Raoni Barcelos won't let age deter him from chasing UFC title
38-year-old Raoni Barcelos knows age is playing against him in the run for the UFC title, but that's not going to stop him from chasing his dream.
Raoni Barcelos knows he's up against the clock. On top of all the numerous challenges that fighters face when making a run to a UFC title, Barcelos (21-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is presented with another layer of difficulty, contrary to many of his fellow up-and-comers. Barcelos, a UFC bantamweight title hopeful, is days shy of his 39th birthday.
The Brazilian knows it's not ideal for any athlete looking to reach the pinnacle of a sport, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. "It's well known that because of my age, it bothers a lot people," Barcelos told MMA Junkie in Portuguese. "But I think the only one that can show something different, prove something different, is myself in that cage.
I need to prove that. I need to prove that it's possible for me to get there, that I have what it takes to get there. I know after Saturday, things will get more difficult; I know it, but that's exactly what I want.
I want to prove that it's possible. I just need the opportunity to be able to get there. " Barcelos returns to action this Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 274 ( Paramount+ ), which takes place at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.