Former Ultimate Fighting Championship great Anderson
Silva is crestfallen about the death of his friend, Diego
Braga.
The Brazilian mixed martial arts community was shocked by the
killing of former MMA fighter Diego Braga on Monday. The news
spread all across televised news broadcasts, opening another
chapter of the criminal territory dispute between militias and
narco criminals in Rio de Janeiro. A litany of famed names in the
sport attended the fighter’s funeral on Wednesday at the Jardim da
Saudade Cemetery.
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In addition to son Gabriel
Braga, a Professional Fighters League finalist in 2023,
others in attendance included Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira, Davi Ramos,
Gustavo
Machado and Anderson
Silva. The UFC legend, who had trained muay thai with Braga in
his last MMA fights, was devastated and declined to speak to the
press. Instead, “The Spider” published a lengthy message on his
Instagram in
honor of his fallen friend and condemned authorities for the
increasing violence in Rio.
“A hard-working guy who, like many others, chases his dreams,
bought his motorcycle with his own effort, but it was stolen and
his rights were violated,” Silva remarked. “While those who have
the power to change normalized violence as if they could do
nothing, for them it is just another statistic…As long as justice
is working against the population, we will increasingly witness the
deconstruction of values and the loss of friends and
relatives.”
Silva continued, “Tears will not be enough to demonstrate the pain
of losing a friend like Diego; cannot be accepted. Such cowardice
and evil are truly something that cannot be understood or accepted.
The system plays against the good population, a hard-working guy
with a good heart who leaves behind a wife and children, and a
feeling of impotence and a lot of pain at his departure. My friend,
the great Diego Braga, has always been a human being of light in
the midst of so much darkness that often surrounds the wonderful
city of Rio de Janeiro. Diego, my brother, your memory will forever
be a beacon for all of us who remain. See you one day,
brother.”
Silva openly criticized a recent decision by the Brazilian Supreme
Court, DPF 635, which prohibits police from tending to situations
in the slums of Rio de Janeiro to avoid the potential deaths of
innocents. As a result, some believe that this decision transformed
these 600-plus slums across the massive city into safe havens for
criminals while attracting even more dangerous elements from other
Brazilian states.
The Muzema slum, where Braga lived and helped many children with
his social project titled “Tropa Thai,” was once dominated by
militias—ex-police or military that control the area by selling
basic supplies and “safety” by asking for monthly mandatory fees.
Last year, however, the Muzema slum and Morro do Banco, a
neighboring slum, were taken under the control of the criminal
organization Comando Vermelho, listed as the largest narco-criminal
group in the city. After Braga’s motorcycle was stolen on Monday,
he decided to speak to Morro do Banco’s leaders of Comando Vermelho
to retrieve it. He believed that as a leader of a local social
project, his name would carry some respect, and some individuals
who recognized him would be glad to help. This was not the
case.
Instead of welcoming Braga, a teacher of youths in the area, as a
good person, the narco leader he spoke to was suspicious. Allegedly
taking his phone, the men went through his contacts and recognized
some names from the former rival faction. Braga reportedly tried to
run, but he was gunned down. This shooting drew immediate pushback
from the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, which included a temporary
suspension of the DPF 635 decision. Police forces quickly rushed
into Morro de Banco to retrieve Braga’s body and apprehend the
individual(s) that killed him. The dealers allegedly placed Braga’s
body in the center of a local square in the slum while also leaving
an 18-year-old, who they claimed was the one responsible for
Braga’s death.
The national repercussion of Braga’s death was not only due to his
friendship with beloved figures like Nogueira and Silva but because
it reiterated the danger of the war between narco criminals and
militias in Rio. It also highlighted the harm that DPF 635 might be
causing the slums in Rio de Janeiro.
Another heartbreaking chapter of this war reportedly unfolded last
October when three doctors, celebrating the end of a medical
convention in Barra da Tijuca Beach, were shot 33 times. The
alleged reason for the slaughter? One of the doctors was confused
by Comando Vermelho members for a militia leader.
The four criminals responsible were found dead by police a few
hours later, allegedly killed by their own Comando Vermelho
leaders, who decided to execute their own justice before police
were authorized to invade their turf. The ensuing confusion
resulted in seven deaths within a 12-hour span: four alleged
criminals and three doctors. One doctor, shot 14 times, managed to
survive after several life-saving surgeries.
After the commotion over the death of the three innocent doctors
and Mr. Braga, Rio de Janeiro residents are hoping and praying that
authorities start to legitimately confront the growing war between
militia and narcos before it advances through the wonderful city
streets and kills more innocent people.