After securing two significant victories in 2023, Marc-Andre Barriault was on the verge of facing a higher level of competition, a bout that could potentially elevate his standing in the UFC’s middleweight division. This opportunity came in the form of a matchup against Michel Pereira. However, despite the significance of this booking, Barriault, unfortunately, had to withdraw from the scheduled fight.
Marc-Andre Barriault provided an explanation for his withdrawal from the fight against Michel Pereira, citing an old rib injury that forced him to pull out three weeks before the scheduled bout in October. Despite attempting to push through the injury during the fight camp, Barriault found it challenging to continue, as both his physical and mental condition were not optimal.
Even though it was a difficult decision for the Canadian fighter to withdraw from the opportunity, the UFC reassured him that significant plans were in progress. Moreover, Barriault admitted that he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the style matchup in the originally scheduled fight.
Marc-Andre Barriault shared that after informing the UFC about his injury, two weeks later, they approached him with the possibility of rescheduling the fight for January. Despite the challenge posed by Pereira’s unique and unpredictable fighting style, Barriault saw it as a 50/50 option, considering the former top 15 welterweight’s reputation and the difficulty in replicating his style during training.
Fortunately, Marc-Andre Barriault received a new opportunity, and this time, he is set to face Chris Curtis, the #14 ranked middleweight globally. The added bonus is that the fight will take place on the first pay-per-view event of the new year and in Canada. Barriault not only appreciates the second chance for a significant fight but also views Curtis as a more manageable option in terms of game planning and being able to execute his preferred style of fighting.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Marc-Andre Barriault stated, “My first thought was ‘oh yeah – I want this fight.’ That’s my ticket to the top 15.” Recognizing Chris Curtis as a seasoned veteran who has faced top competition, Barriault sees the matchup as a recipe for excitement. Describing himself as the “Powerbar” and Curtis as the “Actionman,” Barriault anticipates their clash to be a thrilling encounter that could propel him into the top 15 rankings.
Marc-Andre Barriault’s bout against Chris Curtis is scheduled to be part of the main card for the ESPN+ pay-per-view event this Saturday. The main card is set to commence at 10 pm EST.
