Dantas admitted that a number of his childhood friends succumbed to those influences, but, fortunately for him, he had guidance that kept him on the right track.
He explained:
“Many of my friends chose the wrong path, but my father and mother always corrected me at the right time so that I would not follow the same path.”
Discovering His Calling
While his surroundings certainly presented challenges, Dantas found his calling early through his father’s presence in the world-renowned Brazilian MMA scene.
Paulo “Guerreiro” Dantas was an MMA pioneer in their home state, compiling 25 professional victories against ultra-tough competition. His dad also trained several successful fighters, creating a legacy that would inspire his son.
The Brazilian youngster said:
“My father always encouraged me to want something in life and to be the best in the field I chose. When I told him I wanted to fight, he prepared me – and still prepares me – to be the best, since I was a child. My father always lived off of fighting, whether through classes or competitions in which he participated. He was always obsessed with fighting and since I was little, he would make me watch K-1 fights with legends like Ernesto Hoost, Peter Aerts, and Jerome Le Banner.”
This fascination with fighting ran so deep in the Dantas household that it touched every aspect of their lives.
In fact, the patriarch’s dedication to combat sports was evident in even the smallest details.
The promotional newcomer confessed:
“He was so obsessed with fighting that he even named the animals he had after K-1 athletes.”
A Hero Looks Human
At just 13 years old, Dantas faced the most difficult moment of his young life when his father suffered a heart attack while preparing for an MMA bout.
The incident shook the teenager to his core, as he watched the man he considered invincible struggling for his life in a hospital bed. However, the experience also strengthened his resolve to carry on his dad’s legacy in the sport.
Dantas recalled:
“I said I would be a fighter myself after my father had a heart attack while training for a fight. I felt it was my duty to continue his legacy and, with his help, go even further than he did. When he had a heart attack, it was a shock to me because I didn’t expect it. When it happened, I couldn’t believe it because my father seemed like a piece of iron to me.”
Fortunately, he made a full recovery and remains active in his son’s training to this day, though he can no longer engage in full-contact sparring due to his heart medication.
The experience taught the youngster valuable lessons about resilience and the importance of family support during adversity.
Dantas said:
“Seeing my father, who seemed unbeatable, in a hospital bed at risk of death was very difficult. I was very young, so I had the support of my family and stayed with him as he got better.”
Time To Shine On The Global Stage
Now 22 years old and undefeated as a professional, Dantas is ready to showcase his skills on the largest platform for martial arts in the world. He owns a perfect 6-0 record with an impressive 100 percent finishing rate, and no opponent has lasted beyond the second round.
The Brazilian sees his upcoming promotional debut as the realization of a lifelong dream to compete at the highest level and an opportunity to inspire others with his journey from the streets to the global stage. What’s more, he’s excited to establish himself as one of the planet’s most entertaining and innovative mixed martial artists.
Dantas offered:
“It has always been a dream to compete among the best. I am sure that I have a lot to contribute to the company. I will show off some great moves, land great knockouts, and give good interviews. I want to showcase some great knockouts and moves never seen before in the organization.”
Dantas is confident that his combination of youth, power, and determination will prove too much for veteran contender Freymanov.
Well aware of the high-stakes nature of his promotional debut, he views the matchup as an opportunity to make an instant impact in ONE’s competitive featherweight division.
The Brazilian added:
“I’m sure I’ll be one of the biggest stars of this great company, bringing everything the public likes.”
