Marcelo Rojo offers to step in and face Raoni Barcelos at UFC Fight Night 186

With Raoni Barcelos needing an opponent for UFC Fight Night 186, Marcelo Rojo says he’s more than willing to answer the call and make his octagon debut on short notice.

Currently a free agent, the Combate Americas veteran is ready for a jump up in competition and says stepping in to face the surging UFC bantamweight contender would be the ideal way to introduce himself to the big stage.

Barcelos (16-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) was originally scheduled to face Raphael Assuncao at the event, but now needs an opponent after Assuncao was forced out due to undisclosed reasons. With no word on Barcelos’ next opponent, Rojo (16-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC) thinks he’d be the perfect replacement.

“I think we make a great matchup for entertainment,” Rojo told MMA Junkie. “We’re both aggressive fighters, and I think that’s gonna make it great. I came here to fight and that’s what you get when you are in a cage with me.”

The Argentine got a brief taste of the UFC in 2016 when he took part in Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America.” Competing at lightweight during the show, Rojo made it to the semifinals before getting eliminated by Claudio Puelles. He subsequently joined Combate Americas and went 6-2 with the promotion, with all of his wins coming inside the distance.

Rojo, who currently trains at Entram gym in Tijuana, Mexico with the likes of UFC flyweight contender Brandon Moreno and Jose Quinonez, recently obtained his work visa for the U.S. and is hopeful that he can achieve his goal of competing in the octagon.

“Of course, being in the UFC is my dream since I started this beautiful sport,” Rojo said. “I’m training hard and learning every day trying to make it a reality. I hope I get a chance to prove it.”