Bryan Barberena

Bryan Barberena (born May 3, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist formerly fighting in the Middleweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2009, he has also competed for King of the Cage.

Background Barberena was born in Montclair, California, but grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he moved with his parents at a young age. He moved to Arizona during his sophomore year, and attended Prescott High School, where he played football and was a standout as a linebacker.

Barberena's father is originally from Cali, Colombia, and Barberena has stated he feels both American and Colombian. He brings each country's flags to his fights.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Barberena begin his professional mixed martial arts career in late 2009 with an amateur record of 1–0. Over the next five years he trained primarily at the MMA Lab in Arizona and amassed a record of 9–2 for promotions such as Dakota Fighting Championships and King of the Cage; all but one of his wins came before the final bell.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Barberena made his UFC debut in December 2014 when he faced Joe Ellenberger on December 13, 2014, at UFC on Fox 13. He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

In his second fight for the promotion, Barberena faced Chad Laprise at UFC 186. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors.

In his third fight for the promotion, Barberena filled in as a short notice replacement for Andrew Holbrook against Sage Northcutt at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader. With the late change, the matchup was contested at welterweight. Despite being a heavy underdog, Barberena won the bout via choke in the second round.

In his fourth fight for the promotion, Barberena faced Warlley Alves at UFC 198. Once again a substantial underdog, Barberena won the fight by unanimous decision after withstanding the initial storm.

Barberena next faced Colby Covington on December 17, 2016, at UFC on Fox 22. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Barberena next faced Joe Proctor on April 23, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Barberena faced Leon Edwards on September 2, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 115. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Barberena was expected to face Jake Ellenberger on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131. However, on March 23, 2018, Barberena pulled out due to injury. The pairing was rescheduled and took place on August 25, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 135. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.

After having split his training at MMA Lab and Gym-O before Ellenberger fight, Barberena decided to move his camp entirely to Gym-O in Gastonia, North Carolina in order to be closer to his residence near Knoxville, Tennessee. After a back-and-forth two rounds, he lost the fight via TKO late in the third round. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Barberena faced Randy Brown on June 22, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 154. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.

Barberena faced Anthony Ivy on September 12, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 177. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Barberena was expected to face Daniel Rodriguez on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. However, Barberena underwent an emergency laparotomy a week before the event due to "internal bleeding from a couple ruptured arteries in his omentum" and was sidelined indefinitely.

Barberena faced Jason Witt on July 31, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 28. He lost the fight via majority decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Barberena was scheduled to face Matt Brown on December 4, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 31. However, Brown forced out of the bout due to testing positive for COVID-19, and he was replaced by Darian Weeks. Barberena won the fight via unanimous decision.

The bout against Brown was rescheduled and eventually took place on March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33. Barberena won the back-and-forth bout via split decision. The fight was awarded the Fight of the Night award.

Barberena faced Robbie Lawler on July 2, 2022, at UFC 276. He won the back-and-forth bout by TKO in the second round. This fight earned him a Fight of the Night award.

Barberena faced Rafael dos Anjos on December 3, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 42. He lost via neck crank in the second round.

Barbarena, as a replacement for Daniel Rodriguez, faced Gunnar Nelson on March 18, 2023, at UFC 286. He lost the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.

Barbarena faced Makhmud Muradov on July 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Barberena faced Gerald Meerschaert on March 16, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 239. He lost the bout by a rear-naked choke submission at the end of the second round.

Barberena was released from the UFC on March 21, 2024.

Personal life Barberena and his wife Diana have three children.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Five times) & Ranked #7 Upset of the Year MMA Junkie 2019 February Fight of the Month vs. Vicente Luque CBS Sports 2019 #3 Ranked UFC Fight of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Gerald Meerschaert Technical Submission (face crank) UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Makhmud Muradov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura

London, England Loss

Gunnar Nelson Submission (armbar) UFC 286

London, England Loss

Rafael dos Anjos Submission (neck crank) UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland

Orlando, Florida, United States Win

Robbie Lawler TKO (punches) UFC 276

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Matt Brown Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus

Columbus, Ohio, United States Win

Darian Weeks Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jason Witt Decision (majority) UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Anthony Ivy Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Randy Brown TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. The Korean Zombie

Greenville, South Carolina, United States Loss

Vicente Luque TKO (knees and punches) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Jake Ellenberger TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States Loss

Leon Edwards Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve

Rotterdam, Netherlands Win

Joe Proctor TKO (knees and punches) UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Lobov

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Loss

Colby Covington Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Warlley Alves Decision (unanimous) UFC 198

Curitiba, Brazil Win

Sage Northcutt Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Chad Laprise Decision (unanimous) UFC 186

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Win

Joe Ellenberger TKO (punches) UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Eric Moon TKO (punches) KOTC: Radar Lock

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States Win

Damien Hill Submission (rear-naked choke) Dakota FC 17: Winter Brawl 2014

Fargo, North Dakota, United States Win

Marcos Marquez TKO (punches) Dakota FC 16: Fall Brawl 2013

Fargo, North Dakota, United States Win

Dane Sayers Decision (unanimous) Dakota FC 13: Coming Home

Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States Win

Vernon Harrison TKO (punches) Crowbar MMA: Rumble at the Fair

Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States Win

Garrett Olson TKO (punches) KOTC: Mainstream

Morton, Minnesota, United States Loss

Tyler Klejeski Decision (unanimous) Cage Fighting Xtreme

Red Lake, Minnesota, United States Win

David Barnett KO (punches) KOTC: Uppercut

Laughlin, Nevada United States Loss

Derek Smith Submission (armbar) KOTC: Offensive Strategy

Walker, Minnesota, United States Win

Dave Alvarez TKO (punches) The Cage Inc.: Battle at the Border 3

Hankinson, North Dakota, United States Win

Dirk Thiedeman KO (punches) Dakota FC 12

Fargo, North Dakota, United States Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Brandon Rossbach Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Turmoil

Walker, Minnesota, United States