There has been an interesting match set up in the bantamweight division: Raoni Barcelos is all set to face Timur Valiev at UFC Fight Night on June 26th.
According to the initial tweet by Brett Okamoto of ESPN, a fight between the two is now in motion. The tweet read, “Interesting one at bantamweight … Raoni Barcelos (16-1) (whose last three fights have fallen through) will face Timur Valiev (17-2) at UFC Fight Night on June 26, per sources. Location TBD.”
Interesting one at bantamweight … Raoni Barcelos (16-1) (whose last three fights have fallen through) will face Timur Valiev (17-2) at UFC Fight Night on June 26, per sources. Location TBD.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 4, 2021
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Will Raoni Barcelos finally get back in the Octagon?
This news would have come as a ray of fresh hope for all Barcelos fans. The 5-time Brazilian wrestling champion has seen his last 3 fights canceled.
Barcelos was all set to face Merab Dvalishvili in December last year, although Barcelos was removed from the fight because of a medical suspension. He was then scheduled to face Raphael Assuncao at UFC Fight Night 186, but then Assuncao pulled out of the fight.
Finally, when he was all set to face Marcelo Rojo, Barcelos had to be removed from the fight after he tested positive for COVID-19. Now finally it seems like Barcelos will, at last, get back in the Octagon against Valiev.
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What can we expect from the fight?
Raoni Barcelos is a great fighter, the former Brazilian champion is 16-1 in MMA and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Barcelos has won all 5 of his UFC fights and has won 9 straight wins overall.
While Valiev has also won his last fight against Martin Day via unanimous decision. Both the fighters seem to be in excellent form. While the record favors Barcelo, Valiev is no slouch.
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Valiev has an MMA record of 17-2, which is great, he has fought 2 matches in the UFC; he won his latest by decision. What’s more, his loss against Trevin Jones was overturned because Jones failed a drug test.
Whoever wins the fight between Barcelos and Valiev, the fans are surely going to enjoy a fight against these two outstanding fighters.
