Marcio Barbosa vs. Ryan Kuse
UFC Fight Night · August 22, 2026 · Golden 1 Center · Prelims 5:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Power vs. power
- Finish likelihood
- Very High
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Featherweight · Prelims
The read
Both featherweights finish fights far more often than not, so a fight that reaches the scorecards would be a mild surprise for either camp.
Barbosa has looked fast and sharp in his early UFC look, while Kuse arrives with real regional pedigree but the biggest step up in competition of his career. If Barbosa's speed and accuracy show up early, this could end quickly; if Kuse survives the opening exchanges, his own power keeps him live throughout.
Expect an aggressive pace and a finish inside two rounds.
The matchup
Barbosa is the far more accomplished finisher, with eleven knockouts among his eighteen career wins and a first-round finish in his UFC debut, while Kuse is a hard-nosed regional veteran making the jump to the UFC on short notice after Danny Silva's withdrawal.
Both men prefer to end fights early and rarely see the judges' scorecards, so a long fight here would be a surprise for either camp.
The gap in competition level favors Barbosa, but Kuse's power and volume give him a puncher's chance in the opening minutes.
Tale of the tape
| 18-2 | Record | 9-2 |
| 28 | Age | 31 |
| 5'6" | Height | 5'9" |
| 70.5" | Reach | — |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| Brazil | Country | United States |
| Giants Team | Team | Goat Shed Academy |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Marcio Barbosa 18-2
“Ticoto”
Marcio 'Ticoto' Barbosa is a 28-year-old Brazilian featherweight out of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro who trains with Giants Team under coach Rafael Araujo. He rides a five-fight winning streak into Sacramento, capped by a first-round knockout of Dennis Buzukja in his UFC debut in April 2026 after winning his contract with a first-round finish on the 2025 Contender Series. Eleven of his eighteen career wins have come by knockout. His original opponent, Danny Silva, withdrew after being hospitalized with a sudden pulmonary embolism, and Barbosa now faces UFC newcomer Ryan Kuse instead.
- WDennis Buzukja · KO (punch)UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Malott · April 18, 2026
- WDamon Wilson · KO/TKODana White's Contender Series · August 26, 2025
- WFelipe Oliveira · KO/TKOLFA 197 · November 22, 2024
Ryan Kuse 9-2
“Third Street Savage”
Ryan 'Third Street Savage' Kuse is a Miami-area featherweight with a 9-2 record built largely on the Florida regional circuit, most notably a long run with Titan FC, and he now trains at Goat Shed Academy. Six of his nine career wins have come by knockout, fitting the relentless forward pressure of the style he has long been known for. He steps in on short notice for the injured Danny Silva to make his UFC debut against Marcio Barbosa in Sacramento.
- WLeandro Camargo · TKO (punches)Samurai Fight House 28 · April 5, 2026
- WKevin Natividad · Decision (unanimous)LFA 220 · October 25, 2025
- LCameron Smotherman · Decision (split)Fury Fighting Championship 89 · April 21, 2024