Cage star in the video

Beating preacher: This is what makes Don Camillo of MMA tick!

Powerful preacher: Diego Nunes (left), here sparring with Bogdan Grad, follows in the footsteps of "Don Camillo".(Bild: akg-images/picturedesk.com, Dworak/Wiesmeyer, Krone KREATIV)

When Krone+ shows live fights from the Cage Fight Series 15 at Schwarzlsee on Friday from 6 pm(here our subscription offers), he will give his blessing: Diego Nunes! The Brazilian MMA star, who steeled local athletes in a training camp in Graz, is also a convinced preacher. We asked him how he reconciles the cage and the pulpit.

Always looking out for his "flock", sly and occasionally punchy - that's how we know Don Camillo! The priest, who is in a permanent feud with mayor "Peppone" Bottazzi in the fictional Italian village of Boscaccio, achieved cult status at the latest with the book adaptations of the 1950s. In the 80s, Terence Hill literally boxed his way through Giocannino Guareschi's stories once again.

A touch of Don Camillo is also currently blowing through the Champions Gym in Graz. Diego Nunes has his "sheep" breathing heavily at the training camp. They absolutely love it, and on Thursday evening Nunes walked to the official weigh-in to loud applause like everyone else.

Powerful preacher: Diego Nunes (left), here sparring with Bogdan Grad, follows in the footsteps of "Don Camillo".(Bild: akg-images/picturedesk.com, Dworak/Wiesmeyer, Krone KREATIV)

"It's incredibly important to me not only to make the best possible use of my martial arts knowledge for myself, but also to pass it on to others," says the former top five fighter in the billion-dollar UFC league, who has not only been fighting in cages for years, but also holds weekly masses as an (evangelical) preacher.

"Wants to convey good values"
"My faith has been with me since I was a child and I follow the teachings of Jesus. Wherever I go, I want to teach people good things, good values." Fundamentally - but also purely in terms of sport, with the Brasilo advising people everywhere to lead a healthy lifestyle with the right diet and exercise.

At 41, "The Gun", as Nunes is known for his many lightning knockout victories, is in the fall of his career. "I've achieved a lot in my life as an athlete, and I'm very grateful for that. Now I want to help other athletes so that they too can realize their dreams."

Second attempt towards the UFC
One of them is Bogdan Grad. The Graz native failed to make it to the UFC in August 2023 after losing in the first round at the Contender Series in Las Vegas. "I wasn't mentally ready back then, I was paralyzed," recalls the cage fighter. Past. The 28-year-old featherweight has since found his way back to winning ways, feels more stable and wants to put himself back on display in the UFC at the Cage Fight Series with a triumph over Caiona Batista (Bra). He revealed this to Krone+ in a video interview:

Unlike his main fight (rights on UFC Fightpass), all CFS prelims and three fights on the main card will be available to Krone+ subscribers to watch live on krone.at from 6pm on Friday. Local hero Anas Hamdoui will be fighting, as will veterans Harry Fischer and Karl Painer, with the latter making a comeback after an eleven-year break at the age of 61 (!). Lightweight Daniel Schordje will be looking for a crowning finale with his fourth win against Ivan Sukhohuzov (Ukr).