Garbrandt-Barcelos, Simon-Jourdain on Target for UFC Atlanta in June

Two exciting showdowns in the talent-rich Ultimate Fighting Championship's bantamweight division will treat fans next month in Hotlanta.

Raoni Barcelos (19-5) announced on social media on Wednesday that he had been booked against former bantamweight kingpin Cody Garbrandt (14-6) in a battle of divisional stalwarts. The two are set to tangle at UFC Atlanta, also known as UFC on ESPN 69, on June 14 at the State Farm Arena. Additionally, another pair of bantamweights will throw down on the same lineup, as Eurosport NL reported Wednesday night that Ricky Simon (21-6) and Charles Jourdain (16-8-1) will throw down as well. Simon has since confirmed the match on Thursday.

Garbrandt saw a promising win streak built in 2023 come to screeching halt in 2024 when Deiveson Figueiredo tapped him in two rounds at UFC 300. The former beltholder had struggled significantly before beating Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher, surrendering his throne to T.J. Dillashaw and ultimately losing four of his next five. Of note, he did starch Raphael Assuncao in a “Knockout of the Year” candidate only beaten by the sensational spinning back kick from Joaquin Buckley against Impa Kasanganay that same year.

Similar to his opponent, Barcelos fell on hard times from 2021 to 2023, losing four of five. The Brazilian rebounded in a big way by landing his first submission since 2018 when he hit a rear-naked choke on Cristian Quinonez. Perhaps most significantly, Barcelos performed the largest betting upset in the promotion this year by beating undefeated prospect Payton Talbott on the scorecards in January.

Simon put a three-fight skid in the rear-view mirror when he knocked out Javid Basharat in February. Those three losses came to solid talents in Yadong Song, Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira. Before the trio of setbacks, Simon had amassed a five-fight win streak over names including Assuncao and Ray Borg. Jourdain too ended a skid recently when he guillotined Victor Henry at UFC Fight Night 246 in November. The Canadian pushed his overall career finish rate to 87% with that submission.

UFC Atlanta will go down at the State Farm Arena in the capital city of Georgia, with a welterweight headliner in tow as Kamaru Usman collides with Joaquin Buckley. The co-main event comes at 125 pounds between Rose Namajunas and Miranda Maverick. Other featured matchups include a middleweight excursion when Edmen Shahbazyan faces Andre Petroski, and a 205-pound banger as Alonzo Menifield comes to blows with Oumar Sy.