Marcio Barbosa, one of the top Brazilian prospects to watch in 2025, gets his shot on week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025 when he battles Damon Wilson inside the UFC APEX on Tuesday. It’s the culmination of a life-long dream.
Born in Amapá, “Ticotô” showed talent and convinced the leader of Giants Team in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, to open the doors of his own house so he could live and train under his wings. Barbosa made a promise to his father before embarking on a 1,700-mile journey.
“I told my father when I left home, ‘Dad, I’ll only come back when I sign with a big organization,’” Barbosa told MMA Fighting. “I’m here [in Niteroi] this whole time living with [my coach], I haven’t returned home yet. I haven’t seen my father and my mother in four years, only training and dedicating to this.”
Barbosa nearly finished future UFC fighter Gabriel Santos in his LFA debut but ended up knocked out in round two. That back-and-forth war was the only loss of his past seven bouts, with his six victories coming by first-round stoppage.
“I’ve shown that I’m capable of fighting anyone,” Barbosa said. “I’m coming off three wins and that gives me confidence to go there and put on another great fight. I know my opponent is a good striker, but that doesn’t stop me from showing him there’s someone better than him. I’m ready for this opportunity, and I’ll go there to knock him out and get this contract.”
“I’ve watched all his fights,” he continued. “He’s a striker that moves forward and doesn’t like to grapple. Not taking anything away from my opponent — I’ll never do such a thing because a fight is a fight —, but he hasn’t fought a good striker that forces him to retreat. I want to be that guy that forces him to retreat. And if he stands toe-to-toe with me, brother, he’s going down. I’m very confident that he won’t stand on his feet when my hand lands.”
Only one of Barbosa’s 16 MMA wins came outside the opening round, but he said he will “give my all with intelligence” at DWCS.
“Some people think I’m a one-round athlete,” Barbosa said. “I train to fight three rounds, but thank God I can end it before we go to the second round. That’s what I want to do [against Wilson], end it before we go to the second round.”
Winning impressively in front of UFC CEO Dana White, as well as UFC matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby, would not only secure him an opportunity in the promotion, but also give Barbosa a chance to reunite him with his parents in Amapá.
“This victory won’t be only mine, it’s also for my team and all the people by my side, cheering for me,” Barbosa said. “Especially my father. He’s always said, ‘I want to see you at the world’s biggest promotion before I close my eyes.’ I tell him he will see that. I will win, I will show my work, and that victory will be for my family.”