UFC’s Barnatt on Muñoz: ‘Size matters’

MANILA, Philippines – Luke Barnatt believes that his size advantage will play a pivotal role when he steps into the Octagon with Mark Muñoz at UFC Fight Night 66 on Saturday, May 16.

The 26-year-old English middleweight plans to use his length and height to spoil the Filipino-American fighter’s homecoming bout, which Muñoz declares will be the last fight in his career.

“It’s pretty obvious that I have height and length,” Barnatt boasted during the open workout at SM Mall of Asia’s Music Hall in Pasay City, Metro Manila on Wednesday, May 13.

Barnatt stands 6-foot-6 and has a reach of 82 inches, which gives Muñoz a disadvantage in height by six inches and in length from fist to armpit by 11 inches.

“Bigslow” confided that he is not bothered with the fact that most Filipino combat-adoring hooligans will be rooting for Muñoz on fight night, which takes place at the 20,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena.

Luke Barnatt talks about how he will overcome the crowd in his fight vs hometown favorite Mark Muñoz #UFCManila pic.twitter.com/sdiZ8GIhE7

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) May 13, 2015

“I am not going to zone out. It doesn’t matter if they will cheer or boo. It’s all energy. The more they are into the fight, the more pumped up I get,” Barnatt said.

Even though the hometown crowd will be trying to give his opponent encouragement to sport his best foot in his last hurrah, Barnatt also stressed that he would like to test Munoz’s mental acuity at the final stage of his professional mixed martial arts run.

“Mark has been in the UFC longer than I have been doing MMA. He is a bit older and revered. This is his retirement fight, and I am not sure if it’s wise. Being in the Philippines might give him a little extra, but I will find out,” he stated. – Rappler.com