# Raoni Barcelos

Raoni Mendonca Barcelos (born May 1, 1987) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, former amateur wrestler and grappler. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Prior to signing with the UFC, Barcelos was a one-time Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) featherweight 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 (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 Resurrection Fighting Alliance (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. 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 on May 11, 2019, at UFC 237. 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 event was eventually postponed .
Barcelos faced Khalid Taha 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 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.
Barcelos was scheduled to face Raphael Assunção 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, Bancelos 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 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 protocols, and rescheduled to meet on January 22, 2022, at UFC 270. Barcelos lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Barcelos faced Trevin Jones 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 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 Said Nurmagomedov, 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 on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Kurt Holobaugh, Khalid Taha, and Timur Valiev
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2018: Ranked #9 Newcomer of the Year
* Resurrection Fighting Alliance
** 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 > Carlos Gracie > 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

Professional record breakdown :
| 24 matches | 19 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 1 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 19–5 | Payton Talbott | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 311 | January 18, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 18–5 | Cristian Quiñonez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 | February 24, 2024 | 3 | 2:04 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Loss | 17–5 | Kyler Phillips | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font | August 5, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Loss | 17–4 | Umar Nurmagomedov | KO (body kick and punch) | UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov | January 14, 2023 | 1 | 4:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–3 | Trevin Jones | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan | October 1, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–3 | Victor Henry | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 270 | January 22, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Loss | 16–2 | Timur Valiev | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov | June 26, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–1 | Khalid Taha | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira | November 7, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 15–1 | Said Nurmagomedov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie | December 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Busan, South Korea | |
| Win | 14–1 | Carlos Huachin | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC 237 | May 11, 2019 | 2 | 4:49 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–1 | Chris Gutiérrez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale | November 30, 2018 | 2 | 4:12 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 12–1 | Kurt Holobaugh | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov | July 14, 2018 | 3 | 1:29 | Boise, Idaho, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 11–1 | Dan Moret | KO (punches) | RFA 45 | October 28, 2016 | 2 | 0:51 | Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States | Defended the RFA Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–1 | Bobby Moffett | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 39 | June 17, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | Defended the RFA Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Ricky Musgrave | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 29 | August 21, 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | Won the vacant RFA Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Jamal Parks | KO (punches) | RFA 23 | February 6, 2015 | 1 | 2:31 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Mark Dickman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RFA 14 | April 11, 2014 | 2 | 2:06 | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Tyler Toner | Decision (unanimous) | RFA 11 | November 22, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Erinaldo dos Santos Rodrigues | KO (flying knee and punches) | Webfight Combat 2 | July 7, 2013 | 1 | 3:25 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 5–0 | João Herdy Jr. | TKO (punches) | Webfight Combat 1 | January 27, 2013 | 2 | 0:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 4–0 | Jorge Rodrigues Silva | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 34 | September 21, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | Won the vacant Shooto Brazil Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Fabricio Batista | TKO (punches) | Shooto Brazil 32 | July 14, 2012 | 1 | 0:21 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 2–0 | Gilmar Silva Milhorance | Submission (guillotine choke) | Shooto Brazil 29 | April 26, 2012 | 1 | 1:16 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 1–0 | Vitor Riso | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Shooto Brazil 28 | March 10, 2012 | 1 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |