Raoni Barcelos Won't Rule Out Retirement After UFC Collapse

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Raoni Barcelos says retirement is still on the table as he waits on test results following his frightening collapse at UFC Vegas 121. Barcelos went down during the fifth round of his main event loss to Raul Rosas Jr. three weeks ago and spent days in the hospital before doctors cleared him to leave.

"I want to make it clear right now that I don't want to stop," Barcelos said. "Could it happen? Of course it could, but I don't want to think about it."

What Caused Raoni Barcelos to Collapse?

Doctors still have not identified exactly what triggered the collapse, and Barcelos says he has no memory of the moments leading up to it. "I felt my whole body really starting to go numb," he said. "I only remember coming to in the ambulance, asking my father what had happened." He's currently undergoing a battery of tests in Las Vegas, including a follow-up MRI earlier this week, with results still pending. He described the process as confidential but said he feels better by the day. He's also operating under a six-month medical suspension with a strict no-contact clause, and doctors have told him to avoid anything that spikes his heart rate.

What This Means for Barcelos's Career

Nothing about Barcelos's UFC future is settled, and that uncertainty is the whole story right now. At 39, with no clear diagnosis yet, any path back to the cage runs through whatever his medical team and the Nevada commission decide once his results come back. Barcelos insists he wants to keep fighting, but he's also been honest that stopping for good is a real possibility he hasn't ruled out. Given his age and the severity of an incident that required a hospital stay, a cautious, fully cleared return (if it happens at all) looks far more likely than any quick turnaround.

Betting Angle

There's no fight to book here yet, so there's no line to talk about, but bettors tracking the bantamweight and flyweight divisions should treat Barcelos as on hold indefinitely rather than a name to pencil into future cards. Sportsbooks and matchmakers alike will be watching his diagnosis closely before his name resurfaces in any UFC matchups, and any market that does pop up around a hypothetical return would likely price in significant ring rust and medical uncertainty given the six-month suspension and the unresolved cause of the collapse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Raoni Barcelos collapse at UFC Vegas 121?

The cause is still unknown. Raoni Barcelos collapsed in the fifth round of his main event loss to Raul Rosas Jr. and has no memory of what happened, and doctors are still running tests to find a diagnosis.

Is Raoni Barcelos retiring from MMA?

Raoni Barcelos has not retired but says he hasn't ruled it out, adding that he wants to keep fighting but needs a medical diagnosis before deciding anything about his future.