A FORMER Chelsea goalkeeper won his debut for MMA promotion KSW – the latest chapter in his storied sports career.
Ricardo Prasel was once the Blues third-choice shot stopper under Jose Mourinho.
Didier Drogba pictured with ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Ricardo Prasel
Michael Ballack pictured with Ricardo Prasel But an injury at the age of 2022 forced the Brazilian to retire from football and start college, where he began jiu-jitsu.
Soon after, he transitioned to MMA and by 2012 Prasel made his debut, since fighting around the world.
That included Japan and even a run in UFC president Dana White’s Contender Series.
But most recently, Prasel, 31, beat Michal Kita, 41, in round two of his debut for KSW.
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Chelsea bidder Todd Boehly hires former Government advisor Danny Finkelstein The 6ft 7in ex-keeper started his football career with Athletico Paranaense before joining Clube Atletico Juventus.
He was then signed for Chelsea in 2009 at just the age of 18, proving backup to Petr Cech and Henrique Hilario.
Prasel never played for the first-team but helped the likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack during free-kick practice.
In a 2018 interview with MMA Fighting, he said: “Drogba was f***ing unbelievable, man.
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“I didn’t go to the games with the professionals because I was the third goalkeeper — Cech and Hilario went to the games.
“But I played with them every day, because after training they wanted to practice shootout free kicks, and I had to be there to try to defend it.
“Thirty minutes every day, Drogba and Ballack shooting free kicks. My God, they didn’t miss one. It was incredible.”
The shot stopper was loaned to Belgian side RFC Liege but a hip injury meant he was forced to hang up his boots.
It was only after he returned to Brazil to study that he started training in jiu-jitsu to stay fit.
He revealed: “When I started in jiu-jitsu I had no intention to become a professional.
“I started in college and trained jiu-jitsu for fun, but things started to happen.
“Leaving a sport and get to this level in another one is sensational. My family is proud of me, my father would be proud of me. It’s awesome.”
Prasel has no regrets over his footballing career and admitted success in MMA would top anything available in football.
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Incredible pictures show five mansions worth £1million reduced to rubble He told ESPN in 2019: “If you asked me if I prefer to play on the Brazilian team or fight for the UFC, 100 times I would choose to fight in the UFC.
“MMA is a sport that depends only on me and the adrenaline is much bigger. I love it. I love to fight.
“My time in soccer was very good, but I would not trade that for my fight career.”
Ricardo Prasel has fought all around the world Credit: Getty
Ricardo Prasel has an MMA record of 12-3 Credit: Getty Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
