Barcelos Vows to Finish Rosas Jr. at UFC Vegas 121

Raoni Barcelos says he will finish Raul Rosas Jr. when the two headline UFC Vegas 121 on Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, a bantamweight main event that puts Rosas Jr.'s unbeaten UFC finishing record on the line.

Rosas Jr. has never been finished in his MMA career and has won six of seven fights inside the UFC, but Barcelos does not see him as untouchable. "I believe all the opponents he's faced so far, Rob Font and others, have been extremely tough athletes, without taking anything away from anyone," Barcelos said, "but I think he still hasn't faced a guy who could really complicate his game. He's never faced a guy with good wrestling; he's never faced a guy with good jiu-jitsu, someone who can disrupt his game. That someone is me."

Why Barcelos Thinks He's Different

Barcelos is arguing that his grappling pedigree is the missing puzzle piece nobody has shown Rosas Jr. yet. He was already a professional fighter before Rosas Jr. turned eight years old, and he built his name winning the Shooto Brazil and RFA belts long before reaching the UFC. Now 39, Barcelos rides a five-fight winning streak that includes names like Cody Garbrandt and Payton Talbott, and he believes that experience edge, paired with wrestling and jiu-jitsu Rosas Jr. hasn't had to solve yet, gives him the tools to get the finish nobody else has.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks have installed Rosas Jr. as the favorite, with his price sitting around -160 to -175 depending on the book, while Barcelos sits in the +135 to +150 range as of this week. That gap reflects Rosas Jr.'s age and momentum on the feed, riding his own five-fight streak into his first UFC main event, but it also probably undersells what Barcelos brings to a five-round fight. Barcelos has the more finished grappling resume of the two, and if he can drag Rosas Jr. into deep water on the mat, live underdog money on him becomes more interesting than the number suggests. Some books also have the total set at 4.5 rounds, and given Barcelos's stated plan to smother Rosas Jr.'s game rather than trade on the feet, the under carries some appeal if he can find the takedowns early.

Fans wanting a preview of what Barcelos brings into the cage can look back at his Fight of the Night effort against Khalid Taha, a bout the UFC has circulated as a free watch ahead of Saturday's card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Raoni Barcelos fighting at UFC Vegas 121?

Raoni Barcelos headlines UFC Vegas 121 against Raul Rosas Jr. in a bantamweight main event Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

Has Raul Rosas Jr. ever been finished in MMA?

No, Raul Rosas Jr. has never been finished in his MMA career, winning six of his seven UFC fights, but Raoni Barcelos says he plans to change that at UFC Vegas 121.

Who is favored in the Barcelos vs. Rosas Jr. betting odds?

Raul Rosas Jr. opened as the betting favorite over Raoni Barcelos for their UFC Vegas 121 main event, with Barcelos priced as the underdog.