{"id":97931,"date":"2025-08-26T20:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/97931\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T20:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T20:13:07","slug":"marcio-barbosa-will-fulfill-a-promise-to-his-father-with-dwcs-victory-ufc-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/97931\/","title":{"rendered":"Marcio Barbosa will fulfill a promise to his father with DWCS victory, UFC contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marcio Barbosa, one of the top Brazilian prospects<\/a> to watch in 2025, gets his shot on week 3 of Dana White\u2019s Contender Series in 2025 when he battles Damon Wilson inside the UFC APEX on Tuesday. It\u2019s the culmination of a life-long dream.<\/p>\n

Born in Amap\u00e1, \u201cTicot\u00f4\u201d showed talent and convinced the leader of Giants Team in Niter\u00f3i, 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told my father when I left home, \u2018Dad, I\u2019ll only come back when I sign with a big organization,\u2019\u201d Barbosa told MMA Fighting. \u201cI\u2019m here [in Niteroi] this whole time living with [my coach], I haven\u2019t returned home yet. I haven\u2019t seen my father and my mother in four years, only training and dedicating to this.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve shown that I\u2019m capable of fighting anyone,\u201d Barbosa said. \u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019t stop me from showing him there\u2019s someone better than him. I\u2019m ready for this opportunity, and I\u2019ll go there to knock him out and get this contract.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve watched all his fights,\u201d he continued. \u201cHe\u2019s a striker that moves forward and doesn\u2019t like to grapple. Not taking anything away from my opponent \u2014 I\u2019ll never do such a thing because a fight is a fight \u2014, but he hasn\u2019t 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\u2019s going down. I\u2019m very confident that he won\u2019t stand on his feet when my hand lands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Only one of Barbosa\u2019s 16 MMA wins came outside the opening round, but he said he will \u201cgive my all with intelligence\u201d at DWCS.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people think I\u2019m a one-round athlete,\u201d Barbosa said. \u201cI train to fight three rounds, but thank God I can end it before we go to the second round. That\u2019s what I want to do [against Wilson], end it before we go to the second round.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 Amap\u00e1.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis victory won\u2019t be only mine, it\u2019s also for my team and all the people by my side, cheering for me,\u201d Barbosa said. \u201cEspecially my father. He\u2019s always said, \u2018I want to see you at the world\u2019s biggest promotion before I close my eyes.\u2019 I tell him he will see that. I will win, I will show my work, and that victory will be for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

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