Raoni Barcelos still has no diagnosis after losing consciousness in UFC fight

Raoni Barcelos says medical testing has yet to determine why he lost consciousness during his Ultimate Fighting Championship headliner against Raul Rosas Jr.

Barcelos faced Rosas Jr. in the main event of UFC Vegas 121 last month. The Brazilian led on the judges’ scorecards entering the fifth round but lost consciousness during a grappling exchange against the fence. Rosas Jr. was awarded a technical knockout victory, and the 39-year-old Barcelos was transported to a Level 1 trauma center.

Barcelos said he is undergoing tests in Las Vegas to determine what happened. He hopes to continue fighting but has not ruled out retirement.

“Unfortunately, we don’t know what happened,” Barcelos told MMA Fighting. “It was a sudden illness. I fell ill and I felt my whole body really starting to go numb. After that, I don’t remember anything. I only remember [arriving] in the ambulance, asking my father what happened, and him trying to explain it as best as he could. It really was an unfortunate [circumstance]. I got sick and to this day we still don’t understand. I’m undergoing a battery of tests here in [Las] Vegas. I had another on Monday and we’re waiting for a good result. The doctor hasn’t released the results yet and everything is being kept confidential. But I feel better every day.”

Barcelos (22-6) entered the bout on a five-fight winning streak. He has competed in the UFC since 2018, compiling an 11-5 promotional record with victories over Said Nurmagomedov, Cody Garbrandt and Payton Talbott.