LAS VEGAS – Bryan Barberena is stoked for the opportunity to fight a legend like Robbie Lawler.
Barberena (17-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) meets Lawler (29-15 MMA, 14-9 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC 276 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “Bam Bam” is coming off a big win over Matt Brown, but sees former welterweight champion Lawler as his biggest opportunity to date.
“Doesn’t get much better than this,” Barberena told reporters Wednesday at UFC 276 media day. “This is everything I wanted. The other one was a dream fight. This is THE dream fight. This is the No. 1 slot fight that I wanted, so it’s right there. It’s huge.”
Barberena’s fan-friendly style has resulted in four Fight of the Night bonuses, so going up against a battle-tested veteran like Lawler, he guarantees fireworks.
“I’m going to get hit,” Barberena said. “He’s going to hit me, and it’s probably going to be as hard as he can, and that’s awesome. I love it. He’s probably going to try and take my head off, and I love that, too, because I’m going to try and take his head off and give it right back just as hard, if not harder.
“I’m going to go out there and put on a performance. That’s my goal for this fight is to go out there and put on a performance – put a real stamp on it. If not, it’s definitely going to be Fight of the Night. You can count on my end. I’m going to come on and bring it, and I’m pretty positive he’s going to bring it.”
UFC 276 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Check out the full media day interview with Barberena in the video above.
Bryan Barberena says Robbie Lawler ‘THE dream fight’ for him: ‘Doesn’t get much better than this’
