Former PFL fighter Bruce Souto shot twice after Brazil soccer dispute

Former Professional Fighters League heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight Bruce Souto was shot twice Thursday following a dispute linked to rival soccer fan clubs in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, according to his manager Jorge Nojikoski and multiple local news outlets.

Souto, 37, was struck in the buttocks by two of six rounds fired as he ran from the shooter, per Nojikoski's social media post Friday. The fighter was transported to Joao XXIII Hospital and listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. A member of Souto's team posted to his Instagram Stories confirming his status and promising accountability. "Folks, Bruce is fine, thank God. He's out of danger," the post read in Portuguese, as translated by Sherdog. "The facts are clear: six shots were taken against Bruce. There were about 100 people nearby. The perpetrator acted without hiding his face."

Soccer rivalry fuels shooting incident

Brazilian outlet O Tempo reported the shooting occurred during a match between local teams, with tensions flaring between Cruzeiro Esporte Clube supporters and fans of rival Atletico Mineiro. Souto belongs to Mafia Azul, a Cruzeiro fan club, while the alleged shooter is tied to Torcida Galoucura, which backs Atletico. The confrontation began when the suspect approached Souto and asked, "Do you have a problem with me?" before drawing a revolver and chasing the fighter, according to the police report cited by Sherdog and Estado de Minas.

Souto identified the shooter to authorities as someone he knows personally. A subsequent Instagram post on Souto's profile named the suspect as "Vinicin" Caveira, a member of Galoucura with a criminal history that includes a 2013 conviction for involvement in the 2010 death of soccer fan Otavio Fernandes. Record Minas noted in 2024 that Caveira works as an advisor to local politician Cesar Gordin, who owns Gordin Fight Team, a gym Souto previously left.

Souto last competed in March, losing a decision to Lukasz Olech at Polish promotion FEN. He earned a PFL contract in 2022 after a flying knee knockout on the Challenger Series but dropped both regular-season bouts to Rob Wilkinson and Antonio Carlos Jr. Military police have searched the suspect's residence, but he remains at large.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Former PFL fighter shot twice in sensitive area after football club dispute