TLDR
- Raoni Barcelos lost consciousness during his UFC Vegas 121 fight with Raul Rosas Jr. on September 26, 2026
- Nearly three weeks later, doctors still cannot determine what caused his body to shut down during the match
- The 39-year-old fighter is undergoing daily testing at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas
- Barcelos is under a six-month medical suspension and says retirement has not been ruled out
- UFC executives Dana White and Hunter Campbell have shown support, with Barcelos receiving a fight bonus
Sources: mmafighting.com | sports.yahoo.com
UFC bantamweight Raoni Barcelos remains in Las Vegas nearly three weeks after a frightening medical emergency ended his fight against Raul Rosas Jr., and doctors still cannot tell him what went wrong.
Barcellos was winning on the scorecards at UFC Vegas 121 on September 26 when his body suddenly shut down inside the Meta APEX. He lost consciousness and was rushed to a Level 1 trauma center.
“Unfortunately, we don’t know what happened,” Barcelos told MMA Fighting. “It was a sudden illness. I fell ill, and I felt my whole body really starting to go numb.”
The Brazilian fighter says he doesn’t remember anything after feeling the numbness. His first memory is waking up in the ambulance and asking his father what had happened.
Raoni Barcelos is still waiting for a diagnosis after his mysterious health scare:
"We don’t know what happened. It was a sudden illness. I fell ill, and I felt my whole body really starting to go numb. After that, I don’t remember anything."
(🎥 @guicruzzz) pic.twitter.com/dVJzTkkBkl
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) October 15, 2026
Daily Testing and Medical Uncertainty
Barcellos is visiting the UFC Performance Institute every day for physical therapy and neurological tests. He had another MRI on Monday, but doctors have not released the results.
“Everything is being kept very confidential, but I feel better every day,” Barcelos said.
The UFC flew Barcelos’ family from Rio de Janeiro to Las Vegas to be with him during this difficult time. The 39-year-old veteran has fought 28 times as a professional MMA fighter, with 16 of those bouts in the UFC.
When asked about retirement, Barcelos was honest about the possibility. “It hasn’t been ruled out,” he said.
However, the fighter made it clear he wants to continue his career. “I don’t want to stop,” Barcelos explained. “Everything is still very fresh for me. Saying that I’m going to stop, that I’ll never fight again, is very difficult right now.”
Barcellos said he spoke with his father, training partners Davi Ramos and Andre Felipe, and coach Glover Teixeira about his future. They advised him not to think about retirement yet and to focus on recovery.
“Thank God, I feel healthy and I’m getting better every day,” Barcelos said. He revealed he went through a difficult recovery period with strong pain medication but is no longer taking any medication.
UFC Support and Six-Month Suspension
UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell rushed to the hospital immediately after the incident. Barcelos was already conscious and talking when Campbell arrived.
Campbell told Barcelos it was a great fight and announced he would receive a fight bonus. Campbell returned the next morning with a doctor to check on the fighter.
“You could see how concerned they were,” Barcelos said. “Just the fact that he came to visit me and talk to me meant a lot.”
Barcellos also spoke with UFC CEO Dana White at a recent Contender Series event. White told him, “Man, it’s so good to see you doing well, and you’ll be back before you know it.”
The fighter thanked White for how the UFC has changed his life and his family’s life.
Barcellos is currently under a six-month medical suspension. During this time, he cannot take any shots to the head and must keep his heart rate within a healthy range.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen from here on out,” Barcelos said. “I need a diagnosis to really understand what happened, but I have to keep living my life so that I can eventually get back to doing what I love most, which is fighting.”
Despite the uncertainty, Barcelos said he feels fulfilled by his performance before the medical emergency. He noted that the fight was receiving recognition and that fans enjoyed it.
Barcellos said he respects his body and will follow what doctors tell him. He is waiting for an official diagnosis while continuing his daily monitoring and testing in Las Vegas.
