When Elora Dana steps into the cage for a fight, she is driven by the hardships and traumas she endured in her life, coupled with a strong faith that her future will be brighter through her career in the sport.
Ahead of her second international fight in the PFL cage in Wichita, where she is set to face Liz Carmouche this Friday in the semifinals of the 2025 flyweight tournament, the undefeated fighter – a former Jungle Fight champion and considered one of Brazil`s top prospects – spoke openly about her numerous challenges during an interview.
Dana became an orphan at the tender age of 11 after her mother tragically lost her battle with cancer. Although she has eight siblings in Tefé, a small town in Brazil, she was ultimately abandoned by her family.
“My older brother left me alone in the place we lived with our mom and went to live with our uncle somewhere else,” Dana recounted. “He never really liked me. I had to do everything at home, like laundry, cleaning, making breakfast and lunch. I had to do everything. And I still had to take care of my younger brother. And he would let me starve when I didn’t do something because I was tired.”
Dana revealed she was left entirely alone when she was 12, and often had nothing to eat. There was no electricity where she lived, just one bed and a small cabinet. This difficult memory still haunts her to this day.
“I still remember going back home at night and being afraid of the dark,” Dana shared. “I would talk to God, ‘Please, protect me from everything. Take me from this situation. Help me. Change my life. I don’t know how the future will be, but be in control. Guide me. Protect me. Give me an opportunity to make my dreams come true and change my life so I don’t have to depend on other people.’”
When she was just 9 years old, frequently getting into street fights, her cousin’s husband introduced her to grappling classes at a local gym. Dana displayed fearlessness and clear talent, leading her coach to train her for free. She felt instinctively that she was meant to fight, believing it would eventually be her salvation.
Years have passed, and Dana now resides in Manaus, focused on achieving the same level of MMA success in the United States. The potential $500,000 prize for winning the PFL flyweight tournament represents a life-altering opportunity, and Dana has strong faith that she will claim it before the year ends. She secured her spot in the semifinals by defeating Diana Avsaragova in her PFL debut back in April.
Reflecting on her motivation during fights, Dana stated: “When I’m in a fight, it’s like I watch a movie inside my head of everything I went through. God, I don’t want to go back to that place. I want to be champion. I want to win. I want to earn my money. Sadly, this is the only thing I’ve set out to do. I’m in that cage, but I’m praying the whole time, asking for guidance and wisdom. I am nothing, God is everything in my life.”
She continued, speaking about her journey: “It was quite hard. Despite all the difficulties I’ve had in my childhood, I always had a goal in my life. I wanted a good life, a house, and something to eat. [Being in the PFL] has been awesome, it’s extraordinary. Being here is a dream for me. I always believed my time would come, that God would bless me one day. It was a hard road, but thank God we’ve made it. I’m in one of the world’s biggest promotions, and it’s surreal to me. I never expected it to happen, but here I am thanks to my hard work and courage.”
Oliver Croft