Texas’ best kept secret: Carlos Diego Ferreira

By TXMMA Staff // Emil Fischer

One of the top fighter/grapplers in Texas for years, Carlos Diego Ferreira now ready to explode on the national scene with win over Ramsey Nijem at UFC 177

A rising star in the world of MMA AND Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Carlos Diego Ferreira is at the top of his game.  For anyone who doesn’t know, the Pharr, Texas resident is an undefeated lightweight who just had his UFC debut against Colton Smith on June 28th, a fight in which he successfully cemented his place on the UFC roster with an impressive first round rear naked choke submission.

Prior to his entrance into the UFC, Mr. Ferreira cut a path for himself through several MMA promotions, but at long last he has found his home in the most prestigious MMA outlet.  TXMMA had the good fortune of catching up with Carlos Diego Ferreira, and he shared some of his experience and thoughts.

The latest organization which he fought for was Legacy Fight Championship, which he left after winning their championship “I feel really good… I’ve been working hard for this and it paid off. I stayed patient finished my contract with legacy, got the light weight title and everything fell into place after that.”  From the sounds of it though, his toughest challenge thus far was his decision victory against Jorge “Macaco” Patino “I think my toughest fight was my title fight with Macaco… He’s a tough, strong and aggressive guy, it took everything out of me all 5 rounds.  It was back and forth stand up and ground it challenged every part of me.  But I was happy to show all my strong points too and it was an awesome fight.”  Those kinds of fights truly define a fighter’s character.

An equally important part of Carlos’ life is his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training.  Carlos is a big proponent of training in the Gi “I feel that it makes your more technical and it helps with patience and be smarter when fighting… To see different submissions coming. And when you’re cutting weight at the end helps sweat more lol!”  Of course as any true BJJ aficionado will say, his BJJ idol is none other than “Rickson Gracie”, though his biggest influence on the ground is “My BJJ instructor Mestre Pina in Manaus at my school in Brazil Club Pina he’s the one who got me started and I learned the most from him.”

People who follow the BJJ scene know that Carlos Diego Ferreira is now part of the up and coming Team Atos.  “I went to train over there in San Diego for no gi worlds and when I was preparing for my fight with Macaco… From there Andre (Galvao) and I talked about affiliation and I how it will my team and our training program so I did it.”  Carlos holds onto his identity a BJJ fighter “my goals are to keep active in BJJ and start competing; I have some tournaments already lined up after this fight… And whatever the UFC wants for me next, I’ll be ready.”  Unlike some BJJ fighters, though, Carlos has never been limited to just BJJ “Capoeira was my first martial art.  It has helped a lot in both MMA & BJJ… I think the best way is to train all around, different arts especially because I fight MMA too. All training helps.”  As far as the Sport vs. Street Jiu Jitsu debate, the effectiveness of Sport BJJ “Depends, sometimes it can work and sometimes it won’t, it all depends or your opponent.”

Carlos Diego Ferreira has enjoyed many benefits from his emigration to the US and joining the UFC.  In reference to his emigration to the USA “I’ve been living here since 2009. I’m a resident now. I miss my family in Brazil. And I love it here because there is much more opportunity to fight and I have my gym here.”  As for the benefits of joining the UFC “My life has changed in very good ways.  It’s a dream come true and it’s only making me work harder and do so much more work, I feel like I’m starting from the bottom but feels awesome. As far as my business it’s helping my gym grow and doing so much for my team and family.”

Having come from a solid BJJ background, Carlos Diego Ferreira is making a big splash in the MMA world.  He is one of the most exciting new fighters on the scene right now because of his ability to finish his opponents with submissions, an ability that is becoming rarer given the UFC’s propensity to encourage stand up battles.  TXMMA is grateful that Carlos took the time to be interviewed and he as well had some thanks to share “Thank you for this interview. And thank you to my coaches, teammates Team Ferreira, my family and fans for always supporting me. My sponsors Windshields Xpress, Vitamin Shack & Shakes, Wartribe Gear and Caribella Homes. Oss.”