After the terrible ending, some good news has emerged UFC Vegas 121.
Fortunately, the 39-year-old Brazilian’s first update appears to be positive.
According to a Brazilian UFC correspondent Evelyn RodriguesBarcelos is awake and conscious after being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. The UFC has not released an official statement on Barcelos’ condition at the time of publication, nor has it revealed exactly what happened to the veteran Bantamweight.
This is especially important because it was anything but a simple knockout.
After nearly 22 minutes of incredible back-and-forth, Rosas secured a takedown along the fence midway through the fifth round, with Barcelos unconscious within seconds.
Rosas immediately realized that something was wrong, stopped the fight and warned the referee Herb Dean.
Barcelos remained motionless on the canvas as medical personnel rushed the Octagon, creating an incredibly uncomfortable scene at Apex. He was eventually placed on a stretcher and carried out of the cage before being rushed to the hospital.
Even after several replays, it was difficult to determine exactly what caused Barcelos to lose consciousness. The UFC officially awarded Rosas a knockout victory at 1:38 of the fifth round.
“Please pray for Raoni Barcelos,” Rosas said after the fight.
It was a frightening conclusion to outstanding performances from both Bantamweights.
In fact, Barcelos entered the fifth round ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, meaning Rosas needed a finish to win the fight. The 21-year-old finally got one, extending his winning streak to six and picking up the biggest win of his young career.
But none of that seemed particularly important in the immediate aftermath.
The most encouraging news right now is that Barcelos is reportedly conscious and receiving medical attention.
MMA Mania will provide additional updates on Barcelos’ condition as they become available.
Click for complete results, coverage and highlights from UFC Vegas 121 HERE.
