MMA News

Tag: Bryan Barberena

  • Green vs. Haqparast Set For UFC 271, Brown vs. Barberena Rebooked For Columbus

    Two fights including UFC veterans have been added to the upcoming schedule of events with live crowds.

    Brown Rebooked Against Barberena Re-Booked For Hometown Event

    Matt Brown
    Image Credit: USA Today Sports

    Matt Brown’s previously attempted fight against Bryan Barberena is back on the schedule, and it is set to happen in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, USA. The matchup is set to happen on March 26th, per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.

    Brown was previously booked to face Barberena on a December “Fight Night” card. That fight didn’t come to fruition, as a positive COVID-19 test forced Brown out of the lineup. They were still able to find Barberena an opponent for that event, as he beat UFC debutant Darian Weeks on scorecards.

    Brown is riding the momentum of a finish win he earned against Dhiego Lima in June. The loss put him back to his winning ways for the first time since 2019. He entered the bout on a two-fight losing streak, including an early 2021 bout against fellow veteran Carlos Condit.

    Green vs. Haqparast Scheduled For UFC 271

    Bobby Green
    Bobby Green (Photo: Getty Images)

    The always-active Bobby Green will return for his first fight of the new year at UFC 271, facing Nasrat Haqparast in a lightweight bout. The matchup was first reported on Thursday by Walter Salcido.

    Green finished his year on a high note in November, putting away Al Iaquinta in the first round with punches. This performance snapped a two-fight skid for the veteran, which included a tough three-round battle against the rising Rafael Fiziev.

    Haqparast will be aiming to return to the win column in this fight. He lost his last fight on scorecards, going three rounds against Dan Hooker at UFC 266. Haqparast was on a strong two-fight winning streak before then, handing UFC newcomers Alex Munoz and Rafa Garcia both their first loss.

    Do you have a prediction for Green vs. Haqparast and/or Brown vs. Barberena?

  • Bryan Barberena Says, Unlike Nate Diaz, He’s Willing To Fight Anybody

    Bryan Barberena says that, unlike Nate Diaz, he is a true embodiment of what it means to be willing to fight anyone, anytime.

    Prior to this past weekend’s UFC Vegas 44 card, Bryan Barberena was scheduled to face UFC legend Matt Brown in a fight that carried massive Fight of the Night potential. Unfortunately, a COVID-19 contraction forced Brown to withdraw only two weeks out from the brawl. Undeterred, Barberena flew out to Vegas anyway, willing to fight literally anyone the UFC put in front of him.

    That person turned out to be the debuting Darian Weeks. After a rocky start, Barberena was able to break down the 28-year-old upstart en route to a unanimous decision victory. This short-notice free-for-all served as another example of Barberena’s identity as a throwback fighter who is always down to scrap, no questions asked.

    Dave Mandel
    Image Credit: Dave Mandel of Sherdog.com

    The same has often been said of Stockton legend Nate Diaz. Like Barberena, Diaz is often praised for his toughness and his non-discriminating willingness to scrap, regardless of the name or location. However, after Diaz publicly refused to fight “rookie” Khamzat Chimaev, Barberena is more confused by Diaz’s behavior than anything, while he is the one who is truly down to fight anyone (h/t MMA Junkie).

    “I will fight anybody. Nate Diaz, he’s a stud and whatever, but he’s over here like ‘(Khamzhat) Chimaev, you don’t deserve to fight me.’ Man, I’m here to fight everybody. If your name comes on the contract, I’m signing it. I don’t care whose name is on it – I’m signing it because I’m here to fight everybody. … I’m here to test myself against everybody. Bring it on,” Barberena said during his UFC Vegas 44 post-fight media scrum.

    Barberena isn’t the only one to throw shade at Diaz for his rejection of Chimaev. Conor McGregor called Diaz a “bitch” for turning down the fight, and Dana White implied that Diaz simply wants no part of Chimaev.

    As for Barberena, the top name he’d be willing to fight next is the same name he expected to fight last Saturday, another “anywhere, anytime” kind of guy, fellow veteran Matt Brown.

    “I would like to get the Matt Brown matchup back,” Barberena said. “That was kind of a dream matchup. He’s a legend.”