ATHLETES
Athletes who represent TRIBE DIESEL DIVA initiatives and the message of #peacethroughsports
Cris“Cyborg” Justino (Brazil)
A true pioneer of women’s MMA, Cris Cryborg still remains highly regarded as a dominant presence in the sport. The Brazilian from Curitiba is the only MMA fighter in history to be feted as a Grand Slam Champion—having won titles across four of the major MMA organizations including the UFC, and as the reigning Bellator Women’s featherweight champion. A former handball player since the age of 12, her rise through athletics to become a world-renowned fighter has been an inspiration to her growing fanbase across the world.
Thiago "Maretta" Santos (Brazil)
Before he became a dominant contender in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, Thiago Santos de Lima was an avid capoeira practitioner. The green belt eventually craved something more aggressive and found his way to MMA competition after earning state and city championships in Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu. Nicknamed “Marreta” The Sledgehammer for his knockout power, Santos worked as a paratrooper in the Brazilian army but chose to go full time in cagefighting after appearing in season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Santos has since been consistently in the top five of the UFC’s LHW division and has fought world-class names including former champs like Jan Blachowicz, Jon Jones, and Glover Texeira. Santos is a true proponent of “Peace Through Sports” and with his wife, fellow UFC fighter Yana Kunitskaya, have funded and managed social projects like TMarreta Kids to help out children in need who hail from Brazil’s favelas and low income families. Santos cites his father as his personal hero and guiding light. “For everything he did in life and for me, all I have is because of him, and his right way of being and acting has always been an example,” he said.
Adriano Moraes
(Brazil)
From brawling in street fights and skateboarding through the favelas of Brasilia, Moraes evolved into a local hero in Brazil’s jiu-jitsu tournaments, then eventually climbed the ranks to become the ONE Championship flyweight kingpin. His rousing tale of overcoming orphanhood to find a loving mother and choosing martial arts over gang violence is a pillar of the Tribe DD’s “Peace Through Sports” ethos. It is a guiding light to Moraes and the other athletes who aspire to be champions. “From the first time I watched Adriano fight I knew he was going to be the champion,” recalled DD founder Bev Roach. Moraes became a DD-sponsored athlete in 2013, when he had gone from competing in Shooto Brazil to the Singapore-based promotion. “Bev is a warrior and we support each other today because she always has some wisdom to give me,” said “Mikinho” on his lifelong friendship with Roach. “I love the way she has helped the [fighting] community and passes on the message of Peace Through Sports!” As one of the most dominant flyweights on the planet, Moraes views his role in the fighting profession as an artist creating beauty on a violent canvas. One of his masterworks is a highlight reel KO of flyweight GOAT Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson on April 7, 2021 that will live on as one of the most historic title defense finishes in modern MMA history.
Ahmad Sohail Hassanzada (Afghanistan)
The tale of how Ahmad went from refugee to decorated MMA fighter is as inspiring as they come. Discovered at a holding center in Texas, Ahmad so impressed his new American friend, MMA Manager Alex Davis, that he was introduced to Team Alpha Male. Eventually he started training at their California headquarters. From a pro career in Afghanistan, he graduated to competing in lightweight at the well-regarded US-based organization Legacy Fighting Alliance. From such humble beginnings, the “Lion of the Ring” hopes to capture a title one day, even as he seeks to inspire his family back home in Kabul, as well as those who want to follow their dreams despite how much their current situation may deem it impossible.
Washington Luiz
(Brazil)
A kickboxing and Muay Thai legend in the making, “Washingthai” holds accolades that have made him one of the most feared and respected strikers on the planet. A veteran of Texas-based promotion Fury Fighting Championship, Luiz is also the first Brazilian world cup kickboxing champ as well as a six-time Brazilian kickboxing title holder. Currently based at Ohana Academy in San Antonio, Texas, Luiz is a strong proponent of Tribe DD’s “Peace Through Sports” ethos: “It is a very strong message that helps in the rehabilitation of young people through sports and I am really grateful for everything she has done for the athletes and children around the world.” Luiz has taken this ethos to heart in both his personal and professional combat sports life and states that he “feels blessed to have people like [DD founder Beverly Roach] on my journey.”
Uloomi Karim
(Pakistan)
A rising bantamweight out of Fight Fortress Islamabad, Karim has fought his way through from the local Pakistan MMA leagues to score stints in Philippines’ UGB MMA and Thailand’s Full Metal Dojo. Now fighting in Brave Combat Federation, Karim credits his evolution directly to the assistance of the DD brand which helped him link up with camps in Thailand to hone his training. “It is because of those camps and fights that I levelled up and am now living the life that I love,” said Karim. “[Tribe DD founder Bev Roach] saw the potential in me and was kind enough to offer me sponsorship, which changed everything for me—my career, my life and my future.” Karim cites that Roach has been like a big sister to him and is honored to be part of the DD roster, pushing forward the ethos of “Peace Through Sports” on his own platform and interactions in the fighting world. “I think there is nothing better and nobler in the world than this cause: Teaching and preaching to promote love and peace instead of hatred and animosity,” said Karim. “Diesel Diva is working on bringing a global change. Stepping forward to change and shape lives of, not only individuals but their generations, is something that is talked about a lot but only a few like sis Bev is actually doing.”
Youssef Wehbe
(Lebanon)
“The Silverback” is one of the most prominent stars of Arab MMA. The Lebanese competes in the lightweight division and has since been living and training in Thailand, after capturing the Desert Force 155lbs strap. He has had great matches in UAE Warriors, Brave Combat Federation, Phoenix FC, as well as Abu Dhabi Warriors. Trying to achieve his dream no matter what in the early days wasn’t easy, but the push from Tribe DD helped Wehbe with the support he needed. “I am really lucky to have someone like [Tribe DD founder] Beverly, who’s been there from the start of my career, until now,” said Wehbe. “It’s more like family since I got support from when I was nothing as an MMA fighter and all through the ups and downs of my career.”
Rahul raju
(india)
Before he became a ONE Championship veteran “The Kerala Krusher” was once an engineer in India who had a high passion for Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies. But it wasn’t until he moved to Singapore to further his studies in mechatronics at Temasek Polytechnic Institute that he was able to ignite that fire for martial arts, first through Indonesian silat. Raju would eventually fan that initial spark into a burning flame when he was introduced to MMA, carrying it into his first few amateur bouts. The intensity needed to train for competition however took an inevitable toll on his professional life. Raju was a senior technician at a chip-manufacturing plant even as he was trying to add wrestling and jiu-jitsu to his arsenal. “I'd complete my shift and then rush out immediately to get to training. Often times I'd train without sleep because there wasn't any time!” recalled Raju in an interview. Eventually, he quit his job at the semiconductor plant. Going full-time teaching while competing in pro MMA organizations around Asia was where he found his calling and purpose. “The Diesel Diva brand was always there to support me and [DD founder] Bev was actually my first sponsor! I am grateful that she helped me so much in my early stage.” Raju has since had bouts in Singapore FC and the Philippine-based Universal Reality Combat Championships before he was snapped up by ONE Championship. The engineer from Pathanamthitta, Central Kerala has no regrets leaving his white-collar job for the hurt business. Raju hopes to capture the welterweight title one day, even as he encourages dreamers to follow their heart to pastures that will nourish body and spirit, even if it leads to the MMA cage. “Peace through sports is such a unique and great brand that carries a huge, positive message by helping athletes. It is definitely, for me, the biggest message,” said Raju. “The world needs people like Bev, selfless and loving.”
Anita Karim
(Pakistan)
Anita Karim
Rafael CarvaLHO
(Brazil)
Rafael
Ali Motamed
(Iran)
One of the surging featherweights on the Asian circuit, Motamed has been showcasing his striking skills since he debuted in 2016. The ONE Championship veteran and Full Metal Dojo alum has since been rounding out his range by training intensely in wrestling and jiu-jitsu in his home in Iran, all while stuck under lockdown for close to two years. Now armed with more than punches and kicks, the Iranian declares that he is getting closer to becoming a complete MMA fighter and hopes to showcase his new techniques as he carries the flag of “Peace Through Sports” into the cage.
YanA SANTOS (Russia)
Yana Santos
