Veteran Raoni Barcelos took on Mexican youngster Cristian Quiñonez in a bantamweight contest in UFC Mexico City’s featured preliminary bout.
Although he has gone 1-4 in his last five fights, three of those losses were among the best fights of their cards and has only lost to talented opposition. Raoni started his UFC career with a five-fight winning streak, so his 6-4 record coming into this fight was more than respectable. His well-rounded abilities took on Quiñonez, a violent striker. The gas tank of Barcelos bore watching at elevation, as it has been a weakness in the past. However, he was able to maintain a high pace in the fight into the third round, even finishing the fight in that final stanza.
Raoni chopped Cristian’s leg, failed a takedown, and then rocked the Mexican with a right hand. Quiñonez clinched up in search of his own takedown attempt. Raoni used a judo throw to create space to escape. After some striking Barcelos shot again and landed a single leg. Quiñonez wrestled up to his feet, though and tried to take the back of Barcelos, who grabbed the fence blatantly twice. Holding the back body-lock, Quiñonez refused to let Raoni escape his grasp until the bell ended the round.
Raoni Barcelos said between rounds that his shoulder was out, but his coaches said they popped it back in. Still, it bore watching the rest of the way. The striking was even for much of the round; Quiñonez danced around the outside while Barcelos looked to track him down with punches and leg kicks. Halfway through the round Cristian landed a massive right hand which rocked Barcelos, however Raoni turned the tables with one of his own. As Quiñonez stoof up, Raoni landed a big knee that Quiñonez though was illegal, but the ref said fight on. Quiñonez recovered and stayed in it, but he got hit to the head more and more thereafter. However, the tables turned once again as Barcelos ate two big shots and the fight began to look more and more like a brawl until the end of the round.
The final round began with all to play for. Barcelos stalked his foe again and landed his right a few times one minute in. Raoni caught a kick and dumped Quiñonez to the mat, getting on top and dropping hammerfists before settling in half-guard. Cristian turned and gave up his back in an attempt to get up, but that was a mistake as the black belt Barcelos instantly snatched up a rear-naked choke and forced Quiñonez to tap.
Amidst boos from the Mexican crowd, Barcelos talked in his post-fight interview about overcoming adversity, perhaps alluding to his shoulder that dislocated mid-fight.
Official Result: Raoni Barcelos def. Cristian Quiñonez by Submission (rear-naked choke) Round 3, 2:04
