Max Headroom 
Many fighters take the “anywhere, anytime, anyone” approach in their MMA careers as a path to major opportunities, but Cleiver Fernandes went a different direction. Not that he’s only facing easier opponents, but he simply refused to make dumb decisions for money.
Fernandes debuted in the sport in 2017 and won five of his first six in a three-year span, losing only to future PFL finalist Gabriel Braga, and then felt it was time to take a step back and wait. As the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fernandes decided he would only return for fights that made sense long term.
“We always get offers,” Fernandes told MMA Fighting. “Who doesn’t want to fight a Brazilian with a good record, right? I received offers from other promotions. Good money, a division up and and a division down, but my focus was always to aim at something big. I had the focus. We weren’t desperate for money, and I always worked for bigger opportunities.”
Now signed with PFL and booked to face undefeated Renat Khavalov at Saturday’s Road to Dubai card, Fernandes, 29, spent years away from the game. First, a two-year hiatus until he tapped fellow prospect Derick Borges with a leglock in 2022. He returned to Shooto Brasil months later to beat Filipe Zacaron, and then stopped Mauricio Almeida to claim the vacant 135-pound title.
“I decided only to come back when something good popped,” Fernandes said, explaining why he hasn’t fought since choking out Denilson Lima in mid-2023. “Haste makes waste. I was in no hurry. I had longer layoffs before, no injury or anything like that, and decided only to come back for something good. And God has blessed me with this opportunity to fight for PFL.”
Fernandes planned on moving from Brazil to the United States to work and be closer to the top MMA organizations, but having a visa denied four times forced him to think outside the box. His wife, also a black belt in jiu-jitsu, decided to focus on being a coach after suffering a knee injury, so the couple moved to “wonderful” Dubai to work as a jiu-jitsu teacher in schools.
“I teach in the schools and my students were like, ‘Coach, you’re fighting a Russian? Wow. But you’ll win! Inshallah! You’re very good,’” Fernandes said. “I’m super happy to have them backing me up. I’ll represent them, too. This is home for the Russians whether you like it or not. There are a ton of Russians living here. I knew that already, but asked [PFL] to assign me a mission and I’d get it done. I know I have what it takes to be among the best, and that’s why I was offered this contract.”
Khavalov is unbeaten as a professional with six of eight wins coming by way of knockout, but Fernandes doesn’t sound scared.
“I love fighting undefeated people,” Fernandes laughed. “Honestly, I love ruining plans. People think it will end well for them, and I ruin all their plans. I have no reason to fear Russians. People usually refer to Russians as these unbeaten force. My friend Felipe Froes went to Russia and became champion there. I’ll be the same aggressive Cleiver, walking forward for the finish. I’ll either take him down and catch him, or knock him out on the feet.”
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