Payton Talbott is among the hottest prospects within the UFC in the present day and has up to now delivered contained in the octagon with a trio of finishes. Raoni Barcelos, a bantamweight veteran of 11 UFC bouts, vows to derail that hype prepare Saturday at UFC 311.
Barcelos and Talbott meet on the preliminary portion of the pay-per-view, and the Brazilian is shocked that he’s such a large underdog in opposition to the a lot youthful fighter in Los Angeles.
“No disrespect to those that have fought [Talbott], however he hasn’t been examined but,” Barcelos advised MMA Preventing. “He’s going to be examined now, in opposition to me. I imagine my sport and what we’re getting ready to do, so I feel all people’s going to be stunned.”
Barcelos is as excessive as a +800 underdog in some sports activities books. He hasn’t been at his greatest as of late, dropping 4 of his previous six after a terrific 5-0 begin within the group, however these defeats got here in opposition to Umar Nurmagomedov, Timur Valiev, Kyler Phillips and Victor Henry.
“That has motivated me to be right here and present an excellent work,” Barcelos stated. “That was my greatest motivation. To be neglected and underestimated after all the pieces I’ve carried out in MMA. I’ve a historical past right here. This child has three fights within the UFC so it’s type of surreal, you realize? That is my motivation to be there and provides my greatest to come back out with the win for Brazil. That is my greatest motivation.”
Talbott being the most important favourite of the evening doesn’t essentially imply he’s additionally shopping for the hype. Barcelos thinks he is likely to be, although.
“I as soon as was a promising athlete as nicely, like he’s now, however I had three or 4 UFC fights already and was asking for ranked opponents,” Barcelos stated. “One million issues occurred, I obtained to the rating after beating Stated [Nurmagomedov] and left rapidly. All respect to my opponent, however he hasn’t fought somebody like me, with a sport that may change the combat solely. We’ll see.”
“He stated he’s relaxed, he’s not anxious about me. I feel he needs to be anxious about me as a result of I’m not a child,” he continued. “I’ve been by way of rather a lot in my profession. I’ve been knocked out, submitted, misplaced selections and was robbed. I’m the one that may be relaxed as a result of I’ve no strain over me. He does. It’s his hometown, he’s undefeated. I’m going there to have enjoyable and do an excellent job.”
Together with his opponent getting into UFC 311 on two knockouts and one submission since becoming a member of the promotion by way of Dana White’s Contender Sequence, Barcelos appears to be like at his personal grappling background as key to shock the MMA world.
“It’s undoubtedly a submission,” Barcelos stated of how he wins Saturday. “I feel that’s the very best path, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. There’s no different manner. It is not sensible to commerce with a striker that’s knocking all people out. I feel that is the best path, that’s the place I’ll see the opening and assault. As for the chances and what all people thinks, I’ll simply shut all people up. I’m motivated to go there and do an excellent job.”
