PFL 1 | 23 Apr 21 | |||||
Raush Manfio Lourenço (born November 3, 1991) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional since 2011, Manfio is most notable for winning the 2021 Professional Fighters League Lightweight tournament. Fight Matrix had him ranked a top 10 lightweight in the world in May 2022.
Manfio was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on November 3, 1991. Raush, a professional MMA fighter since 2011, initially lived a carefree lifestyle as a "playboy" in Brazil. After a setback in the TUF Brasil qualifiers, he sought improvement, joining American Top Team in Florida. Struggling with finances and unable to bring his wife initially, the church community stepped in to help, allowing her to join him. Despite early success in Titan FC, visa issues and financial struggles followed. Raush took odd jobs, learning construction skills, and faced setbacks, including a title loss. Frustratingly, he went without fights for three years, facing financial difficulties with a growing family. Despite contemplating a career change, Raush's wife, Michele, urged him to persist. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened their situation in 2020. Considering a shift away from fighting, Raush gave himself an ultimatum, planning to quit with his manager's encouragement. However, his manager insisted on one more month, supporting him financially and expressing belief in his potential championship. He was eventually signed as a late replacement for the PFL season.
Manfio is best friends with two-time PFL Lightweight champion Natan Schulte. Schulte is the godfather of Manfio’s daughter.
2021-2023 |