‘Give Them The Life They Deserve’ – Gustavo Balart Still Fighting To Reunite With His Family In The USA
Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart isn’t just chasing a dream – he’s fighting to reunite with his loved ones and secure their future.
Winning the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 24 on Prime Video would go a long way toward doing that, and it’s fueling Balart ahead of his showdown with former undisputed divisional king Jarred “The Monkey God” Brooks in U.S. primetime on Friday, August 2.
The former Olympic wrestler from Cuba left his family and moved to the United States with hopes of reaching the top, and the payoff for that immense sacrifice is finally within touching distance.
With so many years of hard work hinging on this main event matchup at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok next month, Balart will channel his long journey into 25 important minutes.
“El Gladiador” recently spoke to onefc.com about his difficult decision:
“Since I was a child, I always dreamed of being an MMA fighter and going to the United States to fight, just like I used to watch on TV. When I came back from the Olympics [in 2012], I knew it was my moment, and I decided to dedicate 100 percent of my time to mixed martial arts.
“I came to the U.S. looking for more opportunities for myself and my family because in Cuba, the economic situation is very difficult, and I knew that my dream of becoming an MMA fighter would have never worked there.”
Balart traveled with his father from their home in Santiago de Cuba and spent almost four months moving through South America to reach the United States.
Leaving behind his pregnant wife and two young daughters, “El Gladiador” vowed to make it big so that one day they would be able to join him:
“My dad came to the U.S. with me. My wife, my mom, and my three daughters are still in Cuba. My grandma and the rest of my family are there too. I wish my family could be here with me. That is my dream. Having them here with me would make me fully happy.
“The more success I have, the more money I can earn to bring my family here to give them the life they deserve. I want my daughters to receive a proper education and my dad and my mom to have a comfortable life here in the U.S.”
How Gustavo Balart Gains Strength From Distance
It’s hard for Gustavo Balart to be without his wife and three daughters while he grinds away in another country.
But despite the distance, they are the ones who make him get up in the morning and force him to keep moving forward when the going gets tough – inside or outside of competition.
The 37-year-old explained:
“I have been here in the U.S. without my family for eight years. I came here in 2016. It has been a huge sacrifice for me. I have my family in my mind every second of the day.
“Thinking of my daughters is what gives me strength to go on. They are the reason why I get up and fight even if I feel that I can no longer do it. I think having my family here with me would be the best thing I could achieve.
“They depend on what I do at that moment. They depend on my effort. During the fight when I am tired, during the difficult moments, I think of them. I think of how important it is that I win the fight for them.”
While he can’t be a part of their day-to-day lives in person, Balart still does his best to be present for his daughters as much as possible.
Phone calls and FaceTimes aren’t a replacement for the real thing, but “El Gladiador” is putting in the effort so that the long absence will one day pay dividends:
“I talk to my daughters every single day. I like to say good night to them and ask about their days at school. I am not there physically, but I make sure they know I am there for them. I like to check on their behavior, how school is going, and how they feel.
“When they are here with me, I will make sure they get a great education. I will try to get all that time I was not there with them back. I will show them how much I love them and teach them what I learned from my parents.”
