Payton Talbott is among the hottest prospects within the UFC right this moment 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 instructed MMA Combating. “He’s going to be examined now, in opposition to me. I consider my recreation and what we’re getting ready to do, so I believe everyone’s going to be shocked.”
Barcelos is as excessive as a +800 underdog in some sports activities books. He hasn’t been at his greatest as of late, shedding 4 of his previous six after an excellent 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 work,” Barcelos mentioned. “That was my largest motivation. To be missed and underestimated after all the pieces I’ve performed 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 largest motivation.”
Talbott being the most important favourite of the evening doesn’t essentially imply he’s additionally shopping for the hype. Barcelos thinks he could be, although.
“I as soon as was a promising athlete as properly, like he’s now, however I had three or 4 UFC fights already and was asking for ranked opponents,” Barcelos mentioned. “1,000,000 issues occurred, I received to the rating after beating Mentioned [Nurmagomedov] and left shortly. All respect to my opponent, however he hasn’t fought somebody like me, with a recreation that may change the struggle completely. We’ll see.”
“He mentioned he’s relaxed, he’s not apprehensive about me. I believe he must be apprehensive about me as a result of I’m not a child,” he continued. “I’ve been by rather a lot in my profession. I’ve been knocked out, submitted, misplaced choices and was robbed. I’m the one that may be relaxed as a result of I’ve no stress over me. He does. It’s his hometown, he’s undefeated. I’m going there to have enjoyable and do job.”
Together with his opponent coming into UFC 311 on two knockouts and one submission since becoming a member of the promotion by Dana White’s Contender Collection, Barcelos appears at his personal grappling background as key to shock the MMA world.
“It’s undoubtedly a submission,” Barcelos mentioned of how he wins Saturday. “I believe that’s the very best path, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. There’s no different means. It is senseless to commerce with a striker that’s knocking everyone out. I believe that is the simplest path, that’s the place I’ll see the opening and assault. As for the percentages and what everyone thinks, I’ll simply shut everyone up. I’m motivated to go there and do job.”
