“I don’t turn down challenges” - Fabricio Andrade recalls how martial arts molded his identity and personality as a man

Fabricio Andrade knew he wouldn't have thrived in life if he hadn't crushed every opportunity. Growing up in the poverty-stricken streets of Fortaleza, Brazil, Andrade found the solace of martial arts.

Hitting the pads and staying in the gym gave the young Andrade a routine purpose, ultimately putting him at the top of the sport as the now-reigning ONE bantamweight MMA world champion.

Taking to Instagram, Andrade recalled how he initially found Muay Thai before becoming one of the best mixed martial artists on the planet.

Fabricio Andrade posted:

"When I was 13, I started doing Muay Thai. I had no expectations of anything. I was just a kid who wanted to be good at something. I was always very focused and very demanding of myself. I was also always very explosive, and in fighting, I was able to use all this 'explosion.'"

He added:

"In addition to being my escape valve, it also helped me evolve and always seek to overcome my limits. And above all, I don’t turn down challenges. I believe that all of this created the person I am today."

Andrade originally competed in Muay Thai and kickboxing, eventually carving out a 40-win professional career.

However, he got pulled into MMA, where he now sits as one of the world's best.

Andrade is arguably the most exciting fighter of the current generation, using his Muay Thai base to knock opponents out with reckless abandon.

'Wonder Boy' last displayed that explosion when he snatched Kwon Won Il's soul in just 42 seconds to defend the ONE bantamweight MMA world title at ONE 170 in Bangkok.

---

Fabricio Andrade lauds ONE Championship as the home of the world's best strikers

ONE Championship has steadily pushed its presence to the top of the combat sports world, and Fabricio Andrade believes the promotion is the hub of the best striking martial arts on the planet.

In an interview with the promotion, Andrade said ONE Championship did an excellent job in propagating its Muay Thai and kickboxing rosters to become the world's standard for excellence.

He said:

"ONE has the best strikers in the world, for sure. I think that’s pretty clear. Muay Thai is the most complete striking martial art of all, allowing you to use your elbows, knees, punches, and kicks – and ONE has the best Muay Thai fighters in the world."