UFC News & FeaturesAnderson Silva Brokenhearted Over Diego Braga’s Death: ‘See You One Day, Brother’
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship great Anderson
Silva is crestfallen about the death of his friend, Diego
Braga.
The Brazilian mixed martial arts community was shocked by the killing of former MMA fighter Diego Braga on Monday. The news spread all across televised news broadcasts, opening another chapter of the criminal territory dispute between militias and narco criminals in Rio de Janeiro. A litany of famed names in the sport attended the fighter’s funeral on Wednesday at the Jardim da Saudade Cemetery.
In addition to son Gabriel
Braga, a Professional Fighters League finalist in 2023,
others in attendance included Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira, Davi Ramos,
Gustavo
Machado and Anderson
Silva. The UFC legend, who had trained muay thai with Braga in
his last MMA fights, was devastated and declined to speak to the
press. Instead, “The Spider” published a lengthy message on his
Instagram in
honor of his fallen friend and condemned authorities for the
increasing violence in Rio.
“A hard-working guy who, like many others, chases his dreams, bought his motorcycle with his own effort, but it was stolen and his rights were violated,” Silva remarked. “While those who have the power to change normalized violence as if they could do nothing, for them it is just another statistic...As long as justice is working against the population, we will increasingly witness the deconstruction of values and the loss of friends and relatives.”
Silva openly criticized a recent decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court, DPF 635, which prohibits police from tending to situations in the slums of Rio de Janeiro to avoid the potential deaths of innocents. As a result, some believe that this decision transformed these 600-plus slums across the massive city into safe havens for criminals while attracting even more dangerous elements from other Brazilian states.
The Muzema slum, where Braga lived and helped many children with his social project titled “Tropa Thai,” was once dominated by militias—ex-police or military that control the area by selling basic supplies and “safety” by asking for monthly mandatory fees. Last year, however, the Muzema slum and Morro do Banco, a neighboring slum, were taken under the control of the criminal organization Comando Vermelho, listed as the largest narco-criminal group in the city. After Braga’s motorcycle was stolen on Monday, he decided to speak to Morro do Banco’s leaders of Comando Vermelho to retrieve it. He believed that as a leader of a local social project, his name would carry some respect, and some individuals who recognized him would be glad to help. This was not the case.
Instead of welcoming Braga, a teacher of youths in the area, as a good person, the narco leader he spoke to was suspicious. Allegedly taking his phone, the men went through his contacts and recognized some names from the former rival faction. Braga reportedly tried to run, but he was gunned down. This shooting drew immediate pushback from the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, which included a temporary suspension of the DPF 635 decision. Police forces quickly rushed into Morro de Banco to retrieve Braga’s body and apprehend the individual(s) that killed him. The dealers allegedly placed Braga’s body in the center of a local square in the slum while also leaving an 18-year-old, who they claimed was the one responsible for Braga’s death.
The national repercussion of Braga’s death was not only due to his friendship with beloved figures like Nogueira and Silva but because it reiterated the danger of the war between narco criminals and militias in Rio. It also highlighted the harm that DPF 635 might be causing the slums in Rio de Janeiro.
Another heartbreaking chapter of this war reportedly unfolded last October when three doctors, celebrating the end of a medical convention in Barra da Tijuca Beach, were shot 33 times. The alleged reason for the slaughter? One of the doctors was confused by Comando Vermelho members for a militia leader.
The four criminals responsible were found dead by police a few hours later, allegedly killed by their own Comando Vermelho leaders, who decided to execute their own justice before police were authorized to invade their turf. The ensuing confusion resulted in seven deaths within a 12-hour span: four alleged criminals and three doctors. One doctor, shot 14 times, managed to survive after several life-saving surgeries.
After the commotion over the death of the three innocent doctors and Mr. Braga, Rio de Janeiro residents are hoping and praying that authorities start to legitimately confront the growing war between militia and narcos before it advances through the wonderful city streets and kills more innocent people.
The Brazilian mixed martial arts community was shocked by the killing of former MMA fighter Diego Braga on Monday. The news spread all across televised news broadcasts, opening another chapter of the criminal territory dispute between militias and narco criminals in Rio de Janeiro. A litany of famed names in the sport attended the fighter’s funeral on Wednesday at the Jardim da Saudade Cemetery.
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“A hard-working guy who, like many others, chases his dreams, bought his motorcycle with his own effort, but it was stolen and his rights were violated,” Silva remarked. “While those who have the power to change normalized violence as if they could do nothing, for them it is just another statistic...As long as justice is working against the population, we will increasingly witness the deconstruction of values and the loss of friends and relatives.”
Silva continued, “Tears will not be enough to demonstrate the pain
of losing a friend like Diego; cannot be accepted. Such cowardice
and evil are truly something that cannot be understood or accepted.
The system plays against the good population, a hard-working guy
with a good heart who leaves behind a wife and children, and a
feeling of impotence and a lot of pain at his departure. My friend,
the great Diego Braga, has always been a human being of light in
the midst of so much darkness that often surrounds the wonderful
city of Rio de Janeiro. Diego, my brother, your memory will forever
be a beacon for all of us who remain. See you one day,
brother.”
Silva openly criticized a recent decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court, DPF 635, which prohibits police from tending to situations in the slums of Rio de Janeiro to avoid the potential deaths of innocents. As a result, some believe that this decision transformed these 600-plus slums across the massive city into safe havens for criminals while attracting even more dangerous elements from other Brazilian states.
The Muzema slum, where Braga lived and helped many children with his social project titled “Tropa Thai,” was once dominated by militias—ex-police or military that control the area by selling basic supplies and “safety” by asking for monthly mandatory fees. Last year, however, the Muzema slum and Morro do Banco, a neighboring slum, were taken under the control of the criminal organization Comando Vermelho, listed as the largest narco-criminal group in the city. After Braga’s motorcycle was stolen on Monday, he decided to speak to Morro do Banco’s leaders of Comando Vermelho to retrieve it. He believed that as a leader of a local social project, his name would carry some respect, and some individuals who recognized him would be glad to help. This was not the case.
Instead of welcoming Braga, a teacher of youths in the area, as a good person, the narco leader he spoke to was suspicious. Allegedly taking his phone, the men went through his contacts and recognized some names from the former rival faction. Braga reportedly tried to run, but he was gunned down. This shooting drew immediate pushback from the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, which included a temporary suspension of the DPF 635 decision. Police forces quickly rushed into Morro de Banco to retrieve Braga’s body and apprehend the individual(s) that killed him. The dealers allegedly placed Braga’s body in the center of a local square in the slum while also leaving an 18-year-old, who they claimed was the one responsible for Braga’s death.
The national repercussion of Braga’s death was not only due to his friendship with beloved figures like Nogueira and Silva but because it reiterated the danger of the war between narco criminals and militias in Rio. It also highlighted the harm that DPF 635 might be causing the slums in Rio de Janeiro.
Another heartbreaking chapter of this war reportedly unfolded last October when three doctors, celebrating the end of a medical convention in Barra da Tijuca Beach, were shot 33 times. The alleged reason for the slaughter? One of the doctors was confused by Comando Vermelho members for a militia leader.
The four criminals responsible were found dead by police a few hours later, allegedly killed by their own Comando Vermelho leaders, who decided to execute their own justice before police were authorized to invade their turf. The ensuing confusion resulted in seven deaths within a 12-hour span: four alleged criminals and three doctors. One doctor, shot 14 times, managed to survive after several life-saving surgeries.
After the commotion over the death of the three innocent doctors and Mr. Braga, Rio de Janeiro residents are hoping and praying that authorities start to legitimately confront the growing war between militia and narcos before it advances through the wonderful city streets and kills more innocent people.
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