Gabriel Braga hasn’t forgotten his split-decision loss to Timur Khizriev in 2024, and he’s not planning on making the same mistakes twice.
The Brazilian featherweight gets his shot at revenge when the two meet again at PFL Chicago on Friday night, and this time he’s bringing a completely different approach.
Braga says he’s done worrying about Khizriev’s takedowns and plans to turn up the aggression to prove this new version of himself is ready to get the job done.
“I lost (to) him 2024. This fight was tough fight, I lost split-decision,” Braga told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“But now I will fight so better. Now it’s my time.”
Braga has gone back and watched his first fight with Khizriev plenty of times, and he knows exactly what he wants to do differently in the rematch. Instead of worrying so much about the takedowns, Braga plans to let his hands go and deal with the wrestling if it comes.
“I watch this fight a lot of times. Now I will be more aggressive. In the first fight I was more careful with takedowns, but now I (won’t be),” he said.
“If he (takes me down) ok I will get up and go on my game.”
Braga has been putting in work at California Mixed Martial Arts where he’s surrounded himself with familiar faces and plenty of talent. The Brazilian says the move has been good for him, and he’s feeling ready to show off this new version of himself.
“I’m training (at) CMMA, California Mixed Martial Arts, and there it’s very good,” he told Cageside Press.
“I have a lot of Brazilian friends there. I’m feeling ready. I’m new Gabriel.”
Braga believes fans are going to see a different version of him when he steps back into the cage. With more experience under his belt and a new outlook on life, Braga says he’s grown quite a bit since his last fight.
“I (evolve) every fight. I’m back, I’m (a) new Gabriel,” he said.
“Every fight, every year, and now I have more experience. More maturity. Now I’m feeling new Gabriel. I’m living a new life, and I’m feeling a new Gabriel, because this fight will (be) different.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Gabriel Braga above. He faces Timur Khizriev at PFL Chicago on Saturday night.