Raoni Barcelos
Brazil
Runs winning streak to five
Barcelos defeated Montel Jackson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Now 38 years old, Barcelos continues to go out and pick up victories as an underdog, sometimes a hefty one. This fight didn't come easy. Raoni had to survive an early knockdown from the powerful Jackson, but he was able to do so, and that allowed Barcelos to get to his wrestling game. He closed with six takedowns on a whopping 18 attempts, good for 7:45 worth of control time. That, combined with Jackson's refusal to string together combinations, was enough to get the job done in the eyes of two of the three judges. Barcelos has somehow won five straight, including victories over Jackson, Ricky Simon, and top prospect Payton Talbott.
Now 38 years old, Barcelos continues to go out and pick up victories as an underdog, sometimes a hefty one. This fight didn't come easy. Raoni had to survive an early knockdown from the powerful Jackson, but he was able to do so, and that allowed Barcelos to get to his wrestling game. He closed with six takedowns on a whopping 18 attempts, good for 7:45 worth of control time. That, combined with Jackson's refusal to string together combinations, was enough to get the job done in the eyes of two of the three judges. Barcelos has somehow won five straight, including victories over Jackson, Ricky Simon, and top prospect Payton Talbott.
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Next fight scheduled
Barcelos is scheduled to compete against Montel Jackson in a bantamweight fight at the UFC's April 25 Vegas card, per Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting.
ANALYSIS
Barcelos will look to log his fifth consecutive win. The last three victories came against a then-undefeated Payton Talbott, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt and longtime promotion veteran Ricky Simon. Barcelos' next opponent is 6-1 across his last seven fights, so it will be a tough battle between two fighters with positive momentum.
Barcelos will look to log his fifth consecutive win. The last three victories came against a then-undefeated Payton Talbott, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt and longtime promotion veteran Ricky Simon. Barcelos' next opponent is 6-1 across his last seven fights, so it will be a tough battle between two fighters with positive momentum.
Secures fourth straight win
Barcelos defeated Ricky Simon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
At age 38, Barcelos seems to have found a second wind. He looks more comfortable than ever inside the Octagon, and that was evident once again here. He and Simon fought to even terms throughout the fight, but Barcelos was able to do just a little bit more. It started by stuffing all six of Simon's takedown attempts. Raoni landed just 1-of-8 tries himself, but the constant movement and pressure served to keep his opponent off balance. The winner of four straight, Barcelos is currently one of the hottest fighters in a loaded bantamweight division.
At age 38, Barcelos seems to have found a second wind. He looks more comfortable than ever inside the Octagon, and that was evident once again here. He and Simon fought to even terms throughout the fight, but Barcelos was able to do just a little bit more. It started by stuffing all six of Simon's takedown attempts. Raoni landed just 1-of-8 tries himself, but the constant movement and pressure served to keep his opponent off balance. The winner of four straight, Barcelos is currently one of the hottest fighters in a loaded bantamweight division.
Added to UFC Vegas 111 card
Barcelos is scheduled to fight Ricky Simon at UFC Vegas 111 on Nov. 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Barcelos is likely feeling confident after defeating former champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta on June 14. Barcelos is in the midst of a three-bout winning streak but will face a capable opponent in Simon, who has already secured a pair of victories in 2025.
Barcelos is likely feeling confident after defeating former champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta on June 14. Barcelos is in the midst of a three-bout winning streak but will face a capable opponent in Simon, who has already secured a pair of victories in 2025.
Takes decision from former champ
Barcelos defeated Cody Garbrandt via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Atlanta.
ANALYSIS
Barcelos had no problems as a +700 underdog against top prospect Payton Talbott in January. He dropped Round 1 on all three scorecards here against Garbrandt before finding his range, aided by the latter's woeful gas tank. A grappler by trade, Barcelos fired off 11 takedown attempts, landing just one. They're ugly numbers on paper, but they served to keep Cody off-balance, which was all that was needed given Garbrandt's lack of energy. The Brazilian looked like a potential release candidate following a stretch from June 2021 to August 2023 in which he went 1-4, but the 38-year-old Barcelos has somehow won three straight since.
Barcelos had no problems as a +700 underdog against top prospect Payton Talbott in January. He dropped Round 1 on all three scorecards here against Garbrandt before finding his range, aided by the latter's woeful gas tank. A grappler by trade, Barcelos fired off 11 takedown attempts, landing just one. They're ugly numbers on paper, but they served to keep Cody off-balance, which was all that was needed given Garbrandt's lack of energy. The Brazilian looked like a potential release candidate following a stretch from June 2021 to August 2023 in which he went 1-4, but the 38-year-old Barcelos has somehow won three straight since.
Will fight Garbrandt
Barcelos will take on Cody Garbrandt in a bantamweight bout at UFC Atlanta on June 14, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Barcelos is riding plenty of momentum, coming into this fight the winner of two straight bouts. He most recently disposed of Payton Talbott via unanimous decision back in January, a win that pushed his UFC record to 8-4. He'll look to make it three straight against the younger Garbrandt, who is looking to bounce back after a loss and two straight cancelled bouts.
Barcelos is riding plenty of momentum, coming into this fight the winner of two straight bouts. He most recently disposed of Payton Talbott via unanimous decision back in January, a win that pushed his UFC record to 8-4. He'll look to make it three straight against the younger Garbrandt, who is looking to bounce back after a loss and two straight cancelled bouts.