Payton Talbott looks to be the future, but for a moment in time that projected superstar was put into question by then 37-year-old veteran Raoni Barcelos.
This past January at UFC 311, Barcelos (21-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) was put in a position many fighters fear – to be a stepping stone for a young, rising UFC star. It was a matchup that pit an unbeaten 26-year-old with two consecutive Performance of the Night winning knockouts against Barcelos, who hadn’t fought in almost a year, and had likely saved his UFC job in his last outing after going on 1-4 over a three-year run. The odds for the fight itself painted a picture of little hope for Barcelos, as he entered UFC 311 as a +750 underdog, with Talbott sitting comfortable as a -1200 favorite. Very few were giving the Brazilian a chance.
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But MMA is going to MMA when you least expect it. Against the odds, Barcelos took the fight to Talbott and took him down and controlled him on the ground round after round. It was pure domination, and many were shocked. There was no doubt who the better fighter was that night. Barcelos won a unanimous decision, scoring two 30-27 scorecards and one 30-26.
The nature of the win was key in making this one of the most memorable moments of the year, and MMA Junkie’s 2025 Upset of the Year.
Sure, upsets happen, bit this wasn’t Barcelos going for a sneaky, Hail Mary submission after getting outclassed. This also wasn’t a freak injury or one isolated crucial mistake from Talbott that opened up a window for Barcelos. This was a methodical, well-executed beating for 15 minutes.
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Barcelos clearly still has a good amount of fight left in him, despite nearing 40. In fact, the win over Talbott kicked off an incredible 2025 for him, as Barcelos wet on to win two more fights, setting himself on a very respected four-fight winning streak. We’ll see what other upsets are in store for 2026, but don’t be surprised if Barcelos shocked the MMA world once again, as he continues his campaign to UFC bantamweight title contention.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie’s 2025 Upset of the Year: Barcelos def. Talbott
