Raul Rosas Jr. Reflects on Scary UFC Vegas 121 Finish Against Raoni Barcelos: 'I Didn't Know if He Died'
Rosas Recalls Harrowing Ending at UFC Vegas 121
Raul Rosas Jr. remembered the frightening conclusion of his UFC Vegas 121 fight against Raoni Barcelos on Saturday night. At just 21 years old, Rosas secured his first UFC main event victory by knocking out the veteran Barcelos in the fifth round. The knockout was officially recorded as a slam knockout, but the moment took a darker turn when Barcelos appeared to lose consciousness before even hitting the mat.
Barcelos, aged 39, had to be carried out on a stretcher and was rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, the UFC later confirmed he was stable, alert, responsive, and able to move all limbs.
Initial Shock and Concern
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show the day after, Rosas shared his immediate feelings about what happened. "For a second, I didn't know if he died," Rosas said. "But once I calmed down and checked that he was breathing, I felt more at ease. Still, I prayed he would wake up and be with his family."
The unsettling ending cast a shadow over what was considered one of the year's best fights. Rosas admitted that although the outcome was scary, he was proud of his effort. "He'll probably be sad about losing, but I think he'll appreciate how hard we both fought. We gave it everything to win that night," he said.
Follow-Up and Fight Analysis
Rosas mentioned he reached out to Barcelos but hadn't heard back yet. Barcelos reportedly regained consciousness quickly and could move his arms and legs. Statements have since come from Barcelos and his coaching team.
The bantamweight battle lasted five grueling rounds, and Rosas remains unsure exactly why the fight ended so abruptly. "From my perspective, I didn’t land a head strike," he explained. "You can see it on video, and I reviewed the replay myself. I want to know if he remembers what happened." Barcelos was on Rosas’ back during the fourth round, attempting a submission while gasping for air himself. Rosas said Barcelos seemed tired and wobbly heading into the final round.
Rosas pushed harder in the last round, thinking Barcelos' body might have simply shut down from exhaustion. Before the takedown that ended the fight, Rosas recalled landing a light punch but doubted it caused the knockout. "When I grabbed him, he felt so weak. I had a feeling I already won," Rosas shared. He realized afterward that Barcelos was likely unconscious even before hitting the ground.
Judging and Pressure in Final Round
Despite the finish, Barcelos was ahead on all three judges' scorecards and would have won by decision. One judge even scored the fourth round 10-8 in Barcelos' favor.
"I was behind going into the fifth, but I wasn’t focused on scores," Rosas explained. "I thought I won round one, round two was close, and Barcelos dominated rounds three and four. So maybe it was tied 2-2. I figured he’d win if it went to the judges because of the fourth round. That’s why I knew I had to finish the fight."
Rosas' Career Milestone
This victory improved Rosas’ UFC record to 7-1 and his overall MMA record to 13-1. Since joining the UFC at 18 years old in late 2018, this marks his second win over a ranked opponent. The young fighter continues to prove himself in the bantamweight division.
