Joanderson Brito’s Proof of Concept

A string of dominant performances has Joanderson Brito on the verge of a Top 15 ranking in the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight division.

“Tubarao” will carry a 17-3-1 record into his featured UFC Fight Night 243 attraction opposite William Gomis this Saturday at Accor Arena in Paris. Brito has rattled off five consecutive victories, all of them finishes, since his January 2022 promotional debut ended in a unanimous defeat to former Ring of Combat champion Bill Algeo at UFC on ESPN 32.

“I’m very happy with my overall performance in the UFC,” Brito told Sherdog.com. “The work I put in has been tough and intense. The results, fight after fight, are proof of that.”

Gomis provides his latest test. The 27-year-old MMA Factory rep finds himself on an 11-fight winning streak that stretches back to 2016. Gomis last suited up at UFC Fight Night 226, where he put away Yanis Ghemmouri with a third-round body kick a little more than a year ago. “The Jaguar” has secured eight of his 13 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

“He’s a good fighter, and he’s also been showing good results in the organization,” Brito said. “He’s not ranked, which was also true of my other opponents, but he’s on a good streak. Like me, he’s looking for a spot in the rankings. A finish can happen at any moment, just like in every fight of mine. My game will be the same. I’ll step into the cage, and I’ll pressure him with grappling and strikes. I’ll do my MMA game the way I enjoy it, and I’ll walk away with another win.”

Brito operates out of the Chute Boxe affiliate fronted by Joao Emilio in Bauru, Brazil. There, he trains under Emilio, muay thai coach Joao Paulo de Carvalho and Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Andre Luis Leal Lobato. Southpaws Melquizael Costa and Marcirley Alves served as his primary sparring partners ahead of his showdown with Gomis.

“I’ll be as ready as always,” Brito said. “I believe our strategy goes along great with my game. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. I’ll apply pressure by fighting MMA my way. It works against any sort of opponent in the weight class.”

Long-term goals have not changed for Brito.

“My plan remains the same,” he said. “I’ll continue training and fighting until I can establish myself as a Top 5 UFC fighter. I wish to remain there for a long time and continue improving my personal life via the sport.”