Diego Brandao is prioritizing competition over money in 2025 hoping that it leads back to the UFC cage.

A Ultimate Fighter reality show winner with six victories in 10 octagon appearances between 2011 and 2016, including high-profile fights with Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Brian Ortega, the Brazilian veteran had a tumultuous time outside the UFC. From allegedly pistol-whipping a man outside a strip club — which he pled self defense— to wild fights and melees in Russia, Brandao decided he’s had enough.

Now facing 12-2 featherweight prospect Jamie Siraj for the Tuff-N-Uff belt, Brandao sees Friday night’s show at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as the first step of a new life. Brandao went 9-11 competing all over the world since his UFC release, entering cages and rings from Russia and Kazakhstan to Poland and Japan.

“It was a reset in my head,” Brandao told MMA Fighting of why he went to Russia in the first place, where he hit the lowest point of his career by losing six in a row. “I was basically starting over. Fixing the mistakes inside and outside of fighting, so the only place for me to fight was Russia because Americans didn’t want to fight Brandao.”

Brandao said he was getting paid up to $40,000 per bout in Russia, but opted to leave that on the table to build his career form ground up instead of serving as a stepping stone for Russian up-and-comers. The title bout with Siraj if the first of a three-fight deal, he said.

“I’m trying to fix my life,” Brandao said. “Forget money and let’s start from scratch. Back to the United States. F*ck that money. I’ll fight for $1 in the UFC. Many people think my life is upside down. It was upside down. Now you’ll hear the noise. It all starts Friday, brother.”

“Greg Jackson and [Mike] Winkeljohn believe this is the fight to get me in the UFC,” he continued. “I’ve already talked to Dana White and Sean Shelby, I’ve been talking to them for over a year, and they’ve always told me, ‘Diego, get out of Russia.’ How would I leave Russia? They paid me $40,000 to fight there. My financial situation wasn’t good. But I left that $40,000 [check] there to get paid $5,000 here. I’m not embarrassed to say it. I”m fighting for $5,000 because it’s a big opportunity. It’s not about the money. I don’t need money anymore. I’m fighting for my name, I’m fighting to find out who’s the bad guy Friday in Las Vegas. And I’ll get that belt.”

Brandao doesn’t expect to be signed by the UFC with a win Friday, agreeing “it’s too early.” That said, Brandao thinks that ending Siraj’s nine-fight winning streak will be a good indication that he’s back.

“Winning this one and two more title defenses, I think it’s UFC time,” Brandao said. “UFC is about fun fights and putting on a show. There’s no such thing as age, man. That’s what Sean Shelby told me: ‘Diego, win three fights and put on a show so we see where you’re at.’ I’m following his plans. They asked me to fight in the United States, and I’m doing what they want. I’ll end this guy live at UFC Fight Pass and leave it in Dana White’s and Sean Shelby’s hands. Give me a Russian, a Dagestani. Americans are afraid to fight them, Brazilians don’t want those fight, and Brandao is here to kill.”

“[Siraj] is on the verge of signing with the UFC. People say he’s a future UFC star and hasn’t lost in nine years. I’ll fight this guy! I think he’s feeling the pressure. I’ve been in this cassino before, I’ve been through all of this, and my experience will be too much for him. I know this is my last shot at getting back to the UFC. It’s a dream for me, and I’ll chase that dream as long as I’m alive.”