UFC’s rising bantamweight talent, Gaston Blanos, hails from Lima, Peru. The Latin American region has always been an excellent talent pool for the promotion, while Brazil and Mexico still remain at the echelon, the Peruvian martial arts scene is also growing stronger. Claudio Puelles, Daniel Marcos, and Kevin Borjas are some of the names that come to mind when speaking of devastating fighters from Peru, and Belanos is just another amazing inclusion in the mix.

‘The Dream Killer’ was a Bellator star before he stepped inside the premises of UFC in 2023, and currently holds a 2-1 record in the promotion with a career record of 8-4. Now, Bolanos is back in the Octagon to face Quang Le in a bantamweight showdown at UFC Des Moines: Sandhagen vs Figueiredo, in a three-rounder. So, before the fireworks begin, let us get to know our Bolanos a little more personally, starting with his ethnicity and nationality.

What is Gaston Bolanos’ ethnicity and nationality?

As mentioned, Gaston Bolanos is from Lima, the largest city in Peru, with almost 10 million people living in the metropolitan area. Although he has never outright mentioned his ethnicity, the city has a mix of diverse population, and among them, Mestizos of mixed Amerindian and European (mostly Spanish and Italian) makeup the majority, 69.9% of the population.

Interestingly, as per the 23 and Me Discovery Tool, Bolanos’ last name is a habitational name from either of two places, Bolanos de Calatrava in Ciudad Real province or Bolaños de Campos in Valladolid, both are cities in Spain. So, it can be assumed that he’s ethnic roots also go back in Spain.

Bolanos started training in Muay Thai when he was only 10. After becoming 13, he moved from Lima to California and continued training in MMA. He got his moniker ‘The Dreamkiller’ because of his personality and grit. He also fought guys bigger than his size and also won a fight with an injury. His opponent committed a serious foul, which ‘The Dreamkiller’ endured and came out victorious. Now, the 32-year-old Peruvian is performing at the biggest stage of martial arts, making his family and loved ones proud!

Which religion does Gaston Bolanos follow?

Gaston Bolanos has never publicly revealed which religion he follows. But, a 2019 article from MMA Fighting reveals that the Peruvian fighter’s ‘no quit’ attitude comes from their Inka roots. The Inka Empire was the largest pre-Columbian empire, particularly in Peru and Chile, so it can also be assumed that he is also influenced by the ancient roots as well.

‘The Dreamkiller’ told MMA Fighting, “But yeah, I believe Peruvians have that ‘no quit’ attitude in them and that might come from our Incan ancestors, I don’t know what it is, but we’re willing to give it all when it comes to the cage or the ring. So I believe we can truly become a powerhouse when it comes to mixed martial arts in the future.”

Other than that, as per the 2007 census, 82.83% population in Peru declared they were Catholic, and the remaining percentage is a wide distribution between other religions.

Gaston Bolanos is all set to take the next step in his professional MMA career at the UFC Des Moines, so before that, how much did you like knowing about him on a little bit personal level? Please post your thoughts in the comment box.