Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Nassourdine Imavov (red gloves) fights Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

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Coach Of ‘Fighting Nerds’ Delivers Surprising Take On His Fighters’ Defeats!

Sep 6, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; Nassourdine Imavov (red gloves) fights Caio Borralho (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images

The MMA world rarely sees coaches celebrate losses. Most trainers either make excuses or promise revenge after their fighters fall short. But Pablo Sucupira thinks differently about defeat. The Brazilian coach leads the “Fighting Nerds” team, a group that’s been making waves in the UFC with their unique approach to the sport. When two of his top fighters recently lost at UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho, Sucupira surprised everyone with his reaction.

The Fighting Nerds have built quite a reputation over the past few years. Their camp produces technical fighters who combine intelligence with aggression inside the octagon. Sucupira’s team includes several rising stars who have caught the attention of UFC fans worldwide including Caio Borralho, Mauricio Ruffy and Jean Silva. His fighters spend hours analyzing footage and developing game plans that often catch opponents off guard. This methodical approach has helped many of his athletes climb the rankings quickly.

Pablo Sucupira’s Approach To Learning Through Loss

When Caio Borralho and Mauricio Ruffy both suffered defeats at the recent Fight Night event, many expected their coach to be devastated. Instead, Sucupira delivered a refreshing take that shocked the MMA community. He openly admitted he was okay with his fighters losing before they reached title contention. The coach believes that experiencing defeat early in a UFC career can actually benefit a fighter’s long-term development.

“I am okay with them losing. Our biggest asset is how we grow after defeat,” said Sucupira via StandMeUp.

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Sucupira’s philosophy centers on growth through adversity. He argues that losses teach fighters valuable lessons that victories cannot provide. According to the coach, facing setbacks forces athletes to examine their weaknesses and make necessary adjustments. This process ultimately creates more complete fighters who can handle pressure when championship opportunities arise. The Brazilian mentor would rather see his students learn these hard lessons now than discover their flaws during title fights.

Sucupira pointed to another Fighting Nerds member, Carlos Prates as the perfect example of his philosophy in action. Earlier this year, Prates suffered a tough loss to Ian Garry in a fight many thought he could win. The defeat stung, but the Fighting Nerds coach saw it as a learning opportunity rather than a disaster. He worked with Prates to identify what went wrong and develop solutions for future fights.

The investment in learning from loss paid off dramatically. Prates recently returned to action and delivered a spectacular knockout victory over Geoff Neal. The performance showed remarkable improvement in areas where he had previously struggled. The coach now uses Prates as motivation for other fighters who face similar disappointments in their careers.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Caio Borralho

Carlos Prates

Mauricio Ruffy

The Fighting Nerds

UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs Borralho

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!