Icaro Brito was named one of the top Brazilian prospects to watch entering 2024, and the UFC has tried signing him twice to Dana White’s Contender Series, but visa issues keep delaying his dream. Back in the LFA cage this Friday after a cancelled DWCS clash with Javier Reyes in September 2025, he has a new mindset for the future of his career.
“I had a moment of frustration but it lasted one day,” Brito told MMA Fighting of his cancelled DWCS bout. “The next day I was back in the gym training. I know
where I’m going to get to, I know my potential, and I love doing this. Head down, move forward. Let’s fight in the LFA and put on a great performance and show the fans that I’m ready.”
A year before, in August 2024, his featherweight match with Ernie Juarez was also cancelled after Brito failed to get a visa to enter the United States to compete in front of UFC CEO Dana White.
Brito wasn’t given an official answer as to why it keeps happening, a norm in the U.S. consulate, but thinks it’s related to his full dedication to the sport.
“I don’t have any debts, I’ve never had any problems with the law,” Brito said. “I just never had a formal, registered job, I don’t have many ties here. I’ve always been a MMA athlete and trained my whole life, I don’t have many things in my name and all that, and I believe that might be it. After you get denied once, the questions get a little harder next time and they keep piling on. They don’t give you an explanation like, ‘Fix this and you’ll get it.’ And it happens to a lot of athletes. It’s more common than people think. But that’s in the past. Now I’m focused on the LFA fight. Soon we’ll sort this situation out and move forward.”
The Fighting Nerds prospect will compete Jan. 23 in Brasilia against fellow featherweight Aristides Vinicius and calls him “a tough opponent,” but says he’s on a mission to prove his worth by getting his eighth straight victory in Brazil.
“One fight at a time, but that’s the goal: line everyone up until it’s undeniable,” Brito said. “That’s the motto: be undeniable.”
Brito said Jean Silva is one of his main training partners at Fighting Nerds in Sao Paulo, but didn’t work much with him in this camp because Silva will compete against Arnold Allen on the very next day at UFC 324 in Las Vegas, and their opponents are not similar in the way they fight.
“He’s a tough guy, a kid who’s hungry, young as well, good cardio and active,” Brito said of Vinicius. “It’s a good test. I’m really excited to fight him and test myself, show my skills. I believe it’s going to be a fight where I can show a lot of ability. I’ll be looking for the knockout, but I also have a game to fight all three rounds and win via decision if needed.”
