After winning 15 of his last 17 professional bouts, Carlos Leal Miranda will finally achieve his goal of fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The Brazilian will step up on short notice to face Rinat Fakhretdinov at UFC 308 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. What makes the situation more interesting is how someone who hadn’t fought in the UFC and lives in Curitiba, Brazil, was able to accept such a call from the promotion on the week of the fight. The foundation for the move was laid in August 2023.
After losing to Sadibou Sy via decision in a second consecutive Professional Fighters League semifinal, Leal decided that it was time to leave PFL and try to achieve his goal of fighting in UFC.
“When I entered the PFL my goal was to be a champion. In the first season I got really close and decided to try once again. When I lost the second time, me and my team decided it was time to leave,” Leal said.
While things didn’t work out as planned in the PFL, “The Lion” recognizes that the organization was important for his growth.
“PFL was a great [learning experience] for me,” he said. “Thanks to that promotion, I could give a better life to my family and even buy a house for my mother. PFL also helped me to evolve as a man and fighter. So I just have gratitude to them.”
Leal and his manager then devised a plan that would get him closer to his dream of making it to the UFC.
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“We knew that the best way to reach UFC was to get the LFA title,” Leal said.
Before getting into LFA his team decided to accept an invitation to fight at UAE Warriors 48, where Leal knocked out Marcio Breno Rodrigues Braga in the first round. Four months later, Leal finally made his LFA debut, knocking out Manuel Mena in the first round on his first step to get an LFA title shot.
Twelve weeks ago, his manager found out that UFC 308 would take place in Abu Dhabi on the same week of UAE Warriors 55.
“He put me on that card with a clear strategy,” Leal said.”If some welterweight or middleweight fighter had some problem at UFC 308, I would be already here. But even if no one withdraws from the card, it would be a great opportunity to perform for UFC people and have a chance to get my contract.”
When the first part of the plan worked out, Leal needed a little help to make his dream a reality.
“UAE Warriors said they would allow me to fight in UFC if we got a replacement for me and my trainer, Rodrigo Cavalheiro Correia, stepped in immediately and agreed to a catchweight fight on Tuesday against my former opponent.
Cavalheiro, who is 41 years old, defeated Erkin Darmenov via first-round knockout at UAE Warriors 55 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Leal is preparing to face Fakhretdinov on short notice. Though it is first time facing an opponent from Russia in 26 professional outings, Leal is not worried.
“There were many top Russians in my division, so I’ve been studying them for a long time,” he said. “I’m really happy to be able to finally achieve my dream of fighting in the UFC facing a tough opponent like Rinat. I have no doubt it will be a hell of a fight. There couldn’t be a better way to achieve my goal.”
