Renato
“Money†Moicano believes Raoni
Barcelos embodies the Brazilian fighting spirit.

Barcelos (22-6) took on one of the hottest prospects in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship, Raul Rosas
Jr. (13-1), in the main event of
UFC Vegas 121 in Las Vegas. Barcelos was ahead on the
scorecards entering the final round, but suffered a concerning
stoppage loss.

Moicano praises Barcelos after his stoppage loss to Raul Rosas
Jr.

Their brutal back-and-forth war was seemingly up for grabs heading
into the final frame. Rosas Jr. started strong, and during a clinch
up against the cage wall, Barcelos suddenly went limp. The former
was declared the winner, while the latter was removed on a
stretcher from the Octagon.

“Moicano†lauded Barcelos for going out on his shield like a
warrior. The UFC lightweight felt proud to be a Brazilian after
watching Barcelos' performance and believes the 39-year-old
bantamweight veteran should be a role model for the coming
generations.

“Raoni Barcelos yesterday showed the essence of what it means to be
a Brazilian fighter, a warrior,†he posted on X. “He left carried
on his shield, but he left with all honor and all glory. Raoni
Barcelos fills me with pride and hope in being Brazilian, not just
in the fight. We have to make these Brazilians be an example for
the young people.â€

Barcelos was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he regained
consciousness. His coach, Davi Ramos,
on Saturday night confirmed that he is responsive and moving
around. He is still under supervision and awaiting test results to
determine the exact issue.

Raoni
Barcelos ONTEM MOSTROU A ESSÊNCIA DO QUE É SER UM LUTADOR
BRASILEIRO, UM GUERREIRO. SAIU CARREGADO EM SEU ESCUDO, MAS SAIU
COM TODA HONRA E TODA GLÓRIA. Raoni
Barcelos ME ENCHE DE ORGULHO E DE ESPERANÇA EM SER BRASILEIRO,
NÃO SÓ NA LUTA. TEMOS QUE FAZER ESSES BRASILEIROS…

— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc)
September 27, 2026

The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has provided an update on
Raoni
Barcelos following his concerning loss to Raul Rosas
Jr. at
UFC Vegas 121.

Barcelos was ahead on the scorecards entering the final round.
However, during a wrestling exchange against the Octagon wall, the
Brazilian veteran appeared to go limp, prompting the referee to
stop the fight. He was later taken out of the Octagon on a
stretcher and transported to a hospital. The UFC has since released
an update on his condition.

Raoni Barcelos stable and responsive after UFC Vegas 121 loss
to Raul Rosas Jr.

In a statement released hours after the event, the
UFC said Barcelos was transported to a Level 1 trauma center for
further evaluation. The promotion confirmed that the 39-year-old is
stable and responsive after his coach initially revealed the
same.

“Following his fight tonight, Raoni Barcelos was immediately
transported to a Level 1 trauma center for evaluation,†the
statement read. “The hospital medical team conducted a CT scan and
comprehensive assessment, and he is currently being monitored.
Barcelos is stable, alert and responsive, with full movement. He
will remain under medical supervision. We will provide updates on
his condition as they become available.â€

Barcelos both sustained and dished out significant damage against
Rosas Jr., with their high-paced, back-and-forth bout later earning
Fight of the Night honors.

“Barcelos is stable, alert and responsive,
with full movement.†https://t.co/V5NN8t9HEI

— UFC (@ufc) September
27, 2026

Aaron Pico didn't get the opposition he was expecting for his next outing, but he isn't dwelling on it.

Pico is scheduled to meet Losene Keita on the UFC 333 card. Pico was initially set to face Arnold Allen, who couldn't recover from his injuries in time for the bout. Keita is widely regarded as a dangerous opponent for Pico, who is risking his spot on the UFC featherweight rankings.

Allen also isn't the only top-ranked 145-pounder who Pico missed out on fighting. Appearing on MMA Junkie Radio, Pico revealed that former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was another name that had been presented to him, but things didn't pan out.

“It's been a crazy few months, because I thought I was going to fight Aljamain Sterling,†Pico said. “That's the fight that I thought I was going to get, but that didn't go through. So, they told me I was fighting Arnold Allen, and I was really excited. I mean, he's No. 5, and it's one step closer up the rankings, but it doesn't really matter to me to be quite honest with you. What am I even ranked right now, 12 or 13? To be honest with you, I don't even know.

“If I'm not champion, I'm not really focused on that. I'm not really one of those guys that's like, ‘Well, I need to protect my ranking and not fight, or I need to fight this guy.' All that matters to me is to get better, and sitting around and waiting for a ranked guy is not in my agenda. I just want to fight, get experience, and ultimately become a champion. So, whoever they have, I say yes, and I fight.â€

Pico is 1-1 under the UFC banner going into his Oct. 24 showdown with Keita. After being knocked out by Lerrone Murphy in his promotional debut, Pico bounced back with a unanimous decision victory over Patricio “Pitbull†Freire.

Do you think Aaron Pico gets past Losene Keita at UFC 333, or does he suffered another setback? Share your prediction in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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