Raul Rosas Jr. secures fifth-round KO at UFC Vegas 121

Some good news has emerged following a terrifying end to UFC Vegas 121. Raoni Barcelos was stretchered out of the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, following a bizarre and downright terrifying finish to his main event fight against Raul Rosas Jr. tonight (Sat., Sept. 26, 2026). Thankfully, the first update on the 39-year-old Brazilian […]

Pros react to the scary ending of Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Raoni Barcelos

Raul Rosas Jr. beat Raoni Barcelos | (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Raoni Barcelos left UFC Vegas 121 on a stretcher in one of the scariest scenes in UFC history. On Saturday night, Barcelos took on Raul Rosas Jr. in the main event of UFC Vegas 121. It was Barcelos’ first UFC main event, and it was going extremely well for him, with Barcelos up on all three judges’ scorecards heading into the fifth round. But then, disaster struck. In the fifth round, Rosas complete a takedown on Barcelos against the fence, and then after posturing up and landing a shot, Rosas stepped off the unmoving Barcelos, securing a KO win. Barcelos was immediately seen to by medical officials but remained on the ground for a long time, with the production team not even showing him. Even after multiple replays, it’s still unclear exactly what happened to Barcelos, who was stretchered out of the APEX and the MMA community has him in their thoughts, reacting to the terrifying scene. Thoughts and prayers out to Raoni Barcelos ! 🙏🙏amazing fight but scary ending. — Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) September 27, 2026 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Thats some scary stuff!!!! — Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) September 27, 2026 What happened??? What heart from Rosas! — Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 27, 2026 Is Barcelos up? That was scary man — Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) September 27, 2026 That was a scary ending. Prayers up for Barcelos 🙏🙏 — Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) September 27, 2026 I hope it’s not a spinal/neck injury #UFCVegas121 — Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) September 27, 2026 I think there’s a chance Barcelos literally had a heart attack after fighting at that pace for 5 rounds — Zac Pauga (@ZacPauga) September 27, 2026 I hope Raoni getting well — Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 27, 2026 He was gasping for air in the 4th round on Rosa’s back I think the body just couldn’t take that pace. — Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 27, 2026 Was it an Unintentional headbutt during the takedown that koed Barcelos? Weird ending — Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) September 27, 2026 That was a crazy fight. Feel bad to see a fellow fighter leave on a stretcher. Hope he’s alright. Fight of the night for sure! — Aiemann Zahabi (@Aiemannzahabi) September 27, 2026 My personal dumb option. Seems like his head collided with Rosas at the exact moment of the takedown resulting in a flash knockdown and also a possible cardiac arrest given his body was under an extreme stress/lack of oxygen, followed by the blow to the head. Reminded me of… https://t.co/OKHWK1Emtq — #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) September 27, 2026

The Fight of the Night at UFC Fight Night 289 was a banger – and ended in a scary way.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Raul Rosas Jr. reacts after a victory against Raoni Barcelos of Brazil in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on September 26, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) The UFC Vegas 121 main event was one of the best fights of the year, but ended in scary fashion. Raul Rosas Jr. and Raoni Barcelos competed in their first UFC headliners on Saturday at the Meta APEX. After four wild rounds, the fifth round is when the fight stopped after Rosas landed a takedown, and Barcelos went unconscious and limp. Check out the way the fight ended below. RAUL ROSAS ends it in RD 5 @RaulRosasJr8 | #UFCVegas121 pic.twitter.com/LLGX1zrVxy — UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2026 The fight was action packed through the first two rounds with Rosas coming out guns blazing early, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at his veteran opponent. Barcelos began to close the cap, and used that momentum in the second round — landing nearly 60 significant strikes in the round as Rosas visibly began to slow down. Round 3 was back and forth with Barcelos getting a nasty foot sweep takedown and dominant back position. Rosas was able to sweep, get top control, and land some good ground and pound. But Barcelos got back up and continued to pile up damage and fatigue numbers on the Rosas side. In the fourth, it was all Barcelos, delivering a pillar-to-post beating on the feet and on the ground to Rosas, nearly finishing the fight on multiple occasions. But in the fifth, Rosas went for it knowing he needed a finish, then landed the takedown that ended the fight. With multiple replays, it was hard to see what actually knocked Barcelos out, but he was stretchered out of the APEX. After the win, Rosas put over Barcelos for his toughness, called for a bonus, and asked for the top-seven opponent.

Raul Rosas Jr. had a wild comeback win

Raul Rosas Jr. won an absolute barn burner last night (Sat., Sept. 26, 2026) at UFC Vegas 121 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, stunning bantamweight veteran Raoni Barcelos with a fifth-round knockout that left the Brazilian on a stretcher. All in all, this main event clash was an absolute […]

Raul Rosas Jr. came away with the knockout win against Raoni Barcelos at UFC Vegas 121.

The UFC Fight Night 289 main event ended in a scary scene.

UFC Vegas 121 is in the books, with a spectacular performance from Raul Rosas Jr against Raoni Barcelos capping off the night.

Raoni Barcelos vs. Raul Rosas Jr. squared off in a Bantamweight bout earlier tonight (Sat., Sept. 26, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC Vegas 121. In the year’s most frightening finish, Rosas Jr. stopped Barcelos in round five. The two grapplers didn’t wait long to begin trading shots. Rosas Jr. was […]

Raul Rosas Jr. needed a finish in the final round. He got a bizarre one.

Raul Rosas Jr. scored a dramatic fifth-round knockout of Raoni Barcelos in his first UFC main event, extending his winning streak to six at UFC Vegas 121.