Raoni Barcelos’ corner has provided a reassuring update after the Brazilian suffered a frightening collapse during his UFC Vegas 121 main event against Raul Rosas Jr.
Barcelos was stopped at 1:38 of the fifth round after Rosas Jr. completed a takedown. The 39-year-old suddenly went limp as the fighters hit the canvas. Rosas Jr. immediately backed away and signalled for the referee to stop the contest.
The unusual finish raised immediate concerns because there was no obvious strike that appeared to cause Barcelos to lose consciousness.
What followed was a confusing stream of reports about his condition. One report from UFC reporter Evelyn Rodrigues said Barcelos was awake while being taken to the hospital. He was reportedly being transported for scans and further testing, with doctors taking precautions after the impact to his head.
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However, another person who claimed to be cageside gave a very different account. According to that report, Barcelos had not been seen waking up, while medical personnel were said to have checked his pulse multiple times. The same account said Barcelos was making noises but had not regained consciousness.
There was no immediate official medical statement from the UFC or Barcelos’ team to settle the conflicting reports. The most encouraging update has now come directly from Barcelos’ corner.
His coach, Davi Ramos, reassured fans that the fighter was doing well and asked everyone to remain calm. Ramos also confirmed that Barcelos had undergone a CT scan and that his team was waiting for him following the examination:
“Hey guys, Raoni is fine, everything is alright, everyone can stay calm, he just went to do the tomography now, but everything is fine, we are here waiting for him, everyone can stay calm. Thanks!”
Check out the video statement below:
The exact cause of Barcelos’ sudden loss of consciousness has not been established. The finish appeared to occur during the takedown, leading to widespread discussion about whether the impact, an awkward collision or another factor caused the stoppage.
Edited by Abhishek Nambiar