Raoni Barcelos

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training jiu-jitsu at age five because of my father, who is still my current trainer. I spent a few years on the Brazilian National Wrestling Team before transitioning to MMA. 

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It's my dream and my biggest accomplishment.

What are your current martial arts ranks? My rank in jiu-jitsu, I am a 3rd-degree black belt. In wrestling I don’t have a rank, but I spent a lot of time defending the Brazilian national wrestling team. I competed in several important championships, Pan-American, Worlds, Olympic qualifiers, anyway. So, I had a very good run in wrestling. 

What ranks and titles have you held? Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Shooto Brazil and RFA champion. 

Which fight do you consider the most important of your career and why? The fight I consider most important in my career, I think without a shadow of a doubt the turning point was the fight against Payton Talbott, which was where it all started, where I really flipped the switch right at that moment, and I felt much more confident for the other fights. And to be able to get here now and prove to everyone that I can go much further.

Who is your favorite fighter and why? My favorite fighter is Glover Teixeira, I’ve already told everyone that. Glover was a guy who, if I’m in MMA today, it’s because of him. So, I think his story, his trajectory, he’s a guy who inspires me a lot. There’s also José Aldo, who was a guy that, when I met him in Manaus, we trained together and he was also an inspiration in the fight world. And Charles do Bronx, so these three people inspired me a lot within MMA. But I think in my life, the person I’m most inspired by in the fight world is my dad. He is my biggest supporter and that’s it.

Do you have any heroes? So I don’t really have any hero like that who inspires me outside of fighting, mostly because I never really watched a lot of cartoons and stuff, anyway, but I think in life, what he did here on earth in life, right, I think Ayrton Senna was a guy who is an inspiration to a lot of people, I think he’s an idol to many people here in Brazil too, so I think Ayrton is a guy who dedicated himself a lot in his trajectory as an athlete, so I draw a lot of inspiration from that.

Is there a cause that you would like to support using your platform? So, the cause I would like to support within the sport itself is the inclusion of autism within MMA, within Jiu-Jitsu, I think within the sport. I think that’s a cause I would support, I would always be there to help those who need it.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? Jiu-Jitsu blue and purple belt world champion, two-time South American wrestling champion, five-time national wrestling champion in Brazil

Favorite grappling technique: Armlock 

Favorite Striking technique: Hook

Tell us a little about your life outside fighting: My life outside the mats, outside the cages, I am very family-oriented, I really like being with my family, traveling with my family, enjoying them, making the most of it. I also really like catching waves, surfing, skateboarding and those are my hobbies, I think catching waves is my main hobby. So, most of the time I’m with my family, whenever I can I stay with my family, traveling, it’s one of the things I like most.

What is one thing you would like UFC fans around the world to know about you? That question is very cool. I would like my fans to know that I have a lot of desire. I have a lot of desire. I am very motivated. I have a lot of desire to be the champion in my category. That’s what drives me. That’s what moves me. And I wanted them to believe. The people who like me believe. Believe because each fight will be different from the other. Each fight I will perform much better than the other because I really want to reach that title. I really want to get to the top. And I believe in myself a lot. Because if I didn’t believe, nobody else would believe. So that’s it guys. Let’s keep going. A big hug to everyone. And let’s go to the next stage now, which is entering the rankings. And climbing higher and higher so we can reach my final goal. So that’s it. A big hug to everyone