Gabriel Bonfim and the Thrill of the Chase

Every time Gabriel Bonfim climbs into the cage, he puts his unblemished resume at risk. Such is life for the fast-rising Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight.

Bonfim will put his perfect 15-0 record on the line when he meets former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Nicolas Dalby in the UFC Fight Night 231 co-main event on Nov. 4 at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “Marretinha,” who has stopped all 15 of his opponents inside the distance, sounds like a man keenly aware of his situation.

“I don’t feel any pressure to stay undefeated,” Bonfim told Sherdog.com. “Setbacks are a part of life and of our sport, but we’re working to keep losses from happening and to retire undefeated.”

His latest obstacle figures could be his most formidable to date. Dalby, 38, has never been finished in his 29-fight career and enters the match on a run of three consecutive victories. The Rumble Sports product last appeared at UFC on ESPN 47, where he outpointed Muslim Salikhov to a unanimous verdict on June 17. The Dane has suffered just one setback—a decision defeat to former King of the Cage champion Tim Means in 2021—in his past 11 outings. Bonfim respects Dalby’s accomplishments and staying power.

“He has a lot of fights on his record, and he’s been in the UFC for a long time,” he said. “He’s faced many top fighters, including some from Brazil, but now it’s my turn to ascend in the organization. I’m not here to mess around or lose. I work every day to be a champion. It’s who I’ll be. It doesn’t matter if he tries to beat me on points or by finish; he won’t win. I’m ready for whatever comes.”

Bonfim once again spent his training camp with the Daniel Evangelista-fronted Cerrado MMA outfit in Brasilia, Brazil. “It’s near my home,” he said. There, he sharpened his skills alongside Erivan Pereira Silva and Andre Fischer—two talented stablemates he envisions joining him in the UFC someday.

“It was a great training camp,” Bonfim said. “We put together the right strategy for the fight against Dalby. Hopefully, everything will work out.”

The assignment allows Bonfim to fight in his homeland for the second time since he joined the UFC roster—a perk not lost on the 26-year-old Dana White’s Contender Series graduate.

“I love the energy of the fans,” he said. “It helps me a lot. It makes it all the more exciting.”

A convincing victory over Dalby could potentially move Bonfim into a higher competitive tax bracket. He does not waver when asked about his long-term plans.

“My goal stays the same: to be the champ,” Bonfim said. “I know there’s a road ahead for me. I’d like to get into the Top 15 next, so I can fight guys in the Top 15 as I chase after the belt.”