One of the longest layoffs of Raoni Barcelos’ MMA career finally ends Saturday, when the Brazilian bantamweight prospect faces Khalid Taha in the main card of UFC Vegas 13 at the UFC APEX.
Barcelos hasn’t competed since December 2019, when he handed Said Nurmagomedov his first octagon defeat to improve to 4-0 in the promotion. A protege under Pedro Rizzo in Rio de Janeiro, Barcelos was booked to face Cody Stamann in one of the many cards canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic back in March.
Victorious in his last eight MMA bouts—winning and defending the Resurrection Fighting Alliance featherweight title in the process—Barcelos is “ready to go in there and get the homework done” despite not facing someone in the top-15, which was his plan from the get-go.