Raufeon Stots: We’re the ‘Little Giants’ at Battle of the Giants

Raufeon Stots has been patiently waiting for a return to action after nearly a year away, and he steps back into the cage on Oct. 19. Making his first appearance under the Professional Fighters League banner against Marcos Breno, the longtime Bellator MMA veteran enjoyed his time away but never lost focus on being the best version of himself. In his last appearance, Stots defeated bitter rival Danny Sabatello and since then, the Bellator-PFL merger took place in 2024, and Stots has been waiting for his next call ever since. Speaking to Sherdog.com, Stots said he took the time off to get healthy, stayed consistent with his training, and waited for his opportunity to shine.

“When I say rest, rest from being able to express myself in the cage or use the things that I’ve learned to the height of what I can use it,” Stots said. “I’m growing as a martial artist, that’s my goal every day, so I’m definitely going to be better just from being in the gym all the time. The time has allowed me to grow.”

With the event being billed as “Battle Of The Giants” with a heavyweight main event seeing Francis Ngannou facing reigning PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira. Stots discussed his excitement of sharing a card with that magnitude of names atop the card, and said his fight against Breno will be the “Little Giants” tablesetter to the “Big Giants” in the main event.

“For me to be able to fight underneath him [Ngannou] on a card, it’s pretty spectacular in itself, to be in the presence, or mentioned in the same breath, that’s pretty amazing. I was also thinking my fight is like a Temu version of the Ngannou fight. You got an African [Stots] going up against a Brazilian [Breno] and then you got Francis going up against a Brazilian. We got the little giants, they’re the big giants, we’re the little giants, and we’re coming to put on a show.”

Only having two losses in his professional career, one to reigning Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix and the other reigning UFC bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, Stots would like to get revenge for those losses before his career is over.

“For my MMA career, the two losses I have are against two current world champions, and i would love to fight those guys again. Whatever situation has to happen for that to happen, that’s ultimately what I would love for it to happen. For myself, I think after this if Bellator was still in tact and the bantamweight division was still a thing, I think I'd deserve another championship shot. My first case is because of my tenure and my experience. The second case is because I think my losses are flukes, not because of anything flukey, but because lightning doesn’t strike twice. I would like another crack at a title fight.”

As for his opponent, Breno, Stots says fans should expect fireworks as they set the table for the massive pay-per-view main card.

“He’s a tough Brazilian, he’s a black belt, I feel like he’s a well-rounded fighter. He’s also a power puncher, I’m expecting fireworks from him, he’s a young and hungry guy trying to make a name for himself. I’m someone who is trying to stay at the top so I think it’s going to be a barn-burner. I think this guy is going to come out and let the fists fly and be well-equipped for anything I’m bringing on the ground, so we’re going to have to figure it out. I think he had a lackluster fight in his last fight, so I’m guessing he’s going to come out swinging. I’m expecting a lot of fireworks during the fight.”

No matter what is in store for Stots following the fight against Breno, when his career is over, he wants to be remembered as a fighter who was prepared for anything. “I’d like to be known as a well-rounded, great martial artist. Also, ‘Raufeon can do it all’ I think that’s the lasting effect I want. No matter who the opponent, no matter the circumstances, Raufeon could do it all.”

Stots will look to continue to add to his longtime veteran resume when he steps inside the PFL SmartCage for the first time on Oct. 19. Understanding his placement on this pay-per-view event, and his place in the bantamweight division, he is looking for another crack at a world title and he’s prepared for it all.