With a combined professional MMA experience of nearly two decades, James Barnes and Pedro Falcao will finally get their big chances on Oct. 19.
The pair of featherweight fighters are set to square off at Dana White’s Contender Series 44 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event will serve as the eighth installment of the series’ fifth season.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Barnes (14-4) has spent time in a handful of notable MMA promotions. Since his professional debut in 2014, Barnes competed five times in Bellator where he went 2-3. He also competed twice for Golden Boy MMA – and won both of those fights. “Mooka” rides a three-fight winning streak into the event.
Falcao (14-3) has won eight of his most recent nine fights, including a victory over Bellator alumnus Ilarde Santos. The 29-year-old Brazilian fighter currently rides a three-fight winning streak that includes two first-round knockouts in a combined 2:24.
With the addition, the DWCS 44 lineup includes:
- James Barnes vs. Pedro Falcao
- Valesca Machado vs. Piera Rodriguez
- Kaloyan Kolev vs. Armen Petrosyan
- Caio Borralho vs. Jesse Murray
- Johnny Parsons vs. Solomon Renfro
