Enrique Johnatan Barzola Acosta[1] (born 28 April 1989) is a Peruvian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions of Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA). He was the lightweight winner on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2[5] and he competed in both Bellator MMA and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[2]
Barzola was born in Lima, Peru. He was graphic designer and studied architecture in college briefly prior to fighting professionally in MMA.[2]
Barzola was a wrestler and never thought that he would become a professional fighter, due to money being scarce to pay for MMA lessons. He has enjoyed mixed martial arts from a young age, watching Cain Velasquez and Fedor Emelianenko on YouTube.[6] He transitioned from wrestling to mixed martial arts when he was 22.[2] After six months of training, he announced that he would one day fight in UFC where he was laughed at by his gym mates,[7] and four years later he became the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2".[5]
Barzola began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2012.
While on the regional circuit in South America, he competed primarily in his home country of Peru. He amassed a record of 10-2-1 prior joining UFC.[8]
Barzola was selected as one of the cast members for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2, UFC The Ultimate Fighter TV series, under Team Efrain Escudero in April 2015.[9]
In the elimination round, Barzola defeated the Chilean Jonathan Ortega by unanimous decision.[10] Barzola next faced Paraguayan Cesar Arzamendia in the semifinals and won by submission in round one. He moved on to face Horacio Gultierrez in the finals at UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Gastelum.
Barzola made his promotional debut on 21 November 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He faced Horacio Gutierrez in the finals for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2. He defeated Gutierrez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30–27, 30–27).[5]
He next faced Kyle Bochniak on 27 August 2016 at UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit.[11] He lost via split decision.[12] He stated after the fight that he disagreed with the judges decision saying "It was a very bad decision because everyone saw that I won. I connected more, I was more active and pressed all the time. I will correct some errors without considering this duel as a defeat".[13] 14 out of 14 media scores gave it to Barzola.[14]
His third fight in UFC was against Chris Avila on 5 November 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale.[15] He picked up a win via unanimous decision.[16]
On 13 May 2017, Barzola took up Gabriel Benítez at UFC 211.[17] After three rounds, judges awarded the win to Barzola via unanimous decision with (29-28) across the score board.[18]
Barzola faced Arnold Allen at UFC 220 on 20 January 2018.[19] However, Allen was pulled from the fight on 11 January due to alleged visa issues which restricted his ability to travel, and he was replaced by Matt Bessette.[20] Barzola won the fight by unanimous decision.[21]
Barzola faced Brandon Davis on 19 May 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129.[22] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[23]
Barzola was expected to face Nad Narimani on 17 November 2018 at UFC Fight Night 140.[24] However, on 25 October 2018, it was reported that Barzola pulled out of the fight due to arm injury.[25]
Barzola faced Kevin Aguilar on 30 March 2019 at UFC on ESPN 2.[26] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[27]
Barzola faced Bobby Moffett on 10 August 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 14.[28] He won the fight via split decision.[29] 7 out of 12 media scores gave it to Barzola.[30]
Barzola faced Movsar Evloev on 26 October 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 20.[31] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[32] 4 out of 9 media scores gave it to Barzola.[33]
Barzola faced Rani Yahya on 14 March 2020 at UFC Fight Night 170.[34] After a back-and-forth three rounds, the judges declared the bout a majority draw decision.[35]
After fighting out his four-year and 10-fight contract, he was not re-signed and became a free agent.[36][37]
On 11 August 2021, it was announced that Barzola signed a multifight contract with Bellator.[38]
Barzola made his promotional debut against Darrion Caldwell on January 29, 2022, at Bellator 273.[39] He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the third round.[40]
Barzola was scheduled to face Josh Hill on April 22, 2022, at Bellator 278.[41] Due to the pull out of two fighters from the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix due to injuries, the bout was changed to a wild card qualifier for one of the spots in the tournament.[42] Due to Covid, Hill had to pull out of the bout and was replaced by Nikita Mikhailov.[43][44] He won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision.[45]
Barzola faced Magomed Magomedov in the quarterfinals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix on June 24, 2022, at Bellator 282.[45] He lost the bout via guillotine choke in the fourth round, losing for the first time via stoppage in his career.[46]
Barzola faced Juan Archuleta on October 1, 2022, at Bellator 286.[47] At weigh ins, the bout was moved to a catchweight of 141 pounds.[48] In a fast-paced bout, Barzola lost the bout via unanimous decision.[49]
Barzola faced Érik Pérez on March 10, 2023, at Bellator 292.[50] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[51]
Barzola faced Jaylon Bates on August 11, 2023, at Bellator 298.[52] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[53]
In his PFL debut, Barzola faced Ádám Borics on April 19, 2024 at PFL 3 (2024).[54] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[55]
Barzola next faced Timur Khizriev at PFL 6 (2024) on June 28, 2024, losing the fight via unanimous decision.[56]
Barzola faced Tyler Diamond on August 23, 2024 at PFL 9.[57] He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Barzola's moniker "El Fuerte" means "The Fort / The Strong" in English and he considers himself as "The Fort of El Agustino" (El Agustino, a district of Lima) - a humble person who fights for his dream.[59]
Barzola appeared in the Reebok "Be More Human" Latin America advertising campaign.[60][61]
His favorite fighter is Stipe Miocic.[62]
He is also a Christian, and nicknames himself "Guerrero de Cristo" (Warrior for Christ), as this nickname is also written on a Peruvian flag that is usually shown in the cage.[63]
| 34 matches | 23 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 0 |
| By submission | 6 | 1 |
| By decision | 12 | 8 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 23–9–2 | Marat Balaev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ACA 190 | August 15, 2025 | 3 | 1:25 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 22–9–2 | Kafiz Sakibekov | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | ACA 187 | June 6, 2025 | 3 | 1:03 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 21–9–2 | Tyler Diamond | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 9 (2024) | August 23, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Washington, D.C., United States | 2024 PFL Featherweight Tournament Alternate bout. |
| Loss | 20–9–2 | Timur Khizriev | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 6 (2024) | June 28, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Loss | 20–8–2 | Ádám Borics | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 3 (2024) | April 19, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 20–7–2 | Jaylon Bates | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 298 | August 11, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 19–7–2 | Érik Pérez | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 292 | March 10, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Loss | 18–7–2 | Juan Archuleta | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 286 | October 1, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | Catchweight (141 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 18–6–2 | Magomed Magomedov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 282 | June 24, 2022 | 4 | 1:27 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 18–5–2 | Nikita Mikhailov | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 278 | April 22, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Wild Card Qualifier. |
| Win | 17–5–2 | Darrion Caldwell | TKO (punches and elbows) | Bellator 273 | January 29, 2022 | 3 | 3:01 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Draw | 16–5–2 | Rani Yahya | Draw (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira | March 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | Bantamweight debut. |
| Loss | 16–5–1 | Movsar Evloev | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren | October 26, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 16–4–1 | Bobby Moffett | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 | August 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Loss | 15–4–1 | Kevin Aguilar | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje | March 30, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 15–3–1 | Brandon Davis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Santiago, Chile | |
| Win | 14–3–1 | Matt Bessette | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 220 | January 20, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 13–3–1 | Gabriel Benítez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 211 | May 13, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 12–3–1 | Chris Avila | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson | November 5, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Loss | 11–3–1 | Kyle Bochniak | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit | August 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 11–2–1 | Horacio Gutierrez | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum | November 21, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Monterrey, Mexico | Won The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2 Lightweight Tournament. |
| Win | 10–2–1 | Fernando Perez | TKO (punches) | Peru FC 18 | September 6, 2014 | 2 | 4:36 | Lima, Peru | |
| Loss | 9–2–1 | Martin Mollinedo | Decision (unanimous) | Fusion FC 9 | July 16, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 9–1–1 | Manuel Meza | Decision (unanimous) | Inka FC 26 | May 24, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 8–1–1 | Humberto Bandenay | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Inka FC 25 | April 16, 2014 | 2 | N/A | Lima, Peru | |
| Loss | 7–1–1 | Fernando Bruno | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta 5 Grand Prix | February 4, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | 300 Sparta Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinal. |
| Win | 7–0–1 | Marco Anatoly | TKO (punches) | 2 | N/A | 300 Sparta Featherweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. | |||
| Win | 6–0–1 | Missael Silva de Souza | TKO (punches) | Show Fighting Enterprise 2 | November 30, 2013 | 2 | 2:25 | Quito, Ecuador | |
| Win | 5–0–1 | Joel Iglesias | TKO (punches) | Inka FC 24 | October 23, 2013 | 2 | 3:29 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 4–0–1 | Jorge Enciso | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 300 Sparta MMA 4 | October 10, 2013 | 1 | 0:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Draw | 3–0–1 | Gonzalo Vallejo | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta MMA 2 | July 17, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 3–0 | Emiliano Nielli | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Inka FC 21 | May 19, 2013 | 3 | 0:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jorge Luis Figueroa Duran | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta MMA 1 | April 24, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 1–0 | Arturo Frias | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Inka FC 19 | December 12, 2012 | 1 | 2:28 | Lima, Peru | Featherweight debut. |
