Raoni Barcelos scored one of many greatest upsets of the yr when he dominated high prospect Payton Talbott throughout three rounds for a choice victory at UFC 311 in January, and now sees an entire totally different state of affairs going into UFC Atlanta on June 14.
Barcelos, 37, faces former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt in a essential card bout and he’s seeking to insert his identify again within the high 15 of the bantamweight division. Barcelos feels “tremendous completely satisfied” to be dealing with the person who as soon as dominated the division, a match-up he has dreamed of for a few years, and it’s all coming after proving doubters improper as a +710 underdog in Los Angeles.
“For me, for my profession, it was nice that I beat Payton Talbott that approach,” Barcelos informed MMA Combating. “It’s all occurring naturally after that. I’ve at all times stated that each one athletes have highs and lows within the group. Some get to develop into champions first, others take slightly longer, but it surely’s not straightforward to get there, to get ranked, to develop into champion. The criticism I acquired, doubting my true story, all of it fueled me to get stronger for that battle. All of it occurred due to these imply feedback.”
“However I’m getting into this battle in a special second now, an entire different environment,” he continued. “It’s humorous the way it all adjustments. Now I’m the favourite in opposition to a former champion. It’s humorous. However I don’t care an excessive amount of about all this. What occurs out right here has no relation to what we stay in there [in the cage]. After all, I’m dwelling an important second in my life, in my profession, and I’m going there to win this battle as a result of I’m assured. I’m assured in my sport, and I’m positive I’ll deliver this victory to Brazil.”
Barcelos is the favourite now, getting into UFC Atlanta off of the one-sided win over Talbott and a third-round rear-naked choke end in opposition to Cristian Quiñonez. Garbrandt, however, had his two-fight profitable streak snapped by Deiveson Figueiredo in April 2024, additionally through rear-naked choke. Barcelos received’t act all cocky and assured, although.
“It has occurred to me in a battle earlier than, once I was so assured and the UFC employed a brand new man to battle me and I ended up shedding,” Barcelos stated. “That occurred with Victor Henry, and likewise with Kyler Phillips, once I was so assured and misplaced. Kyler Phillips is ranked now. It was an important battle however he ended up profitable. I went via that, proper? I respect Cody rather a lot, however I’m in my second now. I’m having fun with my second.”
With a strong background in jiu-jitsu and wrestling however extra knockouts than submissions in MMA, Barcelos stated he received’t be foolish to face and commerce with “No Love” on Saturday.
“I can’t conceal my sport anymore, particularly now that everyone research rather a lot,” Barcelos stated. “MMA may be very strategic at this time and I’m going there to take him down and submit. That’s the simpler sport to do. I received’t commerce with Cody, who has nice boxing and heavy fingers. It would occur, in fact. My hand could land and I attempt to knock him down, knock him out. He is aware of that, too. He is aware of I’ll attempt to impose my sport and attempt to take him down and make it a extra dynamic battle, however I’m positive he received’t deal with my rhythm and I’ll be capable of take him down and catch him.”
Barcelos received’t look previous Garbrandt, however already has a reputation in thoughts for a post-fight callout: Rob Font.
Barcelos stated he was provided a late-notice bout with Font simply weeks after beating Talbott, changing an injured Dominick Cruz in February, however he was nonetheless coping with accidents of his personal. Fellow Brazilian Jean Matsumoto jumped on the chance and misplaced a controversial choice in Seattle. Barcelos stated Matsumoto was “robbed” by the judges, and that’s one of many explanation why he desires that match.
“I’m not hiding from anybody that I need Rob Font after Cody,” Barcelos stated. “Rob Font is ranked 8 or 9 within the UFC and it could be a good suggestion — getting previous Cody, in fact — to try to get myself ranked. I believe that’s the following step. After all, I’ve to win on the 14th first to then take yet one more step and ask for a battle with Rob Font.”
