For Elora Dana, stepping into the cage is an act fueled by overcoming deep personal traumas and a steadfast belief that her future will be better because of her dedication to the sport.
As she prepares for her second fight outside Brazil, facing Liz Carmouche in the semifinals of the 2025 PFL flyweight tournament in Wichita, the undefeated prospect, a former Jungle Fight champion and one of Brazil`s most promising talents, shared insights into her numerous struggles during a recent interview.
Dana was orphaned at the tender age of 11 when her mother succumbed to cancer. Growing up with eight siblings in Tefé, a small town located 300 miles from Manaus, Brazil, she tragically faced abandonment by her own family.
My older brother left me by myself on the place we lived with our mom and went to live with our uncle someplace else. He never really liked me. I had to do everything at home, like do the laundry, clean the house, make breakfast and lunch. I had to do everything. And I still had to take care of my younger brother. And he’d leave me starve when I didn’t do something because I was tired.
By the time she was 12, Dana recounts being left entirely alone, frequently having nothing to eat. She vividly remembers the sparse living conditions – a home devoid of electricity, containing only a single bed and a small cabinet – a memory that continues to haunt her.
I still remember going back home at night and being afraid of the dark. 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.’
Her introduction to combat sports came at age 9. Already prone to street fights, she was taken to a local gym by her cousin’s husband to try grappling classes. Displaying natural fearlessness and promise, a coach recognized her potential and began teaching her for free. Dana felt a profound connection to fighting, sensing it would become her path to salvation.
Years later, Dana resides in Manaus, driven by the ambition to replicate her past MMA success on the international stage, specifically in the United States. The coveted $500,000 prize awarded to the PFL flyweight tournament winner represents a life-altering sum she believes she will earn before the year concludes. She commenced her PFL journey successfully, defeating Diana Avsaragova in April to advance in the bracket.
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.
Reflecting on her challenging path, she added, “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.” Dana describes her experience in the PFL as “awesome” and “extraordinary,” a dream come true. She always held faith that her moment would arrive and that she would be blessed. “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.”
