Preview: UFC Fight Night 199 Prelims

Bantamweights

NR | Raoni Barcelos (16-2, 5-1 UFC) vs. NR | Victor Henry (21-5, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Barcelos (-310), Henry (+255)

Barcelos’ UFC career seems absolutely snakebit. An under-the-radar signing in 2017, Barcelos immediately went about making himself known as a prospect to watch, running over opponents with a combination of powerful striking and grappling that made for some exciting bouts. Given that the Brazilian was already a seasoned pro in his 30s, it stood to reason that Barcelos should get fast-tracked to bantamweight relevance; the UFC apparently agreed, but the fates intervened. Over the course of 2020 and 2021, bouts against Cody Stamann, Merab Dvalishvili and Raphael Assuncao all fell through due to various reasons, leaving Barcelos to face Timur Valiev—another fighter whose talent greatly outstripped his reputation. That was where Barcelos’ winning streak finally game to an end. Barcelos depends on feeling out his opponents early and taking over the fight over time, but against Valiev, he never quite got out of the gate and suffered a narrow decision loss. Barcelos looks to rebound here, though naturally he gets another late opponent change, as he faces a promotional newcomer. Henry now has over a decade under his belt as a pro fighter, putting together a globetrotting career best known for multiple stints in Japan, where he competed for both Pancrase and Rizin Fighting Federation in recent years. As a result, “La Mangosta” has a well-rounded style that remains consistently dangerous. While Henry is most proficient on the mat, he is also capable of connecting with some knockout power. With that said, Barcelos seems like a particularly tough first entry. Durability is the least of the Brazilian’s concerns, and he has a clear horsepower advantage over Henry that should help guide him through some early trouble as he looks to apply pressure. Henry’s veteran wiles should allow him to survive three rounds, but the pick is Barcelos via clear decision.

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