After a brutal battle that left both fighters bloodied but richer, Brando Pericic is making it clear that his loyalty to the UFC runs deeper than just a paycheck. The heavyweight warrior known as "The Balkan Bear" fought tooth and nail against Shamil Gaziev at UFC Perth, earning a second-round stoppage that had the crowd on its feet. But for Pericic, the $100,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus is just the cherry on top of a life-changing journey.
From the opening bell, Pericic came out swinging, landing heavy shots that would have dropped most opponents. But Gaziev, a Bahraini fighter with a granite chin, refused to go down. Instead, he fired back with a vengeance, turning the bout into a slugfest that had fans roaring. Pericic kept the pressure on, and when Gaziev finally hit the canvas in the second round, the Australian-born Croat had secured his seventh stoppage victory in seven pro wins.
In his post-fight interview, Pericic didn't just celebrate the win—he thanked the promotion for saving his life. "I'm very thankful to this company," Pericic said. "This company saved my life. Mixed martial arts saved my life. So that's why when I go out there, I wanna represent the struggles that I've been through and give that to the crowd, give them that big win, that KO win. Because the s--t that I've been through in life, that's the true fight. This is easy."
Pericic's journey to the Octagon wasn't a straight path. Training out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand—the same gym that produced stars like Israel Adesanya—he remembers the hard times when he lived in his car or crashed at the gym. He credits veterans like Adesanya and Tyson Pedro for believing in him when he was at his lowest. Now, he's determined to become a household name. "I love the Aussies–my people," he said. "They don't even know who I am properly. Give it a couple of years. I've got 10 years in this company. So, I wanna be around for a long time."
With a record of 7-1 and every win coming by stoppage, Pericic is proving that he's more than just a company man—he's a fighter who thrives on chaos. And for fans looking to channel that same fighting spirit, there's no better gear than what you'll find in our collection. Whether you're training for your own battles or just love the sport, wear your passion like Pericic wears his heart on his sleeve.