UFC Columbus will feature Bryan Barberena taking on hometown fighter Matt Brown in what promises to be a fun fight for fans — but there’s a lot more going on for Barberena than just fighting.
Bryan Barberena has a different gig outside of the fight game. While the welterweight will return at UFC Columbus later this month, away from mixed martial arts, he runs a working farm.
“About four years ago, almost five, I decided to leave Phoenix and start a farm in east Tennessee. I was passionate about changing my lifestyle and thought a farm would be it,” Barberena told Cageside Press in an exclusive interview recently. “I wanted my kids to experience that while they were young.”
It’s not just planting a few vegetables and calling it a day, either. “We got cows, goats, chickens, we’ve had a calf operation. It’s just a family thing. The help we do have is some family. All my neighbors have been huge help,” Barberena shared regarding finding his own by being a farmer.
Then there’s another pastime, gaming. “I play a little bit of everything. I was on Twitch, I’m on Facebook stream now. Mainly I pay [Call of Duty] Warzone because a lot of people I know are on there. I play Halo occasionally. That’s always fun. I mix it up and play Roblox with my kids. It gives me a way to interact with my kids while I’m at camp.”
UFC Columbus marks the second time that Barberena has been scheduled to fight Matt Brown. The pair were supposed to face off in December; Brown would later test positive for COVID-19, forcing him out of the fight. Darian Weeks stepped in as a replacement, with Barberena cruising to a decision.
The fight against Brown will be in “The Immortal’s” backyard of Columbus, Ohio. Home town favorite or not, Barberena thinks he’ll get it done inside the distance.
“I think it ends in a finish. We’re both going to go in there and try to finish from the start of the bell,” Barberena shared when asked for his prediction for fight night. “If one of us doesn’t go down, I think it’s going to be a Fight of the Year contender. I’m definitely not looking to put this onto a Fight of the Year candidate though. I’m looking to go in there for performance and really stand out.”
Watch our full interview with UFC Columbus’s Bryan Barberena above. The event takes place Saturday, March 26th, 2022 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
