If you were to look up the term “tough out” in the Encyclopedia of Mixed Martial Arts Words & Phrases, chances are you would find a picture of Bryan Barberena staring back at you, smiling, with a few cuts and bruises and maybe even a little swelling accentuating his bearded face.
Aptly nicknamed “Bam Bam,” the 29-year-old has made eight appearances in the Octagon, winning five, losing three while leaving everyone he’s shared the cage with talking about the overall grittiness of the guy that just gave them one of the most challenging nights of their careers.
After beginning his UFC tenure by splitting a pair of fights at lightweight, including a Fight of the Night-winning battle against Chad Laprise at UFC 186, Barberena relocated to welterweight, where he has posted a 4-2 mark, registering three stoppage wins and handing Warlley Alves the first loss of his professional career.