RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Jose Aldo defended his UFC featherweight throne against Frankie Edgar more than six years ago at UFC 156, and that trip to Las Vegas was unforgettable not only for the Brazilian star, but even more so for a promising athlete named Raoni Barcelos.
Barcelos has been viewed as a MMA prospect ever since his professional debut in 2012. The son of jiu-jitsu master Larte Barcelos and a protege of Pedro Rizzo, Barcelos collected jiu-jitsu medals since an early age in Brazil before making the transition to MMA.