Meet Gleidson “PoneY” Cutis

We were lucky to catch up with Gleidson “PoneY” Cutis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gleidson “PoneY”, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

For much of my life, I believed I had one mission: to become a professional athlete. From the age of five, I was driven by a deep desire to fight at the highest level and one day live in the United States. That dream became my reality. I trained relentlessly, competed around the world, and eventually achieved what many only imagine—becoming a professional fighter and building a life in America.

On the surface, I had everything I ever wanted. I was proud of my accomplishments, grateful for the journey, and fulfilled—at least for a while. But deep inside, something was still missing. My life was centered around my performance, my achievements, my success. It was all about me.

Everything began to change in 2018, during the most difficult season of my life. It was a year marked by brokenness, doubt, and pain. But it was also the year that transformed everything. In the midst of that darkness, Jesus found me again. He didn’t just heal me—He revealed my true purpose.

I realized that my life was never meant to be just about me. It was meant to be a vessel to serve others. Through that revelation, God began to bring the right people into my life—people who would help me build something greater than myself: Fighteria Academy.

In 2019, Fighteria Academy was born—not just as a gym, but as a movement. A place where martial arts and fitness became the tools, but love, faith, and transformation became the mission. Our goal was clear: to build, equip, and restore lives. And that’s exactly what we’ve been doing.

Since then, Fighteria has become a home for many. A place where people train hard, push themselves, and grow physically—but also a place where they find identity, community, and spiritual healing. We still “beat each other up” in training, but we also lift each other up in life—with a lot of love. The love of Jesus Christ.

Today, I see my story not as a spotlight on my achievements, but as a testimony of grace. My journey—from the fighting arenas to faith-filled purpose—is proof that true fulfillment doesn’t come from what you accomplish, but from who you become and how you serve.

I share my story with the hope that others will see that the real hero of this journey is not me—
It’s Jesus. He did it all. And He’s still doing it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve been living in the United States since 2015, but my story begins in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Growing up there wasn’t easy—it was rough at times—but I know it could’ve been much worse. I was blessed to have parents who always did their best to support me and my sister, despite the challenges around us.

The neighborhood I grew up in had a reputation. In fact, the year before I was born—1988—it was ranked as one of the most dangerous places in the world to live. That environment exposed me to many tough realities from a young age. Still, like any kid, I longed to play in the streets and make friends. But every time I did, I faced bullying. I wasn’t a tough kid—I was just trying to find my place.

To help me cope and gain confidence, my parents enrolled me in martial arts. That decision changed the course of my life. I suddenly had a new space, different from school, where I could meet new friends and learn something exciting. I fell in love with martial arts immediately. I trained in various styles, but when I discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu around age 10, it became my obsession.

I started competing early on. Winning tournaments—being called a “champion”—completely shifted how people saw me. The same kids who once bullied me began to respect me… even fear me a little. That feeling gave me confidence. Jiu-Jitsu became my safe place and helped me deal with the world around me.

Over the years, I won multiple state, national, and world championships. Eventually, I transitioned into a career as a professional MMA fighter. But perhaps one of the most meaningful chapters of my journey began when I started giving back to my community. I began teaching Jiu-Jitsu for free at a local church for kids in need. It was there I first witnessed the transformational power of martial arts.

For me, martial arts was a way to overcome bullying. But for many of those kids, it was a lifeline—a way out of poverty, crime, and hopelessness. Today, I still hear from many of them—now grown, successful, raising families, serving their communities. They tell me how much that opportunity changed their lives. And that, to me, is more rewarding than any title I’ve ever won.

When I moved to the U.S., that chapter of my life came to a pause. My focus shifted to taking my professional career to the next level. I dreamed of one day owning my own gym—and by the grace of God, that dream came true. What I didn’t expect was the journey I would have to walk to get there.

I’ve gone through battles—many of them personal, emotional, and spiritual. I don’t have time to break it all down here, but I wrote a book about it called On the Mat with Christ, where I share more of my journey. One thing I’ve learned is that in life, we’ll all face battles. But when we walk with Jesus, no matter how hard the fight, we will never be defeated—because He has already overcome it all.

That’s the foundation of what we do today at Fighteria Academy, a fitness and martial arts facility built not just to train bodies, but to transform lives. Our mission is simple yet powerful: Impact, Empower, and Positively Transform every life that walks through our doors—through fitness, martial arts, and above all, through love.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I look back on my journey and reflect on the skills I had to develop to get where I am today, two qualities stand out: resilience and the ability to believe in yourself—even when no one else does.

Dreaming of becoming a professional fighter and living in the United States seemed completely out of reach for someone like me. It was far from my reality. In fact, when I told people what I wanted for my life, they laughed. They couldn’t see what I saw in my heart. But I had to believe—deeply believe—that it was possible. That belief kept me going through setbacks, sacrifices, and seasons of doubt.

Another key part of my journey was having a strong sense of identity. Since I was young, I identified myself as a fighter—not just because I trained in martial arts, but because I fought through life. But over time, I began to realize something deeper:
I am not what I do.

Being a professional fighter was a season—a meaningful one—but it wasn’t the complete answer to the question: Who am I?

That question—“Who am I, really?”—goes far beyond career or title. For a while, I was the fighter. Today, I’m a professor. Tomorrow, I might take on a new role. Our surface-level identities will always evolve. But those titles, no matter how impressive, will never fully define or fulfill us.

I found my true identity in Christ.
And when that revelation hit me, it changed everything.
I found the answer in Genesis 1:26, where it says we were made in the image and likeness of God. That truth gave me a foundation that no title, win, or loss could shake.

These days, if someone asks me for life advice, I don’t start with goals or strategies—I start with identity.
I ask: Have you discovered who you really are?

Because until you do, everything else will feel like chasing the wind.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

When I look back on my journey and reflect on the skills I had to develop to get where I am today, two qualities stand out: resilience and the ability to believe in yourself—even when no one else does.

Dreaming of becoming a professional fighter and living in the United States seemed completely out of reach for someone like me. It was far from my reality. In fact, when I told people what I wanted for my life, they laughed. They couldn’t see what I saw in my heart. But I had to believe—deeply believe—that it was possible. That belief kept me going through setbacks, sacrifices, and seasons of doubt.

Another key part of my journey was having a strong sense of identity. Since I was young, I identified myself as a fighter—not just because I trained in martial arts, but because I fought through life. But over time, I began to realize something deeper:
I am not what I do.

Being a professional fighter was a season—a meaningful one—but it wasn’t the complete answer to the question: Who am I?

That question—“Who am I, really?”—goes far beyond career or title. For a while, I was the fighter. Today, I’m a professor. Tomorrow, I might take on a new role. Our surface-level identities will always evolve. But those titles, no matter how impressive, will never fully define or fulfill us.

I found my true identity in Christ.
And when that revelation hit me, it changed everything.
I found the answer in Genesis 1:26, where it says we were made in the image and likeness of God. That truth gave me a foundation that no title, win, or loss could shake.

These days, if someone asks me for life advice, I don’t start with goals or strategies—I start with identity.
I ask: Have you discovered who you really are?

Because until you do, everything else will feel like chasing the wind.

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