The Fighting Nerds took the UFC by storm in 2024 with 12 wins and $400,000 worth of post-fight bonuses in 13 octagon appearances, and they aim to establish themselves as a force in the sport in 2025.

Bruna Brasil is the first longtime member of the team to enter the UFC cage this year, moving up a weight class to take on Wang Cong this Saturday at Sydney’s UFC 312. Brasil is looking to keep the momentum going after a decision win over Molly McCann.

A natural strawweight, Brasil went 1-1 last year in the UFC. Her fellow Fighting Nerds talents Caio Borralho, Carlos Prates, Jean Silva and Mauricio Ruffy combined a record of 12-0 with eight bonuses claimed in the octagon. For Brasil, the great year from the Sao Paulo team “lifts you up” when it’s time to compete.

“When you walk with people that work hard, you automatically work hard too,” Brasil told MMA Fighting. “And the opposite is also true. If you walk with people that are average, you become average without noticing it. That’s the big key here, that’s what motivates us. We were named best team of 2024 so we have to work hard to show we can consolidate that. Everybody works hard there. The secret of Fighting Nerds is dedication, strategy, study and passion, and that’s what moves everybody to conquer more.”

Brasil had Borralho in her corner against England’s own McCann in Manchester, and again called her friend and teammate to be outside when she faces Wang. The last win was a crucial one for the strawweight, who was 1-2 entering what could end up being her last shot in the UFC.

“I was more worried because it was the last fight of my contract and fighting a fighter at her level was a risk because it was all in her favor, in her home,” Brasil said. “She’s very popular in England and that makes a difference as well, but all the preparation we had helped me go in there with a cool mind to make the most of every opportunity the UFC gives us. We enter the octagon and there’s a crowd watching, we feel like the rockstar of the moment.

“The Molly fight was great because it made me feel capable of winning great challenges, facing great fighters. I’m facing this fight now as a great challenge. The circumstances around it makes it a bigger challenge, too. The opponent, the fact it’s in Australia, a weight up and short camp, but I think all that motivated me to be ready and prepared for anything that happens in the fight.”

Brasil said she expected McCann to be act cocky during fight week in Manchester, and instead saw someone “a bit more friendly.” As for Wang, who was on a rise in the sport with multiple knockouts, Brasil wonders how she will react after a shocking upset to Gabriella Fernandes in November.

Wang went with her traditional Joker moniker for the face-off, and Brasil came in prepared with a Batman mask.

“I don’t think she will change much the way she fights,” Brasil said. “She might change her personality a bit and be more serious because she needs to win. That might pump her up, but it might also add more pressure over her and she’s overexcited and expose herself more because of those emotions. Like, ‘I lost a fight I was supposed to win and now I have to prove [something] to the world. I’m fighting someone who’s moving up in weight and took the fight on short notice.’ She has to win this fight, and I’m going there to surprise and show it won’t end like that.”