Raul Rosas Jr. has never been finished in MMA, winning six of seven fights in the UFC en route to his first UFC main event Saturday in Las Vegas, but Raoni Barcelos plans to expose him Sept. 26 at the Meta APEX.
MMA
Ian Machado Garry wants to bring UFC back to Ireland after UFC 330
Published
3 months agoon
UFC star Ian Machado Garry is eager to bring the promotion back to Ireland as he prepares for his main event title fight at UFC 330.
In the main event of UFC 330, Ian Machado Garry will get the chance of a lifetime. He will challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight championship and if he wins, he will become just the second Irishman after Conor McGregor to hold gold in the UFC.
RELATED: Ian Machado Garry explains why he doesn't want early KO against Islam Makhachev: “My ideal scenarioâ€
Of course, beating Makhachev is going to be easier said than done, but Machado Garry has proven time and time again that he is a very skilled fighter with the potential to beat just about anyone at 170 pounds.
In a recent press conference, Machado Garry explained his desire to ensure the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to his home country of Ireland sooner rather than later.
🤔Ian Garry says 1 more UFC win will make him the most victorious Irish fighter in UFC history and he wants to be the guy to bring the UFC back to Ireland
“I am the next superstar of Irish MMA— I want to bring them [UFC] back to Dublinâ€
via matchroom talent agency pic.twitter.com/CbNFeNM2RO
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) June 30, 2026
Machado Garry wants UFC return to Ireland
“I wanna be the type of guy that brings the UFC back to Ireland,†he said on Tuesday.
“It's been a long time. I've been carrying this flag for Irish MMA for a long, long time.
“With my next fight, I'm the most victorious Irishman in UFC history. I'll have 11 wins.
“I wanna bring them back here. I have been saying it since day one. I am the next superstar of Irish MMA.
“I'm going to be carrying that second wave, and I want to bring them back to Croke Park.
“I want to bring them back to Dublin. I want to bring them back wherever they think they can go because these fans deserve it.â€
Quotes via Bloody Elbow
Given that it's been over 10 years since the promotion landed back in Ireland, there is certainly a huge argument to be made that there would be a lot of excitement if they got a card done – especially with Machado Garry at the top of the bill.
Are you interested in seeing this event happen? Who else would you want to see on the card? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
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MMA
UFC Vegas 121 ‘Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos’ play-by-play, results & round scoring
Published
2 hours agoon
September 25, 2026
Sherdog’s live
UFC Vegas 121 coverage will begin Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. The
event is also known as
UFC Fight Night 289.
Round 1
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The Official Result
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Round 2
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The Official Result
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The Official Result
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Round 2
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The Official Result
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Round 2
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Brian Knapp scores the round:
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Round 3
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The Official Result
Round 1
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Brian Knapp scores the round:
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Mike Fridley scores the round:
Round 2
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Round 3
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Round 4
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Round 5
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The Official Result
MMA
Raoni Barcelos vows to finish Raul Rosas Jr. in UFC main event: ‘He’s never fought someone like me’
Published
7 hours agoon
September 25, 2026
Barcelos was already a professional MMA fighter before Rosas Jr. celebrated his eighth birthday, claiming the Shooto Brazil and RFA belts on his way to the UFC. On a five-fight winning streak now against the likes of Cody Garbrandt and Payton Talbott, the 39-year-old veteran believes he brings more to the table than Rosas Jr. has had to deal with in his career so far.
“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 told MMA Fighting, “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, that guy who can make things difficult for him in any area he wants to take the fight. To answer your question, he's never fought someone like me. Not trying to be better than others, but it's a style that can complicate his game more.â€
Rosas Jr.'s sole UFC setback came in a decision against Christian Rodriguez in his second octagon appearance at 18 years of age, and since then he's defeated more experienced opponents, including Rob Font and Vince Morales. Barcelos expects the Mexican prospect to look for grappling and wrestling exchanges in the octagon, and that happens to be his bread and butter.
“We have a very good no-gi jiu-jitsu team. I'm not going to be uncomfortable,†Barcelos said. “If the fight goes in that direction, we have all the time; we have five rounds to get tangled up and end up working our jiu-jitsu in the best way possible. The whole team is very much on the same page about that, and we're going in there to finish this fight before 25 minutes.â€
Barcelos will have longtime friend Glover Teixeira in his corner for the first time in nearly six years, reuniting with the man responsible for pushing him to make the transition from jiu-jitsu and wrestling to MMA rings and cages in Brazil in the early 2010's. Barcelos spent three weeks training with the former UFC champion in Danbury before starting his camp in Rio de Janeiro, and said he feels “safer†with Teixeira next to his father and mentor Laerte Barcelos, as well as coaches Davi Ramos and Andre Felipe.
“Glover is a guy who inspires me a lot,†Barcelos said. “I've always told him that. He always said that age is just a number, that it's in our heads, and he proved to everyone that it's possible to make it there. Through all the work and dedication, he was able to make it. I consider Glover my godfather in MMA. He was the one who introduced me to the sport. I have a lot of respect for him. We talk a lot. Whenever I can, I talk to him, and we exchange ideas. I'm very happy to be able to have Glover back in my corner again after, I don't know, six years.â€
Barcelos was over the moon when the UFC called with an offer to be the main event for the first time under the brighter lights in Las Vegas, and it was “like a movie played in my head.†Although he seeks an emphatic finish Saturday, a potential 25 minutes of action could be an edge over a less experienced opponent.
“The UFC gets an opportunity to see my performance getting better and better,†Barcelos said. “Five rounds is nothing new for me. I've fought three or four times, if I'm not mistaken, back in my RFA days. I believe this might be something new for Raul, but that doesn't mean much either because he's 21 years old, so he's very young. I'm sure he's going to come very prepared for it.â€
Barcelos has two names in mind for a callout to “shine†even brighter next and a win Saturday could boost Barcelos up towards the top of the bantamweight class, but he knows “everything depends on my performance in the cage.â€
“Mario Bautista would be a very good fight,†Barcelos said, “especially because he's now ranked No. 4 in the division and had an excellent fight in his last bout [against Cory Sandhagen]. And there's David Martinez. I think those are two very strong names. Those are the two athletes I think I'm going to ask for up there in the cage.â€
MMA
Usman Nurmagomedov questions Gable Steveson's lack of MMA experience
Published
21 hours agoon
September 25, 2026
gable on InstagramMMA star Usman Nurmagomedov has questioned Gable Steveson's lack of MMA experience after his first professional loss.
At UFC 331, Gable Steveson's unbeaten record in mixed martial arts came to an incredibly abrupt end. After a tense build-up to his clash with Sean Sharaf, Gable wound up being knocked out cold within the first few seconds of their fight getting underway.
RELATED: Jon Jones mocked by Usman Nurmagomedov after ‘boyfriend' Gable Steveson's shocking loss
Jon Jones could only watch on in the corner as Gable Steveson's entire career flashed before his eyes. Of course, getting knocked out early in your run isn't unusual in this sport, but it's particularly bad when there's so much scrutiny around you even being in the UFC in the first place.
In a recent interview, Usman Nurmagomedov weighed in on the Gable Steveson debate and his experience level.
Usman Nurmagomedov's view on Gable Steveson
“He's an Olympic champion, but not in MMA, isn't he?†Nurmagomedov told Red Corner MMA of Steveson. “He's got no amateur experience, but as we all know, you have to have amateur experience as a fighter. One hundred fights at least. You have to feel it out, that stage, the MMA stage.
“And again, the very first punch landed, he didn't feel the distance. Yes, he's a good wrestler, an Olympic-level wrestler, but he's not a fighter nor a striker. But that is mixed martial arts, right? That includes everything. I wish him well, speedy recovery and future success. This is MMA. This kind of thing happens here.â€
Quotes via MMA Junkie
If Gable wants to get anywhere near the top of this division, he needs to make some big changes – and fast.
What do you think the ceiling is for Steveson in the Ultimate Fighting Championship? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
UFC Vegas 121 ‘Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos’ play-by-play, results & round scoring
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