Fighting Nerds, a mixed martial arts team and gym based in São Paulo, Brazil, emerged in 2014 from a blend of enthusiasm and a rejection of typical macho posturing. Founded by Caio Borralho and his coach Pablo Sucupira, this team of fighters and cornermen notoriously sports signature glasses—often taped in the center—to symbolize their unconventional approach. They may not fit the archetype of the tough warrior, but their analytical style, rooted in a genuine love for knowledge, reshapes what it means to fight smart.

Both Borralho and Sucupira have varied backgrounds that inform their training philosophy. Borralho, a dedicated grappler who also tutored peers in math and chemistry, partnered with Sucupira, who left a stable desk job as a copywriter to embrace the wild ideas that defined their gym. Their commitment to authenticity led them to embrace their “nerd” origins without trying to fabricate any street cred. Alvaro, a seasoned fighter, joined after initial reluctance, believing in the potential of the crew. It seems that this simple desire to be acknowledged for their intelligence, rather than their brawn, inspired the Fighting Nerds’ distinctive identity, elevating the role of strategy in combat sports.

The glasses, a curious emblem of both nerdiness and respect, were initially ridiculed but have since been embraced by figures in the UFC, proving the team’s influence. Sucupira’s insight that fighting should be viewed as a problem to solve has shifted the narrative around diligence and strategy. Members of Fighting Nerds gather to study fights, and they even offer classes in English and public speaking, embodying a commitment to broader self-improvement. Encouraging nerds everywhere to recognize their own potential is part of their mission.

By 2021, the team had made a breakthrough with Borralho’s successful bid for a UFC contract. Looking ahead, plans are in motion to expand to the United States, with a new branch set to open in New Hampshire by 2025. The Fighting Nerds are still evolving, challenging perceptions while maintaining their ethos to fight not just with fists, but with intellect and passion.