LAS VEGAS — A thrilling UFC main event took a terrifying turn Saturday night when veteran bantamweight Raoni Barcelos collapsed unconscious after a late takedown and had to be carried from the cage on a stretcher.
Raul Rosas Jr. was awarded a TKO victory at 1:38 of round 5 after slamming Barcelos to the canvas at Meta APEX. Referee Herb Dean immediately waved off the bout as the 39-year-old Brazilian lay motionless. Medical staff rushed in, and Barcelos was later transported to a local hospital.
The finish stunned the crowd. Barcelos had been ahead on all three scorecards entering the final round of a back-and-forth war. He held the edge in significant strikes and had repeatedly taken the younger fighter down. Then Rosas, 21, hit an inside trip. Barcelos went limp on the way to the mat. Replays were inconclusive about whether his head or neck struck the fence.
Rosas, nicknamed “El Niño Problema,” immediately asked fans to pray.“I want everybody tonight to please pray for Raoni Barcelos,” the Mexican prospect said in the cage. “He’s a warrior. It takes two to tango.”The official result was listed as a KO by slam. Barcelos, a 22-6 veteran ranked No. 13 at 135 pounds, had won five straight heading into the fight. Rosas improved to 13-1 and extended his own winning streak to six. The bout later earned Fight of the Night honors.
Early reports from the hospital were encouraging. Journalist Ariel Helwani said Barcelos was conscious, able to speak, and could move his fingers and toes. He underwent a CT scan. Team member and former UFC fighter Davi Ramos posted that Barcelos was undergoing tests and urged fans to stay calm, saying the situation was “fine.” Additional reports confirmed he was awake and moving while remaining under observation for head and other evaluations.
Both men were taken for medical checks after the five-round war. Officials have not released a final diagnosis.
The age gap framed the matchup from the start. Rosas became the youngest fighter to headline a UFC card. Barcelos, a Brazilian veteran known for grinding out wins over younger prospects, entered as a slight underdog and nearly stole the decision before the sudden stoppage.UFC has not issued a detailed medical statement. Fighters, coaches, and fans across the sport quickly offered prayers for Barcelos as he remained in the hospital overnight.
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