What do Elon Musk and Jon Jones have in common? No, it’s not the Octagon or Silicon Valley. It’s a pair of glasses. But not just any glasses, though, these are the iconic “Fight Nerds” glasses, a simple yet powerful symbol of breaking stereotypes on how the world sees fighters. When Elon Musk, a tech billionaire with a penchant for the unexpected, donned the glasses, it sent ripples across the fight community. Could this mark the beginning of something transformative?

“This thing is genius, you know,” says Caio Borralho, beaming with pride. “This is my coach, Pablo Sucupira’s idea. He came with this to be a symbol of the team.” Borralho explains that the concept goes far beyond mere branding. “When you talk about symbols, you have the hair from Paddy Pimblett that everybody was using. But when you put the hair, you become Paddy…. Khabib’s hair too….. but when you put the glasses, you become yourself in a better way. You become yourself (but) more intelligent, more strong.” And with Elon Musk hopping on the trend, as seen during UFC 309, it’s clear the message resonates far beyond the octagon.

What does it mean to be a fighter in today’s world? Traditionally, the image conjured is that of a brooding, tough-as-nails competitor. But Borralho wants to shatter that stereotype. “We want to change the way that people see the fighters,” he shares earnestly.  “The fame of the fighters is always to be a tough guy, that don’t like to talk to too much, that is always like mad at something. We want to change that…break the bubble from the sport.” Do you think his idea to frame fighters as holistic beings is working?

Yes, his efforts are paying off. The Fight Nerds ethos is inspiring athletes and fans alike. Caio Borralho points out that the glasses serve as a bridge between two worlds, where the cerebral nerd meets the fearless fighter. “We united two concepts together to have a perfect concept about a fighter.” The two concepts being, a fighter, who stands up for themselves but is not seen as smart, and a nerd, who is smart but often bullied.

This concept isn’t just reshaping how fighters are perceived, it’s changing how the sport is viewed by families and future generations. When “parents start to see this sport as a way of living when their sons wants to fight, they’re going to say ‘No,No! You need to be a doctor, you need to be this and that.” But with this new narrative Caio and his team is trying to shape out a new dialogue. “You’re a fighter. you know they (are) clever, you know they (are) smart and all that… people (will be) seeing smart guys kicking a– and behaving in the right manner.”

Who are the Fighting Nerds, and what are they fighting for?

In 2024, this Brazilian middleweight is standing up for nerds worldwide. But unlike typical depictions, Borralho’s crew, the Fighting Nerds, are taking on stereotypes head-on. Based in Sao Paulo, the team has become one of MMA’s fastest-growing collectives.

Led by head coach Pablo Sucupira, the gym includes fighters like Carlos Prates, Jean Silva, Mauricio Ruffy, and Bruna Brasil. Together, they embody the Fighting Nerds’ mission, to inspire fighters and fans with a blend of intelligence and physical prowess.

Borralho himself may not fit the stereotypical image of a nerd, with his 6 foot 2 frame and ‘Free Spirit’ tattoo across his neck. Yet, he thrives in both mental and physical pursuits, finding joy in games of chess and anime as much as crafting analytical strategies to defeat opponents.

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“These glasses will go further than the fight game,” Sucupira asserts. “If you are a nerd, you are probably the best in the class or, in this case, the best in the Octagon. The Fighting Nerds aren’t here to change the fighting game. We are here to change the way people think about nerds, the one who study to be the best at whatever they do. We want nerds everywhere to be proud of themselves.”

What’s next for fight Nerds? With entities like Elon Musk and Jon Jones leading the charge, it’s only a matter of time before this movement reshapes the entire sport. Could we see Fight Nerds gear becoming as iconic as Khabib’s papakha? One thing seems to be certain, the Fighting Nerds are rewriting the playbook, one pair of glasses at a time.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!