Written by Nikolas Motta’s new tattoo | Photo via Italo Nanais
Nikolas Motta will remember his UFC Baku war with Nazim Sadykhov every time he looks at the mirror.
The lightweight veteran, who earned $100,000 in bonuses for his violent clash with Sadykhov in Azerbaijan back in June, reached out to Brazilian tattoo artist Italo Nanais to design a Murmillo gladiator tattoo to symbolize “not just physical struggle, but also mental strength and emotional endurance.”
“When Nikolas reached out, he already had the concept: a gladiator across the chest,” Nanais said. “He wanted this tattoo to represent the battle, the sacrifice, and the transformation. For me, it was an honor to help tell that story through ink.”
Motta, who lost via knockout in Baku, went to Nanais’ studio over the weekend and let the artist work on him for about 16 hours in total.
“It wasn’t just about winning,” Motta said. “This fight was about resilience, mindset, and going all in. I needed to carry that with me forever. Italo was the only one who could bring that vision to life. … This fight changed everything for me. And now it’s etched in my skin forever. It’s the beginning of a new era.”
Motta dropped to 3-3 with one no-contest in the UFC after the defeat snapped his two-fight win streak over Tom Nolan and Maheshate Hayisaer. The Brazilian fighter expects to be sidelined for some time after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw that he suffered in the battle at UFC Baku.
Photo via Italo Nanais