Raul Rosas and Raoni Barcelos are scheduled to meet at UFC Vegas 121 on September 26 in Las Vegas. The bantamweight matchup adds a notable contest to the card.
Raul Rosas and Raoni Barcelos have been officially booked to face each other at UFC Vegas 121, scheduled for September 26 in Las Vegas. The bantamweight contest is among the notable matchups added to the card.
Raoni Barcelos enters the fight as one of the more experienced and well-rounded fighters in the 135-pound division. The 39-year-old Brazilian holds a professional record of 22 wins and 5 losses and is currently ranked thirteenth in the bantamweight standings. Fighting out of the Laerte Barcelos Team in an orthodox stance, he stands five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach. Barcelos is a productive offensive fighter, averaging 4.92 significant strikes landed per minute at a 51 percent striking accuracy clip. He also poses a threat on the ground, averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a legitimate mixed threat on both feet and on the canvas.
Raul Rosas is the younger fighter in this pairing, though his verified data was not available at the time of this report. He has built a reputation as one of the more talked-about prospects in the bantamweight division, and this matchup against a ranked veteran represents a meaningful step up in competition.
Why it matters
- Barcelos is ranked thirteenth at bantamweight, meaning a win for either fighter carries real divisional implications
- The veteran-versus-prospect dynamic gives the fight a clear narrative thread heading into September
- Barcelos brings a multi-dimensional skill set with above-average striking output and a consistent takedown game, which will test Rosas in multiple areas of competition
