MMA fighter is killed after trying to recover stolen motorcycle in Rio, says family

Fighter and martial arts teacher Diego Braga Alves, aged 44, was killed this Monday (15), after trying to recover the stolen motorcycle from his own home, in the community of Muzema, in the West Zone of Rio, during the early hours of the morning. . The information was confirmed by the family.

A video published on Diego's social media shows the theft, which occurred around 2am on Monday. Two men appear taking the vehicle from the garage of the fighter's building. As the motorcycle was not insured, Diego started the day trying to gather information to locate the vehicle.

Initially, according to the family, he would have received the news that the motorcycle was in the community of Tijuquinha, in Itanhangá, also in the West Zone. Later, he learned that the vehicle was in Morro do Banco, in the same region.

The family was unable to say how and with whom Diego entered the community. The main suspicion is that he had a disagreement with some criminal in the region, traditionally dominated by the militia, but currently dominated by drug trafficking after disputes between criminal organizations at the end of last year.

There is still the possibility that he was mistaken for a militiaman. Late this Monday afternoon, the family received information and images of Diego's death.

One of the fighter's best friends, Eliseu Gonçalves told CNN that the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) is in the community to try to remove Diego's body. The fighter would not have contacted the Civil Police to register the crime after having the motorcycle taken.

Diego owned a martial arts academy with units in the communities of Tijuquinha and Rio das Pedras. He also trained his son, fighter Gabriel Braga, who competes professionally.

A CNN He contacted the Military Police and the Civil Police, but the two institutions have not yet commented on the matter.