Outside Source
A youthful appearance hides the fact that Leandro Higo has quite literally pursued his passion for decades. He made his pro debut at the age of 17 and has fought virtually everywhere since, from Jungle Fight, the Resurrection Fighting Alliance and the Legacy Fighting Alliance to “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 4 and Bellator MMA.
Higo now readies himself for his second appearance under the Professional Fighters League flag, as he will face Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov in a PFL Sioux Falls bantamweight showcase on Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in South Dakota. It has been quite a journey for the 37-year-old Brazilian.
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“It’s been 20 years since my debut, when I started fighting vale tudo in my hometown of Mossoro,” Higo told Sherdog.com. “I started out without any expectations. It was just a dream. I couldn’t imagine getting as far as I have. On many occasions, I hit the goalpost, but that’s life. Athletes never know how things will play out, but I’m happy with my career, considering where I came from and where I am today.
“I’m in one of the biggest organizations on the planet facing their best athletes,” he added. “For me, it’s a privilege, and to make a living from it is also surreal. I never imagined it, and thank God, I’ve been doing it for quite a few years.”
Higo has struggled to stay active since 2019 due to canceled bouts, opponent changes and the Bellator-PFL merger. He defeated James Gallagher on short notice as a featherweight and later served as a backup for the Magomedov-Patrick “Patchy” Mix championship fight in Paris. However, long stretches of inactivity stalled his momentum. Higo last competed at 2025 PFL World Tournament 2, where he wound up on the wrong side of a split decision against Marcirley Alves more than a year ago.
“Things were complicated due to multiple opponent changes,” he said. “That ended up hurting me, but I was still able to put on a good fight. I thought I won, but the judges didn’t see it that way.”
The situation then went from bad to worse.
“After facing Marcirley, I was scheduled [to fight] again, but I got injured,” Higo said. “I tore my biceps, 100%. I spent some time recovering so I could return in May. Now, I’m ready. I am getting started again, but almost half of this year has passed. I hope to fight twice more this year. I want three fights.”
Higo does not take Magomedov lightly. The dangerous former Absolute Championship Akhmat titleholder owns a 21-5 record that includes a victory over current Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight champion Petr Yan.
“It’s always a challenge to fight these guys,” Higo said. “All Russians have a great game plan. They’re usually wrestlers who mix in sambo, taekwondo and a little jiu-jitsu. They are all very complete. I was already supposed to have faced him in the PFL grand prix, but he dropped out. Now, I’m starting out this year with him. We’re preparing well in every facet of the sport.
“I know my opponent’s qualities,” he added. “He’s a complete guy who’s well-traveled. He won a world championship in Russia, where everyone is tough. We are feeling very confident. It will be an amazing fight, and this time, I won’t leave it to the judges. I’m very motivated. This is a fight I’ve been wanting for a long time.”
Higo trained in a familiar setting: the Pitbull Brothers academy in Natal, Brazil, where he sharpens his skills under the guidance of four-time Bellator champion and current UFC competitor Patricio “Pitbull” Freire.
“During the time I spent away from the cage, I tried to improve upon my flaws,” he said. “I’m seeing success in my training, and I aim to bring the best of me to this fight. Ours is a great team with great coaches and training partners despite its small size. This fight won’t be easy. We must always stay alert in every area, and I won’t make it easy for him, either. We’ll have a war, and I expect to be victorious.”
‘Dream to be champion’
Higo has already endured the good, the bad and the ugly that MMA has to offer, but the resilient Brazilian maintains high hopes for the future.
“Financially speaking, I live off my fight purses,” he said. “In Brazil, it’s terribly hard to find any sponsors. After this fight now, I want to be back in the cage as soon as possible. It also helps to get into a competition rhythm, and my greater goal remains to be champion. I’ll be facing the third-ranked fighter [at 135 pounds], and with a win, I’ll be close to a title shot. “It’s my dream to be champion,” Higo added. “I wanted the Bellator belt, but since they were shut down, now it’s going to be in the PFL. I want to close out my career with a gold key. This is where I wish to remain and to be champion.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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