2024 PFL 3 video: Gabriel Braga knocks out Justin Gonzales in first fight since father’s death

Three months after his father was reportedly murdered by a drug gang, Gabriel Braga returns to the PFL cage with a big TKO finish.

[autotag]Gabriel Braga[/autotag] entered 2024 PFL 3 to compete for the first time since his father’s death, and he walked away with the victory.

As the clock wound down in Round 1, Braga (13-1) drilled opponent [autotag]Justin Gonzales[/autotag] (14-4) with a clean punching combination that stopped the fight at the 4:59 mark. The win at Wintrust Arena in Chicago earned Braga six points in the 2024 featherweight regular season standings.

Braga, the 2023 runner-up, hadn’t fought since his father, Diego, was killed in Brazil in January. Reports indicated a drug gang murdered Diego while searching for a stolen motorcycle.

Diego served as his son’s head coach and mentor for his entire career, so Gabriel felt the impact both personally and professionally. In February, he withdrew on weigh-ins day from a fight vs. Bellator champion Patricio Freire as he determined he wasn’t mentally ready to compete.

With the victory, Braga moves to 5-1 in PFL with two finishes by strikes.

A Bellator import, Gonzales loses his PFL debut and falls into a three-fight skid.

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The up-to-the-minute 2024 PFL 3 results include:

  • Gabriel Braga def. Justin Gonzales via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
  • Goiti Yamauchi def. Neiman Gracie via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Kai Kamaka III def. Bubba Jenkins via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Adam Borics def. Enrique Barzola via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Timur Khizriev def. Brett Johns via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Murad Ramazanov def. Laureano Staropoli via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:07
  • Don Madge def. Brennan Ward via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:02
  • Thad Jean def. Romain Debienne via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:07

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 3.