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Barcelos speaks from his hospital bed, and the sport exhales: ‘I’m here, I’m okay, I’ll be back. I’ll come back stronger’

Two days after the fifth-round collapse that silenced the APEX, the 39-year-old appeared on camera, lucid and smiling, with his own explanation: he fainted. The cause is still being tested. The plan is already made.

By Andrew Weissmann · Mixed Martial Arts

Published: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 3:46 AM

Key Things to Know

Raoni Barcelos shared a video from his hospital bed confirming he is doing well and plans to return.
Barcelos stated that he fainted during his fifth-round UFC Vegas 121 main event bout against Raul Rosas Jr.
The 39-year-old was stretchered from the cage and hospitalized to undergo comprehensive testing, including a CT scan.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Raoni Barcelos posted a video from his hospital bed in Las Vegas roughly 48 hours after losing consciousness during the fifth round of his UFC Vegas 121 main event against Raul Rosas Jr. The 39-year-old fighter stated that he fainted, is doing well, and is undergoing standard hospital testing. He also expressed his intent to return to competition stronger in the future.

UFC CEO Dana White confirmed at a post-fight press conference that Barcelos was up, walking, and talking after receiving immediate medical attention. Barcelos had been ahead on all three scorecards before collapsing during a grappling sequence against the fence, with medical assessments continuing to evaluate the cause.

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