Raoni Barcelos scored one of many greatest upsets of the 12 months when he dominated prime 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 most important card bout and he’s seeking to insert his title again within the prime 15 of the bantamweight division. Barcelos feels “tremendous pleased” 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 wrong as a +710 underdog in Los Angeles.
“For me, for my profession, it was nice that I beat Payton Talbott that means,” Barcelos instructed MMA Preventing. “It’s all occurring naturally after that. I’ve all the time mentioned that every one athletes have highs and lows within the group. Some get to turn out to be champions first, others take somewhat longer, nevertheless it’s not straightforward to get there, to get ranked, to turn out to be champion. The criticism I received, doubting my true story, all of it fueled me to get stronger for that combat. All of it occurred due to these imply feedback.”
“However I’m coming into this combat in a special second now, an entire different ambiance,” he continued. “It’s humorous the way it all modifications. Now I’m the favourite towards 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]. In fact, I’m residing a fantastic second in my life, in my profession, and I’m going there to win this combat as a result of I’m assured. I’m assured in my recreation, and I’m positive I’ll convey this victory to Brazil.”
Barcelos is the favourite now, coming into UFC Atlanta off of the one-sided win over Talbott and a third-round rear-naked choke end towards Cristian Quiñonez. Garbrandt, however, had his two-fight profitable streak snapped by Deiveson Figueiredo in April 2024, additionally by way of rear-naked choke. Barcelos received’t act all cocky and assured, although.
“It has occurred to me in a combat earlier than, once I was so assured and the UFC employed a brand new man to combat me and I ended up shedding,” Barcelos mentioned. “That occurred with Victor Henry, and likewise with Kyler Phillips, once I was so assured and misplaced. Kyler Phillips is ranked now. It was a fantastic combat however he ended up profitable. I went by way of that, proper? I respect Cody quite a bit, however I’m in my second now. I’m having fun with my second.”
With a stable background in jiu-jitsu and wrestling however extra knockouts than submissions in MMA, Barcelos mentioned he received’t be foolish to face and commerce with “No Love” on Saturday.
“I can’t disguise my recreation anymore, particularly now that everyone research quite a bit,” Barcelos mentioned. “MMA may be very strategic right this moment and I’m going there to take him down and submit. That’s the better recreation to do. I received’t commerce with Cody, who has nice boxing and heavy palms. It’d occur, in fact. My hand might 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 recreation and attempt to take him down and make it a extra dynamic combat, however I’m positive he received’t deal with my rhythm and I’ll be capable to 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 mentioned 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 resolution in Seattle. Barcelos mentioned Matsumoto was “robbed” by the judges, and that’s one of many the explanation why he desires that match.
“I’m not hiding from anybody that I would like Rob Font after Cody,” Barcelos mentioned. “Rob Font is ranked 8 or 9 within the UFC and it will be a good suggestion — getting previous Cody, in fact — to try to get myself ranked. I feel that’s the following step. In fact, I’ve to win on the 14th first to then take another step and ask for a combat with Rob Font.”
