Latest news with #Barcelos
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Raoni Barcelos excited for shot to take out ex-champ Cody Garbrandt at UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos excited for shot to take out ex-champ Cody Garbrandt at UFC Atlanta Show Caption Hide Caption UFC Atlanta: Raoni Barcelos media day Raoni Barcelos speaks to reporters at the UFC Atlanta media day. ATLANTA – Raoni Barcelos met the media Wednesday ahead of his fight at UFC on ESPN 69. Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) takes on Cody Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) in a bantamweight fight on the ESPN main card at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. At media day, Barcelos took questions from media members before his fight. Barcelos said the massive upset he pulled off in January – one of the biggest in UFC history against 12-1 favorite Payton Talbott at UFC 311 – gave him extra confidence to know he's heading in the right direction after a stretch of four losses in five fights. The fight with Garbrandt it one he said he's been asking to have for a while. "I asked for the fight a long time ago – when the hype was all on me," the 38-year-old Barcelos told MMA Junkie. "Cody was on his way to become a champion, and the fight never happened. It's all timing. Right now, I feel so much better (than when I first called him out). I'm much more complete of a fighter. "… The fight's happening at the right time. Cody's going to be a good fight for me, but this is the perfect time for me to fight him." Check out Barcelos' full media day interview in the video above.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Raoni Barcelos vs. Cody Garbrandt added to increasingly stacked UFC Atlanta lineup
MMA Junkie The UFC's return to Atlanta next month continues to add firepower to the lineup with the addition of another former champion to the card. Ex-bantamweight titleholder Cody Garbrandt has been booked for a fight against Raoni Barcelos at UFC on ESPN 69 (ESPN, ESPN+), which is set for June 14 at State Farm Arena. MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup with a person close to the booking. The person asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has not yet made an official announcement. Barcelos initially mentioned the matchup on social media. Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) will be looking for his first win since late 2023, when he knocked out Brian Kelleher for his second straight win after a stretch that saw him drop five of six fights after a perfect 11-0 start to his career, including a bantamweight title win over Dominick Cruz. In April 2024, Garbrandt was submitted by former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo at the historic UFC 300 in Las Vegas. He was set to return this past fall against Miles Johns, but pulled out with an injury. Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has two straight wins after a rough stretch of his own with four losses in five fights. In February 2024, he submitted Christian Quinonez, and in January he pulled off an all-time upset when he outworked Payton Talbott, a previously unbeaten prospect who was a favorite of more than 11-1. With the addition, the UFC Atlanta lineup now includes:
