{"id":37457,"date":"2026-03-28T17:23:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T17:23:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Brazilian-Pancrase-champ-eyes-future-bouts-with-Rizin-Dana-Whites-Contender-Series-200635"},"modified":"2026-03-28T17:23:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T17:23:21","slug":"brazilian-pancrase-champ-eyes-future-bouts-with-rizin-dana-whites-contender-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/brazilian-pancrase-champ-eyes-future-bouts-with-rizin-dana-whites-contender-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazilian Pancrase champ eyes future bouts with Rizin, Dana White\u2019s Contender Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Discovered in a social project at age 11, Brazilian Rafael “Coxinha” Barbosa<\/a> won the Pancrase<\/a>
\nlightweight belt on March 14 by knocking out Japanese champion
\nTatsuya
\nSaika<\/a> in his third fight in the organization.<\/p>\n

At only 28 years old, Rafael already has 22 MMA fights (17-5) and
\neven with a contract for three more fights with Pancrase, he
\nalready dreams of fighting in
\nRizin Fighting Federation<\/a> or
\nDana White’s Contender Series<\/a><\/p>\n

“The Pancrase contract allows me to fight in these two events and
\nreturn to defend the belt if I am not signed. So I would really
\nlike this opportunity,” Barbosa told Sherdog.com.<\/p>\n

A black belt in karate and a brown belt in jiu-Jjtsu, Barbosa has
\nlived in Los Angeles since 2023 and trains at California Mixed
\nMartial Arts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI first came to the USA in 2021, invited by Lyoto
\nMachida<\/a> to teach at his academy, but I had to return. In 2023,
\nEddie Soares got me a fight with Mairon [Santos] at LFA in New
\nYork. I barely had time to study who Mairon was. I lost the fight
\nbut decided to stay, and today I teach at Black House, CMMA, and
\nother academies.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Rafael, the training at CMMA is helping him change and
\nimprove his wrestling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWrestling is the strong point here. They have a lot of human
\nmaterial, which has allowed me to evolve a lot in the last three
\nyears,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Topuria\u2019s Kryptonite?<\/h2>\n

Known in karate for his excellent distance control and good reach
\nfor the division, Barbosa believes that reach and distance control
\nare the way to dethrone the current UFC lightweight champion
\nIlia
\nTopuria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cTopuria is champion for a reason, the guy is complete in all
\nareas, but Mauricio
\nRuffy<\/a> brings something he has never faced in MMA \u2014 distance
\ncontrol and reach precision,\u201d Barbosa said. \u201cHe can touch without
\nbeing touched. I consider him the worst matchup for Topuria
\ntoday.\u201d<\/p>\n