Raoni
Barcelos is aiming for the bantamweight rankings after his win
over Cody
Garbrandt.
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Barcelos took on Garbrandt at UFC
Atlanta on Saturday. While Garbrandt led the dance in the first
round, Barcelos rallied back to control the former champ and earn a
hard-fought unanimous decision. Barcelos considers it the biggest
win of his career so far and admits to being surprised by
Garbrandt’s wrestling defense.
“I think it was definitely the biggest win in my career,” Barcelos
said in a post-fight media scrum. “It was a great fight.
Cody was in great form, and we put on a great fight… I knew he was
gonna be tough. What surprised me is how strong his wrestling was
even though he comes from a wrestling base. I think it made for a
fun and dynamic fight.”
Barcelos is looking ahead to another significant pairing in the
division before the conclusion of 2025.
“I want Rob
Font by the end of the year,” he said. “I want to be in the
rankings by the end of the year to basically get in the new year on
a high note.”
Barcelos is seemingly getting better with age. The 38-year-old is
in the midst of a three-fight winning streak, which includes an
upset over the previously undefeated Payton
Talbott this past January. Meanwhile, Font is coming off
victories over Phillips and a previously undefeated Jean
Matsumoto.