Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt is set to return to the Octagon next month.
After more than a year on the sidelines, Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is scheduled to face Raoni Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) when the UFC returns to Atlanta, Georgia, on June 14.
“No Love” was last seen in action at UFC 300 in April of last year, where he suffered a submission loss to former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The 33-year-old was later matched up with Miles Johns on multiple occasions but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Garbrandt enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom, winning his first ten professional fights—a streak that culminated in a spectacular performance against Dominick Cruz in 2016 to claim the UFC bantamweight title.
He lost the belt in his next outing via knockout to former teammate T.J. Dillashaw and went on to lose four of his next five bouts, marking a dramatic fall from grace.
A pair of victories over Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher in 2023 appeared to signal a resurgence for Garbrandt, but the loss to Figueiredo at UFC 300—and subsequent injury setbacks—stalled that momentum.
Barcelos returns for the first time since his impressive performance at UFC 311 in January, where he dominated previously unbeaten prospect Payton Talbott over three rounds at the Intuit Dome in Anaheim, California. The Brazilian veteran will be aiming for his third straight win when he meets Garbrandt.
The June 14 event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta will be headlined by a high-stakes welterweight clash between former champion Kamaru Usman and surging contender Joaquin Buckley.
The light heavyweight matchup between Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato which was pulled from last weekend’s event at the UFC Apex due to health issues on Bellato’s behalf has also been pencilled in for Atlanta.
Fights Confirmed for UFC Atlanta
- Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley
- Rose Mamajunas vs. Miranda Maverick
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Oumar Sy
- Edmen Shabazyan vs. Andre Petroski
- Cody Brundage vs. Abdul Mansur-Malik
- Michael Chiesa vs. Court McGee
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Raoni Barcelos
- Ricky Simon vs. Charles Jourdain
- Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato
- Jamey-Lyn Horth vs. Tereza Bleda
- Cody Durden vs. Jose Ochoa
- Phil Rowe vs. Ange Loosa
