Forget about injuries, trash talk, or coming off a loss. UFC Lincoln’s Bryan Barberena simply wants to prove his worth, and put on a show this Saturday.
The octagon touches down in Lincoln Nebraska this week as the “Cornhusker State” plays host to UFC Fight Night 135. There, Justin Gaethje and James Vick will close the show at the event better known as UFC Lincoln. However, there is a featured welterweight bout on the main card that fans have been anticipating ever since it was announced. In it, Nebraska’s own Jake Ellenberger will take on Bryan Barberena (who is returning from an injury) in a fight that is sure to be none stop action from bell to bell.
Barberena was originally scheduled to compete at Fight Night 131, but suffered an injury in training that forced him out of the fight. But just two short months later and ‘Bam Bam’ is ready to go.
“I’m not out here trying to be like Conor McGregor like everybody else is.”
“It just feels so good to be back finally,” Barberena told Cageside Press ahead of the bout. “I’m so happy that that’s [injury] behind me now and I had a good camp and it’s time. I’m back, ‘Bam Bam’s’ back,” he stated.
Indeed, Barberena is back, and dare we say with a more assertive swag?
“I’m hoping to go in there and prove my worth and put on an exciting show for the fans. I believe I can compete with anyone on any given day in this division,” Barberena continued, “I’m not out here trying to be like Conor McGregor like everybody else is. I just want to fight, so that exactly what I’m going to do.”
As for the social media naysayers, well, Barberena was clear. “I’m not so much worried about doing all this talking or this stupid shenanigan’s to make some media or whatever. I’m going to go there [Lincoln], and fight and people are going to remember that because I put on a show every time I fight.”
For ‘Bam Bam’ this fight will mark the first time in his career that he is coming off both an injury and a loss. According to Barberena, it doesn’t matter. It’s just another day in the octagon office.
“It sounds cliche or whatever, but it really doesn’t matter that I am coming off a loss and an injury,’ he said. “In this sport there really is never a time when you’re not banged up to some degree, so maybe just the severity of the injury. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because I’m going to get in there and fight. It doesn’t matter who it is.
That attitude is the primary reason why Brian Barberena is one of the most fan-friendly fighters currently on the UFC’s roster.
Don’t miss UFC Fight Night 135. also known as UFC Lincoln Saturday, August 25, 2018, live on Fox Sports 1. Jake Ellenberger will take on Bryan Barberena in a featured main card bout.
