Hecher Sosa is just hours away from the biggest showdown of his pro career, but the buildup has been overshadowed by a devastating tragedy. It’s been a tough year for the Canarian bantamweight. Just over a year after losing his sister, he now faces the heartbreaking loss of his father, Domingo Sosa Ramos, who reportedly passed away after a tough fight with cancer. The devastating news came only two days before Sosa’s chance to fulfill his lifelong dream, as he headlines Dana White’s Contender Series this morning against the undefeated Mackson Lee at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Despite the circumstances, the fight is set after both men successfully made weight.

Just hours after stepping on the scale, Sosa confirmed the news in an emotional Instagram post, honoring his father and vowing to carry his memory with him into the octagon. The two had shared one of their proudest moments together last June when Sosa captured the WOW belt, and now the ‘Guanche Warrior’ is determined to finish what they started. For months, he’s declared he already feels like a UFC fighter. Tonight, with the support of his fans and the spirit of his father by his side, he has the chance to prove it.

Hecher Sosa proves to be a man of his word

Yesterday, Hecher Sosa took to Instagram to share a smiling picture from his weigh-in after successfully making weight. But in the caption, he revealed the heartbreak he had been carrying. “At 5 a.m. Sunday Vegas time, the day the weight cut begins, my brother @aythamisosa calls me, wakes me up and says: it’s over bro, dad’s gone. I told him ok and hung up, nothing else came out of me. Hung up to start crying and breaking down and feeling a pain so bad I couldn’t explain it, my dad wasn’t going to see me fight…” he wrote. But that wasn’t all.

After learning of his father’s passing, Sosa said he couldn’t sleep and began reflecting on his father’s last words to him. “Son don’t worry, we started this together and we will finish it together,” was the phrase that stuck with him, giving him strength in the middle of such devastating news. He explained that he believed his father’s soul had traveled with him to Las Vegas so that they could be “two inside the cage.” That thought gave him the resolve to carry on with the fight. When asked if he wanted to move forward, he told his team, “I am a man of my word, because I have to honor the memory of my father.”

For Hecher Sosa, fighting wasn’t just about his career anymore, it became about keeping a promise. ““If he left his body to be with me inside that cage, we will be in that cage and we will win,” he wrote, underscoring his determination to fight for both himself and his father. And he moreover mad e vow, saying, “Because we started this together, and when I win I will look to the sky and once again see his proud face, I have no doubt.”

Despite being the underdog against a younger, taller Brazilian prospect with a longer reach, Sosa voiced full confidence in his own skills and power, convinced he could overcome the less experienced opponent. “I’m winning this fight and I don’t care who’s in front of me, I’m going to split him in two. We made weight like professionals, despite feeling sad, despite not sleeping for 30 hours, without eating, without drinking, doing saunas, workouts, baths… undoubtedly the toughest weight cut of my life. God gives his worst battles to his best warriors, and here I am once again at his mercy to make history.” He then ended his post by thanking those who stood by him during such a difficult week.

Hecher Sosa enters the bout riding momentum from a TKO win over Yaman Mjahed at WOW 20 this past June in Madrid. His opponent, 26-year-old Mackson Lee, on the other hand, remains unbeaten at 9-0 after dispatching Filipe Zacaron at LFA 201 in February. The action kicks off TONIGHT at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+. And while Sosa has shown remarkable courage in the face of tragedy, his fans have rallied around him, lifting him up ahead of the biggest fight of his career. So what did they say?

Hecher Sosa poised to destroy undefeated prospect tonight

“Poor Lee doesn’t know what’s coming his way, come on, all of Spain is with him 👏🇪🇸,” one user commented. Though Sosa’s 26-year-old opponent remains unbeaten, but if Hecher Sosa pulls off the win, he will not only make his supporters proud but also bring joy to his late father, who they are certain is watching over him.

Showing empathy while cheering for the 13-1 fighter, another fan wrote, “What poor Lee is going to feel, I wouldn’t wish on anyone. LET’S GO SOSA.” Meanwhile, others voiced concern that if Sosa channels his pain into fuel inside the cage, he could overwhelm his unbeaten Brazilian opponent. As one user put it, “Incredibly strong, the rival is going to have to withstand the force of two men in every punch he receives.”

Some praised his determination to honor his word and keep the fight, with one writing, “Without a doubt, he is a man of his word. I wish him the best this early morning 🔥🙌🏻.” Others, however, struggled with the thought of the pain Sosa would need to unleash, choosing to express themselves simply with a “😭” emoji.

Fans also speculated about how the fight might unfold. “He’s going to go out and k-ll (it),” one predicted, while another sympathized with Sosa’s loss, adding, “What a pity, I wish you the best 🩹😿.” Losing loved ones back-to-back is devastating, and the timing makes it even harder as Sosa stands on the brink of a UFC contract. Still, if he can channel his strength and anger into his performance, many believe Hecher Sosa has the tools to demolish his opponent. But do you think he can do that?