For Elora Dana, stepping into the fighting cage is fueled by the life traumas she has endured and her deep-seated faith that the sport will pave the way to a better future.
Leading up to her second international fight under the PFL banner in Wichita, a crucial semi-final bout against Liz Carmouche set for this Friday in the 2025 flyweight tournament, the undefeated fighter and acclaimed prospect from Brazil, formerly a Jungle Fight flyweight champion, spoke openly about her significant struggles in a recent interview.
Dana`s life changed drastically at age 11 when she became an orphan after her mother lost her battle with cancer. Despite being one of nine siblings in Tefé, a small town located approximately 300 miles from Manaus, Brazil, she faced abandonment by her own family.
“My older brother just left me alone in the place we shared with our mom and moved in with our uncle somewhere else,” Dana recounted. “He never really showed me affection. I was left to handle everything at home, like doing the laundry, cleaning, preparing meals. I had to manage it all. And I still had to care for my younger brother. He would even deny me food if I didn`t complete a task because I was exhausted.”
Dana described being left completely alone at 12, often finding herself with “nothing to eat.” Her living conditions were stark – no electricity, just a single bed and a small cabinet – a memory that remains vivid and painful.
“I still remember returning home at night and being consumed by fear of the dark,” Dana shared. “I would pray to God, `Please, protect me from everything. Remove me from this situation. Help me. Change my life. I don`t know what the future holds, but please take control. Guide me. Protect me. Give me the chance to achieve my dreams and change my life so I won`t have to depend on anyone else.`”
At the age of 9, already frequently involved in street fights, Dana was introduced to grappling classes at a local gym by her cousin`s husband. Her natural fearlessness and evident talent quickly impressed her coach, who began training her for free. Dana felt an innate connection to fighting, believing it was destined to be her salvation.
Years have passed, and Dana now lives in Manaus, driven by the ambition to replicate her MMA success in the United States. The potential $500,000 prize for winning the PFL flyweight tournament represents a transformative opportunity, and Dana holds firm faith that it will be hers before the year concludes. She secured her spot by defeating Diana Avsaragova in her impressive PFL debut back in April.
“When I`m engaged in a fight, it`s as if I`m watching a film in my head of everything I`ve been through,” Dana explained. “God, I absolutely do not want to return to that place. I yearn to be a champion. I want to win. I want to earn my living. Tragically, this is the singular goal I`ve set for myself. I am in that cage, but my mind is constantly praying, seeking guidance and wisdom. I recognize that I am nothing; God is everything in my life.”
“It was tremendously challenging. Despite all the hardships I faced during my childhood, I always kept a clear goal in sight,” she continued. “I aspired to have a good life, a home, and enough to eat. Being part of the PFL has been an incredible, extraordinary experience. Simply being here is a dream realized for me. I always had the conviction that my time would come, that one day God would bless me. It was a difficult path, but thankfully, we`ve arrived. Being in one of the world`s largest promotions feels surreal. I never anticipated it happening, but here I am, a testament to my hard work and courage.”
Murray Blackwood