Raoni Mendonca Barcelos (born May 1, 1987) is a Brazilian professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

, former amateur

wrestler Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves diffe ...

and grappler. He currently competes in the

Bantamweight Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In mixed martial arts, MMA, bantamweight is . The name for the class ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC). Prior to signing with the UFC, Barcelos was a one-time

Resurrection Fighting Alliance The Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Houston, Texas. It was created as a result of the Legacy Fighting Championship and Resurrection Fighting Alliance merger in 2016. History Resu ...

(RFA)

featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

champion, and a five-time Brazilian national wrestling champion.

Background

Barcelos was born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. He started grappling at the age of five under influence of his father, Laerte Barcelos, who was a Freestyle wrestler in the 1980s, competing for the Brazilian National Wrestling Team, as well as holding a 7th degree coral belt in jiu-jitsu. Barcelos won numerous major titles in his youth, including becoming 5-time national wrestling champion of Brazil, 2-time South-American wrestling champion, and winning 4 world titles in jiu-jitsu at the lower belt classes. After competing a few years for the Brazilian National Wrestling Team, Barcelos transitioned to

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

(MMA) in 2012 at the age of 25.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Barcelos started fighting professionally in 2012. He fought under numerous organizations, notably Web Fight Combat, Shooto Brazil, and the

(RFA), where he was the former RFA featherweight champion.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Bacelos was scheduled to make his debut at UFC on October 28, 2017, replacing injured

Augusto Mendes Augusto Mendes (born March 3, 1983) is a Brazilian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner. He was signed to the Absolute Championship Berkut. He was the International ...

. at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida against Boston Salmon. Subsequently, Salmon pulled out of the fight on October 20 citing his own injury. As a result, Barcelos was removed from the card as well. Barcelos's finally came on July 14, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov, against Kurt Holobaugh. He won the fight via knockout. This fight earned him the '' Fight of the Night'' award. His next fight came on November 30, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters against Chris Gutiérrez. He won the fight via technical submission. Barcelos was scheduled to face

Said Nurmagomedov Said Makhachevich Nurmagomedov (; born April 5, 1992) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2009, he formerly competed ...

on May 11, 2019, at

UFC 237 ''UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on May 11, 2019, at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Background The event was originally expected to be held ...

. However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Carlos Huachin. He won the fight via knockout. The bout with Nurmagomedov eventually took place on December 21, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie. Barcelos won the fight via unanimous decision. Barcelos was expected to face Cody Stamann on March 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik. Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, the event was eventually postponed . Barcelos faced

Khalid Taha Khalid Taha (born February 15, 1992) is a German mixed martial artist currently competing in the bantamweight division. A professional since 2013, he has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Rizin Fighting Federation. Mixed martial a ...

on November 7, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the '' Fight of the Night'' award. Barcelos was expected to face

Merab Dvalishvili Merab Dvalishvili ( ka, მერაბ დვალიშვილი ; born January 10, 1991) is a Georgian and American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championsh ...

on December 5, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 19. However, Barcelos was removed from the contest due to a medical suspension related to his latest bout on

November 7 Events Pre-1600 * 335 – Athanasius, 20th pope of Alexandria, is banished to Trier on the charge that he prevented a grain fleet from sailing to Constantinople. * 680 – The Sixth Ecumenical Council commences in Constantinople. ...

. Barcelos was scheduled to face

Raphael Assunção Raphael Assunção (born 19 July 1982) is a Brazilian former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Born in Recife in Northeast Brazil, Assunção move ...

on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186. However, Assunção pulled out of the fight in early February for undisclosed reasons. UFC newcomer Marcelos Rojo was named as the replacement. Subsequently, Barcelos was removed from the fight on February 22 after testing positive for COVID-19. Barcelos faced Timur Valiev on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov. Despite knocking Valiev down several times, he lost the fight via majority decision. This fight earned him the '' Fight of the Night'' award. Barcelos was scheduled to face

Trevin Jones Trevin Jones (born August 4, 1990) is a Guamanian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.(UFC) Background Jones started his MMA career when he first enrolled in an amateur fi ...

on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 199. However Jones withdrew from the fight for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Victor Henry. The pairing was then cancelled just hours before taking place due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

protocols, and rescheduled to meet on January 22, 2022, at

UFC 270 ''UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 22, 2022, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Background A UFC Heavyweight Championship title unificat ...

. Barcelos lost the fight via unanimous decision. Barcelos faced

on October 1, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan. Barcelos won the fight by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27) in a one-sided fight. Barcelos faced

Umar Nurmagomedov Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov (; born January 3, 1996) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Nurmagomedov has previously competed in ...

on January 14, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 217. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. Barcelos was scheduled to face Miles Johns on June 17, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 47. However, Johns withdrew due to injury and the bout was scrapped. Barcelos, as a replacement for

, was rescheduled against Kyler Phillips on August 5, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 50. He lost the bout via unanimous decision. Barcelos faced Cristian Quiñonez on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237. He won the bout by rear-naked choke submission in the third round. Barcelos faced undefeated prospect

Payton Talbott Payton Anthony Talbott (born September 9, 1998) is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2021, he earned his contract with ...

on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Barcelos faced former UFC Bantamweight Champion

Cody Garbrandt Cody Ray Allen Garbrandt (born July 7, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion. Backg ...

on June 14, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 69. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** Fight of the Night (Three times) **UFC.com Awards ***2018: Ranked #9 Newcomer of the Year *

**RFA Featherweight Championship (One time; former) ***Two successful title defenses *Shooto Brazil **Shooto Brazil Featherweight Championship (one time; former)

Wrestling

*5-time Brazilian Wrestling Champion *2-time South-American Wrestling Champion

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Lineage:

Mitsuyo Maeda naturalized as Otávio Maeda (),Virgílio, p. 9 was a Japanese people, Japanese-born judo, ''judōka'' and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was known as Count Combat or ''Conde Koma'' in Spanish and Portuguese, a nickname he pi ...

Carlos Gracie Carlos Gracie (September 14, 1902October 7, 1994) was a Brazilian martial artist who is credited with being one of the primary developers of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Along with his younger brother Hélio Gracie and fellow students Luis França a ...

> Reyson Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Laerte Barcelos > Raoni Barcelos *Brazilian Nogi Champion (2009 black) *World Champion – IBJJF (2002 blue, 2003 blue, 2006 purple) *World Cup Champion – CBJJO (2005) *Brazilian National Champion (2004 & 2005 blue, 2006 purple) *Portuguese National Champion (2010) *Brazilian National Silver Medallist (2002, 2003)

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Barcelos, Raoni Living people 1987 births Martial artists from Rio de Janeiro (city) Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing freestyle wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Brazilian male sport wrestlers 21st-century Brazilian sportsmen