Sousa Reveals Use Of UFC Bonus After $5 Daily Pay

UFC Vegas 120's Manoel Sousa used his six-figure fight bonus to renovate his mother's house in Brazil after spending years peeling coconuts for roughly $5 a day.

Sousa banked $100,000 for knocking out Bolaji Oki in the third round of his UFC debut at UFC Vegas 114 in March. The lightweight, who returns Saturday against Richie Miranda at UFC Vegas 120, told MMA Fighting he flew home to Acaraú, Ceará as a surprise and furnished the entire property for his mother, Maria da Conceição. "I renovated my mom's house to give her a better life and make her more comfortable, something she never had," he said. "It gives me so much satisfaction to be able to do that for her. She's my biggest motivation."

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From Coconut Fields To UFC Octagon

The Brazilian worked 12-hour shifts in the coconut fields, processing 2,000 coconuts per day for 25 reais. By that rate, Sousa said it would have taken him 54 years to earn the equivalent of one performance bonus. "For someone who used to open 2,000 coconuts for 25 reais… Man, it's crazy," he told the outlet. "It's like a movie that plays in your head." Sousa admitted he often cried before Friday sparring sessions after leaving work, questioning whether he could continue. He stuck with it through stints in Bellator and PFL before earning his UFC contract via Dana White's Contender Series.

Sousa predicted his striking will overwhelm Miranda, the former LFA champion who enters his UFC debut on a seven-fight win streak. "I'm sure he won't want to stand and trade with me because he doesn't have heavy hands," Sousa said. "Once that first big punch lands, nobody stays standing."

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — UFC Vegas 120’s Manoel Sousa reveals heartwarming use of $100K bonus after $5 daily pay as coconut peeler | MMA Fighting